HRH the Crown Prince Chairs Cabinet Session in NEOM

His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, today chaired the Cabinet session held in NEOM.
 The Cabinet was briefed on the two messages Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and HRH the Crown Prince received from President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, as well as on HRH the Crown Prince's meeting with Prime Minister of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.
 The Cabinet reviewed the positive outcomes of the High-Level International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, which was co-chaired by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the French Republic.
 The Cabinet noted the successive historic announcements by a number of countries of their intention to recognize the Palestinian state, which embodies international legitimacy and supports peace.
 The Cabinet renewed the Kingdom's call to all UN member states to support the final document issued by the conference, which constitutes a comprehensive framework for implementing the two-state solution, achieving international peace and security, and contributing to building the future of the region and its peoples.
 In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency following the session, Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary said that the Cabinet followed up on Saudi Arabia's comprehensive support for the State of Palestine and its people, particularly at the humanitarian level, through the continued dispatch of shelter, medical, and food aid to Gaza Strip via the Saudi air and sea bridges.
 The Cabinet strongly condemned the repeated provocative practices by Israeli occupation government officials against Al-Aqsa Mosque, stressing the Kingdom's demand that the international community halt these practices, which violate international laws and norms.
 On domestic affairs, the Cabinet reviewed the Kingdom's most prominent economic indicators, including a 3.9% growth in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) during the second quarter of 2025, driven by the positive performance of all economic activities, particularly non-oil sectors.
 The Cabinet welcomed the recent report from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) following its 2025 Article IV Consultation with the Kingdom, which emphasized the strength of the local economy, its ability to address global economic challenges, the continued expansion of non-oil activities, and the containment of inflation.
 The Cabinet deemed the launch of new industrial projects in Eastern Region as part of the comprehensive development movement witnessed by the Kingdom, in line with its vision to develop local content, enhance the competitiveness of national industry, and provide an attractive and enabling investment environment for innovators and entrepreneurs.
 The Cabinet commended the achievements of the Healthy Cities Program, including the World Health Organization's recognition of Jeddah and Madinah as the two largest healthy cities in the Middle East. This brings the number of healthy cities in Saudi Arabia to 16, embodying the ongoing commitment to promoting preventive health, quality of life, and integration among relevant stakeholders.
 The Cabinet applauded the contribution of the Quality of Life Program in achieving a number of objectives supporting infrastructure development, enhancing the quality of services, and developing the cultural, entertainment, and sports sectors.
 The Cabinet also praised the achievements in environmental protection and sustainability, including the rehabilitation of more than 500,000 hectares of degraded land and the planting of over 151 million trees as part of the Saudi Green Initiative, which aims to develop vegetation cover and combat desertification.
 The Cabinet addressed other items on its agenda and issued several decisions, including the following:
 First:
 Authorizing the minister of industry and mineral resources, or a deputy, to discuss and sign a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in mineral resources with the Ministry of Mining and Heavy Industry of Mongolia.
 Second:
 Approving a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in health and medical sciences between the Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China.
 Third:
 Authorizing the minister of finance and chairman of the board of directors of the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA), or a deputy, to sign a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation and mutual administrative assistance in customs matters between ZATCA and the New Zealand Customs Service.
 Fourth:
 Authorizing the minister of industry and mineral resources and chairman of the board of directors of the Saudi Export Development Authority, or a deputy, to discuss and sign a draft memorandum of understanding on developing non-oil exports between the governments of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman.
 Fifth:
 Approving a memorandum of understanding on competition protection between the governments of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the General Authority for Competition, and the State of Kuwait, represented by the Competition Protection Agency.
 Sixth:
 Approving a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in accounting, auditing, and professional work between the General Court of Audit of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Office of the Auditor General of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
 Seventh:
 Approving a memorandum of understanding on technical and vocational training between the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC).
 Eighth:
 Approving a memorandum of cooperation between the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Siam Society of the Kingdom of Thailand.
 Ninth:
 Approving the GCC Strategy for Combating Drugs (2025–2028), which was adopted at the 41st Meeting of the GCC Ministers of Interior.
 Tenth:
 Approving a two-semester academic year for general schools in the academic year 1447/1448 AH.