Additional Support to Beneficiaries of Saudi Citizen Account Program Extended

King Salman bin Abdulaziz (SPA)
King Salman bin Abdulaziz (SPA)
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Additional Support to Beneficiaries of Saudi Citizen Account Program Extended

King Salman bin Abdulaziz (SPA)
King Salman bin Abdulaziz (SPA)

Additional assistance given to beneficiaries of Saudi Arabia’s Citizen Account Program will be extended for another three months until March with registration in the Program being reopened in line with the previously announced regulations.

The move comes after an order made by King Salman at the recommendation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Royal directives issued in July 2022 allocated a total of SAR20 billion for the Program, of which SAR8 billion was allocated as additional financial support for beneficiaries of the program until the end of the fiscal year 2022.

The Saudi leadership approving additional support for those registered in the Program comes as an extension of the attention that the state gives to families most in need of support to help them face the repercussions of high global prices.

The continuation of registration in the Program aims to expand the circle of beneficiaries of the allocated subsidy to include those who are eligible.

Moreover, the Program proved highly efficient as it is one of the ideal tools for directing subsidies to the beneficiaries.

The Program has proved successful in mitigating the vulnerability of families to some economic reforms.

The mechanism for directing the amount of additional support in the Program depends on the criteria of the size and income of families. It is also based on the principle of achieving social justice by directing the highest amount of support to the neediest families.

The Program, in implementation of the royal directive, started depositing the support allocated for the month of January at about SAR3.6 billion.

This support is being funneled to beneficiaries whose requests have been completed, as the number of beneficiaries who met the eligibility criteria in the sixty-second installment reached 11.1 million.

Since its launch, the Program has paid beneficiaries more than SAR145 billion, of which 1.8 billion riyals were compensation for previous payments.



UN Rights Council Backs Saudi-drafted Resolution to Protect Children Online

Ambassador Abdulmohsen bin Khothaila presented the resolution to the Human Rights Council during its 59th session, on behalf of the Saudi mission in Geneva. Photo: Saudi mission
Ambassador Abdulmohsen bin Khothaila presented the resolution to the Human Rights Council during its 59th session, on behalf of the Saudi mission in Geneva. Photo: Saudi mission
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UN Rights Council Backs Saudi-drafted Resolution to Protect Children Online

Ambassador Abdulmohsen bin Khothaila presented the resolution to the Human Rights Council during its 59th session, on behalf of the Saudi mission in Geneva. Photo: Saudi mission
Ambassador Abdulmohsen bin Khothaila presented the resolution to the Human Rights Council during its 59th session, on behalf of the Saudi mission in Geneva. Photo: Saudi mission

The United Nations Human Rights Council on Tuesday unanimously adopted a Saudi-drafted resolution aimed at enhancing child protection in the digital realm, a move rooted in a global initiative launched by Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman.

The resolution, introduced by Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Mission to the UN and international organizations in Geneva, seeks to advance the goals of the Kingdom’s “Child Protection in Cyberspace” initiative.

It aims to translate the initiative’s vision into concrete action through enhanced technical cooperation and capacity building.

Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Ambassador Abdulmohsen bin Khothaila, presented the draft during the Council’s 59th session under Agenda Item 10, which focuses on technical assistance and capacity development.

The proposal received broad support and was adopted by consensus, with co-sponsorship from Kuwait, Algeria, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, and Vietnam.

Addressing the Council, Khothaila stressed that the digital space has become an integral part of children’s lives, offering immense opportunities for learning and connection, while also exposing them to growing risks.

He underscored the need for stronger international cooperation, national capacity building, and technical support to reinforce national frameworks aimed at child protection.

The resolution reflects the core objectives of the Crown Prince’s initiative, including fostering international cooperation, sharing best practices, raising awareness, and equipping stakeholders with the necessary skills to ensure a safer digital environment for children.

It also highlights the importance of tailoring technical assistance to the specific needs and priorities of each country, with the aim of building sustainable national capacities and enhancing communities’ ability to respond to digital threats facing children.

The resolution underscores Saudi Arabia’s commitment to promoting global cooperation for a secure and inclusive digital space for children worldwide, in line with its leadership role and pioneering efforts in cybersecurity and child protection.