Cabinet: Ramadan greetings and important decisions regarding Palestine
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, may God protect him, chaired the Cabinet meeting held today in the capital, Riyadh, which witnessed a comprehensive review of the latest local, regional and international developments, in addition to issuing a number of vital decisions that serve the interests of the nation and the citizen.
Ramadan greetings and record numbers in serving the guests of God
At the beginning of the session, the Cabinet extended its congratulations to citizens, residents, and Muslims worldwide on the approaching holy month of Ramadan, praying to God Almighty to accept everyone's good deeds. In a related matter, the Cabinet commended the Kingdom's continued success in managing the Hajj and Umrah seasons, which is a culmination of the wise leadership's efforts in serving the Two Holy Mosques.
The Council reviewed the record-breaking indicators achieved, noting that the Kingdom welcomed 19.5 million pilgrims and Umrah performers from outside the Kingdom during 2025. These figures directly reflect the objectives of "Vision 2030," which places great importance on the program for serving the guests of God and seeks to increase capacity and facilitate procedures through the use of technology and the development of infrastructure in the Holy Sites, thus confirming the Kingdom's global leadership in crowd management and serving the Islamic world.
Founding Day: Three Centuries of Heritage
The Council addressed the Kingdom's celebration of "Founding Day," which falls on February 22nd, emphasizing that this occasion embodies pride in the historical depth and deep-rooted foundations of the Saudi state, which began nearly three centuries ago (in 1727). The Council noted that this celebration reflects the close bond between the leadership and the people, and recalls the glorious achievements of the imams and kings who established the pillars of security, stability, and unity, leading to the current prosperous era in which the Kingdom continues its journey of building and development as a leading regional and international power.
A firm stance towards the Palestinian issue
On the political front, the Cabinet reaffirmed the Kingdom's unwavering support for the Palestinian cause, expressing its strong condemnation of the Israeli occupation authorities' decision to designate lands in the West Bank as "state land." The Cabinet emphasized that these practices constitute a flagrant violation of international law and undermine peace efforts.
The Council stressed the need to stop these illegal measures, reiterating its call to the international community to assume its responsibilities to enable the Palestinian people to exercise their legitimate rights, foremost among which is the establishment of their independent state on the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and relevant international resolutions.
Localization of military industries and international partnerships
On the economic and defense front, the Council commended the success of the third edition of the World Defense Show, held in Riyadh. It noted the signing of strategic agreements and partnerships at the exhibition, aimed at enhancing the capabilities of the national military industries sector. This success aligns with the Kingdom's ambitions to localize more than 50% of military spending by 2030, contributing to greater strategic independence and the diversification of the national economy.
New international resolutions and agreements
The Council concluded its session by issuing a package of resolutions and approvals of memoranda of understanding that strengthen the Kingdom's international relations, including:
- Cooperation with Japan: The Royal Commission for Riyadh City and the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts are authorized to discuss with the Japanese side the fields of city management and traditional arts.
- Judicial cooperation: Approval of a memorandum of understanding with the Italian Ministry of Justice.
- Food and environmental security: Strengthening cooperation with Indonesia in the palm and date sector.
- Media and Communication: Media cooperation with the Kingdom of Bahrain, and digital cooperation with Algeria in the field of digital government.
- Public Health: Discussions with the African Centres for Disease Control to enhance health security.
- Combating financial crimes: Strategic cooperation with China in the field of exchanging financial intelligence and combating money laundering.
- Financial oversight: Cooperation with Brazil in the areas of accounting and oversight.
The council also approved the "National Strategy for Biosafety and Security", amended the name of the Esports World Cup Foundation, and made several promotions to the fifteenth and fourteenth ranks.
