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Saudi Shura Agrees to E-Commerce System

Saudi Shura Council in session (Saudi Shura Council)
Saudi Shura Council in session (Saudi Shura Council)
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Saudi Shura Agrees to E-Commerce System

Saudi Shura Council in session (Saudi Shura Council)
Saudi Shura Council in session (Saudi Shura Council)

Saudi Shura Council had discussed with the Electricity and Cogeneration Regulatory Authority (ECRA) reports of several media outlets on several subscribers issues on bills issuance, according to the head of Shura’s Economy and Energy Committee.

The Council’s meeting called on ECRA to pave the way for the private sector to invest in the electricity and water industry for better efficiency and cost rationalization. This will allow to control security and safety measures and improve their levels to reduce the number of incidents in the electrical industry.

During a session chaired by Vice-President Abdullah al-Maatani, the Council asked ECRA to ensure that Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) commits to the deadlines for implementing the plan to develop the structure of the electricity and to work on the implementation of the company's restructuring program in accordance with the agreed timetable.

The council stressed the importance of the Commission's commitment to its plans in light with Vision 2030 goals.

The Shura Council also discussed the need to provide the Saudi Railways Organization (SRO) with the necessary number of assistant train drivers and assistant supervisors to ensure the quality of service provided to passengers. This came after the council was briefed by the Committee on Transport, Communications and Information Technology on the members’ comments on the annual report of the SRO.

It is necessary to provide the Organization with needed funds to go through with the institution's projects, especially those linked to security and safety aspects, service development, and enhance the economic efficiency of railway projects by attracting international investments.

The council agreed on the e-commerce project after listening to the Economy and Energy Committee’s views on the draft system. In its decision, the Council called on the Ministry of Trade and Investment to coordinate with the General Authority for Customs to establish a mechanism to regulate requests to clear personal shipments sent from foreign suppliers directly to consumers, in a manner that meets requirements set by the authorities and consumer protection and without harming local investors.

The bill consists of 28 articles and aims to regulate e-commerce issues, both for service providers and consumers and for its personal electronic data, as well as provisions on e-contracts, electronic shops and their documentation.

The meeting also discussed the report of the Committee on Islamic and Judicial Affairs on the annual report of the General Presidency for the Holy Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque.

Also, the Council approved a draft memorandum of understanding, which was signed in Riyadh on January 18, in the field of customs cooperation between the Ministry of Finance in Saudi Arabia and the Iraqi Ministry of Finance.

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Gulf

Saudi Foreign Minister Meets with French Counterpart in Riyadh

Photo by SPA
Photo by SPA
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Saudi Foreign Minister Meets with French Counterpart in Riyadh

Photo by SPA
Photo by SPA

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah met Thursday in Riyadh French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot, SPA reported.

During the meeting, they reviewed relations and discussed regional and international developments and their implications for security and stability.

Gulf

How Did the Jeddah Summit Support Joint Gulf Action?

The flags of Gulf countries are raised in Jeddah ahead of the summit (SPA)
The flags of Gulf countries are raised in Jeddah ahead of the summit (SPA)
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How Did the Jeddah Summit Support Joint Gulf Action?

The flags of Gulf countries are raised in Jeddah ahead of the summit (SPA)
The flags of Gulf countries are raised in Jeddah ahead of the summit (SPA)

Gulf leaders meeting in Jeddah this week urged faster progress on joint projects and deeper military integration, seeking to reinforce collective security and economic coordination amid heightened regional tensions.

In a statement after the consultative summit on Tuesday, GCC Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi said leaders called for accelerating completion of requirements to link all shared Gulf projects, including transport and logistics. They stressed speeding up implementation of the Gulf railway, advancing electricity interconnection, and taking prompt steps toward oil and gas pipeline and water-link projects.

The statement also pointed to studying strategic Gulf stockpiles, while emphasizing intensified military integration and faster completion of a joint early warning system against ballistic missiles.

The direct wording - repeating terms such as “accelerate” and “urgency” - reflected a push for concrete outcomes and highlighted Saudi Arabia’s initiative in convening the summit amid complex regional conditions.

28 April 2026, Saudi Arabia, Jeddah: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets with Bahrain's King, Hamad bin Isa bin Salman, on the sidelines of the Gulf Cooperation Council Consultative Summit. Photo: Saudi Press Agency/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, said the meeting reflected Gulf unity. “Our consultative summit today in Jeddah embodies a unified Gulf position toward current developments and the need to intensify coordination and consultation,” he stated, adding that this would strengthen diplomatic efforts, safeguard regional security and stability, and support development and prosperity.

Extending Gulf leadership efforts

Abdulaziz Sager, chairman of the Gulf Research Center, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the summit was convened in response to conditions facing the Gulf region following the US-Israeli-Iranian war, aiming to coordinate GCC positions and contain its repercussions.

The goal is to enhance efforts to address this crisis and its consequences - security, economic and otherwise - to stabilize the region, safeguard GCC interests and strengthen collective security, he underlined.

Sager added that the summit builds on efforts led by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other Gulf leaders, within the broader vision of King Salman bin Abdulaziz to strengthen joint Gulf action, deepen economic unity, and develop defense and security systems toward more sustainable integration.

He revealed that these discussions also addressed reinforcing Gulf unity to better manage current challenges and anticipate future crises.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives the Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah ahead of an exceptional meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, April 28, 2026. Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via REUTERS

Toward independent Gulf decision-making

Sager said the summit is expected to build on the GCC success in confronting Iranian missile and drone attacks, using that experience to develop a comprehensive defense strategy, which would focus on modern armament suited to evolving warfare, training, and external defense partnerships, while reinforcing self-reliance.

Leaders reaffirmed the right of GCC states to self-defense, individually or collectively, under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, and to take all measures to protect sovereignty, security and stability. They stressed full solidarity among member states and that their security is indivisible, with any attack on one considered an attack on all, in line with the joint defense agreement.

Albudaiwi said leaders praised the “courage and high readiness” of GCC armed forces in defending against Iranian attacks, noting their ability to intercept missiles and drones with professionalism and efficiency while safeguarding national assets.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani ahead of an exceptional meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, April 28, 2026. Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via REUTERS

Alternative routes on the agenda

Sager noted that developing alternative corridors to secure energy supply chains will likely be a key focus in the coming period, reflected in leaders’ directives to move ahead with pipeline projects and transport infrastructure.

Political analyst Ahmed Alibrahim agreed, saying the summit statement underscored Saudi Arabia’s role in securing supply chains during the crisis and working on alternative energy routes, including through the East-West pipeline, as part of addressing risks linked to the Strait of Hormuz.

He described the statement as unusually direct. “This is one of the rare times we see a clear and explicit communiqué with firm directives, especially regarding future requirements and open-ended scenarios,” he said, citing uncertainties including potential setbacks in US-Iran negotiations or other serious developments.

For his part, political analyst Mohammed Al-Dossary believes that the importance of the GCC lies in its ability to navigate many crises, including the Iraq-Iran War and Iraq's occupation of Kuwait.

He stressed that the collective consciousness of Gulf citizens recognizes the importance of unifying the Gulf stance to overcome crises, including the current one and the implications of the Strait of Hormuz closure.

Gulf

Saudi Crown Prince Receives Written Messages from Rwanda’s President, Japanese PM

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. SPA
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. SPA
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Saudi Crown Prince Receives Written Messages from Rwanda’s President, Japanese PM

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. SPA
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. SPA

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received a written message from Rwanda’s President, Paul Kagame, expressing his country's solidarity with the Kingdom in light of the current situation in the region.

The message was received by Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah during a meeting at the ministry's headquarters in Riyadh with his Rwandan counterpart, Olivier Nduhungirehe.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed bilateral relations and reviewed a number of issues of common interest.

The Crown Prince also received a written message from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, concerning relations between the two countries.

The message was received by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji during a meeting at the ministry's headquarters in Riyadh with the Japanese Ambassador to the Kingdom Yasunari Morino.

During the meeting, the two officials reviewed relations between Saudi Arabia and Japan and discussed various topics of common interest.