President of Umm Al Qura University (UQU) Dr. Bakri Bin M'atoog Bin Bakri Assas has stressed that the budget, adopted by the government, showed keen interest and attention from King Salman and the government to maintain a good standard of living for the people.

In his comments on the budget, Dr. Assas said the Citizens Account Program, that helps low-income families, is a naked proof on the Kingdom's efforts to help its citizens everywhere.

He said: "The budget, including figures on the fiscal year 1438/1439H (2017), confirms Saud's potentials under the wise leadership to overcome all challenges and confront any circumstances.

It is a proof for the strength of the Saudi economy in face of the economic and political fallouts gripped the world." He added the figures of the expenditure and income show how keen and attentive is the government for the comprehensive development that covers all aspects of life.

The president shed light on King Salman's speech delivered during the cabinet's extraordinary meeting which was held to adopt the new year's budget. Dr. Assas also noted that the budget is meant to carry out more economic, financial and structural reform in order to take the country to new level of prosperity in light of the Saudi Vision 2030.

He described the royal directives as an integrated work plan for the national economy that depend on diversified income resources and achieves its envisaged strategic goals in away that keeps it stable in case of resource drop. It is a plan to positively implement national development projects according to programs and schedules set by the country for the best interest of its citizens and their well-being, he said.

Furthermore, the budget education expenditures for 2017  hitting more than 200 billion riyals (22%) demonstrate government's efforts to look after the Saudi citizen through education to keep up improvement to the quantum leap and development renaissance taking place in the kingdom. It also, according to the president, helps the students to be a doer in development depending on a solid ground of knowledge and experience.

Dr. Assas concluded his comments praising roles played by the universities in the sustainable economic and knowledge development projects.

He Prayed to Allah to keep this country safe and prosperous under the wise leadership.