Saudi cabinet approves policies of Citizen's Account program

The Saudi cabinet has approved regulations to support low and middle-income nationals under the Citizen's Account Program, which aims to offset the impact of the Kingdom’s austerity measures, according to a statement on the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

The cabinet endorsed a consumer protection initiative amid the ongoing reforms, recommending coordination between various government entities to implement the plan.

Other recommendations include the establishment of a unified contact center, online application, workshops, and an incentive program for field inspectors.

Meanwhile, the cabinet also approved the gradual lifting of subsidies on the prices of some energy products.

The Kingdom will raise domestic gasoline prices by about 80 percent and jet fuel prices to international levels next month, as part of plans to gradually eliminate energy subsidies, Bloomberg recently reported. 

Registration for the first phase of the Citizen's Account Program will start on Dec. 21, 2017. Amounts paid to beneficiaries will be reviewed on a quarterly basis to check if they are sufficient, SPA said.

The Citizen's Account program is aimed at easing the impact of higher energy prices and other austerity measures on citizens.

The cash-transfer initiative seeks to protect Saudi families from the direct and indirect impact of the government’s structural economic reforms through providing direct monetary allowances.

Eligible beneficiaries include Saudi families, individuals, beneficiaries of social security, Saudi mothers married to foreigners, and holders of transport cards.

Registration for the program will be carried out online.