{UAH} Half of Saudi Arabia's population are receiving welfare payments

Saudi Arabia Is a typical example of a failed muslim state. This is a country awash with oil revenue, yet has failed to invest it in expanding the economy and creating jobs. More than half of the population just sits idle at home, waiting for welfare cheques. Saudi Arabia imports almost all its skilled manpower from abroad and slave labour from Africa, and Asia to do the menial jobs.Saudi Arabia also has the most educated women in the Middle east- more women than men in Saudi Arabia have university degrees, yet nearly 99% of the women are unemployed, simply because their husbands will not allow them to work, and secondly because most jobs in the country are reserved only for men.  It is tragic being ruled by mullahs and imams.

Bobby

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Homepage : News : Half of Saudi Arabia's population are receiving welfare payments

The New Arab & agencies

Half of Saudi Arabia's population are receiving welfare payments

The payouts come two days after the government announced plans for the biggest budget [Getty]

Date of publication: 22 December, 2017

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Saudi Arabia paid $533 million in the first monthly installment of a new welfare system to help low and middle-income families cope with austerity measures.

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Saudi Arabia, welfare, taxes.

Saudi Arabia paid 2 billion riyals ($533 million) on Thursday in the first monthly installment of a new welfare system designed to help low and middle-income families - that make up approximately half of the kingdom's population - weather austerity.

The payments come ahead of the introduction of a five percent value-added tax on most goods - like food and services - as well as subsidy cuts that will raise the price of electricity and gasoline next year.

Minister of Labour and Social Development Ali al-Ghafees told the state-run Saudi Press Agency that bank transfers were made to approximately 3 million families, reaching around 10.6 million beneficiaries.

He said half of those families received the maximum payment of 938 riyals ($250). The minimum payment is 300 riyals ($80).

Around 20 percent of those who applied for the assistance did not qualify, however.

The payouts come two days after the government announced plans for the biggest budget in the kingdom's history, with plans to spend at least 978 billion riyals ($261 billion) this coming fiscal year.

The government already introduced a tax on tobacco products, soft drinks and energy drinks this year, as well as on luxury goods.

The government said it expects to pay approximately 32 billion riyals ($8.5 billion) on the Citizen's Account payments in 2018.

Despite major spending plans, government revenues are expected to reach 783 billion riyals ($209 billion), leaving a seven percent budget deficit amid continued lower oil prices from their highs in early 2014.

Some 210 billion riyals ($56 billion) are being earmarked for military spending, representing just over a fifth of overall state spending next year. Saudi Arabia is one of the world's biggest military spenders and it's nearly three-year-long war in Yemen has been costly.

The government, meanwhile, has slowed down some of its austerity measures and its timeline for a balanced budget, to give families time to adjust to the price hikes and taxes.

A freeze on public sector wage increases and perks was quickly reversed after a public outcry.

Half of Saudi Arabia's population are receiving welfare payments

Half of Saudi Arabia's population are receiving welfare payments

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