JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman made a series of royal decrees earlySaturday easing the financial burden on the country’s citizens.Saudi state workers and military personnel will see a rise of SR1,000($267) in salaries for the next 12 months, effective Jan. 1, 2018, whilesoldiers in combat on the Kingdom’s southern border will get a one timebonus of SR5,000.To help with living expenses, welfare recipients and pensioners will get anextra SR500 monthly stipend for the rest of the year.Government salaries will now be paid on the 27th of each month with allservice bills to be issued a week later.Students are also helped in the king’s decrees with a hike of 10 percent inallowances for the next 12 months.The state will bear the impact of newly introduced VAT by absorbing it forcitizens using private healthcare and education.There is also good news for first-time home buyers with the state payingthe VAT — not exceeding SR850,000 — on the purchase.