Layan Damanhouri

Saudi Gazette

 

ONE of the major reforms implemented by the new Saudi administration is the creation of the Supreme Council of Economic and Development Affairs along with the Political and Security Council.



Immediately after the late King Abdullah’s death, the royal decrees issued on Jan. 29 by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman signaled new changes to steer the Kingdom into a course of hope, determination, and force.



Both councils came into being in line with the government’s major reshuffle, including the dissolving of 12 bodies, appointment of new ministers, and other government reforms. In addition, the councils are chaired by newly appointed leaders who represent the wave of fresh blood in the Saudi government.



Crown Prince Muhammad bin Naif, son of the former Interior Minister Prince Naif who was known for his hard-line battle against terrorism, heads the Council of Political and Security Affairs, dealing with the Kingdom’s national security and foreign policy.



Deputy Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, who is also the Minister of Defense and Chief of the Royal Court, chairs the Economic Council, navigating the Kingdom to a newly mapped economic strategy with direct exchange with the ministers.



The two newly formed bodies represent the supreme decision-making authorities in political and economic matters respectively and function under the general secretariat of the Cabinet. Each body covers one or more secretariat councils, comprising a number of advisers and specialists in the concerned sectors. The supreme bodies aim to unify the nation’s strategy towards a prosperous economy and politically stable state. 



The Supreme Economic Council



In the recent years, the Kingdom has encountered a surging housing crisis, rising unemployment, and health reform challenges. In addition to the rapidly growing population comprised of a majority of youth, the Saudi government has proved its willingness to begin immediately looking from a new lens, marking King Salman’s reign.



The Supreme Economic Council seeks to tackle these national issues more efficiently by eliminating bureaucratic and rigid obstacles. In parallel with the Saudi government’s leadership, the council aims to develop a thriving economy that will ensure a prosperous future for citizens and generations to come.



Prince Muhammad Bin Salman frequently convenes with 22 ministers, offering an opportunity to openly discuss pressing economic matters and to review mutual concerns in a cooperative and accessible approach.



A number of the ministries participating in the council are represented by newly appointed ministers, many of whom are designated in government posts to bring their substantial experience from the private sector, including some of the pertinent ministries such as the minister of housing, the minister of health, the minister of labor, the minister of education, and the minister of information and culture, among others.



The King’s emphasis on the citizen always coming first is evident in the choice of relieving certain ministers from their posts and appointing new ones in their place as well as welcoming honest criticisms and open discussion among council members.



Members of the Council:

• Chaired by Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, Minister of Defense


• The Minister of Justice, Walid Al-Samaani


• Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Ali Al-Naimi


• Minister of Finance, Ibrahim Al-Assaf


• Minister of Water and Electricity, Abdullah Al-Husseyn


• Minister of Labor, Mufrej Al-Haqabani


• Minister of Housing, Majed Al-Hoqail


• Minister of Haj, Bandar Hajjar


• Minister of Economy and Planning, Adel Fakieh


• Minister of Commerce and Industry, Tawfiq Al-Rabeeah


• Minister of Transport, Abdullah Al-Muqbil


• Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Mohammed Al-Suwaeil


• Minister of Social Affairs, Majed Al-Qasabi


• Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs, Abdullateef Al-Asheikh


• Minister of Health, Khalid Al-Falih


• Minister of Civil Service, Khalid Al-Arj


• Minister of Culture and Information, Adel Al-Turaifi


• Minister of Agriculture


• Minister of Education, Azzam Al-Dakheel


• Ministers of state


• Other members of the Council of Ministers
  
  
  
  
  
  

The Supreme Political and Security Council



The Political and Security Supreme Council assembles at a critical period for the Kingdom’s foreign policy. Despite the political turmoil in the region surrounding the Kingdom’s borders, the Saudi government remains a solid guard against the inconsistent wave of threats.



The council consists of 10 ministers, including the minister of interior, the minister of foreign affairs, the minister of the National Guard, the minister of Islamic affairs, the minister of information, the General Intelligence president, and other state ministers.



The Kingdom’s internal challenges arise from extremist ideologies and radicalism among the youth who seek violence due to several reasons, including the most pressing matter: unemployment.



In the geopolitical arena, Saudi Arabia plays the longstanding role of the dominant hegemony in the Gulf and Middle East region.



Facing a rocky period with numerous challenges, the Kingdom deals with the rise of Daesh and its extremist spillover in the Muslim World, Iranian influence in religious sectarianism and its involvement in proxy wars in the region, in addition to the neighboring Yemeni crisis. Juggling all battles simultaneously, the Kingdom has boosted its defense and military in rallying against the Houthis in its major and urgent endeavor, the Decisive Storm Operation which started in March.



The Political and Security Council aims to define the outline for the Kingdom’s national security from an overlooking standpoint in order to accomplish efficiently and resourcefully.



Some of the major achievements in Economic and Political Affairs since King Salman took power:

 

• Since the Supreme Petroleum Council has been dissolved, the changes by the Economic Supreme Council affected the oil industry. In May, The Supreme Economic Council approved a restructuring of Aramco that included separating it from the ministry. King Salman appointed Saudi Aramco’s chief executive Khalid Al-Falih as chairman of the state firm. Falih also becomes health minister under a major reshuffle in the Kingdom. The Kingdom has created a new 10-member supreme council for state-run oil company Saudi Aramco, headed by the Kingdom’s deputy crown prince.

• In June, Muhammad Bin Salman signs landmark agreements with France worth tens of billions of euros in the fields of defense, civil aviation, solar energy and training
  
   


• In June, bolstering bilateral relations, and strengthening cooperation, particularly in the field of peaceful use of nuclear energy, military and technical cooperation, housing, oil and gas sector and investment opportunities. Saudi Arabia signs arms deal with Russia. Landmark agreements for cooperation in the fields of military, space, oil and housing were also signed.
  
   


• Operation Decisive Storm; Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen in response to requests for assistance from the internationally recognized Yemeni government of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi. The request was due to an offensive by Houthi militias.