The recent Cabinet session in Riyadh, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, welcomed Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the 2026 Gulf-European Summit. The Council of Ministers expressed its hope that the summit will enhance bilateral relations between the member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the European Union. The success of King Salman’s vision to strengthen joint Gulf initiatives and form strategic partnerships with other blocs was also noted. Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary highlighted the Crown Prince’s participation in the Gulf-European Summit in Brussels and the productive meetings held to expand cooperation.
The Council of Ministers also praised the accession of 11 countries to the Middle East Green Initiative. The initiative, launched by the Crown Prince to combat climate change, aims to attract more countries to achieve its ambitious goals. The Cabinet emphasized the Kingdom’s role in the energy sector, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the 27th World Energy Congress in 2026 as a testament to its leadership in energy transformation. The Council commended the decisions of the 35th session of the Council of Arab Environment Ministers, including appointing Riyadh as the Arab Environment Capital for two years.
During the session, the Crown Prince discussed King Salman’s message to President Prabowo Subianto of Indonesia and his meeting with King Abdullah of Jordan, focusing on supporting Palestine and Lebanon. The Cabinet also discussed the Crown Prince’s visit to Egypt and the establishment of the Saudi-Egyptian Supreme Coordination Council to strengthen bilateral relations. The Cabinet expressed confidence that the investment protection agreement between Saudi Arabia and Egypt will enhance cooperation for mutual benefit.
The Cabinet reviewed regional and international developments, expressing support for a joint Arab-Islamic follow-up summit in Riyadh to address Israeli aggression and protect the rights of the Palestinian people. The session also endorsed the Aligned for Advancing Lifesaving and Peace in Sudan Group’s statement, reaffirming Saudi Arabia’s commitment to preserving Sudan’s security and stability. The Cabinet praised the Ministry of Interior’s efforts in apprehending drug smugglers and dealers, including the recent dismantling of a criminal network in Riyadh involved in drug trafficking.
The Cabinet approved the establishment of a college of medical sciences in Jeddah and authorized discussions for MoUs with Canada and Estonia for political consultations and investment cooperation, respectively. Additionally, a MoU between the Saudi National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Independent Commission Against Corruption of Hong Kong was approved. The Council also approved an MoU between the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property and the World Intellectual Property Organization to establish a trust fund for intellectual property development projects. A draft MoU for cooperation between the Saudi Institute of Internal Auditors and the Australian Institute of Internal Auditors was also granted approval by the Cabinet.
