RIYADH — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman ordered the payment of a monthly cost of living allowance of SR1,000 for the entire government staff and military personnel for a period of one year. King Salman also directed state to unify disbursal of salaries of government staff from 27 of every Gregorian month.

In a royal decree, issued on Friday night, the King announced several other allowances and exemption from value added tax (VAT) for some sections of citizens to ease the burden on citizens following the adoption of necessary measures taken by the government as part of its structural economic reforms.

In a royal decree published by state news media, the king also ordered the payment of SR5,000 to military personnel serving at the Yemen frontlines.

The new allowances were announced in line with the recommendations of Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The King ordered an annual bonus for the Saudi civil and military personnel for the current fiscal year and shall be paid effective from Jan. 1, 2018.

There will be SR500 monthly allowance for pensioners for one year and this will be added to the pensions distributed by the Public Pension Agency and the General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI). The King also ordered 10% increase in the stipend of Saudi boy and girl students for one year.

According to the royal decree, the State shall bear the value added tax (VAT) for an amount not exceeding SR850,000 as a portion of the price of first house brought by a citizen. The State shall also bear VAT for Saudi citizens who are beneficiaries of private health and private education services. — SG/SPA