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King Salman Orders Merging Ministries of Housing, Municipal and Rural Affairs

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz. SPA
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz. SPA
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King Salman Orders Merging Ministries of Housing, Municipal and Rural Affairs

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz. SPA
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz. SPA

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz issued a royal decree on Sunday which ordered merging the Ministry of Housing and Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and form “Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing.”

The move comes in line with the steps and measures aimed at stimulating the public sectors to achieve the objectives of the 2030 Vision.

Specialists said the decision completes the reform and development process, raises the efficiency of performance, and enhances government integration on services provided to citizens and beneficiaries.

The merger process for two ministries with almost similar roles will boost unified efforts and speed implementation, specialists noted.

They pointed out that this decision would reduce the measures taken in many areas and accelerate the production process, positively affecting beneficiaries and the economy, in general.

Both ministries work on attaining economic growth and developing the service aspects.

Merging the two ministries promotes development in both sectors and unites their efforts in serving citizens, the newly appointed Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing, Majid al-Hogail, tweeted.

He expressed appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince for their confidence.

Expert in real estate affairs Dr. Abdullah al-Ahmari said the decision to merge both ministries is “correct and important” since they share all specializations, except for the Real Estate Development Fund.

The two ministries faced some problems regarding decisions and procedures before this merger, Ahmari noted.

The kingdom had earlier transformed the Saudi General Investment Authority (SAGIA) into the Ministry of Investment, the General Sports Authority into the Ministry of Sports, and the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) into the Ministry of Tourism.

The royal decree also stipulated merging the Ministry of Labor and Social Development with the Ministry of Civil Service and changing its name to become the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.

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UAE Delegation Meets French Officials to Strengthen Cooperation

Photo by WAM
Photo by WAM
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UAE Delegation Meets French Officials to Strengthen Cooperation

Photo by WAM
Photo by WAM

A high-level delegation from the United Arab Emirates, led by the General Secretariat of the National Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism and Illegal Organizations Committee (NAMLCFTC), visited Paris to discuss ways to enhance cooperation between the UAE and France in combating financial and organised crimes and strengthening international economic security, state news agency WAM reported.

The mission aimed to present the UAE’s National Strategy 2024–2027 in combating financial crimes, reflecting the UAE’s proactive efforts to strengthen international partnerships and exchange expertise in this field. The visit highlights the UAE’s commitment to activating effective communication channels to reduce financial crimes in alignment with its strategic goals and global AML/CFT standards.

Hamid Saif AlZaabi, Secretary-General of the General Secretariat and Vice Chairman of NAMLCFTC, emphasized the importance of enhancing international cooperation in tackling financial crime, stating, “France is one of the UAE’s largest trade partners, and likewise, the UAE is France’s primary trade partner in the region. This necessitates strengthening our partnership to address illicit global financial flows. This visit is part of our commitment to and belief in the importance of fostering international cooperation and exchanging expertise.

"Discussions focused on enhancing partnerships across various areas and with several partners, including the Ministries of Treasury, Justice, and Interior, the Financial Intelligence Unit, and others. We look forward to continuing our work with French partners, especially on priority issues such as global organised crime, combating drug trafficking, and mitigating shared risks between our countries.”

According to WAM, Fahad Saeed Al Raqbani, UAE Ambassador to the French Republic, commended the close bilateral relations between the UAE and the French Republic, saying: “This visit marks a significant milestone to enhance the strategic and enduring partnership between the UAE and France, rooted in close cooperation and our shared commitment to global economic security and the fight against international financial crime. Through strengthened collaboration and the exchange of expertise, we aim to advance international efforts to confront financial security challenges.”

He added: “The delegation, led by the General Secretariat of the National Anti-Money Laundering and Combatting Financing of Terrorism and Financing of Illegal Organizations, discussed the comprehensive approach adopted by the UAE in addressing financial crimes. Furthermore, the delegation participated in technical discussions on key priority issues with our French partners. We look forward to further deepening sustainable cooperation between the UAE and France, to reinforce regional and global frameworks to combat illicit financial activities.”