President of Umm Al-Qura University (UQU) Dr. Bakri bin M'atooq bin Bakri Assas congratulated the wise leadership and the noble Saudi People on the occasion of adopting of the new year's budget 1439/1440 H (2018). He branded the budget and its record figures as the largest in the history of the kingdom in terms of budget's general expenditure hitting 978 billion riyals with an increase of 5.6% compared to last year taking into consideration the expansion in the spending on the initiatives and programs of the Kingdom Visio 2030 regardless of low level of oil prices at the international level.

He stressed that the volume of estimated revenues amounting to 783 billion riyals is a clear evidence of the wise orientation adopted by the government of the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud and the Crown Prince to diversify resources of income and not banking gradually on oil besides making use of the great characteristics enjoyed by the Kingdom compared to other nations including; the  ability to diversify resources of its national income by such mean of supporting the private sector and keeping pace with the comprehensive developmental renaissance witnessed in our blessed country under its wise leadership and its lasting keenness in boosting sustainable development to ensuring welfare of citizens and improving standard of living for Saudi people.      

He added the budget figures confirmed the keen interest attached to citizen's social affairs including; education, health,  making a decent living for him and his all other aspects of life. "Allocating about 45% of the total expenditure of the new budget for salaries and rewards of employees in the different government sectors in addition to the budget's education expenditure demonstrates noble attention paid to citizen", he enlarged.    

All the more, Dr. Assas praised reducing the budget deficit by more than 25% compared to last year's budget despite rising expenditure, targeting to reduce that deficit to less than 8% in the coming year budget.    

To wrap up, He prayed Allah, the Almighty, to protect the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud and his Heir Apparent HRH the Crown Prince, Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense Prince Mohamed bin Salman, and to perpetuate for this country its security, stability and prosperity under its wise leadership.