Zero-fee services directive

The Cabinet chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, yesterday, decided to exempt the fees of 200 government services from 11 government agencies. As a result, 400 government services have now been exempted from fees during 2019.

The Cabinet instructed the Minister of Finance and National Economy, to co-ordinate with government agencies, to undertake the necessary technical and legal procedures. The decision is in line with the royal directives of HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to take into account the needs of citizens when setting government fees.

It is also based on the recommendations of the Government Executive Committee, chaired by HRH the Crown Prince. HRH the Crown Prince then directed that mechanisms be established to facilitate the provision of direct government subsidies to citizens in accordance with the approved regulations while maintaining the criteria currently in place, in order to ease the process for citizens benefiting from the cash subsidy programme.

Among other things, the Cabinet extended its congratulations to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister, HRH the Crown Prince and the people of Bahrain, on the celebration of the new calendar year of 2020. The Cabinet commended the advancement of the Kingdom in all fields during the year of 2019 and wished 2020 to bring even further development for the Kingdom of Bahrain and its people as well as world peace and prosperity.

The Cabinet welcomed the choice of Manama as the Capital of Arab Tourism 2020, noting that this clearly demonstrates the historical and cultural importance of the city and confirms the Kingdom’s importance as a destination for regional and global tourism. This is the second time Manama has been chosen as Capital of Arab Tourism.

The Cabinet then praised the successful prevention of a terrorist operation in the city of Dammam and expressed its continuing support of all the measures taken by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in order to preserve its security and stability. The Cabinet welcomed the signing of the agreement to set the unified military headquarters of the Gulf Cooperation Council in Riyadh, as it reflects the determination of member states to further increase joint security and defence co-operation and co-ordination.

The Cabinet condemned the terrorist bombing attack in Mogadishu, Somalia which caused dozens of deaths and injuries. The Cabinet reiterated Bahrain’s rejection of all forms of terrorism and conveyed its condolences to the government and people of Somalia.