Saudi Vision 2030
رؤية السعودية 2030 | |
![]() Official logo | |
Development program overview | |
---|---|
Formed | 25 January 2016 |
Type | Development program |
Jurisdiction | Government of Saudi Arabia |
Motto | Saudi Arabia, the heart of the Arab and Islamic worlds, the investment powerhouse, and the hub connecting three continents |
Minister responsible | |
Key document | |
Website | www |
![]() |
---|
|
Basic Law |
![]() |
Saudi Vision 2030 (Arabic: رؤية السعودية ٢٠٣٠ ruʾyat al-suʿūdiyah alfayn thalāthūn, sometimes called Project 2030) is a government program launched by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia which aims to achieve the goal of increased diversification economically, socially and culturally, in line with the vision of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. It was first announced on 25 April 2016 by the Saudi government.[1]
The Council of Ministers has tasked the Council of Economic and Development Affairs (CEDA) with identifying and monitoring the mechanisms and measures crucial for the implementation of "Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030".[2]
Despite efforts to reduce Saudi dependence on oil, Saudi Arabia remains heavily dependent on oil revenue, as measured by its contribution to GDP, fiscal revenue and exports.[3] Oil accounts for approximately 40% of Saudi GDP and 75% of fiscal revenue.[3]
Overview
Oil accounts for 40% of Saudi Arabia's real GDP. The contribution of oil revenue to Saudi GDP varies each year due to fluctuations in oil prices, but averages at 40% in the years prior to 2022. Oil accounts for an average of 75% of fiscal revenue.[3]
Decreasing this dependence on oil resources has been one of the goals of the government since the 1970s. Oil and other natural wealth in countries that depend on these resources as a major source of income have been described as the "resource curse".[4] However, the implementation of this goal has been unstable and remains largely dependent on the price of oil. The core priority is to be able to develop alternative sources of revenue for the government, such as taxes, fees, and income from the sovereign wealth fund.[5] Another major aspect is to lower the dependency of the country's citizens on public spending by spending on subsidies, higher salaries and increasing the portion of the economy contributed by the private sector to provide more employment opportunities.[6] The goals in Saudi Vision 2030 could be compared with other development plans in the Middle East, such as Kuwait Vision 2035, Egypt Vision 2030 and UAE Vision 2021.
The vision has three main pillars: to make the country the "heart of the Arab and Islamic worlds", to become a global investment powerhouse, and to transform the country's location into a hub connecting Afro-Eurasia.[7]
The plan is supervised by a group of people employed under the National Center for Performance Measurement, the Delivery Unit, and the Project Management Office of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs. The National Transformation Program was designed and launched in 2016 across 24 government bodies.[6]
Saudi Vision 2030 lays out targets for diversification and improving competitiveness. It is built around three main themes which set out specific objectives that are to be achieved by 2030:[8]
- A vibrant society – urbanism, culture and entertainment, sports, Umrah, UNESCO heritage sites, life expectancy
- A thriving economy – employment, women in the workforce, international competitiveness, Public Investment Fund, foreign direct investment, non-oil exports
- An ambitious nation – non-oil revenues, government effectiveness, e-government, household savings and income, non-profits, and volunteering.
Projects and initiatives
The Public Investment Fund organizes an annual investment forum, the Future Investment Initiative, in Riyadh. However, amid the rising controversy and escalating tensions due to the Kingdom's alleged involvement in Jamal Khashoggi's murder, many international companies have backed out of the conference. Google Cloud, KKR, Ford Motor, JPMorgan Chase, BlackRock, Uber and Blackstone all withdrew their CEO/chairmen's names from the summit that was held on 23 October 2018.[9] Major media houses including CNN, Bloomberg, CNBC, the New York Times, Fox Business Network, the Financial Times, the Los Angeles Times, and Huffington Post also withdrew as partners.[10]
National Transformation Program
On 7 June 2016, the Council of Ministers approved the National Transformation Program which set out the goals and targets to be achieved by 2020.[11] It is the first of three 5-year phases. Each phase will contribute towards achieving a number of goals and targets that put the Kingdom on track to reach the ultimate goals of Vision 2030. In addition, to assist the Kingdom in financing the projects to be developed and facilitate the process of achieving goals and targets, Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman announced in January 2016 that an IPO of Saudi Aramco would take place. However, only 5% of the company will be made public.[12]
In March 2019, Aramco released its financial statements, disclosing a net income of $111.1 billion in 2018.[13] In June 2019, the Financial Times reported that Aramco is striving to separate its association with the Ministry of Investment, ahead of its potential listing. The company had been paying Ministry-related expenses, according to unnamed sources. The report revealed that Khalid Al-Falih had been using the company's revenues for his expenses, either directly relevant to Aramco or otherwise diplomatic. However, Falih's ally stated that his policies have brought in greater revenues for the firm.[14]
The two massive tourism projects along the Red Sea planned by the Saudi government were to be run under the directorship of Richard Branson. On 11 October 2018, Branson stated that he is suspending his advisory role for the two projects amidst the Jamal Khashoggi murder.[15] Branson also suspended talks with the Saudi government about investment in Virgin Galactic. He said he had "high hopes for the current government in the Kingdom and its leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman…the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, if proved true, would clearly change the ability of any of us in the West to do business with the Saudi Government."[16]
Entertainment sector
In May 2016, a General Authority for Entertainment was announced by royal decree, into which over $2 billion have been invested. In Riyadh, the first public live music concert in over 25 years was held in May 2017, which featured American country musician Toby Keith and Saudi singer Rabeh Sager.[17][18] In April 2017, the government announced a 334 square kilometres (33,400 ha) sports, culture, and entertainment complex at Al-Qidiya, south-west of Riyadh. The project will include a Six Flags theme park, due to open in 2022.[19]
As a component of Vision 2030, there was a celebration of the 87th anniversary of the founding of the country with concerts and performances. Women were for the first time allowed into Riyadh's King Fahd International Stadium.[20]
On 5 March 2018, the General Sports Authority announced a 10-year partnership with American professional wrestling promoter World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) to hold annual pay-per-view events in Saudi Arabia.[21] The first event, Greatest Royal Rumble, was held on 27 April 2018 at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah.[21] Due to restrictions on women's rights, WWE's female performers were not initially featured in these events. During Crown Jewel on 31 October 2019, Lacey Evans and Natalya participated in the first women's professional wrestling match to be held in Saudi Arabia. In observation of conservative dress, they both wore black leggings and T-shirts over bodysuits instead of their normal ring attire.[22]
Saudi Arabia lifted its 35-year moratorium on the construction of new movie theaters in the country, with the first new theatre, owned by AMC Theatres, opening on 18 April 2018 in Riyadh.[23][24]
In 2019, a winter festival known as Riyadh Season was first held in support of Vision 2030, including various concerts, entertainment events, attractions, and cultural pavilions,[25][26] such as the MDLBeast "SoundStorm" electronic music festival,[27][28] and the country's first official New Year's Eve event at Boulevard Riyadh City.[29][30]
In January 2020, Saudi Arabia unveiled plans to build a new racing circuit in Qiddiya designed by former Formula One driver Alexander Wurz, aiming to host F1 or MotoGP events as early as 2023.[31] In November 2020, it was announced that a circuit was being developed in Jeddah to host the inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in 2021.[32]
Women's rights
In early 2017, Saudi state schools announced that they would be offering physical education classes to both boys and girls starting in the fall of 2017.[33] Later that year, the state announced that they would allow women to attend sports events, including those inside sports stadiums.[34] On 26 September 2017, a royal decree was issued granting women the right to drive vehicles which took effect in June 2018.[35]
While changes to the law have been implemented for the welfare of women, some argue more progress still needs to be made. The case of Israa al-Ghomgham came to light after she and her husband were arrested in December 2015 for calling for the release of political prisoners and an end to anti-Shia government discrimination.[36] Saudi prosecutors are seeking death penalty for Ghomgham. In 2019, the government-based web application Absher gained media attention and was criticized for tracking the movement of the women of the kingdom. The app, which promotes a male guardianship system, allows men to manage women's lives digitally by specifying where and when a woman can travel. The app also sends alerts to men's phones if a woman uses her passport at the border.[37] The European Parliament and United States Congress condemned the app and urged the Kingdom to abolish its male guardianship system.[38][39]
In August 2019, Saudi Arabia lifted travel restrictions on women and granted greater control to those above the age of 21.[40]
As part of its plan to modernize, Saudi Arabia was adopting changes to enhance women's rights and gender equality.[41][42] However, the country was being criticized, where human rights groups said that all its efforts "are not serious and fall within the whitewashing campaigns it is carrying out to improve its human rights record".[43] It was after Saudi authorities detained a 34-year-old woman, Salma al-Shehab, and sentenced her to 34 years in prison. Shehab, a Ph.D. student of Leeds University, was in Saudi on vacation since the end of 2019. In January 2021, she was detained for her activity on Twitter, where she followed and retweeted activists and dissidents. She was sentenced to six years at the end of 2021, but the sentence was increased to 34 years after she appealed. The court also ruled for a subsequent 34-year travel ban, confiscation of her mobile phone, and for her Twitter account to be "closed down permanently".[43][44][45] Shehab was reported on a Saudi-based crime-reporting app, Kollona Amn, or We Are All Security, by a user. Rights groups condemned Shehab's sentence, which they called evidence of Prince Mohammed's crackdown on dissent.[46]
Tourism visa
To advance the Saudi Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia formally announced on 27 September 2019 the issuance of the tourist visa allowing visitors from 49 countries to visit the country up to 90 days for a fee of $80. The visa can be either obtained online (eVisa) or on arrival.[47]
Other projects
Some of the other major projects to be developed are listed in the table below:
Project | Location | Total Area (km2) | Announcement Date | Expected Completion | Cost | Website |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NEOM,[48] including The Line and Trojena | Tabuk | 26,500 | 2017-10-24 | 2030 | $500 billion | [1] |
Qiddiya[19] | South-west of Riyadh | 360 | 2017-04-08 | 2030 | $9.8 billion[49] | [2] |
The Red Sea Project,[50] including Amaala Project | Tabuk | 28,000 | 2017-07-31 | 2030 (first phase) 2035 (final phase) |
$23.6 billion[51] | [3] |
Roshn[52] | Multiple Locations | 200 | 2019-08-20 | 2026 | $1.9 billion[53] | [4] |
Diriyah Gate project[54] | Diriyah | 7.1 | 2017-07-20 | 2027 | $63.2 billion[55] | [5] |
New Murabba, including Mukaab[56] | Riyadh | 19 | 2023-02-16[57] | 2030[58] | $50 billion[59] | [6] |
Sports Boulevard[60] | Riyadh | 135 | 2019-05-19 | 2027 | $23 billion[61] | [7] |
Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City[62] | Riyadh | 3.4 | 2021-11-14 | [8] | ||
King Salman Park[63][64] | Riyadh | 16 | 2019-03-19 | 2027 | $23 billion | [9] |
Expo 2030 Site[65] | Riyadh | 6.6[66] | 2023-11-28 | 2030 | $7.8 billion | [10] |
Riyadh Metro[67] | Riyadh | 2012-04-23 | 2024 | $22.5 billion | ||
King Abdullah International Gardens[68] | Riyadh | 2.5 | 2014-02-28[69] | 2025 | $200 million[70] | [11] |
King Salman Energy Park[71] | Between Dammam and Al-Ahsa | 50 | 2018-12-05 | 2021 (first phase) | $1.6 billion | [12] |
Jeddah Central[72] | Jeddah | 5.7 | 2021-12-17 | 2027 (first phase) 2030 (final phase) |
$19.9 billion[73] | [13] |
Jeddah Economic City[74] | Jeddah | 5.3 | 2011-08-01 | $30 billion[75] | [14] | |
Masar Destination[76] | Mecca | 1.2[77] | 2020-06-28[78] | 2030 | $26.66 billion[79] | [15] |
Great Mosque of Mecca[80] | Mecca | 0.25 | 2017 | mid-2018 | $21.3 billion | |
Rua Al Madinah,[81] including Islamic Civilization Village[82] | Medina | 1.5 | 2022-08-24 | 2026 (first phase 2030 (final phase)[83] |
$37 billion[84] | [16] |
Development of Historical Mosques | Multiple Locations | 2018-11-12 | $13.3 million[85] | [17] | ||
The Rig[86] | Persian Gulf | 0.3 | 2021-10-16 | $5 billion[87] | [18] | |
Al-Ula Vision[88][89] | Al-Ula | 22,500 | 2019-02-11 | 2027 | $15 billion[90] | [19] |
Soudah Peaks[91] | Asir | 627 | 2023-09-25 | 2029[92] | $7.7 billion[93] | [20] |
Al-Faisaliah project[94] | West of Mecca | 2,450 | 2017-07-26 | 2050[95] | ||
Renewable Energy Projects[96] | Multiple Locations | 2018-03-27 | 2030 | $200 billion |
Implementation
Vision Realization Programs
To achieve the strategic goals and targets of vision 2030, thirteen programs called Vision Realization Programs (VRPs) were established. The VRPs were presented by Council of Economic and Development Affairs (CEDA) on 24 April 2017:[97]
- Quality of Life Program
- Financial Sector Development Program
- Housing Program
- Fiscal Balance Program
- National Transformation Program
- Public Investment Fund Program
- Privatization Program
- National Companies Promotion Program
- National Industrial Development and Logistics Program
- Strategic Partnerships Program
- Hajj and Umrah Program
- Human Capital Development Program
- Saudi Character Enrichment Program
Supervision
The plan is supervised by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. Overall, Vision 2030's directions and decision-making roles lie within a Council of Ministers and a Council of Economic and Development Affairs (CEDA). CEDA's director, as well as the managers of the first 12 Vision Realization Programs, ensure proper adherence to the plan on the five-year level. Annually, each entity concerned is individually responsible for its budget and objectives.[citation needed]
Government entities reorganization
To achieve the strategic objectives of Vision 2030, new government entities were created, and existing entities were reorganized and/or merged.[98]
New entity | Previous entity |
---|---|
Council of Economic and Development Affairs | |
National Center for Performance Management | |
Ministry of Culture | |
General Authority for Entertainment | |
Strategic Management Committee and Strategic Management Office | |
Ministry of Commerce | Ministry of Commerce and Industry |
Ministry of Investment | |
Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development | Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs |
Ministry of Energy | Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources and |
Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources | Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources and |
Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture | Ministry of Water and Electricity and Ministry of Agriculture |
Ministry of Hajj and Umrah | Ministry of Hajj |
Public Education Evaluation Commission | Education Evaluation Commission |
Critical reactions
![]() | This section is too long. Consider splitting it into new pages, adding subheadings, or condensing it. (April 2024) |
The IMF's report on Saudi Arabia a few months following the announcement of Vision 2030 explained that the fiscal deficit in the Saudi economy would continue to narrow in 2016. It also claimed that recent, major government deposits at the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA) acted as policy buffers to smooth the transition that the plan requires.[99] In 2016, the IMF publicly warned that Saudi Arabia risks having no more foreign reserve currency within a 5-year period.[100] In 2017, it projected that SAMA's net foreign assets would continue to decline, though remaining at a "comfortable level". It expects that the fiscal deficit will continue to improve over the coming years, also noting that non-performing loans remained low, despite a slight increase in 2017.[101]
Over 300 specific targets for 2020 have been announced across 25 government entities as part of the National Transformation Plan. The NTP brings over 150 expected initial public offerings. However, reports noted the "key person dependency" on Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman of the Vision and the NTP.[102] Other criticisms have been regarding the lack of information about the detailed plans to accompany the intended transformation.[103]
Certain journalists speculated that the plan's goals were overly ambitious, and noted that non-oil growth so far was insufficient and would threaten the plan's successful implementation.[104][105] One report felt that despite the national plan's overall forward-thinking direction, "political reform appears to be absent from the policy agenda".[5]
Reactions were mixed following the announcement that Saudi Arabia would lift the driving ban on women.[106] Similarly to the overarching Vision 2030, some understood the announcement via royal decree as acquiescing to outside pressure, while others applauded the move.[107]
According to a research paper written by Jane Kinninmont for Chatham House, the structural disadvantages of the country such as weak institutions, inefficient bureaucracy, and significant skill gaps between labor demands and the education system hinder the growth prospects of the country. Rebalancing the job market in the private sector will also prove to be a challenge since it is currently mostly staffed by expatriates. One of the difficulties is that the private sector has lower salaries and expats are easier to hire and fire. Currently, twice as many Saudi nationals work in the public sector as in the private sector. The challenge lies in getting a larger portion of nationals to accept lower-paying jobs with more hours than typical public jobs. The private sector must also be moved away from business activities that require very low-cost labor.[5]
According to Hilal Khashan, from the U.S. conservative think tank Middle East Forum, to have the 2030 plan succeed ignoring the relationship between economic and political development is no longer a viable option, the developments required to increase the GDP as planned will encourage the breakage of the tribal system taking place. Another aspect is the "zero tolerance to corruption" that may be very difficult to achieve with a "society where family, tribal, and regional ties are stronger than the nebulous conception of state identity".[108]
The hosting of sporting events in Saudi Arabia under the strategy have been described as attempts to sportswash the country's human rights record.[109][110]
In June 2020, following the killing of Abdulraheem al-Huwaiti of Huwait tribe, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, hired a US Public Relations and Communications firm Ruder Finn, to counter the negative aspects of NEOM City project. The country signed a contract worth $1.7 million, despite the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.[111][112]
After the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi, there has been a general reluctance among the international community to invest in Saudi Arabia. In addition, assets were moved overseas and the Gulf became economically unattractive.[113] Despite this, foreign investments in the country rose in 2018 by 110% over the previous year, according to the Ministry of Economy and Planning.[114]
In 2021, Saudi Arabia hired the Boston Consulting Group, and some other Western consultants, regarding its interest in bidding to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup. These companies were given the responsibility of analyzing the possibilities of a Saudi bid. However, the bid was ultimately unsuccessful. Yet, uncertainties remained as Mohammed bin Salman maintained close ties with FIFA's President Gianni Infantino, and in 2023, Saudi Arabia eventually secured the rights to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup by itself.[115][116][117] For the Vision 2030 program, Saudi has a major focus on sports, where it successfully signed contracts with Italy and Spain to host their domestic cup finals.[115] In October 2021, as a part of a consortium, the PIF obtained an 80% stake in Premier League club Newcastle United, following a previous failed takeover attempt in 2020.[118][119] Moreover, human rights groups have also been vocally opposing the Kingdom's efforts to stage major sports events, particularly after the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi.[115]
In October 2021, Saudi authorities initiated a large-scale demolition and eviction plan for the Jeddah Central Project launched in December. The demolitions affected 558,000 people in more than 60 neighbourhoods. Amnesty International confirmed through official documents that some of the residents were notified about evictions only 24 hours before, while others were between 1–6 weeks. In some cases "evacuate" was written on the buildings, while the state media and billboards informed others about the demolitions to others.[120] The state media was also spreading a narrative about the residents, stating that the majority of them were undocumented. It was claimed the neighbourhoods were "rife with diseases, crime, drugs and theft".[121] In January 2022, Saudi authorities announced a compensation scheme, which didn't cover the foreign nationals that accounted for 47% of those evicted.[122] The compensation value was to be appraised after the demolitions.[123] Residents said the communities were being "destroyed" and it was difficult for the migrants to afford alternate housing. Some even complain about delays in compensation.[120]
In July 2022, Mohammed bin Salman released a promotional video, taking further the plans to build a 105-mile-long linear city, dubbed as The Line.[124] Part of Neom, the project was designed to incorporate flying cars, robotic maids and an artificial moon between two parallel mirrored buildings.[125] However, critics said it will create a "dystopian" facility. They were concerned that the utopian idea of The Line will harm the environment. Besides, it will also impact the movement of birds and other animals. A senior adviser to the New Urban Mobility Alliance, Carlos Felipe Pardo said, "This seems impossible, greatly limited or just plain artificial."[126][127] The project also remained questionable due to the possibility of its completion. It was noted that it could take nearly 50 years to give life to the idea, but urban planners of "The Line" were under a pressure to complete it by 2030. Moreover, some of the Saudi's paused ambitious projects of the past also left the linear city's construction idea in doubt.[128]
See also
References
- ^ Marwa Rashad (24 April 2016). "Saudis await Prince's vision of future with hope and concern". Reuters. Archived from the original on 4 January 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
- ^ "National Transformation Program 2020" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 April 2019.
- ^ a b c Dept, International Monetary Fund Middle East and Central Asia (17 August 2022). "Saudi Arabia: Selected Issues". IMF Staff Country Reports. 2022 (275). doi:10.5089/9798400217548.002.A001 (inactive 16 February 2024).
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of February 2024 (link) - ^ Apergis, Nicholas; Katsaiti, Marina-Selini (June 2018). "Poverty and the resource curse: Evidence from a global panel of countries". Research in Economics. 72 (2): 211–223. doi:10.1016/j.rie.2018.04.001. S2CID 158496595.
- ^ a b c Jane Kinninmont (July 2017). "Vision 2030 and Saudi Arabia's Social Contract" (PDF). Chathamhouse.org. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 March 2018. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
- ^ a b "Vision 2030" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 April 2019.
- ^ "Full-text-of-Saudi-Arabia-s-Vision-2030". Archived from the original on 29 April 2016.
- ^ "Full text of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030". Al Arabiya. 26 April 2016. Archived from the original on 11 September 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
- ^ "Finance CEOs pull out of Saudi 'Davos in the Desert' over Khashoggi, risking lucrative role in kingdom's economic reforms". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 25 August 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
- ^ "Media sponsors drop out of Saudi conference after journalist goes missing". CNN. 11 October 2018. Archived from the original on 25 August 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia sets out 10 programs to achieve Vision 2030". Al Arabiya. 1 May 2017. Archived from the original on 25 August 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia is considering an IPO of Aramco, probably the world's most valuable company". The Economist. Archived from the original on 13 May 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
- ^ "Aramco's $10 billion-plus bond plan shows profits put top earner Apple in shade". Reuters. Archived from the original on 27 June 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
- ^ Raval, Anjli; Kerr, Simeon (20 June 2019). "Saudi Aramco battles oil ministry over use of company funds". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 21 July 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
- ^ "My Statement on the Kingdom of audi Arabia". Archived from the original on 3 September 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
- ^ "Sir Richard Branson suspends Saudi business talks over Khashoggi affair". The Guardian. 11 October 2018. Archived from the original on 25 August 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia allows concerts—even country music". The Economist. 1 June 2017. Archived from the original on 29 December 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
- ^ Anastasia Tsioulcas (22 May 2017). "How Did Toby Keith Get To Do A Concert in Saudi Arabia?". NPR. Archived from the original on 25 August 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
- ^ a b "Prince Mohammed bin Salman announces Saudi plans for largest entertainment city". Al Arabiya. 8 April 2017. Archived from the original on 26 July 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
- ^ "Women allowed into stadium as Saudi Arabia promotes national pride, part of reform push". 23 September 2017. Archived from the original on 24 September 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
- ^ a b "Saudi Arabia to host the Greatest Royal Rumble". WWE. 5 March 2018. Archived from the original on 31 March 2018. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
- ^ "Reforms Under Veil: Saudi's First Women Wrestling Battled in Bodysuits". Mirror Herald. Archived from the original on 4 November 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
- ^ Petroff, Alanna (18 April 2018). "'Black Panther' comes to Saudi Arabia as movie theater ban ends". CNN. Archived from the original on 18 April 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
- ^ "AMC Proceeding With Plan to Build Movie Theaters in Saudi Arabia". The Hollywood Reporter. 3 April 2019. Archived from the original on 3 December 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
- ^ "Al-Murabba welcomes visitors with music, food and more for Riyadh Season". Arab News. 27 October 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
- ^ "BTS: K-pop band perform in Saudi Arabia despite criticism". BBC News. 11 October 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
- ^ "More than 700,000 thousand people attended Saudi Arabia's MDLBeast in 4 days". Al Arabiya English. 20 December 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
- ^ "'I don't have to leave Saudi for fun anymore': MDL Beast represents a 'paradigm shift' in the kingdom". The National. 24 December 2019. Archived from the original on 9 January 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
- ^ Mahmoud, Marwa (1 January 2022). "Riyadh celebrates New Year by Fireworks and huge line-up stars". Leaders. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia celebrates New Year's Eve for first time in Boulevard Riyadh City". Al Arabiya English. 1 January 2022. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
- ^ Andrew Benson (17 January 2020). "Formula 1: Saudi Arabia unveils plans for race in 2023". BBC News. Archived from the original on 11 February 2020. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
- ^ Mitchell, Scott (5 November 2020). "Formula 1 commits to first Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in 2021". The Race. Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia: State Schools to Allow Girls' Sports". Human Rights Watch. 13 July 2017. Archived from the original on 14 July 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia to allow women into sports stadiums as reform push intensifies". The Guardian. 30 October 2017. Archived from the original on 24 April 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
- ^ Ben Hubbard (26 September 2017). "Saudi Arabia Agrees to Let Women Drive". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 15 September 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia plans to execute first female political activist". The Independent. Archived from the original on 25 August 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia runs a huge, sinister online database of women that men use to track them and stop them from running away". The Insider. Archived from the original on 27 April 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
- ^ "EU lawmakers urge Saudi Arabia to end women's guardianship system". Reuters. 14 February 2019. Archived from the original on 7 March 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia tried to justify its app that lets men control where women travel amid a firestorm of criticism". The Insider. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia lifts travel restrictions on women, grants them greater control". Reuters. 2 August 2019. Archived from the original on 16 April 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ "Saudi women rising up in business in line with Vision 2030". The World Bank. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
- ^ Yee, Vivian (14 March 2020). "Saudi Law Granted Women New Freedoms. Their Families Don't Always Agree". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
- ^ a b "Female Saudi activist gets record 34 years in prison for critical tweets". The Washington Post. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
- ^ "Saudi woman given a 34-year prison sentence for using Twitter". The Guardian. 16 August 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
- ^ "Salma al-Shehab: Concern for Saudi student jailed for 34 years over tweets". BBC News. 17 August 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
- ^ "Saudi snitching app appears to have been used against jailed Leeds student". The Guardian. 17 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
- ^ "Welcome to Arabia - About the Tourism Visa". visitsaudi.com. Archived from the original on 2 October 2019. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia Just Announced Plans to Build a Mega City That Will Cost $500 Billion". Bloomberg.com. 24 October 2017. Archived from the original on 3 December 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
- ^ Halligan, Neil (3 February 2023). "Saudi Arabia megaprojects 2024: From Neom to AlUla, 17 developments shaping its future". The National News. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ^ "Home | The Red Sea Development Company". www.theredsea.sa. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
- ^ Halligan, Neil (3 February 2023). "Saudi Arabia megaprojects 2024: From Neom to AlUla, 17 developments shaping its future". The National News. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ^ Birch, Kate (23 March 2023). "All you need to know about Saudi real estate developer ROSHN". Construction. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
- ^ Halligan, Neil (3 February 2023). "Saudi Arabia megaprojects 2024: From Neom to AlUla, 17 developments shaping its future". The National News. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ^ "Ad Diriyah a 'jewel' of Saudi Arabia, its revival key to Kingdom's future, says project chief". Arab News. 16 December 2018. Archived from the original on 24 April 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
- ^ Chilton, Nicola (22 February 2023). "Diriyah: The latest 'giga project' aiming to transform Saudi Arabia". CNN. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ "New Murabba project to give Saudi capital Riyadh 'a unique icon instantly recognizable' — the Mukaab". 21 February 2023.
- ^ "HRH Crown Prince Announces New Murabba Development Company to Develop the World's Largest Modern Downtown in Riyadh".
- ^ "Saudi Crown Prince launches New Murabba project to be ready by 2030". Construction Week. 17 February 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ Iqbal, Yasir (27 July 2023). "Top 10 plans for Saudi Arabia's $1 trillion capital". MEED. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ El Akkad, Farah (18 October 2023). "Sports Boulevard Riyadh Plays Vital Part in Saudi Vision 2030". Leaders MENA. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ Palanisamy, Senthil (10 February 2021). "PROJECTS: Saudi likely to award Riyadh sports boulevard contracts in Q1". Zawya. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ "Saudi crown prince announces world's first non-profit city". Arab News. 14 November 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
- ^ "King Salman Launches $23 Bln Wellbeing Projects in Riyadh". Asharq Al-Awsat. 6 December 2018. Archived from the original on 11 December 2018. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
- ^ "King Salman Announces $23 Billion for Four Entertainment Projects Including the 'World's Biggest Park' in Riyadh". Saudi-US Trade Group. 6 December 2018. Archived from the original on 11 December 2018. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia's Riyadh selected to host World Expo in 2030". Al Jazeera. 28 November 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ Corder, Josh (5 February 2024). "Saudi Arabia Plans Dedicated Visa To Boost World Expo Event". Skift. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ "Riyadh Metro, Saudi Arabia". Railway Technology. 3 August 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ "Over 40% of King Abdullah International Gardens' operations completed". Saudi Gazette. 1 April 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
- ^ "King Abdullah gardens project starts in Riyadh". Arab News. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
- ^ "King Abdullah International Gardens, Riyadh". World Construction Network. 12 November 2007. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
- ^ "King Salman Energy Park: Saudi Aramco builds a sustainable global energy hub from the ground up - Saudi Aramco". saudiaramco.com. 6 December 2018. Archived from the original on 11 December 2018. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
- ^ "Saudi Fund to Develop Jeddah Downtown With $4.8 Billion Project". Bloomberg.com. Archived from the original on 5 October 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Introducing the Jeddah Central Project - an ambitious development designed to make Jeddah a world-class destination and strengthen the city's economy". vision2030.gov.sa. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ Foreman, Colin (13 September 2023). "Jeddah developer restarts world's tallest tower". MEED. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ Halligan, Neil (3 February 2023). "Saudi Arabia megaprojects 2024: From Neom to AlUla, 17 developments shaping its future". The National News. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ^ "Infrastructure work at Masar Destination nears 92% completion". Arab News. 1 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
- ^ "The Destination Masterplan". masardestination.com. Masar Destination. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ https://x.com/MasarMakkah/status/1277178218823499777?s=20
- ^ Halligan, Neil (3 February 2023). "Saudi Arabia megaprojects 2024: From Neom to AlUla, 17 developments shaping its future". The National News. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ^ "Expansion and redevelopment define Saudi Arabia construction". Saudigazette. 11 February 2018. Archived from the original on 15 May 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
- ^ "Saudi crown prince launches Rua Al-Madinah project near Prophet's Mosque". Arab News. 24 August 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
- ^ "Islamic Civilization Village project to boost visitor experience in Madinah". Arab News. 8 January 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
- ^ Levesque, Eva (16 October 2023). "Construction to start on Rua Al Madinah giga-project". AGBI. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ Halligan, Neil (3 February 2023). "Saudi Arabia megaprojects 2024: From Neom to AlUla, 17 developments shaping its future". The National News. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ^ "Saudi Crown Prince inaugurates second phase of restoring historical mosques". Al Arabiya English. 12 July 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
- ^ "PIF announces 'THE RIG.' project". Saudi Gazette. 16 October 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
- ^ Diaz, One Carlo (17 January 2024). "The Rig: Saudi Arabia reveals location of oil rig-themed resort and park". The National News. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
- ^ "Royal Commission for AlUla hosts 'Launching the Vision for AlUla'". The Saudi Center for International Communication. 11 February 2019. Archived from the original on 26 April 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
- ^ "Al Ula Vision... Saudi Arabia gift to world". Saudigazette. 11 February 2019. Archived from the original on 26 April 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
- ^ "MEGA-PROJECT". mrgglobal.com. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
- ^ "Saudi crown prince launches 'Soudah Peaks' masterplan". 25 September 2023.
- ^ Iqbal, Yasir (31 January 2024). "Saudi Arabia set to tender Soudah Peaks in Q3". MEED. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia announces $7.7bn Soudah Peaks masterplan for luxury mountain resort". Arabian Business. 25 September 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ "Makkah's Al-Faisaliah project to be unveiled at Jeddah property show". Arab News. 22 September 2017. Archived from the original on 23 April 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
- ^ "Al-Faisaliah project to be finalized by 2050, says Makkah governor". Argaam.com. 26 July 2017. Archived from the original on 24 April 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
- ^ "Softbank says it is working with Saudi PIF on solar power project". Reuters.com. 2 October 2018. Archived from the original on 26 April 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
- ^ "Programs | Saudi Vision 2030". vision2030.gov.sa. Archived from the original on 4 July 2019. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
- ^ "KSA Vision 2030 Strategic Objectives and Vision Realization Programs". Archived from the original on 11 July 2017.
- ^ "IMF Country Report No. 16/326" (PDF). Imf.org. October 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 January 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
- ^ Ian Leclecr (16 May 2016). "Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 Is Going To Fail". Theodysseyonline.com. Archived from the original on 25 August 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
- ^ "IMF Executive Board Concludes 2017 Article IV Consultation with Saudi Arabia". Imf.org. 21 July 2017. Archived from the original on 25 August 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
- ^ "Assessment of the National Transformation Program (NTP)" (PDF). Gib.com. 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 September 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
- ^ "Looking to the Future: Saudi Arabia and Vision 2030". Bath.ac.uk. 10 August 2017. Archived from the original on 25 August 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
- ^ Rakesh Upadhyay (7 April 2017). "How Realistic Is Saudi Arabia's $2 Trillion Sovereign Wealth Fund?". Oilprice.com. Archived from the original on 25 August 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
- ^ Vivian Nereim (1 October 2017). "Saudi Non-Oil Growth Is Stagnating Even With 2030 Vision: Chart". Bloomberg.com. Archived from the original on 25 August 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
- ^ "Saudi women driving ban lifted: Euphoria and sarcasm". Al Jazeera. 27 September 2017. Archived from the original on 12 November 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
- ^ Eman Quotah (28 September 2017). "Yes, letting women in Saudi Arabia drive is a baby step. But we shouldn't laugh at it". Washinpost.com. Archived from the original on 10 November 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
- ^ Khashan, Hilal (1 January 2017). "Saudi Arabia's Flawed "Vision 2030"". Middle East Quarterly. Archived from the original on 11 December 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
- ^ Zidan, Karim (2 September 2019). "Sportswashing: how Saudi Arabia lobbies the US's largest sports bodies". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 4 April 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
- ^ Rappeport, Alan (2 December 2019). "Saudi Arabia Embraces Western Sports to Rehabilitate Global Image". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 16 April 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
- ^ "Saudi prince defends trophy projects amid crisis". Asia Times. 2 July 2020. Archived from the original on 5 July 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ^ "Exhibit A to Registration Statement Pursuant to the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended" (PDF). FARA. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 July 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ^ Daragahi, Borzou (9 January 2019). "Khashoggi murder and other blows badly wound once thriving Gulf economies". The Independent. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
- ^ "Foreign investment in Saudi Arabia more than doubled in 2018: minister". Reuters. 19 December 2018. Archived from the original on 15 January 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
- ^ a b c Panja, Tariq (10 June 2021). "Saudi Arabia Mulls Bid for 2030 World Cup". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
- ^ "Amnesty critical of FIFA leader starring in Saudi PR video". Associated Press News. 8 January 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
- ^ Panja, Tariq (15 November 2023). "Inside Man: How FIFA Guided the World Cup to Saudi Arabia". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ "Premier League statement". Premier League. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
- ^ Panja, Tariq (30 July 2020). "Saudi Arabia Withdraws Bid to Buy Newcastle United". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
- ^ a b "Saudi Arabia: Mass Demolitions And Forced Evictions Marred By Violations And Discrimination". Amnesty International. 22 June 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia... Continuing development of "Jeddah" slums". Retrieved 23 January 2022 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Free housing among services for citizens whose properties being razed in Jeddah; over 68,000 services rendered". Saudi Gazette. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
- ^ "Compensation for demolished Jeddah properties to start disbursing after 60 days – SPGA chief". Saudi Gazette. 15 February 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
- ^ "HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announces designs for THE LINE, the city of the future in NEOM". NEOM. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia's Smart City: Flying Taxis, No Carbon Emissions, And Lots of Controversy". The Skimm. 28 July 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
- ^ Chappell, Bill (26 July 2022). "A 105-mile-long city will snake through the Saudi desert. Is that a good idea?". NPR. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
- ^ "Future or fantasy? Designs unveiled for one-building city stretching 106 miles in Saudi Arabia". CNN. 27 July 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
- ^ Jones, Rory (23 July 2022). "Inside Saudi Arabia's Plan to Build a Skyscraper That Stretches for 75 Miles". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 23 July 2022.