US President Barack Obama arrived here on Wednesday afternoon, making his first visit to Saudi Arabia as he opened a five-day trip intended to improve relations between the US and the Muslim world and push for progress in settling the Arab-Israeli conflict.

“The United States and Saudi Arabia have a long history of friendship,” Obama said, standing alongside King Abdullah, as the two began a series of meetings. He added, “I thought it was very important to come to the place where Islam began and to seek his majesty’s counsel and to discuss with him many of the issues that we confront here in the Middle East.”

Obama received a royal welcome as he stepped off Air Force One and walked across a red carpet. The President and the King exchanged a light embrace and kiss.

The trip to Saudi Arabia, which comes on the eve of Obama’s speech to the Muslim world from Cairo, was added to the White House itinerary last week. Administration officials said it would have been diplomatically awkward to be in the region without visiting Saudi Arabia, an important ally.

The King, who placed a gold medallion around Obama’s neck, recalled the visit of another American President to his horse farm outside Riyadh.

“I am not surprised, given the historically strategic ties between our two countries, I believe that go back to the time of the meeting between the late Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the late King Abdul Aziz,” King Abdullah said. “I also want to express my best wishes to the friendly American people who are represented by a distinguished man who deserves to be in this position.”

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