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 highly valued the announcement issued by HRH the Crown Prince regarding developing the legislative environment, which reflects the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's march according to a constitutional action and serious steps to achieve firm justice, preserve rights, protect integrity and human rights, enhance transparency and combat corruption in light of the Kingdom's Vision 2030. In this context, the Cabinet confirmed the keenness of the leadership to secure the rights of citizens and expatriates and safeguard their interests through adopting new laws and reforming existing ones. These laws are meant to preserve rights, entrench justice, reflect the level of legislative progress and reforms and match the inclusive developments witnessed by the Kingdom in all fields, and enhance its global competitiveness. The Cabinet pointed out to the efforts being exerted by the Kingdom since its establishment in the service of the Two Holy Mosques, facilitating whatever helps pilgrims and Umrah performers to perform their rituals including the high level of care it offered to safeguard their interests and keenness on providing whatever guarantees their safety, comfort and protection from epidemics and diseases. The Cabinet was briefed on the final communique issued by a symposium recently-held to highlight the efforts of the Kingdom in the service of Umrah performers and visitors during the continuing coronavirus outbreak, clarifying the whole service system of the Kingdom's unique style in dealing with the pandemic including the pre-emptive precautionary measures that contributed to drastically reducing the spread of the virus and confirming the most benefit gained from the results and successes achieved in the health, security, technological and social fields in combating the pandemic. In a statement to Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Acting Minister of Media Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi pointed out that the Cabinet reviewed the developments of the coronavirus locally and internationally, citing the latest relevant statistics and indexes as well as the overall reports in terms of monitoring and following-up and the continuing assessment of the precautionary measures taken within the efforts being exerted by the Kingdom to preserve public health. The Cabinet stressed on citizens and expatriates to remain committed and adherent to all measures as the entire world is suffering the emergence of a second wave and recording high levels of active cases, infections and death from the virus. --More 01:35 LOCAL TIME 22:35 GMT 0024
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Chairs Cabinet's Virtual Session 2 NEOM The Cabinet considered the signing of various agreements to establish main regional offices for global companies in Riyadh, a reflection of the significance and trust the Saudi market entertains regionally as well as internationally and an element of Riyadh City Strategy. The strategy aims at doubling the size of the economy, realizing great quantum leaps in creating more jobs, improving life's quality and expanding investment. The strategy is within the efforts exerted by the program to attract regional headquarters, seeking to increase the local content, limit the economic drain, developing new sectors as well as finding tens of thousands of new qualitative jobs for the best qualified. Dr. Al-Qasabi indicated that the Cabinet reviewed the latest developments on the Arab, regional and international levels, reaffirming the Kingdom's keenness on strategic partnerships with the friendly countries based on mutual interests, reciprocal respect and serve international endeavor in order to maintain peace and security in the region and the world. The Cabinet renewed welcome of the United States of America's commitment to cooperate with the Kingdom to defend its sovereignty and confront threats targeting it. The Cabinet stressed the Kingdom's continued support for the diplomatic efforts exerted towards reaching a comprehensive political solution in Yemen, in accordance with the three terms of reference. The Cabinet reiterated the Kingdom's call on the international community to shoulder its responsibilities against the Iranian regime aggressive practices that pose a threat to the international peace and security and its ongoing transgressions of the international laws, charters and norms as they threaten the security and stability of Arab countries through interference in their internal affairs and backing armed militias. In this regard, the Cabinet emphasized the significance of considering countries most affected by the Iranian threats as principal party in any international negotiations over its nuclear program and its security-threatening activities in the region. The Cabinet stressed the Kingdom's rejection of the threat posed by the Iranian-backed Houthi militia to the security and stability of Yemen, and the hostilities it carries out through its repeated attacks with missiles and bomb-laden UAVs that target populated civilian areas, airports, facilities and civilian facilities in the Kingdom. The Cabinet expressed the Kingdom's looking forward that the establishment of the new Libyan executive power would realize security, stability and development in Libya, maintaining its unity and sovereignty, leading to the exit of mercenaries and foreign combatants out of the country, and lay ground for a permanent solution that prevents external interference jeopardizing the Arab regional security. --More 01:37 LOCAL TIME 22:37 GMT 0025
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Chairs Cabinet's Virtual Session 3 NEOM 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 authorized the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance - or his representative - to discuss and sign a draft memorandum of understanding in the field of Islamic affairs, between the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Islamic Religious Council of the Republic of Singapore. Second: The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Finance, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Saudi Customs - or his representative - to discuss and sign an agreement between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and People's Republic of China in the field of customs services. Third: The Cabinet approved the amendment of paragraph (6) of article (4) with regard to the procedure for transporting deaths caused by accidents in the long highways outside cities, provinces and centers, issued by the Cabinet Resolution No. (344) dated 16/8/1437H. Forth: The Cabinet approved the amendment of article (5) of item (1) of the working mechanism of the Estate Contributions Commission issued by the Cabinet Resolution No. (48) dated 14/2/1430. Fifth: The Cabinet approved the organizational arrangements for King Abdulaziz Quality Award. --More 01:37 LOCAL TIME 22:37 GMT 0026
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Chairs Cabinet's Virtual Session 4 NEOM Sixth: The Cabinet approved the final account of the General Authority of Zakat and Tax for a previous fiscal year. Seventh: The Cabinet approved the strategy of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in the field of labor and labor force of the members of the GCC for the term 2020 - 2025, which was approved by the Supreme Council of the GCC at its 40th session that was held in Riyadh on 13/04/1441 AH. Eighth: 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.