The Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Salman, recently chaired a Cabinet session in Jeddah where he praised the efforts made to ensure the success of this year’s Hajj season. He commended the work done to make the pilgrimage easier and more comfortable for the pilgrims. The Crown Prince expressed his prayers for the acceptance of Hajj from the pilgrims and good deeds from all Muslims. He also thanked God for the honor of serving the House of God and the Mosque of His Prophet, as well as for the successful organization of the Hajj and Umrah seasons.
The Council of Ministers discussed talks and communications with various friendly countries to strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation in various fields. Minister of Education and Acting Minister of Media, Yousef Al-Benyan, highlighted the Kingdom’s participation in regional and international gatherings aimed at supporting collective efforts for regional and global stability, development, and prosperity. The Cabinet emphasized the Kingdom’s efforts to stop Israeli aggression against Palestinians and support initiatives for recognizing the State of Palestine internationally.
The Cabinet also focused on the launch of the Geographic Survey Project for Renewable Energy Sites in Saudi Arabia, an initiative aimed at achieving ambitious national targets in renewable energy production. The project will contribute to the optimal energy mix for electricity generation, displacing liquid fuels, and supporting the Kingdom’s goal of exporting electrical energy and producing clean hydrogen. Additionally, the Council highlighted the development of the Jafurah field and the main gas network expansion project to enhance economic diversification and strengthen the Kingdom’s position in global energy markets.
Saudi Aramco’s recent discoveries of oil and natural gas fields in the Eastern Province and the Empty Quarter were praised by the Cabinet, acknowledging the goodness bestowed upon the Kingdom. The Council also commended the achievements of programs for developing human capabilities and national industries, which have enhanced citizens’ global competitiveness and positioned the Kingdom as a leading industrial power and logistics platform. The Kingdom’s advancement in global competitiveness, reflected in the 16th rank among the most competitive countries, was also acknowledged.
The Cabinet approved the new Social Insurance Law for newly hired employees, while current subscribers will continue to be covered under the Civil Retirement and Social Insurance Laws. The extension of the National Program for Community Development to seven years was also approved, along with the privatization of 14 sports clubs. Approval was granted for the Saudi Tourism Authority to become an associate member of the World Tourism Organization and for a cooperation agreement with the African Organization for Standardization in clean fuel solutions for food provision.
Overall, the recent Cabinet session in Jeddah highlighted the Kingdom’s commitment to enhancing national development, supporting global stability, and advancing in areas such as renewable energy, competitiveness, and privatization. The achievements and initiatives discussed in the session underscore the Kingdom’s dedication to progress and prosperity for its citizens and the global community.
