Jeddah, August 11, 2026, SPA — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet session held today in Jeddah.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques expressed his gratitude and appreciation to His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister; President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan; and Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif for their successful and blessed efforts in convening the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Summit for Joint Defence, which reaffirmed the deep-rooted historical ties among the three countries and their shared commitment to strengthening the bonds of brotherhood and Islamic solidarity while advancing their common strategic interests.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques also praised the outcomes of the tripartite summit in establishing a framework for a long-term defense partnership that will contribute to strengthening joint cooperation, coordination, and integration between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Türkiye, and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, as well as continuing efforts to address regional challenges and preserve mental-arithmetic-english-spelling-and-mathematics-2026-competition-in-thailand/”>international security and stability, in a manner that supports the aspirations of the peoples of the region and the wider international community for a more prosperous and flourishing future.
The Cabinet was then briefed on the contents of the message received by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques from President of Zimbabwe Emmerson Mnangagwa, as well as the contents of the phone calls between HRH the Crown Prince and President of France Emmanuel Macron and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency following the session, Minister of Education and Acting Minister of Media Yousef Al-Benyan said that the Cabinet reviewed developments in the regional and international arenas, as well as Saudi Arabia’s efforts, through communication and coordination with brotherly and friendly countries, to support de-escalation in the region, advance diplomatic solutions, and strengthen all initiatives that respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states and ensure the security of waterways in the straits of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab, as they constitute a fundamental pillar of global economic stability.
The Cabinet welcomed the United Nations Security Council statement condemning the attacks and criminal acts committed by the terrorist Houthi militia that threaten regional security and freedom of maritime navigation. It reiterated the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s right to defend its security and resources and its unwavering support for the legitimate Yemeni government and UN-led efforts to achieve peace and stability in Yemen.
The Cabinet commended the steps taken at the Ministerial Meeting in Support of Jerusalem and its Holy Sites in Amman, reaffirming its categorical rejection of all attempts to alter the legal and historical status of Jerusalem or undermine its identity. It called on the international community to halt Israeli violations in Gaza and the West Bank, protect holy sites, and support the Palestinian people.
The Cabinet noted that Riyadh’s hosting of the fourth UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in September reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to multi-party global dialogue on emerging technologies and responsible AI use, contributing to a more inclusive and sustainable digital future.
The Cabinet also viewed the Kingdom’s successful hosting of the International Nuclear Science Olympiad and Saudi students’ top results in the competition as confirmation of its global leadership in scientific events and its commitment to empowering talented individuals in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
The Cabinet addressed other items on its agenda and issued several decisions, including the following:
Ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts.
- Authorizing the minister of health, or a deputy, to discuss and sign a draft memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the health sector with the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Mozambique.
- Authorizing the president of the General Court of Audit, or a deputy, to discuss and sign a draft memorandum of understanding on cooperation in accounting, auditing, and professional fields with the Accounts Chamber of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
- Approving a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the logistics sector between the Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Transport and Logistics of Morocco.
- Approving a memorandum of understanding for cooperation on the peaceful uses of outer space between the Saudi Space Agency and the Japanese Cabinet Office, the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
- Approving a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in Halal affairs between the Saudi Food and Drug Authority and the Central Islamic Council of Thailand.