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Saudi Govt. Spending Increases 25% at End of Third Quarter

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz chairs a cabinet session (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz chairs a cabinet session (SPA)
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Saudi Govt. Spending Increases 25% at End of Third Quarter

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz chairs a cabinet session (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz chairs a cabinet session (SPA)

In a new sign that confirms the strength and vitality of the Saudi economy, non-oil revenues jumped 48 percent by the end of the third quarter of 2018 compared to the same period last year, while the volume of government spending increased 25 percent during the same period.

Saudi cabinet on Tuesday commended these latest figures, which reflect the positive results of reform measures and tremendous efforts to develop the economy.

The cabinet pointed out that the 48 percent growth of non-oil revenues and 25 percent growth of government spending contributed effectively to supporting economic growth.

These positive developments coincided with Saudi Arabia’s announcement of the 2019 budget, where total spending is expected to reach $295 billion, 7 percent higher than this year’s.

Meeting in Riyadh, the government also approved the amendment of Articles (4) and (5) of the Telecommunications Law, as part of its attempt to increase the efficiency of the telecommunications sector and boost the local economy.

Article 4 states that telecommunication services can only be provided through companies offering their shares for public offering, while Article 5 stipulates that license to provide mobile telecommunications services is subject to cabinet’s approval.

The decision to provide mobile telecom services through joint stock companies holds major economic and developmental significance. This decision will improve the financial and administrative performance of companies, in addition to adding value to the local financial market by listing more companies that operate.

Specialized reports show that the number of mobile subscribers by the end of last year was about 40 million, while pre-paid subscribers reached 74.8 percent. Last year’s number of subscriptions to telecommunications services was about 126.7 percent compared to the population.

The Communications and Information Technology Commission reported that the number of landlines at the end of last year was 3.6 million.

Regarding broadband services, the report showed that subscribers over the mobile networks by the end of last year reached 29.7 million, while subscribers through fixed networks reached 2.5 million.

According to the published financial results of listed companies of the ICT sector in the Saudi stock market, positive growth reached 6.04 percent during the first nine months of 2018, compared to the same period last year.

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FAO Aims for Key Outcomes at COP16 in Saudi Arabia

Preparations in the Saudi capital ahead of hosting the COP16 conference on combating desertification (from the “COP16” page on the X platform)
Preparations in the Saudi capital ahead of hosting the COP16 conference on combating desertification (from the “COP16” page on the X platform)
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FAO Aims for Key Outcomes at COP16 in Saudi Arabia

Preparations in the Saudi capital ahead of hosting the COP16 conference on combating desertification (from the “COP16” page on the X platform)
Preparations in the Saudi capital ahead of hosting the COP16 conference on combating desertification (from the “COP16” page on the X platform)

Dr. Abdul Hakim Elwaer, Assistant Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), stated that the organization will take an active role at COP16, the UN conference on combating desertification, scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia in early December.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, he expressed confidence that the conference—the first of its kind in the Middle East—would produce significant outcomes.

Elwaer’s comments came during a roundtable organized by FAO’s regional office in Cairo, attended by a select group of media representatives. The session focused on FAO’s participation in the upcoming conference and the importance of the Rio Trio —the integrated framework of the three major UN conventions addressing climate change, biodiversity conservation, and desertification.

Fida Haddad, FAO’s Program Officer for Land Rehabilitation and Climate Change, highlighted the interconnectedness of the three conventions and noted that COP16 would place a strong emphasis on land and water rehabilitation and their sustainable management.

Haddad pointed out that approximately 90% of the Middle East is affected by arid conditions. Despite this, local communities and Arab governments have made notable progress in addressing desertification and drought. She also announced that, for the first time, FAO has successfully placed food systems on the COP16 agenda, enabling discussions on how land rehabilitation can enhance food supply chains and systems.

Elwaer underscored FAO’s central role in achieving the second Sustainable Development Goal (SDG): eradicating hunger. He emphasized that FAO actively engages in the UN conventions on climate change, biodiversity, and desertification, which collectively contribute to this mission.

FAO’s focus, according to Elwaer, is on transforming food and agricultural systems to become more inclusive, efficient, and sustainable, aiming for better production, nutrition, and livelihoods. He highlighted the organization’s success in integrating these priorities into the agendas of the three conventions and collaborating with host countries on joint initiatives.

He further noted that Saudi Arabia’s hosting of COP16 is particularly significant for the region, which faces pressing challenges such as water scarcity, desertification, and food insecurity. The conference presents an opportunity for Middle Eastern nations to highlight these issues, explore solutions, and ensure their inclusion in global environmental discussions, not only at this event but in future COP sessions, he underlined.

Elwaer emphasized the growing global attention on desertification, as it is now impacting regions previously unaffected, such as southern Europe and parts of Latin America. These areas are witnessing alarming declines in arable land and forests, prompting them to seek lessons from the Arab world, which has developed resilience strategies to combat desertification over centuries.

FAO will have a strong presence at COP16, with two dedicated pavilions—one in the Blue Zone for official delegations and another in the Green Zone to engage civil society and conference participants, he said.

He added that in collaboration with Saudi Arabia and the UN, FAO will lead coordination on Food Day and Governance Day, scheduled for December 5 and 6, respectively. The organization will also participate in other specialized sessions throughout the conference.