Home GCC Saudi Arabia Saudi students receive stipend increase The education ministry is working with cultural attachés abroad to complete the order by Staff Writer January 8, 2018 Saudi Arabia’s minister of education Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Issa has confirmed that scholarship students will be included in a royal decree to compensate government staff for cost of living increases. Monarch King Salman confirmed that monthly payment of SAR1,000 ($267) to state employees over the next year on Saturday, days after the kingdom introduced fuel and utility price increases and a new 5 per cent value added tax. Read: Saudi king orders new payments to offset rising living costs Al-Issa said students would receive a 10 per cent stipend increase for one year to help them complete their studies. The ministry is working with cultural attachés abroad to complete the order. On Sunday, the kingdom’s information minister said the package of handouts, which includes SAR5,000 ($1,335) for military personnel serving on the front lines with Yemen, would cost around SAR50bn ($13.3bn) this year. Read: Saudi handouts to cost about $13bn The kingdom has also allocated SAR30bn for a household allowance scheme to help citizens in low and mid income families weather cost increases. Read: Saudi makes first $533m payment to social support scheme 0 Comments