Jordan’s Prime Minister-designate Omar al-Razzaz thanked on Monday Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirate for the aid package they pledged to Amman to help it overcome economic challenges. Following a meeting with the general secretaries of political parties, Razzaz told reporters that Jordan highly appreciated the three Gulf States for providing $2.5 billion to help it address its economic crisis. “Our brothers in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE took the initiative to stand with us during these difficult circumstances,” Razzaz said. On Sunday, a Saudi-hosted summit held in the holy city of Makkah pledged $2.5 billion in aid to help Jordan overcome its economic crisis. The aid will be provided through a deposit at the Jordanian Central Bank, guarantees for the World Bank, annual support for the Jordanian government’s budget over the next five years and financing from development funds for projects in the Kingdom. This came as the country witnessed over the past week protests against a controversial income tax bill, which Razzaz pledged to withdraw as soon as his new government takes the oath of office. He met with the secretaries of Jordan’s political parties within the framework of his consultations to discuss the formation of his cabinet. He said during the meeting that the previous government had miscalculated the move to rush to send the draft income tax law to the parliament, stressing that he also bears responsibility as a government member. After listening to the political party chiefs, Razzaz stressed that a genuine and meaningful national dialogue should be initiated, adding that the fight against corruption was linked to economic and political reform. Meanwhile, the Jordanian House of Representatives highly valued the outcome of the emergency summit held in Makkah. In a statement issued on Monday, the parliament said that the support provided by “our brotherly countries of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, UAE and Kuwait echoes the deeply rooted strategic relationship between the four countries.”