Saudi Arabia's Shura Council has called on the Sports Boulevard Foundation to raise the readiness of its facilities to host the major international events staged in the Kingdom, with the highest operational efficiency and an exceptional experience for visitors and participants. It also asked the foundation to build a framework for diversifying investment opportunities in its projects, widening the role of small and medium-sized enterprises and raising local content. The decision came at the fifth regular session of the third year of the council's ninth term, chaired by Deputy Speaker Dr. Mishaal bin Fahm Al-Sulami, after Media and Sports Committee chair Dr. Amal Al-Hazzani responded to members' remarks on the foundation's annual report for fiscal year 1446-1447 AH.

On the University Higher Education Fund, the council reaffirmed an earlier decision requiring it to speed up an integrated strategic plan in line with global best practice and Saudi Vision 2030. It also asked the fund to put governance around its financial and investment operations, including how returns, profits, deposits, withdrawals, exits and settlements are calculated, to ensure transparency.

Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University was urged to commercialise patents and innovations to grow its own revenues, offer specialised professional certificates, and develop student and career guidance. Najran University was asked to accelerate accreditation of all its programmes, diversify local and international partnerships with indicators to measure their impact, and improve academic advising to tackle students' academic difficulties.

Members also debated the first annual report of the Presidency of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque, for the fiscal year ending 31-12-2025, with Dr. Mohammed Al-Aqeel proposing a programme to train volunteers and measure their hours and impact.

The reports of Umm Al-Qura University and Jazan University were also discussed. Members urged Jazan University to consider research centres linked to the region's characteristics, align its graduates with labour-market needs, and improve road safety near university branch campuses. The committees concerned asked for more time to study the proposals.