The Shura Council refers 19 topics and reports from 4 universities to upcoming sessions

In a move reflecting the continued legislative and oversight activity in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the General Assembly of the Shura Council held its twelfth meeting today as part of the second year of its ninth session. The meeting was chaired by the Council's Vice President, Dr. Meshal bin Fahm Al-Sulami, at the Council's headquarters in Riyadh, and was attended by the Assistant Speaker, Dr. Hanan bint Abdulrahim Al-Ahmadi, the Secretary-General of the Council, Mohammed bin Dakhel Al-Mutairi, and the heads of the Council's specialized committees.

Meeting details and key referred files

The meeting included a comprehensive review of the agenda items, with the General Assembly approving the referral of 19 vital topics to the agenda of the upcoming plenary sessions of the Council. This step paves the way for Council members to discuss and vote on these matters, thereby strengthening the Council's role in national decision-making.

Among the most prominent files that were referred were the annual reports of a number of major academic institutions in the Kingdom for the academic year (2024), namely:

• King Faisal University.
• Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University.
• Al-Baha University.
• Qassim University.

Discussing these reports is of paramount importance in evaluating the academic and administrative performance of these universities, and the extent to which their outputs align with labor market requirements and the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, as well as in promoting the principles of transparency and governance in the higher education sector.

Strengthening international relations through new agreements

In addition to educational matters, the General Assembly of the Council referred a package of draft bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding with a number of sisterly and friendly countries. These agreements cover diverse strategic sectors, including:

• The legal and judicial field: to promote judicial cooperation and the exchange of legislative expertise.
• Investment: To support the economic environment and attract foreign capital.
• Media: To develop media cooperation and convey the true image of the Kingdom.
• Youth and Sports: To promote joint programs that serve the youth sector.

The role of the General Authority in the Shura system

The General Assembly of the Shura Council serves as the "running committee" or "internal kitchen" that manages the flow of legislation and reports to the Council. It comprises the Speaker, his deputies, and the heads of the specialized committees. Its pivotal role is to formulate agendas and ensure that topics have undergone sufficient study within the committees before being presented for public debate, thus guaranteeing the quality of legislative and oversight outputs.

The strategic importance of the event

This meeting and the large number of files referred (19 topics) reflect the accelerated pace of work within the Shura Council to keep pace with the comprehensive development renaissance the Kingdom is witnessing. Through its oversight of university reports, the Council ensures the quality of education, and through the ratification of international agreements, it contributes to strengthening the Kingdom's soft power and consolidating its diplomatic and economic relations, ultimately serving the interests of the nation and its citizens.