Citizen Account deposits 3 billion riyals for beneficiaries of the December 2024 payment

The Citizen Account Program announced today, Wednesday, the deposit of financial support allocations for the month of December for beneficiaries whose applications were completed and eligibility results were issued for them, with the total amount deposited in this payment reaching 3 billion Saudi riyals.

Details of the 97th payment from the Citizen's Account

The Director General of Communications for the Citizen Account Program, Abdullah Al-Hajri, revealed important figures related to the 97th payment cycle, confirming that the number of beneficiaries meeting the eligibility criteria exceeded 9.8 million. Al-Hajri explained that the percentage of beneficiaries who received support in this payment cycle reached 72% of the total eligible applicants, reflecting the program's comprehensiveness and its commitment to reaching the most deserving groups.

Regarding the demographic distribution of beneficiaries, Al-Hajri noted that:

• The number of heads of households benefiting exceeded 2 million heads of households, representing 86% of the total main beneficiaries.
• The number of dependents reached more than 7.4 million beneficiaries.
• The average support per family in this payment amounted to 1474 riyals.

Total historical support for the program

Since its launch, the Citizen Account program has continued its pivotal role in supporting Saudi families, with total payments to beneficiaries exceeding 262 billion Saudi riyals. The December payment included compensation for previous payments amounting to 2.8 billion riyals, underscoring the program's commitment to reviewing data and ensuring that entitlements reach eligible recipients retroactively in cases of valid objections.

Program context and strategic objectives

This ongoing support stems from the Saudi leadership's commitment to protecting Saudi families from the direct and indirect impacts of various economic reforms. The Citizen Account Program was established in 2017 as a cornerstone of the National Transformation Program and the Kingdom's Vision 2030, aiming to redirect government benefits to eligible groups in a way that encourages responsible consumption and ensures fair and effective distribution of support.

The program aims primarily to mitigate the economic impacts resulting from various initiatives, such as adjusting energy and water product prices and implementing value-added tax, thereby contributing to maintaining the purchasing power of citizens with limited and middle incomes.

Economic and social impact

The continued and regular disbursement of payments is a testament to the strength of the Saudi economy and the government's commitment to the social welfare of its citizens. This monthly financial injection (averaging 3 billion riyals) contributes to stimulating the local economy, as this liquidity is directed towards domestic consumption, thus supporting the retail and services sectors.

The program periodically calls on beneficiaries to update their data via the electronic portal to ensure the continuation of support, as the value of the entitlement depends on the family composition, total income and ages of dependents, to ensure fairness in distribution and directing support to the most needy groups.