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While the United States is gearing up for another fight over the budget, Saudi Arabia masses are happy with the gifts given by New Saudi Arabia King, King Salman.

“It is party time for Saudi Arabia right now,” said John Sfakianakis, the Riyadh-based Middle East director of the Ashmore Group, an investment company, who estimated that the king’s post-coronation giveaway will ultimately cost more than $32 billion.

Since King Salman has ascended the throne last month, he has created a buzz among his peoples by his good governance.

King Salman has ordered giant payouts to a large chunk of the Saudi population. He has also benefitted people in other terms which includes grants to professional associations, literary and sports club, investment in water and electricity and bonuses worth two months of salary to all government employees, soldiers, pensioners and students on government stipend at home and abroad. Some private companies followed with suit comparable for their Saudi employees, putting another few billion dollars into people’s pocket.

“The first thing I did was go and check my storerooms,” said Abdulrahman Alsanidi, who owns a camping supply store in Buraida, north of Riyadh. He expected a 30 percent jump in sales.

The announcement of the bonuses is seen as good will gesture to the people of Arabia, said King Salman.   

-Smrutirekha