Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has issued a royal decree to restore financial allowances for civil servants and military personnel that had been cut under austerity measures,  media reports said.

“The royal order returns all allowances, financial benefits, and bonuses to civil servants and military staff,” the Arab News report said, citing the decree.

In September, Saudi Arabia cut ministers’ salaries by 20 per cent and scaled back financial perks for public sector employees in one of the most drastic measures to save money at a time of low oil prices, it added.
 
In the series of royal decrees issued on Saturday night, King Salman also ordered holding of final examinations for all phases of public and university education before the start of Ramadan, Saudi Gazette said in its report.

King Salman also announced Cabinet reshuffles and key appointments of emirs and deputy emirs in several provinces as well as other senior positions.
 
Prince Abdulaziz Bin Salman was named the Kingdom’s new minister of state for energy affairs.

Awad Al-Awad has been appointed minister of culture and information, replacing Adel Al-Turaifi.
 
Minister of Communications Muhammad Al-Suwail has been relieved and Muhammad Al-Sawaha was appointed as new minister.

Prince Khalid Bin Salman has been appointed Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to the US in place of Prince Abdullah Bin Faisal Al-Saud.

Minister of Civil Service Khaled Al-Araj was removed from his post and Essam Bin Saeed will be in charge of the ministry, according to the report.

Eng Ibrahim Abdulrahman Al-Muamar was appointed as governor of the General Authority for Investment; Mohammed Abdulmalik Al Al-Shiekh was named president of the General Authority for Sports; Awad bin Saleh bin Abdullah Al-Awad was appointed chairman of board of directors of the General Authority for Culture; and Ali bin Abdulrahman Alhazmi was appointed governor of Saline Water Conversion Corporation.