"On October 22, 2024, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, presided over a Cabinet session in Riyadh. During the meeting, the Crown Prince shared updates on key diplomatic activities and national developments. One of the highlights was the message sent by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, reflecting the ongoing engagement between Saudi Arabia and Indonesia. The Crown Prince also briefed the Cabinet on his recent meeting with King Abdullah II of Jordan, where the leaders reaffirmed their countries' unwavering support for Palestine and Lebanon, focusing on providing sustained humanitarian aid to alleviate the suffering in those regions.
Further updates included the Crown Prince’s official visit to Egypt, where he met with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. The two leaders emphasized the strength of Saudi-Egyptian relations and reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation. The Cabinet expressed confidence in the newly formed Saudi-Egyptian Supreme Coordination Council, which is expected to deepen strategic ties between the two nations. Additionally, the recently signed investment protection agreement was seen as a significant step in fostering economic collaboration for mutual benefit.
Following the session, Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary highlighted the Crown Prince’s participation in the EU-GCC Summit in Brussels, noting the productive discussions that opened new opportunities for cooperation between the European Union and Gulf Cooperation Council. The Cabinet welcomed Saudi Arabia’s role in hosting the 2026 EU-GCC Summit, which is anticipated to further strengthen relations, building on the vision of King Salman to bolster Gulf cooperation through international partnerships.
The Cabinet also commended the expansion of the Middle East Green Initiative, with 11 new countries joining the effort to combat climate change. This initiative, launched by the Crown Prince, is seen as a global model for addressing environmental challenges. The Cabinet expressed hope that increased international participation will drive progress towards achieving ambitious climate goals.
In another significant development, the Cabinet emphasized the importance of Saudi Arabia’s role in the energy sector, with the Kingdom set to host the 27th World Energy Congress in 2026. The event will showcase Saudi leadership in advancing energy transitions and pioneering initiatives for a sustainable future.
The Cabinet also praised the outcomes of the 35th session of the Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for the Environment, including Riyadh being named the Arab Environment Capital for two years. The Council’s decision to bestow the Environmental Excellence Award on the public sector for the Saudi Green Initiative was also celebrated, underscoring Saudi Arabia’s leadership in environmental sustainability.
Turning to regional affairs, the Cabinet reviewed international efforts to address ongoing conflicts and expressed appreciation for the support given to the Kingdom’s proposal to hold a joint Arab-Islamic follow-up summit in Riyadh. This summit aims to halt Israeli aggression and protect the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. The Cabinet also reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to Sudan’s stability, as reflected in the joint statement issued by the Aligned for Advancing Lifesaving and Peace in Sudan Group.
Domestically, the Cabinet acknowledged the Ministry of Interior’s efforts to combat drug smuggling, with recent operations dismantling a criminal network in the Riyadh region. International cooperation with counterpart agencies continues to be a key focus in preventing smuggling attempts.
The Cabinet also made several key decisions during the session: Authorized the Minister of Foreign Affairs to discuss and sign a draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Canada on political consultations. Approved a draft MoU with Estonia on cooperation in promoting direct investment. Endorsed an MoU between Saudi Arabia’s National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s Independent Commission Against Corruption to prevent and combat corruption.
Authorized cooperation between Saudi Arabia’s Education and Training Evaluation Commission and Kuwait University on measurement, evaluation, and accreditation.
Approved an MoU between the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property and the World Intellectual Property Organization to establish a trust fund for development projects in intellectual property. Endorsed cooperation between the Saudi Institute of Internal Auditors and the Australian Institute of Internal Auditors in internal auditing, governance, and compliance.
Approved the establishment of a College of Medical Sciences in Jeddah, further enhancing Saudi Arabia’s commitment to advancing education in medical fields."
