Saudi Cabinet throws its support for inter-Arab investments

April 25, 2017

Riyadh, Apr 25: The Cabinet on Monday threw its support to the Arab finance ministers in their call for diversification of income sources and to promote inter-Arab investments during their meeting in Rabat.

Saudi3The Cabinet also gave their support for the finance ministers’ urging to improve the regional business environment, enhance regional economic integration and attract foreign investments.

The Cabinet’s endorsement occurred during its regular weekly meeting presided over by King Salman at Al-Yamamah Palace.

Members also focused on the Kingdom’s permanent position at the UN Security Council in its support to the Palestinian people to obtain their rights including self-determination and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the occupied Palestine lands, including Al-Quds, in accordance with the UN Charter and its resolutions. They also formally recalled for the record the Kingdom’s call for the Israeli withdrawal from all occupied Arab lands and to stop building settlements on the Palestinian lands since they are illegal settlements and detrimental to peace.

In other matters, the Cabinet expressed Kingdom’s thanks to the Iraqi government for its efforts in releasing the kidnapped Qataris and two Saudis.

Cabinet members also expressed the Kingdom’s strong condemnation of the terror attacks at a military base in Afghanistan, which resulted in a number of deaths and injuries, and another one that killed a police officer in Paris.

Locally, the Cabinet expressed thanks and appreciation to King Salman for issuing royal decrees on the new appointments in a number of government agencies.

The Cabinet said the restoration of the suspended or canceled financial allowances for civil servants and military personnel, based on the recommendation of deputy crown prince, demonstrated the king’s willingness to care for the public.

The king expressed thanks and appreciation to former officials for welcoming the newly-appointed officials.

The Cabinet also lauded the king’s directives on the establishment of the national security center and the payment of two months’ salary for participants in the frontlines of the “decisive storm” and “restoration of hope” operations of the personnel of the ministries of interior, defense, national guard and public intelligence.

The Cabinet also praised the king’s decision on ending exams of the second term for general and higher education before the start of the holy month of Ramadan. The decision, the Cabinet said, showed cohesion between the leadership and citizens.

Later, the Cabinet approved a series of decisions.

The Cabinet approved a memo of understanding between the ministries of health of Saudi Arabia and South Korea for cooperation in the health areas.

The Cabinet authorized the minister of labor and social development to discuss with the South Africa a draft memo of understanding on labor issues between two countries.

The Cabinet authorized the minister of transport and board chairman of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) to sign two draft agreements between Saudi Arabia and the governments of Benin and Djibouti in the area of air transport services.

The Cabinet approved a cooperation agreement on sea transport and seaports between the Saudi and Egyptian governments.

The Cabinet approved a memo of understanding for cooperation in agricultural areas between the Saudi and Egyptian ministries of agriculture.

The Cabinet agreed that the appointment of members of board of directors of Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC), who represent the government including board chairman and his deputy, be made through the general assembly of the company.

The Cabinet agreed the continuation of payment of overtime work for those occupying health jobs in hospitals, medical centers and labs at 20 percent for three years.

The Cabinet approved amendments on some articles of the Officer Service System.

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Agencies
June 5,2020

Dubai, Jun 5: A new set of coronavirus guidelines for UAE hotels has been published by the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority.

The guidelines, released late Thursday, require all employees to be tested for Covid-19 before reopening, and to be re-tested every 15 days.

Hotels are expected to provide an infrared thermometer and thermal camera, with employee temperatures to be tested several times per working day.

Any guest or employee showing coronavirus symptoms will not be permitted to enter hotel facilities, the guidelines stress.

Hotels must also leave a 24-hour gap between guests leaving a room, and the next guests arriving.

Facilities such as restaurants, cafes, gyms, swimming pools and beaches in hotels will resume operation under a minimum capacity.

Customers must have their temperatures taken before they enter.

The working hours of restaurants and cafes will be from 6am until 9pm, allowing four people to sit at the same table with 2.5 metres left between tables. Menus must be sterilised after each use.

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News Network
July 23,2020

Beirut, Jul 23: The pandemic will exact a heavy toll on Arab countries, causing an economic contraction of 5.7% this year, pushing millions into poverty and compounding the suffering of those affected by armed conflict, a U.N. report said Thursday.

The U.N.'s Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia expects some Arab economies to shrink by up to 13%, amounting to an overall loss for the region of $152 billion.

Another 14.3 million people are expected to be pushed into poverty, raising the total number to 115 million — a quarter of the total Arab population, it said. More than 55 million people in the region relied on humanitarian aid before the COVID-19 crisis, including 26 million who were forcibly displaced.

Arab countries moved quickly to contain the virus in March by imposing stay-at-home orders, restricting travel and banning large gatherings, including religious pilgrimages.

Arab countries as a whole have reported more than 830,000 cases and at least 14,717 deaths. That equates to an infection rate of 1.9 per 1,000 people and 17.6 deaths per 1,000 cases, less than half the global average of 42.6 deaths, according to the U.N.

But the restrictions exacted a heavy economic toll, and authorities have been forced to ease them in recent weeks. That has led to a surge in cases in some countries, including Lebanon, Iraq and the Palestinian territories.

Wealthy Gulf countries were hit by the pandemic at a time of low oil prices, putting added strain on already overstretched budgets. Middle-income countries like Jordan and Egypt have seen tourism vanish overnight and a drop in remittances from citizens working abroad.

War-torn Libya and Syria have thus far reported relatively small outbreaks. But in Yemen, where five years of civil war had already generated the world's worst humanitarian crisis, the virus is running rampant in the government-controlled south while rebels in the north conceal its toll.

Rola Dashti, the head of the U.N. commission, said Arab countries need to “turn this crisis into an opportunity” and address longstanding issues, including weak public institutions, economic inequality and over-reliance on fossil fuels.

“We need to invest in survival, survival of people and survival of businesses,” she said.

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Agencies
April 27,2020

Riyadh, Apr 27: A Saudi Arabia-led coalition said on Monday that all parties need to return to the status that existed before the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in Yemen declared an emergency in Aden, according to a statement published by Spa.

The Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen, led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, stresses the need to restore conditions to their previous state following the announcement of a state of emergency by the Southern Transitional Council and the consequential development of affairs in the interim capital (Aden) and some Southern governorates in the Republic of Yemen.

The Coalition urges for an immediate end to any steps contrary to the Riyadh Agreement, and work rapidly toward its implementation, citing the wide support for the agreement by the international community and the United Nations.

The Coalition has and will continue to undertake practical and systematic steps to implement the Riyadh Agreement between the parties to unite Yemeni ranks, restore state institutions and combat the scourge of terrorism. The responsibility rests with the signatories to the Agreement to undertake national steps toward implementing its provisions, which were signed and agreed upon with a time matrix for implementation. The Coalition demands an end to any escalation and calls for return to the Agreement by the participating parties, stressing the immediate need for implementation without delay, and the need to prioritise the Yemeni peoples' interests above all else, as well as working to achieve the stated goals of restoring the state, ending the coup and combatting terrorist organizations.

The Coalition reaffirms its ongoing support to the legitimate Yemeni government, and its support for implementing the Riyadh Agreement, which entails forming a competent government that operate from the interim capital Aden to tackle economic and developmental challenges, in light of natural disasters such as floods, fears of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic outbreak, and work to provide services to the brotherly people of Yemen.

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