First ever Saudi-Africa summit welcomes countries shunned by West

Saudi Arabia and African countries were set to sign deals worth some 500 million euros at an economic summit in Riyadh - the first of its kind. The three-day event, which began Friday, hopes to boost political and investment ties, while also addressing regional security threats.

The Gulf nation has high hopes for the the Saudi-Arab-African Economic Conference, which it has heavily invested in.

Summit guests