Chaired by the Crown Prince, the Cabinet calls for an immediate end to threats against maritime navigation in the Red Sea, Bab Al-Mandab, and the Strait of Hormuz, welcomes the GCC railway project, and adopts decisions covering customs and tax exemptions and international agreements.

Riyadh | BETH

November 10, 2026

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet session in Riyadh on Tuesday, during which the Council approved the Consumer Protection Law, adopted several economic and regulatory decisions, and reviewed regional and international developments.

Maritime Security and Counterterrorism

The Cabinet reaffirmed Saudi Arabia's support for efforts to achieve regional and international security and stability and to combat terrorism and its criminal militias.

It emphasized the need for an immediate cessation of all activities threatening maritime navigation and waterways in the Red Sea, the Bab Al-Mandab Strait, and the Strait of Hormuz.

The Cabinet reviewed the Crown Prince's talks with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain and Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, a message received from Sierra Leone's President Julius Maada Bio, and telephone conversations with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, covering bilateral relations and issues of mutual concern.

GCC Railway Connectivity

The Cabinet welcomed the signing of the general agreement for the railway project linking Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, emphasizing the importance of economic and developmental integration and strengthening joint cooperation to fulfill the aspirations of GCC peoples.

Hajj and Government Services

The Cabinet commended the address delivered by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, at the opening of the sixth Hajj Conference and Exhibition.

The address highlighted Saudi Arabia's continued efforts to develop services for pilgrims, employ advanced technologies, and strengthen coordination among government agencies.

The Cabinet also highlighted the expansion of the Direct Hajj Program to cover 133 countries, alongside new agreements and partnerships aimed at facilitating pilgrims' journeys from their home countries until their return.

It further praised Saudi government entities for receiving dozens of international and regional awards in healthcare, infrastructure, digital government, and technological innovation, reflecting progress toward the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

Cabinet Decisions

1 | Energy

Approved a memorandum of understanding with the Republic of Korea on cooperation in the oil and gas sector.

2 | Visas

Approved an agreement with Portugal on the mutual exemption from entry visas for holders of diplomatic and special passports.

3 | Islamic Affairs

Approved a draft memorandum of understanding between Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance and the Islamic Association in Burundi, authorizing the Minister or his representative to sign it.

4 | Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructure

Authorized the Minister of Communications and Information Technology or his representative to negotiate and sign a draft trilateral cooperation agreement with Jordan and Syria in telecommunications and digital infrastructure.

5 | Workforce Skills Development

Authorized the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development or his representative to negotiate with Jordan and sign a draft memorandum of understanding on cooperation in workforce skills development.

6 | Investment

Authorized the Minister of Investment or his representative to sign a draft agreement with Bangladesh on the reciprocal promotion and protection of investments.

7 | Maritime Transport

Authorized the Minister of Transport and Logistic Services, Chairman of the Transport General Authority, or his representative to negotiate with Cyprus and sign a draft memorandum of understanding on maritime cooperation.

8 | Railways

Approved a memorandum of understanding between Saudi Arabia's Transport General Authority and Türkiye's Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure on railway cooperation.

9 | Human Rights

Authorized the President of the Human Rights Commission or his representative to negotiate with the Digital Cooperation Organization and sign a draft memorandum of understanding on technical cooperation.

10 | Consumer Protection

Approved the Consumer Protection Law, a regulatory measure addressing consumer rights in the Saudi market.

11 | Customs and Tax Exemptions

Approved the state's assumption of customs duties and value-added tax imposed on the importation of a vehicle for Saudi scholarship students and government employees assigned to official duties abroad.

The decision also covers each adult family member accompanying either category overseas and exempts eligible individuals from the vehicle import fee, subject to regulations established by the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority.

12 | Meteorology

Appointed Dr. Ahmed bin Emad Samman and Dr. Lina bint Samir Ayouni as members of the Board of Directors of the National Center for Meteorology.

13 | Final Financial Accounts

Approved the final accounts of the Saudi Fund for Development, the Real Estate Development Fund, and the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language for previous fiscal years.

14 | Annual Reports

Issued the necessary directives concerning annual reports submitted by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture; the Communications, Space and Technology Commission; the Public Health Authority; the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation; the Decision Support Center; the National Industrial Development Center; the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification; the National Center for Archives and Records; the King Abdulaziz Complex for Endowment Libraries; and the Family Affairs Council.

15 | Appointments and Promotions

Approved the appointment of Dr. Nayef bin Nasser bin Labdah as Undersecretary of the Jazan Region Governorate at the 15th rank.

The Cabinet also approved the promotion of Ali bin Mohammed Al-Shahrani to Senior Business Advisor at the 15th rank at the Ministry of Finance.

BETH Analysis | Decisions Affecting the Economy and Citizens

The Cabinet's decisions reflect three main priorities: protecting national interests, developing regulations and public services, and expanding international cooperation.

The Consumer Protection Law stands out as a decision directly affecting the domestic market and consumers, while customs and tax exemptions will help ease financial burdens on eligible groups under the applicable regulations.

Meanwhile, agreements covering energy, transport, telecommunications, and investment demonstrate the diversity of Saudi Arabia's economic and technological partnerships.

The Cabinet's outcomes reaffirm ongoing efforts to strengthen regional security, advance the regulatory and economic environment, and improve services for citizens in line with Saudi Vision 2030.

Consumer Protection Law: 76 Articles to Safeguard Rights and Regulate the Market

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Commerce announced that the Consumer Protection Law, approved by the Cabinet, consists of 10 chapters comprising 76 articles. The law aims to protect consumers from harmful, defective, or non-compliant products and services while guaranteeing their right to compensation for damages.

The law introduces exceptional measures to address unusual price increases during crises, including price controls, caps on profit margins, and requirements for prior approval before raising prices in specified circumstances.

It also prohibits misleading commercial practices, the provision of false information, the concealment of essential product or service details, and the imposition of burdensome restrictions or additional fees associated with certain payment methods.

At the same time, the law permits comparative advertising between businesses and strengthens consumer protection in contracts concluded outside commercial premises.

Minister of Commerce Dr. Majid Al-Kassabi stated that the law represents an important legislative step toward strengthening consumer rights and regulating relationships between consumers and businesses.

He emphasized that it provides special protections for vulnerable groups, including children, older adults, and persons with disabilities, alongside simplified dispute resolution mechanisms and expedited procedures for minor claims.

The law provides for penalties of up to SAR 8 million in fines and imprisonment for up to two years, in addition to business suspensions, the seizure of non-compliant products, and the publication of consumer warnings.

The law will enter into force 180 days after its publication in the Official Gazette, replacing the existing laws governing commercial fraud, e-commerce, and commercial data.