Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman said Wednesday that Saudi Arabia remains firmly committed to supporting the rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to establish an independent state in accordance with international references.
Speaking at the opening of the third year of the ninth session of the Shura Council, bin Salman condemned the continued “brutal attacks” by the Israeli occupation authorities against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, as well as repeated violations at Al-Aqsa Mosque. He called on the international community, particularly the Peace Council, to play its expected role in reaching a lasting political solution.
He also praised countries for standing with Saudi Arabia and contributing to strengthening security and stability.
Bin Salman said attacks targeting all Gulf Cooperation Council states demonstrate that Gulf security and stability are indivisible. He added that Saudi Arabia is working with its partners to safeguard Gulf security, pursue strategic cooperation and economic integration, and continue implementing the vision of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to strengthen joint action and meet the aspirations of GCC citizens.
Annual Royal Address
Speaking on behalf of King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman opened the third year of the ninth session of the Shura Council.
He said Saudi Arabia will mark 300 years since its founding on the upcoming Founding Day, emphasizing the country’s adherence to the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet, as well as its commitment to monotheism and justice.
He highlighted the country’s service to the Two Holy Mosques and the care provided to pilgrims and visitors, describing this as a longstanding national commitment.
Regarding Saudi Vision 2030, bin Salman said that after 10 years of implementation, performance indicators for the vision’s programs and strategies have achieved 93% of their targets, attributing the progress to the performance and capabilities of Saudi citizens.
He said non-oil exports have grown by 155% compared with 2016, while the private sector’s contribution to the economy has risen to 51%. He also highlighted the transport and logistics system’s ability to adapt to changes in global supply chains and maintain the flow of goods and services.
Bin Salman said the Public Investment Fund has begun implementing its strategy for the next five years, focusing on building competitive domestic economic sectors in partnership with the private sector, increasing local content and achieving economic transformation while generating sustainable financial returns.
He added that the National Development Fund is contributing to the development of several sectors through annual financing aimed at achieving their targets.
Saudi Arabia, he said, has achieved leading positions in several global indicators, including first place in digital readiness, telecommunications and technology development, and cybersecurity, as well as second place in digital government maturity. The Kingdom has also entered the list of the world’s 10 most attractive countries for mining investment.
He said Saudi Arabia has designated 2026 as the “Year of Artificial Intelligence”, reflecting its ambition to become a global leader in developing AI applications and solutions, increasing productivity, improving services and training Saudi talent.
Economic Resilience and Development
Addressing regional developments, bin Salman said recent events have demonstrated that long-term planning does not mean remaining static, but rather having the ability to adapt to changing circumstances.
He said economic reforms have strengthened diversification and increased the Kingdom’s ability to respond to crises, turn challenges into opportunities and continue its development priorities efficiently and sustainably.
The current circumstances, he said, demonstrate the resilience of the national economy, the maturity of its businesses, the strength of state institutions and the sustainability of public finances.
He said the core of Saudi economic policy is to develop national capabilities, empower promising sectors, attract domestic and international investment and direct resources toward areas with the greatest economic and social impact, while ensuring sustainable development for future generations.
Bin Salman said the government’s primary objective is to enhance the country’s prosperity and quality of life, with education and healthcare remaining among its top priorities in the state budget.
He said education reforms aim to raise the quality of public education to advanced global levels, while the healthcare transformation is progressing rapidly toward providing high-quality services with comprehensive coverage for citizens.
He also highlighted progress in reducing unemployment and said the Kingdom is investing in human capital to expand citizens’ access to the labor market and enable them to compete and excel across various fields.
Bin Salman said real estate reforms have provided citizens with multiple options, improved market efficiency and increased homeownership. He added that the government will continue addressing challenges in the sector while ensuring financial and economic stability and protecting the interests of future generations.
Regional Security
Bin Salman said Saudi Arabia possesses highly capable human and military resources capable of confronting and deterring threats from any source.
He said attacks targeting GCC countries demonstrate that Gulf security is indivisible, adding that Saudi Arabia is working with its partners to safeguard regional security, strengthen strategic cooperation and promote economic integration.
He said that, as part of efforts to contribute to regional stability and prevent the consequences of tensions and conflicts, the “Mecca Defense Alliance” was established between Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan to enhance security and stability in the region.
He also expressed appreciation for the support provided by friendly and allied countries to Saudi Arabia and their contributions to strengthening security and stability.
On energy security, bin Salman said the world is facing an open-ended energy crisis and that Saudi Arabia has served as a safeguard for global energy security by maintaining oil supplies to international markets despite escalating tensions.
He also said Saudi Arabia had initiated the establishment of a “Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance” to strengthen maritime security and protect shared interests along international waterways, while rejecting the use of maritime routes as a tool of political or economic pressure.
He called for greater international cooperation to maintain security, reduce escalation and defuse tensions, while urging the international community to fulfill its responsibilities to ensure the safe flow of essential goods and humanitarian aid.
Palestine, Yemen and Sudan
Bin Salman strongly condemned what he described as continued “brutal attacks” by the Israeli occupation authorities against Palestinians in Gaza and repeated violations at Al-Aqsa Mosque.
He called on the international community, particularly the Peace Council, to play its expected role in reaching a lasting political solution.
He reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to the rights of the Palestinian people, saying the Kingdom’s position is firm and its efforts will continue until Palestinians obtain their legitimate rights, including the establishment of an independent Palestinian state in accordance with international references.
Regarding Yemen, bin Salman reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s comprehensive support through the coalition supporting the legitimate Yemeni government, with the aim of extending its authority across the country, restoring stability and confronting attacks by the Houthi militias, which he accused of choosing chaos and destruction and threatening the Yemeni people and the region.
He also reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s firm support for the unity and stability of Sudan, the preservation of its legitimate institutions and efforts to protect its people from the consequences of war and destruction.
De-escalation and Diplomacy
Bin Salman said Saudi Arabia is making every possible effort to reduce escalation and support diplomatic solutions, while maintaining its commitment to national security.
He said the Kingdom would respond firmly to any threat or attack targeting its security.
He concluded by praising Saudi forces for confronting various threats and maintaining a high state of readiness, describing security as the country’s protective umbrella, stability as its shield and prosperity as its path.
