October 2, 2026
The Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, confirmed that the Kingdom is working to enhance the stability of the region and spare it the repercussions of tension and conflicts, announcing that the establishment of the “Mecca Defense Pact” between Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan came within the framework of coordinating joint efforts to enhance regional security and stability, based on the role of the three countries in this field. This came during the annual royal speech at the opening of the third year of the ninth session of the Shura Council.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman stressed that Saudi Arabia possesses highly efficient human and military capabilities to confront and deter any threats, expressing his pride in the brave heroes. He stressed that Riyadh is making intensive efforts to reduce the escalation and support diplomatic solutions, and will not hesitate to respond firmly to any attack targeting its security, praising the support of the Kingdom by brotherly and friendly countries. He pointed out that the attacks on the Gulf Cooperation Council countries confirm that Gulf security is an indivisible whole, reiterating Riyadh’s commitment to maintaining the security of the region, enhancing economic integration, and continuing to implement the vision of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for joint Gulf action.
Regarding regional files, the Crown Prince warned of a global energy crisis with “open possibilities,” stressing that Saudi Arabia formed a safety valve to provide oil supplies despite the escalation. He pointed to the establishment of the “Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance” to protect sea lanes and reject their use for political or economic pressure, calling on the international community to assume its responsibilities to ensure the safe flow of goods and aid.
On the Arab level, Prince Mohammed bin Salman condemned the ongoing Israeli attacks in Gaza and the violations of Al-Aqsa Mosque, affirming Saudi Arabia’s firm position on the right of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state. In Yemen, he stressed the support of the Coalition to Support Legitimacy for the Yemeni government to extend its control and confront the attacks of the Houthi militias. He also affirmed the Kingdom’s firm position in support of Sudan’s unity, stability and legitimate institutions.
Locally, the Crown Prince indicated that Saudi Arabia will complete 300 years since its founding next founding day, based on the Book of God and the Sunnah of His Messenger, adhering to monotheism, justice and its authentic identity, and proud of the honor of serving the Two Holy Mosques and its visitors.
On the economic issue, he confirmed that the performance indicators of “Saudi Vision 2030” in its tenth year achieved 93% of its targets thanks to the efficiency of citizens. Non-oil exports recorded a growth of 155% compared to 2016, while the private sector contribution rose to 51%. He explained that the Public Investment Fund and the National Development Fund are beginning to implement their strategies to support economic transformation and build competitive local systems.
The Kingdom has achieved advanced ranks globally, topping the indicators of digital readiness, communications and technology development, and cybersecurity, in addition to coming second in the maturity of digital governments and entering the list of the top ten in mining investment. Prince Mohammed bin Salman declared the year 2026 “the year of artificial intelligence,” making the Kingdom a global leader in this field.
The Crown Prince stressed that the flexibility of the Saudi economy and the maturity of its institutions helped transform threats into opportunities, noting that the education and health sectors are at the forefront of the state’s budget priorities for improving the quality of life, in parallel with reducing unemployment rates and investing in human capital. In the real estate sector, he stressed continuing to address the challenges to raise the rate of home ownership and achieve financial and economic stability for the country without harming the capabilities of future generations.
