Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Chairs Cabinet's Virtual Session

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Prime Minister, chaired today the Cabinet's virtual session.

At the outset of the session, the Cabinet was briefed on the results of HRH the Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister meetings with King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan; Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Deputy Supreme Commander and Prime Minister; Prime Minister of Malaysia, Muhyiddin Yassin, and the Prime Minister of Sudan, Abdullah Hamadouk. During the meetings they reviewed bilateral relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and discussed topics and issues of common interest, and efforts made towards them.

The Cabinet lauded the Arab League's granting His Royal Highness the Crown Prince an appreciation certificate on Arab Development Action Shield for 2021 in recognition of his role in promoting the comprehensive development approach in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Arab world and his efforts that support and strengthen the joint Arab action in all fields, in order to service the security, stability, development and prosperity of the region.

The Cabinet followed the measures taken by the Kingdom to protect its national capabilities and gains in a way that preserves the security of world energy, stop terrorist attacks to guarantee the stability of energy supplies, oil exports security and guarantee free maritime navigation and international trade. The Cabinet considered the two terrorist attempts to target Ras Tanura port and the residential area in the city of Dhahran as flagrant violation of all international laws and norms, and to the extent that such treacherous and cowardly attempts target the Kingdom, they actually target in a greater degree the world economy. The Cabinet reiterated its call on the world's countries and organizations to stand against such acts targeting civil objects and vital facilities.

In a statement to Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Acting Minister of Media Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi pointed out that the Cabinet underlined the contents of the message sent by the Kingdom’s permanent delegation to the United Nations to the Security Council, calling the international community to assume its responsibility towards the military hostile actions carried out by the Iran-backed terrorist Houthi militia towards civilians and civil objects in the Kingdom and hold whoever accountable of such threats that undermines the efforts of the United Nations to reach a political solution in Yemen and the credibility of international resolutions.

The Cabinet reviewed the contents of the statement issued at the closing session of the Arab League Council meeting held at the ministerial level during its 155th session, confirming the centrality of the Palestinian cause, and its topping the Arab priorities in the framework of the international references, and the Arab peace initiative. The Kingdom affirmed its interest and keenness on the integrity and sovereignty of the Arab territories, rejection of whatever tampers the stability of the region, support of the region's political solutions and importance of enhancing the Arab joint action and adherence to the firm positions towards Arab central issues.

The Cabinet addressed the outcome of the Arab ministerial quartet in charge of the developments of the crisis with Iran, and ways of confronting its interferences in the domestic affairs of the Arab countries, denouncing its interference and continuous provocative statements by Iranian officials against Arab countries, reiterating, in this regard, the Kingdom's call on the international community to assume its responsibilities towards the threat such Iranian practices pose to the international security and peace.

The Cabinet stressed the Kingdom's affirmation at the 14th UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Kyoto, Japan, of the importance of collective action to reduce the gap between developed and developing countries in the various areas of development, concerting and harnessing efforts, to prevent crime, achieving criminal justice and the rule of law in order to preserve the security and stability of states, and laying a solid foundation for confidence and safety among the peoples of the world regarding the legal systems and procedures and those responsible for them.

The members of the Cabinet highly appreciated the keenness of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to harness all capabilities to serve the pilgrims, and scale up the performance of establishments operating in Hajj and Umrah sector. This is on the occasion of the issuance of the Royal approval for a number of incentive initiatives for facilities affiliated to Hajj and Umrah sector, which comes as an extension of the Kingdom's government efforts to mitigate the financial and economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) on individuals, private sector enterprises and investors. More than 150 initiatives were launched with total allocations exceeding SAR 180 billion.

The Cabinet reviewed developments related to COVID-19 at the local and international levels, statistics and indicators related to the virus, the vaccination campaign, the reassuring indicators of the epidemiological curve in the Kingdom, and the registration of an increasing frequency in vaccination in more than 450 sites in all cities and regions. The Cabinet reaffirmed the importance of adhering to precautionary and preventive measures to maintain public health, and to protect the gains made during the past period at all levels.

In the context of its review of the results of the international conference titled "the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Efforts in Serving Islam and Muslims and Consolidating Values of Moderation", the Cabinet addressed the Kingdom's adherence, since its establishment, to Islamic law and consolidating the values of moderation, its pride of the honor of serving the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors, its adoption and defense of the just causes of Muslims and working through the Kingdom's Vision 2030 to deepen the values of responsible citizenship and to enhance intellectual security through an intellectual and cultural system that preserves the fundamental principles and values.

The Cabinet was briefed on the issues on its agenda, including some co-studied by the Shura Council. The Cabinet was also briefed on the results reached by each of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, the Council of Political and Security Affairs, the General Committee of the Cabinet, and the Cabinet's Bureau of Experts.

The Cabinet issued the following decisions:

First: The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Hungary in the field of water management.

Second: The Cabinet authorized Minister of Economy and Planning - or his representative - to discuss and sign with the Iraqi side a draft of memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Economy and Planning of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Planning of the Republic of Iraq in the field of development planning for economic diversification and private sector development.

Third: Forming a committee to be named (The Supreme Committee for Research, Development and Innovation), affiliating to the Council of Economic Affairs and Development , headed by the Chairman of the Council of Economic Affairs and Development, and is in charge of the development of the research, development and innovation sector of the Kingdom.

Fourth: The Cabinet approved the cultural strategy of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) 2020-2030 that was approved by Supreme Council of GCC in its 40th session.

Fifth: Blood plasma collection centers, which will be established and operated by the private sector, shall compensate blood plasma donors financially from their own resources for the time blood donors have taken while donating their blood in blood plasma donation centers.

Sixth: The Cabinet approved the system of accounting and auditing profession and the organization of Saudi Organization for Certified Public Accountant.

Seventh: The Cabinet approved a model of decision support for the analysis and provision of housing units in cities and its governance in the city of Riyadh, the governorate of Jeddah, and the metropolitan of Dammam, to serve as a guiding model for the use and benefit of the concerned authorities.

Eighth: The Cabinet approved the regulation of the Digital Government Authority.

Ninth: Amending the General Organization for Social Insurance system issued by Royal Decree No. M/33 dated 9/3/1421 H, as stated in the resolution.

Tenth: The Cabinet approved a number of promotions at the 14th and 15th ranks.

The Cabinet was briefed on a number of issues on its agenda and took relevant recommendations.