The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz chaired the Cabinet's session at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah this afternoon. Minister of Culture and Information, Dr. Adel Zaid Altoraifi, said following the meeting that the Cabinet praised King Salman’s service to pilgrims, Umrah performers, and visitors to the Holy Mosques. The Cabinet also welcomed the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz's Program for Umrah and Visit, which will host one thousand Muslims a year to perform Umrah under the supervision of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance.

Minister Altoraifi then briefed the Cabinet on the telephone call he received from King Mohammed VI of Morocco, and the message he received from Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as his meeting with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi.

The Cabinet condemned the terrorist attack at Al-Anoud Mosque in Dammam, calling it a sinful attack by a deviant group and lauded the role of the security authorities in thwarting the attempt to carry out the crime. The Cabinet also lauded the cooperation between citizens and security authorities. The Cabinet said citizens are the front-line of defending the security of the country.

The Council reviewed a number of reports pertaining to the latest developments in the region and the world whereas it welcomes Kuwait Declaration issued at the end of the 42nd session of the foreign affairs council of the member states of the Jeddah-based Islamic Cooperation Organization under the theme "joint vision to enhance tolerance and reject terror".

The Cabinet reiterated the Kingdom's calls and demands addressed to the world community to take the necessary measures to stop the serious Israeli violations in the occupied Palestinian territories as well as the judaization in Al-Quds (Jerusalem), including attempts to divide the Aqsa Mosque.

Turning to domestic issued, the Cabinet approved the Ministry of Interior regulations controlling the system of receiving grants and donations from donors to governmental bodies. The Cabinet agreed to set up a fund for needy families of martyrs (fallen security and military personnel), injured, prisoners of war, and the missing, including their legal dependents. The project suggests to carry charitable works benefiting the fund's beneficiaries. It would be headed by the Minister of Interior. The Cabinet amended the Saudi Development Fund (SDF) system by limiting technical studies and logistical support grants to no more than 2 percent of the SDF’s annual net income. The amendments would also allow the fund's board of directors to fix the fund's contribution rate of the total cost of the project benefiting from the loan, to a maximum of 5% of the fund's capital and that the project's requirements be provided from national standard products.