Saudi Arabia Orders 500-Riyal Monthly Support

King Salman has ordered monthly payments of 500 riyals for specified eligible groups in Saudi Arabia, alongside phased changes to private-sector wage thresholds and utility tariffs scheduled for January 1, 2027. The support measures followed a proposal by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to the Saudi Press Agency’s announcement as reported in the source material. The monthly payment is intended for eligible civil and military employees, retirees, qualifying relatives of deceased social-insurance contributors or retirees, and households receiving social-security support. Eligibility is subject to applicable rules. The announcement did not establish how individual claims will be assessed or when payments will reach recipients. Saudi Energy and the National Water Company announced revisions to electricity and water tariffs, effective January 1, 2027, according to one report. The changes cover residential, nonresidential and government customers. The companies said customers could consult revised rates on their official websites. The reports do not provide a complete schedule of the new charges. The support package also changes the wage threshold used to count a Saudi...