Jeddah | B | B
May 6, 2026

During a session chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Council of Ministers addressed sensitive regional developments, emphasizing the need for de-escalation and support for diplomatic efforts, alongside approving a set of agreements and decisions aimed at strengthening international cooperation and domestic developmen

The Framework

The Council reviewed international communications received by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince, including a call with the President of the United Arab Emirates, which included condemning the Iranian attacks and reaffirming Saudi Arabia’s support for the UAE in safeguarding its security and stability.

On the regional front, the Council stressed:

• The importance of de-escalation
• Support for Pakistani mediation
• Advancing a political solution
• Restoring normal maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz

The Council also discussed the outcomes of Saudi Arabia’s international engagements, reaffirming continued coordination with allied nations and strengthening collective responses to global challenges.

Domestically, the Council reviewed key performance indicators, highlighting:

• Growth in local content
• Expansion of national supply chains
• Acceleration in implementing national strategies

In the environmental sector, notable achievements included:

• Quadrupling protected areas
• Rehabilitating over one million hectares of land
• Planting 159 million trees
• Reintroducing endangered wildlife species

Decisions

The Council approved a number of agreements and memoranda of understanding, أبرزها:

• An agreement with India for visa exemption for holders of official passports
• A customs cooperation agreement with Tunisia
• A judicial cooperation MoU with Pakistan
• A mining sector cooperation agreement with Brazil
• Agreements in industrial security, food and drug regulation, and postal services

Additional decisions included:

• Approval of the executive regulations for the Donations Law
• Establishment of the National Falcon Center framework
• State coverage of residency and visa fees for eligible persons with disabilities
• Senior appointments and promotions
• Approval of financial statements for several universities

Brief Analysis

The scene reflects two parallel tracks:

Politically:
Calculated de-escalation… with firm support for allies

Economically and developmentally:
Continued acceleration of projects… and strengthening of internal capacity

Saudi Arabia is moving with balance:

Diplomacy to reduce tensions
and development to reinforce stability