The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet's session at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on Tuesday afternoon
At the outset of the session, the King briefed the Cabinet on the results of his meeting with Sultan Abdullah bin Sultan Ahmad Shah, King of Malaysia, during which they reviewed fraternal relations and prospects for continued cooperation between the two sisterly countries, and his meeting with former Prime Ministers of the Lebanese Republic Najib Mikati, Fouad Al-Siniora and Tammam Salam, and the emphasis on the Kingdom's keenness on the security and stability of Lebanon within its Arab context.
The Minister of State, Cabinet's Member, Acting Minister of Media Dr. Essam bin Saad bin Saeed said in a statement to Saudi Press Agency following the session that the Cabinet expressed the Kingdom's appreciation and thanks for the support and welcome expressed by Islamic bodies of the Kingdom's call on pilgrims to devote all times to perform the rituals of Hajj with tranquility and keep away from everything that disturbs it, and their praise for integrated and distinguished efforts and services being provided for pilgrims, Umrah performers and visitors, praying to Allah Almighty to accept pilgrims' Hajj. The Cabinet noted in this context that the Kingdom received this year nearly 8 million Muslims who performed Umrah rituals and it will receive nearly two million pilgrims from all over the world. In this regard, the Kingdom renewed its rejection of allegations issued by Qatari Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs that the Government of the Kingdom places obstacles for those who wish to visit the Holy Sites from Qataris or residents in Qatar to perform Hajj and Umrah rituals, which is contrary to the truth, as competent authorities in the Kingdom have prepared all means and facilitated the arrival of pilgrims and Umrah performers from all countries of the world, including the State of Qatar.
The Minister said that the Cabinet counted the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's ranking second among the G20 countries, in terms of the amount of radio spectrum awarded to operators in globally identified frequency bands for public mobile telecommunication services as a result of the support and empowerment being provided by the wise leadership for the ICT sector in the Kingdom.
The Cabinet also reviewed the participation of the Permanent Delegation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations in a panel discussion entitled "Promoting digital transformation and the global partnership to achieve sustainable development goals" in New York, as the speakers praised the Kingdom's role and active partnership with the United Nations in this field, in addition to its great development in the field of information technology.
The Cabinet reviewed latest regional and international developments and expressed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's condemnation and denunciation of the terrorist attack on a hotel in Kismayo, Somalia. It expressed its condolences to the families of the victims, the Government and people of Somalia and wished the injured a speedy recovery. The Cabinet reiterated the Kingdom's stand with the Republic of Somalia against all forms of violence, terrorism and extremism.
The Cabinet issued the following decisions:
First: The Cabinet approved the Kingdom Saudi Arabia's joining to the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds.
A royal decree has been prepared in this regard.
Second: The Cabinet approved an agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Republic of Benin in the field of air transport services.
A royal decree has been prepared in this regard.
Third: The Cabinet decided to exclude persons, arriving in the Kingdom to preform Umrah and visit the Prophet's Mosque, from a provision previously prohibiting them from moving outside Makkah, Jeddah and Madinah zones set forth in Paragraph (A) of Article (3) of the Statute for the Treatment of Persons Arriving in the Kingdom on Hajj, Umrah or Other Visas.
Fourth: The Cabinet decided to transfer the tasks of organizing the National Festival of Heritage and Culture (Janadriyah Festival) from the Ministry of National Guard to the Ministry of Culture.
Fifth: The Cabinet decided to allow businesses to choose doing their activities around the clock, against financial fees to be determined by the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs.
Sixth: The Cabinet approved the system of government competition and procurement.
Seventh: The Cabinet approved a number of promotions as follows:
1- Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Ayouni is promoted to the post of Budget Advisor (Rank 14) at the Ministry of Defense.
2- Saeed bin Ahmed bin Ali Shuwail is promoted to the post of Deputy Mayor for Municipal Affairs (Rank 14) at the Eastern Region Municipality.
3- Bandar bin Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Rasheed is promoted to the post of Director General of Administrative and Financial Affairs (Rank 14) at the General Sports Authority.
4- Yousef bin Ibrahim bin Saleh Al-Zakan is promoted to the post of Director General of Customs Branch (Rank 14) at the General Authority for Customs.
5- Mohammed bin Murdhi bin Dakhilallah Al-Mahmadi promoted to the post of Director General of Customs Branch (Rank 14) at the General Authority for Customs.