Riyadh: His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chaired the Cabinet session held today in Jeddah. HRH the Crown Prince briefed the Cabinet on the contents of the phone calls he held with Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, and UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, during which they addressed the latest regional developments and ongoing efforts to enhance regional security and stability.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the Cabinet strongly condemned the attacks by Iranian-backed terrorist militias in Yemen and Iraq on oil facilities in Riyadh and Eastern regions and on commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The Cabinet stressed that Saudi Arabia will not tolerate any infringement on its security, interests, and national assets, and will respond firmly to any hostile acts in accordance with the provisions of international humanitarian law, its customary rules, and the principle of proportionality.
The Cabinet called on the Iraqi government to take all necessary measures to prevent its territory from being used as a launchpad for aggression. It also expressed appreciation for the positions of countries worldwide and international organizations that condemned the criminal attacks, which the Saudi air defenses intercepted with full efficiency and capability.
In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency following the session, Minister of Education and Acting Minister of Media Yousef Al-Benyan said the Cabinet reviewed Saudi Arabia's ongoing efforts, through dialogue and consultation with friendly countries, to de-escalate and contain regional tensions, safeguard waterways in the Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea, and foster regional and international stability.
The Cabinet affirmed the Kingdom's keenness to consolidate the approach of dialogue and diplomacy and strengthen joint international action, particularly as the region undergoes a pivotal phase requiring the establishment of a regional order based on commitment to the fundamental principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter, foremost among them safeguarding state sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, good neighborliness, freedom of navigation, and compliance with international law.
On the domestic front, the Cabinet addressed overall state affairs, particularly regarding the continued enhancement of sector and agency performance and the improvement of services provided to citizens, while continuing to issue laws and decisions aligned with desired aspirations. These include the enactment of the General Education Law, which will mark a transformation in the sector's development and governance, elevate the quality of the educational environment and its outcomes, and regulate the role of the private and non-profit sectors to achieve the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
The Cabinet praised the Quality of Life Program for achieving results that exceeded the economic and developmental targets set for its strategic initiatives. It highlighted the program's contribution to non-oil GDP, development of services across all cities, and advancement of the culture, sports, entertainment, and tourism sectors, strengthening the Kingdom's standing as a globally attractive destination.
The Cabinet commended the Kingdom's attainment of first place regionally for the fourth consecutive year in the Government Electronic and Mobile Services Maturity Index, issued by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, noting it as a reflection of continuous progress in developing procedures and platforms, adopting emerging technologies and artificial intelligence, and consolidating a global model in business practice and digital economy competitiveness.
The Cabinet addressed items on its agenda and issued several decisions, including agreements with Egypt on visa exemptions, with Kuwait on science and technology, and with Syria on agricultural cooperation, among other international collaborations and domestic initiatives such as designating 2027 as the Year of Water.
