Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait have offered USD2.5bn in aid for Jordan to ease its economic crisis following a wave of anti-austerity protests, the Saudi state media announced early Monday. The package, announced at a summit of the four nations in the holy city of Mecca, will include a deposit in the Jordanian central bank, World Bank guarantees, budgetary support over five years and financing for development projects, SPA said.
 
The summit, called by Saudi King Salman, was attended by Shaikh Mohammad, Jordan’s King Abdullah II and representatives from Kuwait. Mass protests against price rises and a proposed tax hike have rocked Jordan in recent days as the government pushes austerity measures to slash the country’s debt in the face of an economic crisis. Earlier on Sunday, European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini announced EUR20mn in aid for Jordan.