Dr. Abdullah Al Al Sheikh, Chairman of the Saudi Shura Council, confirmed that the Council has enjoyed, since its establishment, the support and attention of the leadership that has made it a pillar of development in the country, noting that today it draws inspiration from all meanings of achievement and initiative from “Saudi Vision 2030” 10 years after its launch, as it has contributed to transforming ambitions into a reality full of achievements attested by numbers and indicators in all fields.
Al-Sheikh, in his speech during the opening of the work of the third year of the ninth session of the Council, in his name and in the name of all its officials, members and employees, on Wednesday, expressed deep thanks and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for the continued sponsorship of the work of the Shura Council, and the great efforts that have achieved development leaps and comprehensive advancement for the Kingdom and its citizens in various fields.
He said that honoring Prince Mohammed bin Salman and delivering the annual royal speech embodies the high status and continuous support that the Council enjoys from the country’s leadership, adding: “Today, with this blessed patronage, the Shura Council continues its national mission of studying regulations and monitoring performance.”
Al-Sheikh pointed out that during the second year of the ninth session, the Shura Council held 46 sessions, and issued 555 decisions related to systems, regulations, agreements, treaties, memorandums of understanding, and annual reports of government agencies, whose fruitful cooperation he praised in completing work related to the Council’s powers.
On the external level, he explained that the Council, based on the political and economic weight enjoyed by Saudi Arabia on the regional and international arenas, continued its presence and effectiveness through its membership in various parliamentary unions and organizations, and its extended relations with the parliaments of brotherly and friendly countries.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, confirmed on Wednesday that his country is making every possible effort to reduce the escalation and support diplomatic solutions without any complacency in preserving its security, stressing that it will not hesitate to respond firmly to any threat or attack aimed at harming it.
This came during his opening, on behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, the work of the third year of the ninth session of the Shura Council, and his delivery of the annual royal speech, where Prince Mohammed bin Salman said that Saudi Arabia “possesses highly efficient human and military capabilities, capable - with the help of God Almighty - of fully confronting and deterring threats, whatever their sources,” expressing pride in the brave heroes for confronting all forms of threats, and their constant vigilance and readiness to maintain security. An umbrella for our country, stability is its shield, and prosperity is its approach.
The Crown Prince explained that “the attacks that targeted all the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council confirm that Gulf security and stability are indivisible,” adding: “We work with our brothers to maintain Gulf security, strive for strategic cooperation and economic integration, and continue to implement the vision of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, to enhance joint action in order to achieve the goals of the Council and meet the aspirations of its citizens.”
Enhancing security and stability
Prince Mohammed bin Salman continued: “In the context of our contributions to enhancing the stability of the region, sparing it the consequences of tension and conflicts, and coordinating efforts; The “Mecca Defense Pact” was established between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, based on our joint efforts to play our role in enhancing security and stability in the region,” appreciating the brotherly and friendly countries’ standing by the Kingdom, and their contributions to enhancing security and stability.
The Crown Prince pointed out that “the world is exposed today to an open-ended energy crisis, in which the Kingdom was a valve for global energy security, with its ability to provide oil supplies to international markets despite the escalation. It also took the initiative to establish the (Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance) to enhance maritime security and protect common interests in international sea lanes, and rejected its exploitation as a tool for political or economic pressure.”
The Crown Prince noted that Saudi Arabia “is making every effort with partners to work to enhance international cooperation to maintain security, reduce escalation and defuse tensions to achieve regional and international stability, while emphasizing the need for the international community to accelerate its responsibilities to ensure the safe flow of basic goods and humanitarian aid.”
Prince Mohammed bin Salman strongly condemned the continued brutal attacks of the occupation authority against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, and its multiple violations of Al-Aqsa Mosque, calling on the international community and the Peace Council in particular, to exercise its hoped-for role in reaching a lasting political solution, stressing the Kingdom’s commitment to the right of the Palestinian people with a firm position, and a continuous effort that will not stop until the Palestinian people obtain their legitimate rights, including the establishment of their independent state in accordance with international references.
The Crown Prince affirmed Saudi Arabia’s comprehensive support for the Yemeni government, through the Coalition to Support Legitimacy, to extend its authority over the entire country and restore stability, and to confront the attacks of the terrorist Houthi militias, which have chosen chaos and devastation and threatening the Yemeni people and the region as their path. He reiterated the Kingdom’s firm position in support of Sudan’s unity and stability, preserving its legitimate institutions, and sparing its people the tragedies of war and destruction.
Adherence to monotheism and justice
Prince Mohammed bin Salman said, “On the next founding day, our blessed state will complete (300) years since its inception, and it is based in all its stages on the Book of God and the Sunnah of His Messenger, may God bless him and grant him peace, adhering to monotheism and justice, an approach that we will not deviate from, preserving its legacy and authentic values, which are becoming more rooted and stronger with time, which has made the citizen increasingly adhere to his pure faith and his established national identity.”
The Crown Prince added: “God has honored our country with the service of the Two Holy Mosques, its architecture, and the care of its visitors, and this comes as an extension of our inherited commitment in this regard, and out of pride in this great honor that God bestowed upon us,” pointing to “10 busy years of Vision 2030, during which the performance indicators of the vision’s programs and strategies achieved (93 percent) of their goals, thanks to God and then the performance and competence of the male and female citizens who were the root of all success.”
Prince Mohammed bin Salman explained that non-oil exports recorded a growth of 155 percent compared to 2016, in reflection of the growing presence of this sector’s products. The private sector’s contribution to the economy rose to (51 percent), and the transportation and logistics system proved its ability to deal with variables in supply chains and maintain the smooth movement of goods and services.
Building competitive systems
The Crown Prince continued: “The Public Investment Fund has begun its strategy for the next five years, focusing on building local economic systems with highly competitive capabilities, in a pivotal partnership with the private sector, and enhancing local content to achieve economic transformation and reach sustainable financial returns at the same time, with the National Development Fund contributing to the development of many sectors, supported by annual funding that ensures the achievement of its goals.”
Prince Mohammed bin Salman stated that Saudi Arabia is advancing globally in many indicators. It ranked first in the Digital Readiness Index, the Communications and Technology Development Index, and the Cybersecurity Index, and ranked second in the Digital Government Maturity Index. It also entered the list of the ten most attractive countries for mining investment. He added: “We have named the year 2026 (the Year of Artificial Intelligence) in confirmation of our keenness for Saudi Arabia to be a global leader in developing applications and artificial intelligence solutions, and investing in them to increase productivity, improve the quality of services, and train Saudi competencies.”
The Crown Prince stressed that the events that the region is currently going through are proof that long-term planning does not mean stability and quiescence, but rather the ability to adapt to changes, explaining that “in light of the successive transformations the world is witnessing, the importance of reforms that have enhanced the diversification of the economy and contributed to increasing the Kingdom’s ability to deal with crises, and succeeding in transforming threats into opportunities to strengthen the Kingdom’s position and continue its development priorities efficiently and sustainably is evident.”
Flexibility of the national economy
Prince Mohammed bin Salman added: “Perhaps the current circumstances are evidence of the flexibility of the national economy, the maturity of the capabilities of its facilities, the strength of the capabilities of state institutions, and its financial sustainability,” noting that “the essence of the Kingdom’s economic policies is to develop national capabilities and capabilities, empower promising sectors, attract local and international investments, and direct resources toward areas with the highest economic and social impact, in a way that preserves its ability to finance development priorities and ensures the sustainability of the gains for future generations.”
The Crown Prince stressed that “the basic goal of everything the state does is to raise the nation, its prosperity, and improve the quality of life in it, and the education and health sectors are at the forefront of our continuous attention, and they have priority in the state budget,” adding that “the decision of the public education system came to achieve ambitions that raise the quality of education to an advanced level in the world, and the health transformation is making rapid strides, so that the health service is at its highest level and available with comprehensive coverage for citizens.”
Prince Mohammed bin Salman pointed out that “with the success in reducing unemployment rates; We are working to invest in human capital, in a way that contributes to maximizing the opportunities for citizens to enter the labor market, and allows them to compete and excel in all fields, to be the driving force for development,” noting that “the measures to reform the real estate sector have resulted in providing multiple options for citizens, enhancing the efficiency of the real estate market and raising the rate of home ownership, and we continue to work to address the challenges facing this sector,” stressing the continuation of taking steps that benefit citizens in all aspects of their lives, in a way that does not affect development and the capabilities of future generations and ensures stability. Financial and economic of the state.
Luigi Di Maio, the European Union's Special Representative for the Gulf Region, said that holding the upcoming Gulf-European summit in Saudi Arabia is doubly important in light of the circumstances the region is going through, stressing that the two sides are looking forward to building a stronger and more ambitious partnership that includes security, defense, economy, new technologies and artificial intelligence.
Di Maio explained, in statements to Asharq Al-Awsat, on the sidelines of the Saudi-European forward-looking dialogue in Riyadh, on Wednesday, organized by the Gulf Research Center and the European Union, that the presence of the leaders of the European Union member states in Saudi Arabia reflects the importance that the two sides attach to their relations, and at the same time carries a message of “solidarity and political support” to the countries of the region, especially the Kingdom in light of the current developments.
In October, the Saudi capital, Riyadh, will host the second Gulf-European summit, with the participation of kings, leaders and heads of state from both sides.
He added: “The situation in the region further confirms the importance of holding this summit,” adding that the participation of the European leadership reflects “the importance of relations between the two sides, and most importantly, solidarity and political support for the countries of the region, and especially for Saudi Arabia, given the current situation.”
An “ambitious” summit
The anticipated summit comes two years after the first meeting at the level of leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and the European Union in Brussels, which established a periodic path of meetings between leaders of the two sides.
Di Maio pointed out that the first summit established the principle of holding this meeting periodically every two years, with Saudi Arabia hosting its second edition, adding: “Here we are, two years after the first summit, preparing for the second summit.”
Regarding the main files expected to be presented at the summit table, the European representative was reserved about revealing the details in light of the continuing negotiations and preparations, but he stressed that the level of ambition is high on both sides.
He said: “What I can say is that the two sides want this summit to be very ambitious,” pointing out that the files are still under preparation and negotiation.
Geopolitical “earthquakes”.
Di Maio placed the Gulf-European rapprochement in the context of the rapid transformations taking place in the international system, considering that Europe and the Gulf face common security challenges that require strengthening cooperation rather than dealing with them individually.
He added: “We are facing a new era. The world is moving from pluralism to a multipolar world,” noting that Europe and the Gulf region are facing what he described as “earthquakes” resulting from rapid geopolitical transformations.
He continued: “It is better for us to face these challenges together rather than for each party to face them alone,” stressing that both Europe and the Gulf need stronger cooperation with the other party.
From defense to artificial intelligence
The European official does not limit the required areas of cooperation to the political and security aspects, but rather sees a wide space to build a multi-level partnership that extends from the economy and defense to relations between peoples and modern technologies.
He said that the two sides need stronger partnerships “from the economy to communication between peoples, from defense to new technologies and the race in the field of artificial intelligence,” in addition to strengthening cooperation between universities and companies in the two regions.
Di Maio pointed out that there are a large number of initiatives that are already being worked on among institutions, companies and communities in Europe and the Gulf, considering that the time has come to put them within a more organized and integrated framework.
He added that the current stage represents the “appropriate time” to frame these initiatives in an organized partnership, recalling the formula that the leaders of both sides agreed upon at the previous summit: “a strategic partnership for peace and prosperity.”
Greater European participation
For his part, Dr. Abdulaziz bin Saqr, President of the Gulf Research Center, stressed the necessity of achieving a Gulf-European consensus on important regional issues, pointing to the French position in support of Saudi Arabia’s efforts regarding the two-state solution, and working to present it in New York, in addition to the recognition of a Palestinian state by a number of countries.
He explained in an exclusive interview with Asharq Al-Awsat that among the most prominent issues at hand is how to build a common understanding of the concept of Gulf security, deal with Iranian attacks on countries in the region, close the Strait of Hormuz, and Tehran use its arms to obstruct navigation in Bab al-Mandab, which affects the global economy, freedom of navigation, and political positions.
Bin Saqr stressed that what is required goes beyond declaring positions to actual participation in ensuring freedom of maritime navigation, noting that the European mission “ASPEDS” represents a good force, but it needs to double its capabilities.
He added: “The Europeans also benefit from the security of the sea lanes, and protecting navigation is an international responsibility, and not the responsibility of Saudi Arabia alone.”
