JEDDAH: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman chaired the Saudi Cabinet session on Tuesday in Jeddah, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Among the matters discussed was the implementation of measures announced by the crown prince last month aimed at stabilizing the real estate sector in Riyadh.
The Cabinet stressed the importance of addressing the rise in land prices and rents that have been witnessed in the capital in recent years, highlighting the Kingdom’s keenness to ensure balanced growth, the SPA reported.
It also hailed the recent discoveries of oil and natural gas in the Eastern Province and the Empty Quarter, describing them as a “qualitative addition” that will consolidate Saudi Arabia’s economic standing and bolster its ability to meet both local and global energy demands for decades to come.
The Cabinet reviewed the Kingdom’s communications with other countries, focusing on developments in regional and global arenas, and exploring ways to enhance joint cooperation. It highlighted Saudi Arabia’s role in promoting international security, stability and humanitarian support for those in need.
It welcomed the growing international support for the upcoming conference to resolve the Palestinian issue and implement the two-state solution, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France.
It stressed the urgent need for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the importance of ensuring humanitarian aid reaches civilians without delay.
During the session, the Cabinet approved a number of key agreements and initiatives.
These included agreements with Morocco on mutual assistance in criminal matters, extradition and the transfer of convicts; and a memorandum of understanding with Malaysia to exempt holders of diplomatic, special or official passports from short-stay visa requirements.
Further approvals covered environmental cooperation with Jordan, health cooperation with Iran and education collaboration with South Korea. The Cabinet also authorized the signing of an agreement with Bahrain to avoid double taxation, alongside agreements with Kuwait and Croatia for similar tax purposes.
In technology, an MoU was approved between Saudi Arabia’s Communications, Space and Technology Commission and Greece’s National Telecommunications and Postal Authority. The Kingdom also agreed to join the Tampere Convention on telecommunications resources for disaster mitigation and relief operations.
Additional MoUs included cooperation on disability care with Djibouti, trade promotion with China, combating terrorism with Kenya, and news exchange between the Saudi Press Agency and Algeria’s state news agency.
In addition, the Cabinet praised the outcomes of the second edition of the Human Capabilities Initiative Conference recently held in Riyadh, which announced more than 100 launches, agreements, and MoUs aimed at stimulating international cooperation and furthering the goals of Vision 2030 in developing human capital.
Other notable decisions included the restructuring of the Primary Committee for the Resolution of Insurance Disputes and Violations in Jeddah, headed by Sultan bin Fayhan Aba Al-Ala, and the establishment of an operations room dedicated to processing financial fraud reports.
The Cabinet approved the final accounts of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority and Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University for the previous fiscal year.
It also approved promotions and appointments at the fourteenth rank across multiple ministries, including the promotion of Abdullah bin Saad bin Saleh Al-Ghamdi at the Ministry of Energy and the appointment of Ghaleb bin Ghaleb bin Rajih Abu Khashim as deputy emir of Al-Baha Region.
Finally, the Cabinet reviewed a number of general topics, including annual reports from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Diriyah Gate Development Authority, the Royal Commission for AlUla, the Saudi Red Sea Authority and the Social Development Bank.
