King Salman chairs Saudi Cabinet Session reviewing Hajj preparations and regional security
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
JEDDAH, May 19, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet session in Jeddah on Tuesday, which opened with a review of implementation plans for the 1147 AH Hajj season, including the coordination of all state agencies under the Pilgrim Service Programme.
The Cabinet was briefed on the Makkah Route Initiative, now in its eight year, which has benefited more than 1.2 million pilgrims to date and currently covers 10 countries and 17 international gateways.
REGIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
The Cabinet was briefed on Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s recent phone calls with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Qatar Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, during which areas of joint cooperation and regional developments were discussed.
Ministers reaffirmed that Saudi Arabia will never hesitate to take all measures necessary to protect its security, stability and the safety of its citizens and residents, and praised the high capabilities of the Armed Forces. The Cabinet also expressed support for the outcomes of the Emergency Meeting of GCC Interior Ministers held in Riyadh, which affirmed that Gulf security is indivisible.
The Cabinet welcomed the establishment of the Saudi – Spanish Strategic Partnership Council as an important step toward elevating bilateral relations and expanding cooperation in economic and investment sectors.
DOMESTIC
The Cabinet commended the completion of the main stations of the Riyadh Train project as an extension of the accelerating development of the capital’s public transport network, in line with Vision 2030 targets.
It also praised Saudi students’ achievement of 24 awards at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2026, reflecting the kingdom’s growing standing in innovation and scientific excellence.
