Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Prime Minister, chaired the Cabinet's virtual session today. At the outset of the session, the Cabinet reviewed the recent talks between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and a number of countries that aim at enhancing cooperation in various fields as well as coordination towards regional and international issues, in addition to supporting these countries in various crises and circumstances. In this context, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques briefed the Cabinet on the phone conversation he held with Tunisian President Kais Saied, during which the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques stressed the Kingdom's keenness on Tunisia's security and stability as well as the Kingdom's support for Tunisia in light of the current difficult health conditions, issuing directives to provide health support for Tunisia that is additional to the previously provided aid to contribute to meeting the needs of the Tunisian health sector. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Minister of State, Cabinet's Member and Acting Minister of Media Dr. Essam bin Saad bin Saeed said that the Cabinet reviewed a number of issues and developments in the region and the world. The Cabinet reiterated the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's firm and historical position supporting peace and stability and building solidarity and unification in Afghanistan. The Cabinet also cited the Organization of Islamic Cooperation's extraordinary meeting called for by the Kingdom as the chair of the current session of the Islamic Summit, during which the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reiterated the importance of accelerating efforts to reach a comprehensive political settlement, calling on the international community to unite and expedite support for urgent humanitarian works in Afghanistan, and to support development, stability and rehabilitation efforts in a way that contributes to achieving security and prosperity in Afghanistan. The Cabinet reviewed preparations for the return to in-person education for the new school year, in addition to the measures and arrangements taken in this framework to ensure the safety of students, teachers, faculty members, their families and the community. The Cabinet reviewed the COVID-19 pandemic's latest statistics and indexes, in light of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's passing important stages in facing the pandemic and limiting its effects on all aspects of life. This includes working to increase community immunity, by continuing to administer vaccines and accelerating the pace of vaccination in all regions, which resulted in a remarkable improvement in a number of economic sectors, and raising the operational capacity of the Grand Holy Mosque in Makkah, and the return to receiving tourists from abroad. The Cabinet was briefed on a number of issues on its agenda, and issued the following decisions: First: The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Foreign Affairs - or his deputy - to discuss and sign with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) a draft headquarters agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Second: The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Culture - or his deputy - to discuss and sign with the British side a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of culture between the Ministry of Culture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) of the United Kingdom. Third: The Cabinet approved a protocol annexed to a cooperation memorandum on Saudi-Korean Vision 2030 between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Republic of Korea. Fourth: The Cabinet authorized the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Space Commission - or his deputy - to discuss and sign with the British side a draft of memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of peaceful use of outer space between the Saudi Space Commission of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Space Agency of the United Kingdom. Fifth: The Cabinet approved amending paragraph (D) of Article (4) of the Individual Service Law, regarding the age of applicant shall not be less than 18 years. Sixth: The Cabinet approved canceling paragraph (1) of Article (24) of the Arbitration Law, regarding the independent contract concluded with the arbitrator stating the fees. Seventh: The Cabinet approved that orphans - adopted by families who are covered by compulsory health insurance - shall also be covered by the same health insurance. Eight: The Cabinet approved the exemption rules as well as the financial rewards in the Anti-Concealment Law. Ninth: The Cabinet approved the Contractor Classification Law. Tenth: The Cabinet approved amending the name of the Chemical Materials Import and Management Law to be Chemical Materials Management Law, in addition to amending some articles of the Law. Eleventh: The Cabinet approved amending Articles (2), (3), (6), (19), (20) and (21) of the Cooperative Insurance Companies Control Law. Twelfth: The Cabinet approved amending the Travel Documents Law. Thirteenth: The Cabinet approved a number of promotions at (14) Rank. The Cabinet was also briefed on a number of issues on its agenda and took relevant recommendations.
