The Cabinet, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman at Al-Salam Palace here Tuesday, commended the Kingdom's decision, taken during the Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Ministerial Council meeting, to support efforts to face environmental challenges in the region and the world. The Kingdom's support to these efforts resulted in the adoption of several initiatives, including the Middle East Green Initiative aimed at achieving global objectives in this area. The Cabinet tackled the Kingdom's hosting of the meeting of national security advisors from various countries on the Ukrainian crisis, which was one of the initiatives of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed Bin Salman. The Crown Prince's endeavors in this respect include communication with the Russian and Ukrainian leaders; they are all proof of the Kingdom's readiness to exert its good offices to contribute to reaching a solution that will result in permanent peace and reduce the impact of the crisis. It was briefed on the talks held by the Kingdom with several other countries over the past few days with the aim of fostering relations and strengthening cooperation. It also addressed developments in the Kingdom's foreign policy and diplomatic efforts in support of dialogue and peaceful solutions to achieve security and stability in the world, and a bright, prosperous future and progress. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the Cabinet session, Minister of Media Salman Bin Yousef Al-Dosari said that the Cabinet reviewed the outcomes of a number of regional and international meetings that the Kingdom participated in, and reiterated the Kingdom's keenness to cooperate with different entities to achieve and coordinate on issues of mutual interest and common challenges. The Cabinet reiterated the Kingdom's keenness to continue to lend support to the efforts exerted by the OPEC+ countries to ensure the stability of oil markets, including extending the voluntary cut of one million barrels per day, which started being implemented in July and will continue till the end of September. The minister said that the Cabinet welcomed the Kingdom's hosting of the UN's Global Geospatial Ecosystem Center of Excellence, which is an important platform for shaping the future in this field using innovative and advanced methods to achieve growth, innovation and sustainable development, in line with the Saudi Vision 2030. The Cabinet reviewed the topic on its agenda, as directed by the King, to consider the establishment of an independent body named the Presidency of the Religious Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque. Additionally, there is a proposal to transform the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques into a general authority, to be known as the General Authority for Caring for the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque. This transformation aims to enhance the State's commitment to these holy sites and facilitate their institutional development in alignment with ongoing development plans. After the Cabinet studied this topic, it issued the following decisions: First: The establishment of the Presidency of the Religious Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque is proposed, with the organization's attachment to the King. This Presidency will oversee matters concerning imams and prayer callers in the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque. This oversight includes religious affairs and scholarly lessons held within the Two Holy Mosques under the supervision of the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque. Second: The plan involves transforming the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque into the General Authority for Caring for the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque. This new authority will possess juridical personality and financial and administrative independence. It will also be organizationally attached to the King and will manage various tasks related to services, operation, maintenance, and development of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque. Third: The General Authority for Caring for the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque will establish a Board of Directors, with members and a chairman appointed through a royal order. Fourth: The Cabinet's Bureau of Experts, in collaboration with relevant authorities, will prepare organizational arrangements for both the Presidency for the Religious Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque, as well as the General Authority for Caring for the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque. The bureau will also review regulations, orders, royal orders, and decisions affected by the changes proposed in the First, Second, and Third articles of this decision. Proposed amendments will be submitted within 60 days of this decision. Fifth: A technical committee is to be formed, comprising members from various relevant organizations such as the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, the General Authority for Caring for the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque, the Presidency of the Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and Prophet's Mosque, and the Committee of the Pilgrim Experience Program. The committee will be chaired by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque, tasked with developing mechanisms to address financial and functional aspects of the proposed changes. Sixth: The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque will take over the responsibilities of the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque during the transition period, pending full implementation of the decision and the start of the bodies' competences, functions, and actions as per their organizational arrangements outlined in Item (Fourth). Coordination between the Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Head of Religious Affairs will enable the Presidency of the Religious Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque to fulfil its competencies, tasks, and actions as outlined in Item (First) during this period. This provision will remain in effect for a period not exceeding 60 days from the completion date of Item (Fifth) of the decision. Seventh: The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque will temporarily carry out necessary board functions, excluding those related to financial and administrative policies and regulations, until the authority is fully established. Furthermore, the Chairman will also act as the CEO of the authority until the CEO's appointment in accordance with the organizational arrangements specified in Item (Fourth) of the decision. The Cabinet approved a draft memorandum of understanding in the energy field between the Ministry of Energy of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Energy of Thailand. It authorized the minister of justice to sign a draft cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Justice of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Law of Singapore. It authorized the minister of investment to discuss with the Sri Lankan side a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of promoting direct investment between the government of Saudi Arabia and the government of Sri Lanka. The Cabinet authorized the minister of investment to discuss with the Costa Rican side a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of promoting direct investment between the Ministry of Investment Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Foreign Trade of the Republic of Costa Rica. It authorized the minister of communications and information technology to hold discussions with the Uzbek side on a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of communications and information technology between the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Communications and Digital Technologies of Uzbekistan. The Cabinet approved an agreement on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters between the government of Saudi Arabia and the government of Uzbekistan. It approved the model memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of railways between the Transport General Authority of Saudi Arabia and its counterparts in other countries, and authorizing the minister of transport and chairman of the board of directors of the Transport General Authority to hold discussions with counterparts in other countries regarding a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of railways between the Transport General Authority of Saudi Arabia and its counterparts in other countries. It approved a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of accounting, control and professional work between the General Court of Audit of Saudi Arabia and the Accounts Chamber of Tajikistan. It approved a memorandum of cooperation between the Public Prosecution of Saudi Arabia and the Presidency of the Public Prosecution Office of Morocco in the field of investigation and public prosecution. The Cabinet authorized the Attorney General to hold discussions with the Azerbaijani side on a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation between the Public Prosecution of Saudi Arabia and the Prosecutor General's Office of Azerbaijan. It authorized the minister of culture, chairman of the board of trustees of the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts to hold discussions with the British side on a draft memorandum of understanding between the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts of Saudi Arabia and the Royal College of Art of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for cooperation in the field of traditional arts. The Cabinet amended Paragraph (One) of Article (11) of the Statute of Almqr Development Company, established by Royal Decree No. (M / 57) dated 20/9/1435AH (relating to the company's board of directors) to be as stated in the decision. It amended Article (5) of the organization of the Sports Boulevard Foundation, issued by Cabinet Decision No. (426) dated 24/6/1441AH (related to the Foundation's Board of Directors), to be as stated in the decision. The Cabinet appointed Abdulsalam Bin Mohammad Al-Jabr, Yousef Bin Ali Al-Majdouie, and Mohammad Bin Abdullah Al-Marshed as members of the businessmen in the Board of Directors of the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO). The Cabinet approved the abolition of the (Standing Committee for Saudi Arbitration Centers) formed by item (First) of the Cabinet Decision No. (257) dated 14/6/1435AH, amended by the Cabinet Decision No. (107) dated 8/4/1437AH, without prejudice to the continuity of the arbitration centers licensed by the committee, the tasks of the committee as mentioned above shall be undertaken by a committee formed under the umbrella of the Federation of Saudi Chambers (without including government representation) and its competence shall be limited to what is related to arbitration centers that have been established and will be established under the umbrella of the Chambers of Commerce. — SPA
