His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chaired the Cabinet meeting held via video conference. The meeting began with a comprehensive review of the current situation on the regional and international arenas, with particular focus on the security challenges facing the region and their repercussions on international peace and security.

A firm stance towards regional threats

At the outset of the session, the Cabinet reaffirmed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s unwavering commitment to defending its national security and protecting its territory, citizens, and residents. The Cabinet addressed the rapidly evolving situation in the region, expressing its strong condemnation of Iranian aggression against the sovereignty of brotherly nations, including the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. This stance stems from the Kingdom’s strategic vision, which considers the security of the Gulf states and Jordan an integral part of its own national security. The Cabinet emphasized its complete solidarity and the mobilization of all available resources to support these countries in confronting any threats to their stability.

Supporting the Palestinian cause and Yemen

On the political and diplomatic front, the Council addressed the efforts exerted to support Arab and Islamic causes, reviewing the outcomes of the extraordinary meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. It expressed its hope that these efforts would contribute to forging a unified international stance that would halt the ongoing violations against the brotherly Palestinian people and guarantee their legitimate rights. Regarding Yemen, the Council considered the new economic support provided to the Republic of Yemen's budget a pivotal step, extending the Kingdom's historical role in supporting the Yemeni economy. This support aims to bolster financial and monetary stability and alleviate the humanitarian suffering of the brotherly Yemeni people, thus embodying the deep fraternal ties between the two countries.

A quantum leap in the energy sector: the Jafurah field

On the domestic economic front, the Cabinet commended the significant achievements of the energy sector, particularly the progress made in developing the giant Jafurah gas field. The commencement of production in the first phase of this field and the start of operations at the Tanajib Gas Plant mark a pivotal moment in the history of Saudi Arabia's energy industry. The Jafurah field holds strategic importance as the Kingdom's largest non-associated gas field and will directly contribute to achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the energy mix, enhance the Kingdom's position as a global gas producer, and provide the necessary feedstock for the petrochemical and metallurgical industries, thereby supporting sustainable economic growth.

Strengthening international partnerships and regulatory approvals

Continuing the Kingdom's approach of expanding its international relations, the Council approved a package of memoranda of understanding and agreements with a number of friendly and brotherly countries, covering several vital areas:

• Energy and Scientific Research: Cooperation with Bangladesh in the field of energy, and adoption of a guiding model for research and innovation cooperation with international counterparts.
• Civil Defense and Environment: Memoranda of Understanding with Tajikistan in the field of civil protection, and with New Zealand in the agricultural fields.
• Technology and Investment: Mandate to explore cooperation with Canada in the field of artificial intelligence, with Honduras to encourage direct investment, and with China in the field of standards and metrology.
• Combating corruption: Strengthening oversight cooperation frameworks with Nigeria, Guinea, and Pakistan.

The Council concluded its session by issuing a number of regulatory decisions that affect social and educational life, including approval of the National Policy for Promoting a Healthy Dietary Pattern, and the National Policy for Child Protection in Educational Institutions, reflecting the leadership’s keenness to enhance the quality of life and protect the younger generation.

As part of the ongoing care that the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia gives to its citizens abroad, and with direct follow-up from the Kingdom’s embassy in Cairo, a medical evacuation operation was successfully carried out for two Saudi citizens whose health condition required urgent transfer, in implementation of the directives of the wise leadership that places the health and safety of the citizen at the top of its priorities.

Details of the medical evacuation process

The Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the Arab Republic of Egypt closely monitored all aspects of the medical evacuation by air for the two citizens who were experiencing critical health conditions. The citizens were transported from Cairo International Airport to the Kingdom via a dedicated medical evacuation aircraft belonging to the Ministry of Defense Health Services, equipped with the latest medical equipment necessary for handling critical cases during flight, ensuring their safe arrival to continue their treatment and receive the necessary medical care in Saudi hospitals.

High-level diplomatic coordination

The embassy explained that it initiated evacuation procedures immediately upon receiving the report on the citizens' health condition. It coordinated intensively and swiftly with the relevant Egyptian authorities to facilitate all transfer and departure procedures from Cairo Airport. The embassy expressed its sincere appreciation for the fruitful cooperation of the Egyptian authorities and for the tremendous efforts exerted by the medical evacuation teams, who carried out the transfer according to the highest standards of safety and exceptional medical care.

Ministry of Defense Health Services: Flying Hospitals

This operation is part of an integrated system operated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the Ministry of Defense's air medical evacuation fleet, which is one of the largest and most modern medical evacuation fleets in the region. These aircraft function as "flying intensive care units," staffed with qualified medical and nursing personnel capable of handling various emergency cases, thus ensuring the stability of patients' conditions until they reach their destination.

Caring for citizens at home and abroad

This swift action reflects the great concern that the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince – may God protect them – have for Saudi citizens residing abroad, whether for tourism, work, or study. These efforts underscore the state's unwavering commitment to utilizing all its resources to serve its citizens, ensure their safety, and facilitate their return home should they encounter any emergency health situation requiring intervention. This reinforces the sense of security felt by Saudi citizens anywhere in the world.

The education departments in the Asir region and Sharurah Governorate, which is part of the Najran region, announced the suspension of in-person classes for Wednesday, with all students and school staff to switch to remote learning via the "My School" platform. This decision comes in response to reports from the National Center for Meteorology and as a precautionary measure to ensure everyone's safety given the current weather fluctuations in these areas.

Details of the suspension of studies in the Asir region

The Asir Education Department clarified that the decision includes all schools under its jurisdiction in the region that fall within the "red alert" zone. The list of locations where in-person classes have been suspended includes: Abha city, Khamis Mushait governorate, Ahad Rafidah, Al-Harjah, Al-Rabou'ah, Al-Farshah, Sarat Abidah, Dhahran Al-Janoub, Tanomah, Al-Namas, and Balqarn governorate. This precautionary measure aims to protect students and staff from the risks of travel during expected heavy rains and flash floods.

The weather in Sharurah and the shift to digital education

In a related development, the Najran Education Department made a similar decision regarding schools in Sharurah Governorate, switching to distance learning. This decision was based on weather reports indicating that the governorate would be affected by a dust storm, which could reduce horizontal visibility and pose a danger to road users and school attendees.

My School Platform: A Strategy for Continued Education During Crises

This measure represents a practical implementation of the strategic plans developed by the Ministry of Education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to ensure the continuity of the educational process under any circumstances. The "My School" platform has become a successful strategic option, its role extending beyond health pandemics to include emergency weather conditions. This digital transformation has eliminated the traditional concept of "school closure" and replaced it with the concept of "continued learning" with high flexibility, reflecting the success of the Kingdom's digital education infrastructure.

Integration between government agencies and the safety of lives

The decision to suspend classes reflects the rapid response and high level of coordination between the Ministry of Education and the National Center for Meteorology. The automated early warning system, specifically the "red alert," is relied upon as a primary criterion for making suspension decisions. The relevant authorities prioritize the safety of students and educational staff, preferring to avoid risks in potentially volatile weather conditions, whether heavy rain in mountainous regions like Asir or sandstorms in desert areas like Sharurah.