HRH Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Chairs Cabinet Session In NEOM Discussing Key International And Domestic Issues

His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, led the Cabinet meeting in NEOM. The session included discussions on messages received from Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev and a meeting with Kuwait's Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. The Cabinet reviewed the outcomes of the International Conference on Palestine's peaceful settlement, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France.

The Cabinet highlighted the historic announcements by several countries to recognise the Palestinian state. This move is seen as supporting international legitimacy and peace efforts. The Kingdom urged all UN member states to back the conference's final document, which outlines a comprehensive framework for implementing the two-state solution, thereby promoting peace and security in the region.

Domestically, the Cabinet discussed Saudi Arabia's economic indicators, noting a 3.9% GDP growth in Q2 2025. This growth was driven by positive performances across various sectors, especially non-oil industries. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) report praised Saudi Arabia's economy for its resilience against global challenges and its expanding non-oil activities.

The Cabinet also celebrated new industrial projects in the Eastern Region, aligning with Saudi Arabia's vision to enhance local content and competitiveness. These initiatives aim to create an attractive environment for investors and entrepreneurs. Additionally, achievements in environmental sustainability were recognised, including rehabilitating over 500,000 hectares of land and planting more than 151 million trees under the Saudi Green Initiative.

The Cabinet authorised several memorandums of understanding (MoUs) to strengthen international cooperation. These include agreements with Mongolia on mineral resources, China on health sciences, New Zealand on customs matters, Oman on non-oil exports, Kuwait on competition protection, Pakistan on accounting practices, SESRIC on vocational training, Thailand on research cooperation, and a GCC strategy for combating drugs from 2025 to 2028.

Furthermore, a two-semester academic year was approved for general schools for the academic year 1447/1448 AH. These decisions reflect Saudi Arabia's commitment to fostering international partnerships across various sectors.

Humanitarian Efforts and Regional Peace

The Cabinet reiterated Saudi Arabia's support for Palestine through humanitarian aid to Gaza via air and sea bridges. It condemned Israeli officials' provocative actions against Al-Aqsa Mosque and called for international intervention to stop these violations of international laws.

The Healthy Cities Program was also commended for its achievements. Jeddah and Madinah were recognised by WHO as healthy cities in the Middle East. This recognition reflects ongoing efforts to improve public health standards and quality of life in Saudi Arabia.

The Quality of Life Program was acknowledged for enhancing infrastructure development and services while boosting cultural, entertainment, and sports sectors. These initiatives contribute significantly to improving living standards across the Kingdom.

The Cabinet concluded by addressing other agenda items and making several decisions aimed at furthering national interests while maintaining regional stability.

With inputs from SPA