Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The Cabinet session, chaired by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on Tuesday, highlighted the remarkable achievements and progress made by Saudi Arabia during the current year. The Council of Ministers attributed this to the divine guidance, the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, and the unwavering determination of the Saudi people to drive the nation's comprehensive and sustainable development.

In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency following the session, Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary said that the Cabinet thanked King Salman for his generous support for the Riyadh public transport project, consisting of train and bus networks, from its inception to its realization. The Council emphasized that the project marks a substantial advancement in infrastructure development, economic growth, and improved quality of life for citizens and residents.

The Cabinet said that hosting the FIFA World Cup 2034 in the Kingdom is a significant milestone that will elevate Saudi sports to new heights. By organizing and hosting an extraordinary edition of this global event, the Kingdom aims to solidify its position as a leading nation.

The Cabinet was briefed on recent talks and consultations with leaders from various countries, which covered bilateral relations, regional developments, and international affairs, with particular focus on the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories and Syria.

The Cabinet commended the successful visits of French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to the Kingdom, which will contribute to expanding cooperation in various fields, advancing mutual interests, and enhancing international coordination.

While discussing regional and global developments, the Cabinet reiterated the Kingdom's support for the Syrian people and their aspirations for security and stability, and condemned the Israeli occupation forces’ attacks on Syrian territory and their violations of international law. The Cabinet reiterated the Kingdom's commitment to seeing the Palestinians establish an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital. It urged global participation in a high-level international conference in New York City in June 2025, to be chaired jointly by Saudi Arabia and France, and aimed at resolving the Palestinian issue peacefully, based on the two-state solution.

The Cabinet reviewed the outcomes of regional and international events hosted by the Kingdom, and reaffirmed its commitment to multilateralism and global cooperation to drive development and economic prosperity, and address global challenges. The Cabinet highlighted the significance of the One Water Summit, held in Riyadh, and emphasized the Kingdom's pioneering role in addressing global water challenges, its dedication to exercising sustainable water management, and its commitment to ensuring equitable access to clean water for communities worldwide. The establishment of the Global Water Organization further solidifies the Kingdom's position as a global leader in this critical area, the Cabinet stressed.

Al-Dossary said that the Cabinet commended COP16, held under the Kingdom's presidency, for mobilizing international efforts to present over 100 initiatives and for securing over $12 billion to bolster the role of financial institutions and of the private sector in addressing land degradation, desertification, and drought.

The Cabinet discussed the importance of the National Red Sea Sustainability Strategy, launched by the Crown Prince, which aims to protect the Red Sea ecosystem, foster cooperation to ensure its sustainability, and support the transition to a sustainable blue economy, consistent with national diversification goals. The Cabinet highlighted the Kingdom's global role in combating hunger and poverty, evident in its membership in the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty, its endeavors, through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center and the Saudi Fund for Development, and its contributions to IMF and World Bank initiatives to support developing countries.

The Cabinet acknowledged the success of the International Conference on Conjoined Twins, held in Riyadh, which demonstrated the Kingdom's leading role in the field, and its medical excellence, which aligns with Vision 2030 healthcare goals.

The Cabinet expressed the Kingdom's ambition to become a global biotechnology leader, and commended the outcomes of the third Riyadh Global Medical Biotechnology Summit, which is bound to contribute to achieving the objectives of the National Biotechnology Strategy.

The Cabinet appreciated that the agreements and launches worth over SR10 billion at CPHI Middle East in Riyadh, which aimed to localize gene therapies and support the production of vital medicines and vaccines, solidifying the Kingdom's global leadership in health innovation.

The Cabinet welcomed the adoption of the Riyadh Design Law Treaty by states members of the World Intellectual Property Organization, which will foster international cooperation and establish a legal framework that supports innovation and creativity worldwide. The Cabinet noted that recent credit rating upgrades from international agencies reflect the Kingdom's ongoing economic reforms and sound financial policies, which have contributed to maintaining financial sustainability, enhancing the efficiency of financial planning, and strengthening the Kingdom's overall financial position.

The Cabinet approved the salary scale for engineering jobs, and the organizational arrangements of the National Marine Information Center. It endorsed the regulatory capabilities of the National Cybersecurity Authority and standard incentives for the industrial sector.

The Cabinet approved a model for a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of civil aviation between the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) and its counterparts in several other countries, and authorizing the minister of transport and logistics, chairman of the GACA board of directors, or his deputy to discuss and sign with counterparts in other countries a draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cooperation in the field.

It approved MoU for cooperation in the legal field between the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers in Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Law of Singapore.

The Council approved the tripartite agreement reached by the government of Saudi Arabia, the International Center for AI Research and Ethics (ICAIRE) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on the classification of ICAIRE as a Category 2 Center under the auspices of UNESCO.