Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has arrived in Saudi Arabia with his daughter, Maryam, sources close to the family said, amid reports that his return to Pakistan could be drawing closer. Sharif, along with his daughter Maryam Nawaz, landed at Jeddah via Emirates flight on Tuesday.

Nawaz Sharif would rest on Tuesday and would go to Makkah to perform Umrah in a couple of days, they added.

Sharif and Maryam are expected to stay in the Kingdom for around two weeks where they are expected to meet members of the royal family.

Reports have claimed that Nawaz will also meet investors during his stay in the kingdom.

The date of Sharif’s return is likely to be decided during his stay in Saudi Arabia and some reports have even claimed he could come directly to Pakistan if certain legal hurdles are cleared.

Former PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi told Aaj News on Monday that he expects Nawaz to return before the elections. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has also said Nawaz will arrive before the country goes to the polls.

Nawaz was recently in Dubai where he was joined by his daughter for political consultations. Asif Zardari and his son, Bilawal, also arrived in Dubai where the two leaders held discussions on many aspects of the political landscape in the country including the date of elections and caretaker setups.