Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — The Council of Ministers did not hold its regular weekly meeting on Tuesday. It will now meet on Jan. 2, the first Tuesday of the new year. The council customarily cancels its next regular meeting following the special session where the annual state budget is announced and approved. The council also does not hold its regular weekly meetings following the Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha holidays. For years the Cabinet met every Monday, but the regular weekly session was shifted to Tuesdays from Aug. 14 this year. The Cabinet secretary said Tuesday was chosen because two of its committees — the political and security affairs committee and the economic affairs committee — hold their meetings on Mondays. He also said since the workweek now begins on Sunday, the secretariat does not have sufficient time to prepare for the Cabinet meetings and this was another reason for the switch to Tuesday. According to its basic statute, the Cabinet will hold its regular weekly meetings in Riyadh, the capital city, but it can meet in any city or town in the Kingdom whenever necessary. The Cabinet led by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques who is the prime minister consists of the deputy premier, ministers, state ministers and advisers to the King. Experts or officials can be invited to the Cabinet sessions with the consent of the prime minister. The council's quorum is determined by the attendance of two thirds of its members and its decisions are adopted by the simple majority rule. When the votes are equal, the vote of the prime minister will be decisive.