The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet's session held in Neom, Tabuk region on Tuesday afternoon.
The Minister of Media Turki bin Abdullah Al-Shabanah said in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency that the Cabinet reviewed topics related to services being provided for pilgrims coming to perform Hajj rituals and be reassured about the readiness of all governmental and private sectors concerning with services to visitors of the Two Holy Mosques. The Cabinet considered in this regard the King's directive to host thousands of pilgrims from all continents of the world annually within Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Guests Program for Hajj, which has benefited more than 52,000 pilgrims from around the world since its inception in 1417H until this year, as an embodiment of his constant care for the interests of Muslims and enhancement of the Islamic solidarity.
The Cabinet pointed out that the inauguration of a number of water projects in Makkah and holy sites under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques at a cost of more than SR 3.1 billion coinciding with the Hajj season for this year 1440H, comes within the care and attention of the leadership to provide all means for the comfort of pilgrims with high quality and efficiency.
The Cabinet was briefed on a number of reports on latest developments at Arab, regional and international arenas and positions towards them. It pointed in this context to what is being carried out by Iran's actions and violations of the international law, including intercepting civil ships and the detention of the British ship in the Arabian Gulf, stressing that any infringement on the freedom of international maritime navigation is considered a violation of the international law, and the international community must take the necessary action to reject and deter it.
The Cabinet strongly condemned and denounced Israeli occupation authorities for the demolition of dozens of houses in Wadi Al-Homs area in the town of Sur Baher, east of Jerusalem (AlQuds), which houses hundreds of Palestinian citizens, calling on the international community to intervene to stop this aggression and the dangerous escalation targeting the Palestinian presence, the forced displacement of citizens from the city of Jerusalem (AlQuds), and an attempt to change the legal character of the city and its demographic composition which is contrary to international and humanitarian laws and relevant agreements.
The Cabinet praised the results of the 50th Ordinary Session of the Council of Arab Information Ministers chaired by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as participants stressed the roles of Arab media in consolidating citizenship, strengthening national identity and combating terrorism and extremist thought.
The Cabinet also expressed its condolences to the Government and people of Japan on the victims of the fire that broke out in Kyoto resulting in deaths and injuries, wishing the injured a speedy recovery.
The Minister said that the Cabinet also discussed a number of local affairs, stressing that King Abdullah International Parks project in Riyadh, which was directed by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to implement it as a whole integrated project without being divided into stages, based on the recommendation of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Chairman of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, to restore the project to its natural course, as the project's contract was awarded at a total cost of more than SR 1 billion and 602 millions, is one of the quality projects in Riyadh that is in line with the Quality of Life Program, one of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 programs.
The Cabinet commended the attention and support for the sports and youth sector, stressing that the care by HRH Crown Prince and Chairman of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, and his vision to support sports in general and sports clubs in particular will contribute to spreading various athletics and find financial and administrative governance, where clubs will be able to attract investors. It also pointed to the announcement of the strategy to support clubs and the distribution of 2.5 billion riyals to clubs to encourage them to work in accordance with a general framework plan for an effective governance system that contributes to sustain and develop this growth at sports and administrative levels.
The Cabinet expressed its appreciation for the statement made by the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund on Article IV consultations of the Kingdom, praising the good progress achieved by the Kingdom in implementing financial, economic, social and structural reforms that have begun to yield results and are reflected on the economic performance of the Kingdom. The Cabinet affirmed that the Kingdom's Government is working to achieve financial and economic objectives in accordance with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 which maintains financial stability, achieves high rates of economic growth, supports economic diversification and raises the quality of life.
The Cabinet issued the following decisions:
First: The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources, or his deputy, to complete discussions with the Jordanian side on a draft memorandum of understanding between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in the field of electrical connection, and sign the final version to complete formal procedures.
Second: The Cabinet authorized King Saud University to sign a draft memorandum of understanding on academic cooperation between the College of Medicine at King Saud University of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Faculty of Medicine at Mohammed bin Rashid University for Medicine and Health Sciences of the United Arab Emirates, and sign the final version to complete formal procedures.
Third: The Cabinet approved the accession of the Saudi Center for Accreditation to the International Forum for Institutions of Halal Accreditation.
Fourth: The Cabinet approved the Kingdom's subscription in the shares allocated to it in accordance with the resolutions of the Board of Governors of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development No. 663 and No. 664 regarding general increase and selective increase.
Fifth: The Cabinet approved the decisions of the 26th Universal Postal Union Conference.
Sixth: The Cabinet appointed Dr. Salman bin Haider bin Othman bin Hajjar as a representative of the Ministry of Trade and Investment in the Board of Directors of the Social Development Bank.
Seventh: The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Education to amend the approved student assessment regulations approved by the Supreme Committee for Education Policy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia No. (53 / S / P), date 01/03/1426 H.
Eighth: The Cabinet adopted the final accounts the General Corporation of Railways, and the General Corporation for Grains, for two previous fiscal years.
Ninth: The Cabinet approved promotion to 14 and 15 ranks and minister plenipotentiary posts, as follows:
1- Mohammed bin Maaidh bin Abdullah Al-Qahtani is promoted to the post of Security Counselor, rank 14, at Riyadh Region Principality.
2- The following names are promoted to the post of minister plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
- Ziyad bin Abdurabbo bin Ahmed Zuhairi.
- Hizam bin Kharsan bin Nasser Al-Ajmi.
- Ibrahim bin Awwadh bin Saad Al-Ahmadi.
3- Ibrahim bin Ahmed bin Saleh Al-Ghamdi is promoted to the post of Legal Counselor, rank 14, at the Mayoralty of Makkah Region.
4- Abdulfattah bin Hussein bin Mahmud Sindi is promoted to the post of Financial Counselor, rank 14, at the General Auditing Bureau.
The Cabinet reviewed also a number of issues on its agenda, including reports from various departments and organizations, and made appropriate recommendations, in their regard.
