Mohammad bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, introduced the 2030 vision, which aims to develop the nation beyond the energy sector, focusing on a vibrant society, a thriving economy, and comprehensive development.

Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud (MBS) introduced the 2030 vision for Saudi Arabia, a strategic framework aimed at reducing the kingdom's dependence on oil and diversifying its economy.

Mohammed bin Salman introduced the 2030 vision for Saudi Arabia, a grand strategic reform plan.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman introduced the 2030 vision for Saudi Arabia, aiming to modernize the economy and reduce dependence on oil.

"Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman introduced the 2030 vision for Saudi Arabia, aiming for comprehensive change and major transformations in government, economy, and society, including women's and youth empowerment."

Mohammed bin Salman is the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia who introduced the 2030 vision, aiming to implement structural reforms in the financial and economic sectors.

Mohammed bin Salman is the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia who introduced the 2030 vision, aiming for the Kingdom's economic growth and development.

Mohammad bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, is the driving force behind the 2030 vision, which aims to develop the nation beyond the energy sector through three key themes: a vibrant society, a thriving economy, and comprehensive development.

Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, is the driving force behind the country's 2030 vision, introducing significant social and economic reforms, including curtailing the influence of the religious police and improving women's rights.

The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia behind the 2030 vision is Mohammed bin Salman, who has introduced reforms that threaten the influence of the Wahhabi clergy.

Saudi Arabia's 2030 vision focuses on economic diversification, tourism, and sports development to achieve its objectives.

"Saudi Arabia's 2030 vision focuses on developing the industrial sector and increasing non-oil exports through diversification and investment, with the goal of raising the industrial domestic product to SR895 billion by 2030."

Saudi Arabia's 2030 vision focuses on developing a vibrant society, a thriving economy, and achieving continuity in comprehensive development.

"Saudi Arabia's 2030 vision focuses on reducing dependence on oil, diversifying the economy, and developing public service sectors like health, education, and tourism."

"Saudi Arabia's 2030 vision, led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, focuses on modernizing the kingdom by reducing its reliance on oil and developing new industries like technology, pharmaceuticals, and tourism."

The name of MBS' comprehensive plan for Saudi Arabia's development is Vision 2030.

The name of MBS' comprehensive plan for Saudi Arabia's development is Vision 2030.

MBS' comprehensive plan for Saudi Arabia's development is called Vision 2030, which aims to develop the nation beyond the energy sector with a vibrant society, a thriving economy, and comprehensive development.

"The name of MBS' comprehensive plan for Saudi Arabia's development is Vision 2030, which aims to reduce the kingdom's dependence on oil and diversify its economy."

The name of MBS' comprehensive plan for Saudi Arabia's development is Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the oil-based Saudi economy.

The primary focus of Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud's 2030 vision is to transform Saudi Arabia into a global economic hub, reducing its reliance on oil.

Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud's 2030 vision for Saudi Arabia focuses on implementing social and economic reforms, including modernization and liberalization of the economy and society, with the goal of achieving significant progress by 2030.

Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud's 2030 vision focuses on sustainable economic growth and development capabilities to move Saudi Arabia towards a better future.

Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud's 2030 vision focuses on economic diversification, private sector development, and job creation to reduce unemployment among Saudis.

Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud's 2030 vision is focused on economic diversification, with an emphasis on supporting promising sectors such as tourism and sports to achieve rapid growth and provide diverse opportunities.

Mohammed bin Salman launched Saudi Arabia's 2030 vision in 2016.

"Mohammed bin Salman launched Saudi Arabia's 2030 vision in April 2016, aiming to exploit the Kingdom's strengths and achieve great national ambitions."

"Mohammed bin Salman's plan for Saudi Arabia's development involves implementing Vision 2030, which includes structural reforms in the financial and economic sectors, and has already led to remarkable achievements since its launch."

"Mohammed bin Salman's plan for Saudi Arabia's development is outlined in Vision 2030, which aims to drive economic growth and improve the country's future prospects."

Mohammed bin Salman's plan for Saudi Arabia's development involves supporting promising sectors such as tourism and sports to achieve the goals of Vision 2030, with targets including 150 million visitors by 2030 and the development of an effective sports sector.

"Mohammed bin Salman's plan for Saudi Arabia's development, as outlined in Vision 2030, aims to expand the entertainment market, develop a vibrant society, a thriving economy, and achieve continuity in comprehensive development, marking a significant break from the past."

Mohammed bin Salman's plan for Saudi Arabia's development is outlined in Vision 2030, which aims to reduce the kingdom's dependence on oil, diversify its economy, and develop public service sectors.

The main economic goal of MBS's 2030 vision is to build Saudi Arabia into a global economic hub that is not exclusively reliant on oil.

The main economic goal of MBS's 2030 vision is to achieve sustainable economic growth by diversifying the economy and reducing dependence on oil exports, as evident from the growth of non-oil sectors' GDP.

The main economic goal of MBS's 2030 vision is to enhance economic growth and diversify the economy through investments in infrastructure, development of promising economic sectors, and increasing non-oil Saudi exports.

The main economic goal of MBS's 2030 vision is to achieve economic diversification by developing a stronger private sector, improving the investment environment, and increasing non-oil exports.

MBS's 2030 vision aims to diversify Saudi Arabia's economy by supporting sectors like tourism and sports, targeting 150 million visitors and rapid growth.

King Salman is supporting Mohammed bin Salman's (MBS) vision for Saudi Arabia's future, as outlined in the Vision 2030 plan, which aims to enable the Kingdom to move forward towards a better future.

King Salman is supporting MBS's vision for Saudi Arabia's economic growth and development through the government's budget for the fiscal year 2024.

King Salman is supporting MBS's vision by appointing him as the Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia.

King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud is the king of Saudi Arabia who is supporting MBS's vision of 2030, which includes social and economic reforms.

King Salman, the king of Saudi Arabia, is supporting MBS's vision by carrying out comprehensive reforms as part of the Kingdom's Vision 2030.

Mohammed bin Salman has been the crown prince of Saudi Arabia since 2017, when he replaced Mohammed bin Nayef in a palace coup.

"Mohammed bin Salman has been the crown prince of Saudi Arabia since 2017, as part of his 2030 vision for the country, which includes various social and economic reforms."

"Mohammed bin Salman has been crown prince since 2017."

Mohammed bin Salman has been crown prince since 2017.

"Mohammed bin Salman has been the crown prince of Saudi Arabia since June 21, 2017."

Saudi Arabia aims to achieve a coalition of moderate states, advance modernization and economic diversification, and improve prospects for an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement in the Arab region.

Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of the Crown Prince, aims to achieve security, stability, and economic prosperity for the Arab region and the world.

"Saudi Arabia, under MBS's 2030 vision, aims to create a more stable and prosperous Arab region by promoting cooperation, supporting diplomatic talks, and reducing the influence of extremist organizations."

"Saudi Arabia, led by MBS, aims to achieve a diversified economy, peace, and stability in the Middle East through initiatives like Saudi Vision 2030 and the 'Green Middle East', with support from China."

"Saudi Arabia, under the 'Vision 2030' initiative, aims to become a regional and world center of culture, tourism, economy, and more, transforming from a closed country to a leader in the Arab region."

Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud has introduced social reforms in Saudi Arabia, including improvements to women's rights, such as allowing female entrepreneurs to pursue their ambitions.

"Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud has introduced social reforms in Saudi Arabia, including reducing the power of the religious police, allowing women to drive, and reopening cinemas."

"Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud has introduced social reforms in Saudi Arabia, including improvements to women's rights, such as increased participation in the workforce and more liberal dress codes."

Mohammed bin Salman has introduced social reforms, including promising new opportunities for Saudi women, as part of his Vision 2030 plan.

Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, is leading the efforts of reform and development in the country, particularly through the implementation of Vision 2030 and structural reforms in the financial and economic sectors.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is leading the efforts of reform and development in Saudi Arabia, implementing extensive reforms to diversify the economy and provide a more modern lifestyle.

Mohammad bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, introduced the 2030 vision, which aims to develop the nation beyond the energy sector, focusing on a vibrant society, a thriving economy, and comprehensive development.

Title:

Content: Moderate ideology: The silent Saudi revolution

Sports events, movie screenings, art exhibitions and music concerts are becoming increasingly common in the kingdom, and Saudi citizens are lapping them all up.

Published: 25th July 2023 12:34 AM  |   Last Updated: 25th July 2023 12:45 AM   |  A+A-

It has been ‘work in progress’ for some time now. Saudi Arabia is changing the tone and texture of its ideology from what has always been considered obscurantist to something that keeps with the times. Sports events, movie screenings, art exhibitions and music concerts are becoming increasingly common in the kingdom, and Saudi citizens are lapping them all up.

The kingdom has rapidly secured its position as a centre for cultural events, art exhibitions and film screenings. The nation’s Vision 2030 envisages and fully supports the expansion of the entertainment market to SR30 billion. Almost every domain of entertainment for which Saudi citizens earlier travelled far and wide is now available at home. This is thanks to a break from the past that the de facto ruler, Mohammad bin Salman (MbS), the Crown Prince, has initiated. It makes eminent sense in a nation seeking to develop itself beyond the energy sector with three visionary themes: a vibrant society, a thriving economy and continuity in terms of ambition in comprehensive development.

All this translates into a modern civilisational outlook with technology, intellectualism, private investment, trade, tourism, academics and more, all becoming the prime domains of functioning. The traditional worldwide perception of Saudi Arabia as the centre of the obscurantist ideology of Islam and a nation with an anti-reformist outlook has persisted, and not without reason. A brief understanding of this is important to appreciate the degree of change that Prince MbS has been able to generate.

As the custodian of the Holy Shrines of Mecca and Medina and the land where Islam’s first message was delivered, the Saudi rulers and clergy have always been all-powerful, even more so after adopting the core ideology expounded by Saudi thinker Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab. There is a long history behind this.

A virtual pact between the powerful clergy and the Royal Family has existed to promote the Wahhabi ideology in return for the powers that the Royals enjoyed. The pact saw enhanced clergy power after 1979 when the Shia Revolution occurred in Iran, the Saudi Ikhwan attempted a takeover of the Holy Shrine at Mecca, and the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. Wahhabi ideology was about going back to the basics and making the faith much less tolerant by supporting ‘Takfir’, or the power of declaration of a believer as an apostate if Wahhabi tenets are not adhered to. The militant part of the ideology started to come to the fore after 1979. From segments of the Arab world to Afghanistan, Pakistan, parts of India, Indonesia, Philippines and other Southeast Asian nations, militancy promoting the Saudi brand flourished, giving rise to the notion of a clash of civilisations.

Saudi Arabia’s energy resources always dictated US policy. A grey zone existed here with simultaneous US support to Israel and Saudi Arabia, stacked primarily against Iran and the collective Arab will against Israel. A couple of factors brought the trigger for change. Among them were the discovery of shale gas in the US and the progressive decline in US dependency on Saudi energy resources. Second was the dwindling Saudi economy and the realisation that in an energy-based economy, without expansion into other domains of economic development, such as trade, technology, tourism, investments, entertainment and intellectual research, Saudi Arabia would waste its opportunities and resources. The tremendous advantage of being the centre of the Islamic world could give it enduring leadership status if it could neutralise the rising militancy within Islam. Nations all around, such as the UAE, had fully utilised their possessions and drawn major economic attraction due to pragmatism followed in all domains, including faith issues. The position of women in Saudi society, in particular, had a damning effect on the nation.

Nothing changes without a leader and a vision. Saudi Arabia was fortunate to get MbS, although his personal equation with the US has remained strained for various reasons, not the least being the Khashoggi factor. However, none of that has affected his intent of modernising the nation and for that, a more moderate form of Islam within the kingdom is necessary. To his credit, he has convinced the clergy of the need to follow his vision, which will also project Islam differently to many others who follow the Saudi guidelines on faith.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Karim Al-Issa, from Saudi Arabia, who recently visited New Delhi for six days, is the Secretary General of the Muslim World League. The organisation was once at the forefront of promoting obscurantist ideology but is now transformed, as is evident from Sheikh al Issa’s message in New Delhi. The Sheikh’s belief which he transparently shared is that a whole generation of Muslims has grown up with an ideology that has given them a negative view of other faiths and an intolerantly sectarian understanding of their own.

In his several meetings with intellectuals, leaders and clergy from diverse faiths in India, he emphasised the role of the clergy in any faith. He admitted that Islam had earned a bad name for itself due to the acts of a few and the refusal of the followers to condemn those acts. He spoke of the role of family and education and decried religious teachers’ unsupervised education of young Muslim children. He mentioned that when intolerance and militancy were rising, people feared confronting them. His most poignant argument was that such obscurantism and militancy cannot be eliminated in the typical military way; they have to be removed from the roots by narratives stronger than the ones expounded.

Sheikh Al-Issa’s visit to India was symbolic of what appears to be the fading of the intolerant and militant element of Islam, but we cannot read too much into this. That change is taking place at the ideological centre is positive, but there is no guarantee of permanency. It is also not necessary that the message from Saudi Arabia is gelling with the vast Muslim populations worldwide. These populations are enmeshed with their local cultures and unlikely to follow examples. What is true is that a message supporting reformation has emanated from the nation considered the custodian of the shrines and, by many, of the faith. Nurturing this and taking it beyond is now the challenge.

Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd)

Former Commander, Srinagar-based 15 Corps. Now Chancellor, Central University of Kashmir

(atahasnain@gmail.com)

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What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To lessen reliance on oil.
To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud (MBS) introduced the 2030 vision for Saudi Arabia, a strategic framework aimed at reducing the kingdom's dependence on oil and diversifying its economy.

Title:

Content: Biden's visit: Who will lose and who will gain? - analysis

In general, the points of agreement between Washington and Riyadh transcend the contentious issues between the two countries.

PRIME MINISTER Yair Lapid leads the weekly cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem, on Sunday. ‘There is a list of target countries. Saudi Arabia is first among them,’ says Lapid, referring to expanding the Abraham Accords.
(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)

Much has been written about what President Joe Biden seeks to gain from his July 15 visit to Saudi Arabia (KSA), yet very little attention has been paid to what the kingdom seeks to gain. And therein lies the problem: the failure to recognize that Arab-Western relations is no longer a one-way street. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s earlier visits failed when they asked for Saudi help but offered nothing in return. If Biden does not learn from prior mistakes, he will return, as Blinken and Johnson did, empty-handed.

What Biden stands to lose

Simply stated, America needs the assistance of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (AEU) at least as much as they need US support. With the midterm elections approaching, lowering inflation and gas prices are top priorities. His failure to bring both under control could mean a Republican-controlled Congress and the Democrats losing the White House, in 2024.

Biden recently began attacking American energy companies for not using their record profits to drill for more oil. Still, building more oil rigs will not be enough. The West needs Saudi Arabia and the UAE to increase their oil production by millions of barrels a day to help lower prices and reduce Europe’s dependence on Russian oil.

Both countries can also play a strategic role in alleviating conflicts involving America, Europe, Russia, and China. Both Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed wield influence with Russia through its membership in OPEC+ and with China through its Belt and Road Initiative, which requires that Beijing maintain excellent relations with its Middle East partners.

THEN-SAUDI CROWN PRINCE Abdullah (left) chats with his foreign minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal at the end session of an Arab summit held in Beirut, in 2002. The summit unanimously endorsed a Saudi-inspired plan for Middle East peace. (credit: MOHAMED AZAKIR/REUTERS)

Yet, without a serious American commitment to ensuring their security and interests, it will continue to be in the best interests of both Arab leaders to remain neutral.

What Saudi Arabia hopes to gain

Under the crown prince’s leadership, the kingdom launched Vision 2030, a strategic framework to reduce its dependence on oil, diversify its economy, and develop public service sectors, such as health, education, infrastructure, recreation and tourism. Just as the kingdom recognizes how important US support is to Vision 2030’s success, it is critical that the US recognizes the opportunities this initiative offers for a long and stable relationship with the kingdom.

Arab-Israeli conflict

This is undoubtedly the most prominent issue that will be discussed at the July meeting. Biden, who will fly directly from Israel to Saudi Arabia, is expected to deliver ideas or outright proposals on behalf of the Israelis for opening a negotiation route between Riyadh and Tel Aviv.

Israel wants more Arab countries to join the Abraham Accords club, whose members already include the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco. “There is a list of target countries. Saudi Arabia is first among them,” then-Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, who now also serves as prime minister to Israel’s interim government, recently declared.The kingdom supports the agreement to normalize diplomatic relations with Israel but made it clear it would not do so unless there was serious progress in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. It wants an equitable two state solution that establishes a Palestinian state with 1967’s internationally recognized borders, encompassing the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem, as well as Israel’s withdrawal from the Syrian Golan Heights.

Though a Saudi-Israeli agreement based on these conditions is unlikely, preliminary mediation efforts could lead to the first steps between Riyadh and Tel Aviv towards an economic partnership, unrestricted Israeli passage through the kingdom’s airspace, as well as direct flights for Muslim pilgrims from Israel and the territories into Mecca, and a US-led regional military alliance to curb Iranian aggression.

Iran

On this last point, the subject of a Middle Eastern NATO will also be discussed, especially since bipartisan legislation introduced in Congress, on June 9, supports the integration of air defense capabilities among the US, Israel, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, Iraq, Jordan, and Egypt, to counter ballistic missile and other airborne threats from Iran and its network of regional proxies.

Building a new system of containment and deterrence against Iran will create a new approach to dealing with organizations such as Hamas; a renewed spirit of cooperation in cultural, commercial, and other fields that would help raise the region’s standards of living and thus disincentivize disenfranchised youths from joining extremist organizations; and a fruitful environment for diplomatic talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority that has the strong support of all the Gulf states, including Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, and Morocco.

Yemen

Since the Houthis, funded and trained by Iran, seized Yemen’s capital city and large areas of the country in 2014, the nation has been plunged into what the United Nations describes as “the largest humanitarian crisis in the world.” In 2015, Saudi Arabia led a military operation to defeat the Houthis, with help from president Barack Obama, who expedited the sale of US weapons to the kingdom and shared intelligence information. Even then, the US attitude toward the kingdom was dismissive and condescending.

For example, two months before Biden appointed him US special envoy for Iran, in 2021, Robert Malley co-authored an article that summarized the Obama administration’s attitude toward the US-Saudi alliance with this quote from a unnamed senior Obama official: “We knew we might be getting into a car with a drunk driver.”Having labeled America’s most powerful ally in the Middle East a pariah, Biden vowed to end US support for the kingdom, including arms sales, within weeks of being sworn in as president, even though, as he pointed out, “Saudi Arabia faces missile attacks, UAV strikes and other threats from Iranian-supplied forces in multiple countries.”

After Biden removed their designation as a terrorist group, the emboldened Houthis rejected a UN-backed truce proposal that the kingdom had accepted and instead increased the boldness of their attacks on both countries.Determined to move the peace process forward, Salman convinced Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi to resign in April and be replaced with a council of eight representatives of different Yemeni groups. Later that month, the council signed off on a UN truce agreement with the Houthis. Having (presumably) learned a valuable lesson, Biden praised KSA’s “courageous leadership.”

Syria

Not for the sake of politics or the regime, but for the sake of the Syrian people who are dying from lack of clean water, medicine, food, and electricity, the international community led by the United States must establish relations with President Bashar al-Assad to address this humanitarian crisis.

Moreover, US support for Syria’s return to the Arab fold is a necessary prelude to bringing peace to the region for there can be no lasting peace without Syria. The Syrian leadership gives priority to its Arab relations – especially the Gulf states, Jordan, and Egypt – over any other alliance, including Russia and Iran. Therefore, the West should support the efforts of Arab leaders to restore communication channels with Damascus, and trust the KSA, UAE, Jordan, and Egypt to start the negotiations. After all, everything has been tried except direct negotiation – and Damascus is ready today more than ever before.

Common Ground

In general, the points of agreement between Washington and Riyadh transcend the contentious issues between the two countries. Both agree on the necessity of building peace in the Middle East, a two-state solution to the Palestinian cause and ending Tehran’s development of nuclear weapons, as well as its financing and arming extremist militias intent on overthrowing Arab countries and destroying the Israel.

The US and Saudi Arabia need one another’s support equally. If approached respectfully, the Biden visit can lead to the establishment of a new basis for Arab action in helping resolving the complex, multifaceted issues in the Middle East and international affairs. If so, history will record that the US’s renewed its partnership with Saudi Arabia, helped the world avoid the scourge of a new world war and saved millions of lives.

The writer, a Jordanian entrepreneur and chairman of Strategiecs Think Tank in Jordan, is a weekly columnist for two major Arab newspapers.

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To lessen reliance on oil.
To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

Mohammed bin Salman introduced the 2030 vision for Saudi Arabia, a grand strategic reform plan.

Title:

Content: In June, Saudi Arabia, along with two other Gulf states and Egypt, began putting pressure on Qatar on the grounds that Doha was providing financial support for international terrorism.
Saudi Arabia ’ s statements against Qatar could be taken as a joke, given that Riyadh itself has long financed the spread of fundamentalist Salafi Islam, which is often associated with extremism, writes Ayaan Hirsi Ali in an article for The New York Times.
Ivan Shilov IA REGNUM
The Saudis
On the one hand, Saudi Arabia ’ s actions against Qatar can be called a classic example of “whose cow is moaning ”.
On the other hand, Riyadh could use the smokescreen of the diplomatic crisis around Qatar to divert attention from the growing tensions within its own kingdom.
See also: Asia Times: US and China do not face the danger of the “Thucydides trap ”
The newly appointed crown prince of the Saudi throne, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, has promised to modernize the country ’ s economy, which includes measures to diversify the national economy to reduce its dependence on oil prices, expand trade, increase employment and eliminate some restrictions in public life.
However, within Saudi Arabia there are two factors that could put all plans of the crown prince in jeopardy.
First, the crown prince has a rival who can challenge him.
This is the former Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef Al Saud, whom in November 2017 Mohammed bin Salman placed under house arrest and froze all his bank accounts.
The current crown prince has taken a very bold step, even by the standards of the royal dynasty.
However, Mohammed bin Nayef, who previously headed the secret intelligence of Saudi Arabia, can be a very dangerous enemy.
Ivan Shilov IA REGNUM
Saudi Arabia
Second, Mohammed bin Salman ’ s grand strategic reform plan, known as Vision 2030, poses a direct threat to the prestige and authority of the Wahhabi clergy in Saudi Arabia.
The clergy have influence, and they have a motive to try to thwart the Crown Prince ’ s plans.
If private enterprise begins to strengthen its position through reforms, the resources and influence of the clergy will decrease, therefore, the opportunities for retaining control over the kingdom will be reduced.
For centuries, the royal family relied on the support of the Wahhabi clergy to ensure the religious legitimacy of the ruling dynasty.
If modernization threatens to destroy the authority of the clergy, how long will it remain submissive to the crown prince?
Earlier, the crown prince made it clear that the influence of the clergy could become an obstacle to economic growth and reduce the dependence of the Saudi economy on oil.
In case of resistance of the clergy, the Crown Prince promised to take appropriate measures.
Most likely, the clergy will begin to openly resist the Westernization of the country with the same zeal with which Saudi Arabia seeks to attract foreign investors.
Since 1973, the Saudi government and its semi-official “charities ” have spent billions of dollars spreading Wahhabi ideology abroad.
The continuation of such a policy would be detrimental to the efforts of the international community to combat radicalization.
Saudi clerics have a powerful social network that provides a direct link to their supporters across the country.
The clergy can use this platform to undermine the plans of the Crown Prince and the position of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia.
In this regard, there is a risk of fomenting unrest in a country with a high youth unemployment rate.
In an effort to stifle dissent, in September 2017, Saudi Arabia detained several influential clerics who opposed Saudi Arabia ’ s position on Qatar.
In November, the fight continued, only under the guise of anti-corruption purges, in which more than 200 officials, large businessmen and members of the royal family were detained.
See also: “On whom should the US make the main bet in the Middle East? ”
Riyadh
Saudi Arabia ’ s Wahhabi clerics have extensive ties to Islamist organizations around the world.
Qatar can use these ties to discredit the crown prince in the eyes of international public opinion.
As a response to diverting attention from Saudi Arabia, Riyadh may intensify the conflict with Qatar.
The stakes are very high.
If the crown prince manages to carry out modernization, it will strike a blow to radical Islamism.
If modernization plans fail, the country could roll back several decades, continuing to export extremism abroad.
From the point of view of most Middle Eastern political players, any compromise is seen as a disgrace to the country.
Instead of accepting an ultimatum from Saudi Arabia, such as closing the news agency and severing ties with the Muslim Brotherhood, Qatar has only strengthened its alliance with Iran and Turkey.
Back in June 2017, the diplomatic crisis around Qatar seemed like a minor event in the Middle East, in 2018 it could trigger a big conflict.

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To lessen reliance on oil.
To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

Prince Mohammed bin Salman introduced the 2030 vision for Saudi Arabia, aiming to modernize the economy and reduce dependence on oil.

Title:

Content: Riyadh Season 2022: Why did the new marketing announcement infuriate Saudi Tweeters?
A large number of social media pioneers have interacted with the announcement of the new Riyadh season published by the Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority Turki Al-Sheikh for this year.
The announcement shows sports and artistic symbols, including Real Madrid player Karim Benzema and Liverpool player Mohamed Salah, in addition to a number of Arab artists.
Tweeters criticized the absence of any Saudi artist in the ad, as well as resentment of the "huge amounts of advertising costs."
On the other hand, other Tweeters praised the announcement, noting their approval of the social, cultural and artistic changes witnessed by Saudi Arabia in the recent period.
Announcement Launch
The Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, Turki Al-Sheikh, launched on Sunday through his Twitter account the official marketing announcement for the Riyadh 2022 season, which garnered more than 22 million views and interaction with thousands of Tweeters.
The Riyadh Season announcement video featured dazzling fireworks scenes and included a group of famous art and sports from around the world.
Among those who participated in the announcement are Egyptian football star and English club Liverpool Mohamed Salah, and Real Madrid star and recent Golden Ball winner Karim Benzema.
The announcement also featured Lebanese star Nancy Ajram and famous singer Majid al-Muhandis and artist Nadine Noujaim.
The video included scenes from the entertainment events of the third edition of the Riyadh season.
These events include games, restaurants, cafes, in addition to concerts, plays, and a number of international exhibitions in various entertainment fields.
Angry Tweeters
A number of Saudi Tweeters have expressed anger at the marketing announcement, criticizing several points in the ad.
Some saw it as "pointless and pointless extravagance".
Others questioned the “costs of such a huge announcement. ”
Others highlighted the lack of "Saudi art icons and celebrities" in the marketing advertisement for the Riyadh season.
Proponents of the Declaration
On the other hand, some tweets talked about "the great success achieved by the Riyadh season in its first and second editions technically and publicly, in addition to the great economic return."
This team predicted "the success of the new season like the last two seasons."
Others noted their fascination with the announcement, given the participation of Salah and Benzema in it.
Social and cultural transformation
In recent years, Saudi Arabia has witnessed a significant transformation in the cultural, artistic and social landscape.
This has sparked controversy among old-school conservatives and neo-reformists, who want a more open and modern Saudi Arabia than before.
There is a fierce debate within Saudi Arabia about whether Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the owner of Saudi Vision 2030, will be able to achieve his goals.
Vision 2030
• Among the goals of the plans revealed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is to "modernize the economy and transform the country into a tourist and modern interface, in addition to transforming the economy away from oil, and open new tributaries of national income, depending on clean energy, tourism and entertainment."
• He also hopes to end the country ’ s dependence on oil by 2030, which will require radical changes to a bureaucracy that has thwarted previous reforms and a willingness to challenge the powerful religious conservatism.
• These plans also entail strengthening the role of the private sector, which currently depends on government spending.
• The vision is to try to develop and promote the country through a large plan that will work on comprehensive economic and social reform and work to develop it.
• It also includes the emergence of new industries by privatizing the Kingdom ’ s largest companies, providing job opportunities for young people to reduce unemployment, and establishing a strong investment fund comparable to the world ’ s largest.

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To lessen reliance on oil.
To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

"Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman introduced the 2030 vision for Saudi Arabia, aiming for comprehensive change and major transformations in government, economy, and society, including women's and youth empowerment."

Title:

Content: "Al-Shamlan": The Saudi people are pleased with the founding day because they know that it represents the direct connection between history and reality
He told Sabq that the wise leadership has the stories of history, the lights of achievement and the masterpieces of foresight and remembrance
Journalist Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Shamlan said that the people of Saudi Arabia are pleased with the anniversary of the founding day, because they know that it represents the direct living connection between history and reality, and because it is the fulfillment of the principles and values   lived by and for them Imam Mohammed bin Saud, the founder of the first Saudi state.
He is also pleased to know that the initiative of the celebration emanates from the loyalty of the loyal son King Salman bin Abdulaziz to the founders, who saved the work, and tortured the jihad and sacrifices in the service of their religion and homeland.
Journalist Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Shamlan
He added that the Saudi people are also pleased because they realize that it is an initiative that translates into a real historical fact, which is that the greatest thing left by Imam Mohammed bin Saud after the principles and ideals are great men, who carried the honesty with honor, and continued to march with determination.
The position of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud Al-Kabeer, today at the head of these men, is a guardian of the entity, a leader of the nation and a guardian of its interests.
Establishment step
Al-Shamlan pointed out in his speech to Al-Sabq that it is not strange for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud to issue his noble order to celebrate the Day of Establishment, because he speaks of the history of a great founder, God willing to break the dispersion system, adopting the slogan of unity as a work not a word, and cooperation not deception.
He pointed out that Imam Muhammad ibn Saud ibn Muqrin - may Allah reward him and include him with his pardon and forgiveness - was putting at the forefront of his concerns to eliminate the political chaos that was in the Arabian Peninsula, as each town and region was in a relatively independent government, in a way that did not meet the minimum requirements for the establishment of any civilization or prosperity or culture.
He pointed out that those countries and regions were always fighting and wars between them, and the division and dispersion was its slogan, as some forces had influence on them; so he went to his Lord ask him for his help, and then he set off with men who share his faith and ambition, so he began his city "Diriyah", and united Shatriha, and made it under one rule, after the rule was divided between two centers, and achieved full political independence from any power external.
He added that the record of history recorded his keenness to settle in his region, and that the city overlooking the valley of Hanifa witnessed great stability and prosperity in various fields, and the imams of his sons when they thought good of them, so they carried the burden of responsibility, and maintained the fidelity of faith in God, and fidelity to his religion.
In Diriyah..
History and Future
Al-Shamlan said that Diriyah, the capital of the first Saudi state, has a place with King Salman, like no other place in the world, and the heart can only love him.
Captivate him with his culture, his race, his experience and his passion.
For King Salman and for the Saudis, it is like incense that spreads to penetrate around, and like the delicious aroma of coffee that we cannot resist, it never leaves the heart.
He added that "Diriyah, this wonderful place, the history, civilization and the allaq, the eternal song of all children and grandchildren, every stone in it speaks tales of heroism and glories, if you climb the highest high in the neighborhood of Tarif, you see a scene that you rarely find in the world, as this place sleeps in the bosom of a vibrant history, since before you in 1446 CE until now, where the place sparkles. All his streets, his alleys, his houses...
You see its ancient landmarks, such as: Al-Bujairi historical area, Samhan area, Gosaiba neighborhood, Samhan neighborhood..
You see the depth of history, and you hear the sound of swords and horse hooves, and it opens the place to Imam Muhammad bin Saud and Imam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahab; to be Diriyah present of the glory of the first Saudi state, and its capital.
You listen to the scriptures and you listen to the scriptures.
The writer considered what came six years ago, specifically in 2017, from the order of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman to establish the Diriyah Gate Development Authority, linking the past with the present, and a practical lesson in love of the homeland and history.
The development and construction movement in Diriyah is now restless, and few projects await it from a developmental renaissance, outlined by King Salman, who has taken it upon himself to transform the place lying in the arms of history into a green paradise, highlighting it as a center for community and cultural activities, as well as enhancing its position as a leading international tourist destination to be one of the most important tourist gatherings in the world by offering art, music, fashion and entertainment to guests of all ages.
The battle of the future
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Highness the Crown Prince His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud have put prominent glimpses in the Saudi Vision 2030, following the approach of the founders to create the future for future generations through comprehensive change. It aims to achieve major transformations in the field of government work in our beloved country, its economy, trade and all sectors, expand its achievements map, raise its position at the international level in the field of economy and development, highlight the value and impact of its global partnerships, its strategic location, in addition to empowering women and youth, and improve the quality of life for all.
Praying...
February's joy.
At the end of his speech, Al-Shamlan called on God to preserve the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, and to preserve his Crown Prince as a support and support, and to have mercy on Imam Mohammed bin Saud, which promoted the teachings of Islam as a method of governance, and the strength of the state. Promising stability and good living, and generations in every field have not found a solid basis for reform, construction and reconstruction.
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How has Vision 2030 affected women's rights and workforce participation?

gender equality
Strengthened women's rights

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

allow recreational activities; Saudi women benefit from relaxed restrictions

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

Mohammed bin Salman is the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia who introduced the 2030 vision, aiming to implement structural reforms in the financial and economic sectors.

Title:

Content: RIYADH — Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman highlighted the remarkable achievements made by Saudi Arabia ever since the launch of its Vision 2030 and the government’s relentless efforts to implement structural reforms in the financial and economic sectors. The Crown Prince, who is also chairman of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, said this in a statement issued on the occasion of the approval of the state’s general budget for the fiscal year 2024 by the Council of Ministers on Wednesday.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman underscored that the Kingdom is witnessing sustainable economic growth in light of the great development capabilities and opportunities that the Kingdom enjoys within the framework of the Vision 2030 to enable it to move forward towards a better future worthy of its status in accordance with the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman. “This produced a clear and prominent impact on the growth of the gross domestic product (GDP) of non-oil sectors.”

The Crown Prince affirmed the commitment made by the government in the budget for the fiscal year 2024 so as to enhance economic growth through the expansion of government spending. “The budget figures announced by King Salman come supportive and enabling many programs and initiatives. These include investments to strengthen infrastructure, raise the quality of services provided to citizens, expatriates and visitors, in addition to developing promising economic sectors, enhancing investment attraction, stimulating industries, and raising the proportion of local content and non-oil Saudi exports,” he said while praising the effective and important role of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and the National Development Fund.

The Crown Prince emphasized that work would continue to develop the Kingdom’s public financial performance, by increasing financial capacity and building government reserves, in a way that enhances the capacity of the Kingdom’s economy, maintains sustainable levels of public debt, and enables it to confront any developments or crises that may arise in the future. “The increase in spending is mainly due to the government’s keenness to continue developing the level of public services provided to citizens, expatriates and visitors, as well as to implement many projects and expand spending on sectoral and regional development strategies that would achieve positive structural changes, leading to expanding and diversifying the economic base,” he said.

The Crown Prince stressed the government’s keenness on developing and strengthening partnership with the private sector so as to enable and motivate it to play its major role in achieving economic diversification, as far as to enable the labor market to absorb more of the Saudi workforce, create job opportunities in the labor market and reduce unemployment rates among Saudis. “The total number of Saudis in the labor market this year jumped to 2.3 million, in addition to improving the investment environment to be an attractive environment that contributes to raising the proportion of domestic and foreign investment, developing non-oil exports and improving the non-oil trade balance of payments,” he said.

The Crown Prince emphasized that the journey of economic diversification continues through supporting promising sectors, as the Kingdom works to raise tourism targets to 150 million visitors internally and externally by 2030 in addition to building an effective sports sector through the “Investment and Privatization Project for Sports Clubs,” in order to achieve the goals of the Vision 2030 in the sports sector, as these sectors are witnessing rapid growth and providing diverse opportunities.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman reiterated the Kingdom’s determination to develop its industrial sector, as it is one of the most important vital sectors in the Saudi economy, by diversifying the industrial base and value chains through the “National Strategy for Industry'', which focuses on 12 sub-sectors to diversify the industrial economy and raise the industrial domestic product by around three times compared to the year 2020, reaching SR895 billion in 2030 to be a major contributor to the development of non-oil exports. This is in integration with the important role of the PIF as it is the investment arm that contributes and complements the efforts undertaken by the government in diversifying the economy, and the pivotal role of the National Development Fund and its affiliated funds in providing concessional financing to the private sector, he pointed out.

Speaking about the pivotal and leadership role of the Kingdom, the Crown Prince stressed the Kingdom’s role regionally and internationally, and its endeavor to ensure that the countries of the world enjoy security and stability, as they are the main factors for development and prosperity, and its keenness to develop and stabilize supply and value chains in a way that serves the development and economic prosperity of all countries of the world.

The Crown Prince stressed the Kingdom’s determination to continue the development momentum during the coming year and in the medium and long term with boosting the attractiveness of the Kingdom’s economy as a base for local and foreign investments besides diversifying the economy through the development of all economic sectors.

© Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).

To drive development in  financial services

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To lessen reliance on oil.
To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

Mohammed bin Salman is the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia who introduced the 2030 vision, aiming for the Kingdom's economic growth and development.

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To lessen reliance on oil.
To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

Mohammad bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, is the driving force behind the 2030 vision, which aims to develop the nation beyond the energy sector through three key themes: a vibrant society, a thriving economy, and comprehensive development.

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To lessen reliance on oil.
To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, is the driving force behind the country's 2030 vision, introducing significant social and economic reforms, including curtailing the influence of the religious police and improving women's rights.

Title:

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Biden cooperates with Saudi Arabia ’ s central bank on tough reforms to get rid of Khashoggi ’ s shadow
2022 / 7 / 16 19: 01 （ Updated on 7 / 16 19: 41 ）
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U.S. President Joe Biden (left) flew to Saudi Arabia on the 15th to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed Salman (right) and others. (Anadolu News Agency)
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(Central News Agency reporter Zhong You Zhen Istanbul 16, the murder of dissident journalist Khashoggi, once put the reputation of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Salman in jeopardy.
US President Joe Biden, who has criticized this incident, began his first trip to the Middle East in office this week and engaged with the Crown Prince. Whether the Khashoggi case has been lacklustre and whether the crown prince can rule out the road to the Middle East remains to be seen.
Since the hardline Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman became Saudi Arabia ’ s crown prince five years ago, he has pushed through a series of reforms that have shaken conservative Saudi Arabia and eliminated any threat to its status.
The 36-year-old prince is tall and often referred to by the initials MBS.
His bearded, deep voice and energy are visible everywhere, from the much-funded desert city of NEOM to the seven-year military campaign in neighbouring Yemen.
AFP reported on the 14th that Mohammed Salman is said to prefer fast food and is a player in the online game Call of Duty.
Of course, he is also super rich, not only sitting on a $500 million yacht, a French castle, and heard that he also has a painting by Renaissance magnate Leonardo da Vinci.
However, the Saudi authorities denied this rumor.
Unlike a British accent, suits and other Saudi siblings with an Oxford degree, Mohammed Salman is unique.
Dressed in a traditional robe and sandals, he entertained his family and friends at a lavish desert camp with a roast lamb meal.
In addition, he married only one wife, unlike other members of the royal family.
When King Salman ascended to the throne in early 2015, he appointed Mohammed Salman as defense minister.
Soon after, Mohammed Salman also became involved in economic policy, overseeing state-owned oil companies and Saudi military operations against Yemen.
Muhammad Salman has many titles, and the diplomatic community refers to him as “Mr. Almighty ”.
The reform-minded Crown Prince also led the most dramatic changes in Saudi Arabia's recent history.
Under his watch, the religious police are like paper tigers, the decades-old ban on women driving has become a thing of the past, and the cinema has reopened.
Film festivals, operas, heavyweight boxing and professional wrestling competitions are held.
In addition to these innovations, Mohammed Salman arrested dissidents and forced religious organizations to obey orders. In 2017, he consolidated his power in the name of anti-corruption, detaining about 200 princes and business people at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in the capital, Riyadh.
Externally, the crown prince pursued a strong diplomacy that dragged Saudi Arabia into the quagmire of regional rivalries: the Yemen war, hostility to the Shiites in Iran, and the blockade of Qatar for three years.
He is also said to be involved in the detention of the Lebanese prime minister.
Author Ben Hubbard ’ s Muhammad Salman is “highly controversial. ” His supporters praise the Crown Prince as the long-awaited leader of the Middle East, while opponents attack him as a cold-blooded dictator.
In 2018, Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed by Saudi agents at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
U.S. intelligence believes that Mohammed Salman ’ s approval of the operation caused a serious setback to the crown prince ’ s image.
However, the crown prince has a good relationship with then-US President Donald Trump and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner, and he has exchanged views with Kushner.
Agence France-Presse analysis, this contact has been a great help to the crown prince in dealing with the Khashoggi incident.
During his presidential campaign, Biden vowed to take Khashoggi ’ s murder seriously, making Saudi Arabia invisible on the world stage.
With words still in his ears, Biden arrived in Saudi Arabia on the 16th and greeted Wang with fists.
The crown prince did not respond when an American journalist shouted to Muhammad Salman, "Will you apologize to his (Khashoggi) family?"
When the reporter was taken away from the scene, a faint smile appeared on Mohammed Salman ’ s face.
According to outside analysis, this may indicate that the Crown Prince, who is less than 40 years old, returns to international politics and will be in power for more than half a century or more, with the blessing of the visit of American leaders. (Editor: Zhou Yongjie) 1110716
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Biden to discuss oil prices with Middle East countries to provide food security assistance

How has Vision 2030 affected women's rights and workforce participation?

And women's workforce participation doubled to 36%

How has the role of the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice changed under Muhammad bin Salman?

No longer acts as the de facto religious police.

Has been reduced to morality awareness campaigns and COVID-19 efforts.

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

allow recreational activities; Saudi women benefit from relaxed restrictions

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

What new permissions have Saudi women gained under Mohammed bin Salman's rule?

Women gained permission to drive
attend sporting events

The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia behind the 2030 vision is Mohammed bin Salman, who has introduced reforms that threaten the influence of the Wahhabi clergy.

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

What is one of the first priorities of Vision 2030 regarding ideological extremism?

Combating extremist and ideological thinking

Saudi Arabia's 2030 vision focuses on economic diversification, tourism, and sports development to achieve its objectives.

How has Saudi Arabia diversified its economy under Vision 2030?

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To lessen reliance on oil.
To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

"Saudi Arabia's 2030 vision focuses on developing the industrial sector and increasing non-oil exports through diversification and investment, with the goal of raising the industrial domestic product to SR895 billion by 2030."

To drive development in manufacturing
To reduce Saudi Arabia's oil dependence

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To lessen reliance on oil.
To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia's 2030 vision focuses on developing a vibrant society, a thriving economy, and achieving continuity in comprehensive development.

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

"Saudi Arabia's 2030 vision focuses on reducing dependence on oil, diversifying the economy, and developing public service sectors like health, education, and tourism."

How has Saudi Arabia diversified its economy under Vision 2030?

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To lessen reliance on oil.
To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

"Saudi Arabia's 2030 vision, led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, focuses on modernizing the kingdom by reducing its reliance on oil and developing new industries like technology, pharmaceuticals, and tourism."

Title:

Content: Follow Us:
Friday, December 10, 2021

Progress for saudi women is uneven, despite cultural changes and more jobs

Over the last five years, the percentage of women working outside the home has almost doubled, according to official statistics, to 32% from nearly 18%.

By: New York Times | Riyadh |
December 10, 2021 10:45:24 am
A group of women and children picnic at Wadi Hanifa park in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Oct. 29, 2021. (Iman Al-Dabbagh/The New York Times)

Written by Kate Kelly

At the cramped shop where Kholoud Ahmed sells the traditional Muslim women’s gowns known as abayas, the rainbow of colors is a revelation.

In the past, women in Riyadh typically dressed in the same black abaya no matter where they were going. Now, observed Ahmed, 21, there’s a differently colored or styled abaya for every occasion: weddings, meeting friends at a cafe, visiting parents.

“Colored abayas used to be a strange thing for us in Riyadh, something unusual,” said Ahmed, the store’s clerk. “Within a year it has significantly changed. It has become normal nowadays.”

Since Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman became Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader more than four years ago, he has promised new opportunities for Saudi women as part of a broad modernization plan called Vision 2030.

The plan, which is advertised across Riyadh on posters and flags, is meant to wean the kingdom away from its historical reliance on oil and shift it toward new industries, including technology, pharmaceuticals and tourism.

Women shop for abayas, or traditional Muslim womenÕs gowns, at a store in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Oct. 28, 2021. (Iman Al-Dabbagh/The New York Times)

But to create more job opportunities for Saudis and draw international investors and corporations to the desert monarchy, Crown Prince Mohammed is also chipping away at the conservative culture that has kept many women close to home for years and scared away many foreigners.

Over the last five years, the percentage of women working outside the home has almost doubled, according to official statistics, to 32% from nearly 18%. Women today serve as customs officials at the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, client relationship managers at banks and hostesses at restaurants.

In addition to changes in the workplace, public space is becoming less strictly segregated by sex. In coffee shops in Riyadh like Overdose (motto: “Caffeine, it’s my drug of choice”), male and female customers can now sip lattes in mixed company.

Women can attend certain sporting events at stadiums, which was forbidden until a few years ago. They are no longer required to use separate entrances from men although some establishments still use them. They can also now apply for passports, live by themselves and travel on their own.

But the progress has been uneven.

Soccer fans withÊHattan Bahebri, center, a midfielder for Al Shabab, after a match in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Oct. 28, 2021.ÊWomen have been able to attend sporting events in Saudi Arabia since 2018. (Iman Al-Dabbagh/The New York Times)

The guardianship system, which despite some recent reforms is still in place, means that women must rely on permission from men — often their fathers or husbands, but in some cases their sons — to enter into marriages and make key decisions.

One prominent women’s rights activist was jailed for three years after pushing publicly for some of the very changes Crown Prince Mohammed wanted to make — including allowing women to drive. She has since been released and has published a research paper on the status of Saudi women.

Those fits and starts are also evident in quotidian ways. Women’s attire in Riyadh, though more relaxed than a few years ago, is still far from liberal; even women who avoid abayas wear clothes with long sleeves, high necklines and low hemlines.

They may be using money from their newly earned paychecks to shop for kitten-heeled boots and slip dresses at Zara, but such outfits are still worn only in private settings.

“It’s not like before, like you have to wear, like, hijab and everything,” said Marwa, a 19-year-old university student who was shopping at Ahmed’s shop, referring to the traditional head scarf worn by Saudi women. “Now you can have free choice, but limited. It’s not like you are showing parts of your body.”

However much things have changed, the culture remains sufficiently conservative — and cautious of angering the authorities — that Marwa, like many of the Riyadh residents interviewed for this article, declined to give her full name.

Marwa said other cultural changes, like allowing store owners to remain open during prayer time to accommodate both merchants and shoppers, created problems of their own.

Some people who are devout and would pray no matter what, she said, could be offended by the business-as-usual attitude. “It’s like you’re not respecting the prayer time,” she said. Her friend Alaa — who wore sweatpants and sneakers under her abaya and sported a wrist tattoo that said “Trust no one” — nodded.

Prayer time at a shopping mall in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Oct. 28, 2021. Women say Saudi Arabia has advanced significantly in just the past year, with more choices regarding work, fashion and social spaces, but restrictions remain everywhere. (Iman Al-Dabbagh/The New York Times)

During the call to prayer a few minutes later, a number of male store workers nearby locked their doors and walked to the mall’s prayer room on an upper floor. On the ground floor, about 10 women, patrons who were wearing black abayas and hijabs, took rugs from a corner pile and knelt on them to pray. Other women sat quietly on benches, watching their children ride around in battery-operated toy cars.

A 52-year-old father of six, who gave only a nickname, Abu Abdullah, said he saw the benefits of more flexible prayer times and new opportunities for women. “During traveling, we don’t pray,” he said. “Even women, they don’t pray for seven days,” referring to the fact that women are forbidden to pray when they are menstruating.

Several of Abu Abdullah’s five daughters were standing nearby, eating buttered corn and french fries. One of them, Nout al-Qahtani, 13, said she was thrilled about the changes for women in Saudi Arabia. “I want to work,” she said. “I really want to be a doctor.”

Her father noted that not every dream job would be appropriate.

“Some jobs don’t fit for some women,” he said, citing roles in plumbing and construction work as examples. “It’s better to put her in the right place,” he added.

Five miles north of the mall, a local soccer club, Al Shabab, was playing an out-of-town team at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium. It was a mild evening, and the crowd was animated when the home team scored. On the men’s side of the stadium, hundreds of men jumped to their feet, chanting and clapping for the players.

Across the stadium on what’s known as the family side, where women and children were directed to sit, Najiba, a nurse at the hospital complex King Fahd Medical City, was watching with two colleagues. Although women have been able to go to sports events in Saudi since 2018, it was only her second time at a match.

FILE Ñ Crown Prince Mohammed is depicted at left on a billboard advertising the Vision 2030 modernization plan in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Feb. 28, 2018. (Tasneem Alsultan/The New York Times)

Najiba, 34, and her friends said that they were seeing far more Saudi women working at the hospital in recent years, and that the idea of women in medical careers had become more palatable to families who might previously have considered a mixed-gender working environment problematic.

“Now the family accepts if they have a daughter or a wife working in health care,” said Najiba, who was a nurse in a neonatal intensive care unit for years before taking on an administrative role.

Below the nurses, a few children were playing in the front row. One child, who had been running around and yelling, was scolded by a female security guard.

Several female spectators said they never missed a match. One, a 29-year-old manager at the Saudi British Bank attending with her brother, spoke highly of Riyadh’s new entertainment options and the growing economic opportunities for women. “We’re so excited,” she said.

A little after 9:30 p.m., the match ended in a 3-0 victory for Al Shabab.

As the crowd dispersed, one of its star players, the midfielder Hattan Bahebri, was signing autographs for dozens of fans through the fence that separated the stands from the field.

At one point, he held his hands in a heart shape in front of him. A clutch of men encircled the player, some with children hoisted on their shoulders. But one woman, her pink-tinted sunglasses atop her hijab, walked to the front of the crowd, raised her phone and got the shot.

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How has Saudi Arabia diversified its economy under Vision 2030?

To drive development in high-tech
To reduce Saudi Arabia's oil dependence

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To lessen reliance on oil.
To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

The name of MBS' comprehensive plan for Saudi Arabia's development is Vision 2030.

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To lessen reliance on oil.
To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy

The name of MBS' comprehensive plan for Saudi Arabia's development is Vision 2030.

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To lessen reliance on oil.
To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy

MBS' comprehensive plan for Saudi Arabia's development is called Vision 2030, which aims to develop the nation beyond the energy sector with a vibrant society, a thriving economy, and comprehensive development.

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To lessen reliance on oil.
To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

"The name of MBS' comprehensive plan for Saudi Arabia's development is Vision 2030, which aims to reduce the kingdom's dependence on oil and diversify its economy."

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To lessen reliance on oil.
To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

The name of MBS' comprehensive plan for Saudi Arabia's development is Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the oil-based Saudi economy.

Title:

Content: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Discusses ‘Strategic Partnership’ with China’s Xi Jinping

Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), discussed his “strategic partnership” with Chinese Communist dictator Xi Jinping in a phone call on Friday.

MBS and Xi discussed “ways to further the work of the Saudi-Chinese Joint Committee” and “international situations and issues of common interest,” according to the state-run Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

Al-Arabiya News described the phone call as the first known interaction between the two since MBS sent condolences to Xi for the China Eastern Airlines plane crash on March 21, in which all 132 passengers and crew were killed.

Chinese state media said Xi told MBS he considers developing closer relations with Saudi Arabia to be a “priority.”

“The Chinese side supports Saudi Arabia in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and stability, and in independently exploring a development path suited to its own national conditions,” Xi reportedly said.

Xi offered MBS support for programs such as Saudi Vision 2030, the road map for diversifying the oil-based Saudi economy, and Saudi Arabia’s “Green Middle East” initiative, in exchange for Saudi “synergy” with China’s Belt and Road infrastructure program.

“China is ready to work with Saudi Arabia to promote peace and stability in the Middle East, push for an early conclusion of the China-Gulf Cooperation Council free trade area agreement and jointly build a China-Arab community with a shared future for the new era,” Xi said.

According to Chinese news reports, MBS promised Saudi Arabia would help protect the regime in Beijing from international consequences for its brutal oppression of the Uyghur Muslims. Given China’s enthusiasm for “the rights of all countries to choose their own political and human rights paths independently,” MBS can expect little criticism from Beijing for his own offenses.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attends a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on February 22, 2019. (Photo credit should read HOW HWEE YOUNG/AFP via Getty Images)

Germany’s Deutsche Welle (DW) noted that China purchases about a quarter of Saudi Arabia’s oil exports and has been pressuring the Kingdom to let it buy that oil with yuan instead of dollars, which would be a major step toward the long-held Chinese goal of dethroning the U.S. dollar as the worldwide oil currency.

DW pointed out that if the Saudis help China establish the yuan as an oil currency, it could give China’s ally Russia an easy path to avoid worldwide sanctions imposed after Russia attacked Ukraine.

Saudi Arabia does a great deal of business with China and its monarchs might understandably be interested in joining a new world order in which Western concepts of human rights and individual liberty have been completely erased.

Also, as DW delicately suggested, the Saudis have noticed Western nations are recklessly throwing themselves off the “green energy” cliff while China remains unapologetically interested in fossil fuels. It is not hard to imagine Riyadh sees the Chinese as more reliable customers for their flagship petroleum products.

On the other hand, some foreign policy analysts believe the Saudis enjoy flirting with China mostly to keep Western governments on their toes, forever dangling a full alliance with Beijing as a “bargaining chip” to squeeze concessions from the U.S. and Europe.

The growing alliance between Saudi Arabia and China could face a major test over the next few days as the Saudis are thinking about deporting a Uyghur woman named Buheliqiemu Abula and her 13-year-old daughter to China over the strenuous protests of human rights advocates.

Abula told Amnesty International (AI) on Thursday her Saudi jailers gave her coronavirus tests and she believes they could ship her to China at any time. She and her daughter will almost certainly be thrown into China’s brutal concentration camps in Xinjiang province if that occurs.

Two Uyghur men are also lined up for extradition to China. AI urgently demanded Saudi Arabia halt all four deportations.

“Forcibly returning these four Uyghur people would be an unconscionable violation of Saudi Arabia’s obligations under international law. The Saudi authorities must not even think about sending them to China, where they will be subjected to arbitrary detention, persecution and possibly to torture,” said AI Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa Lynn Maalouf.

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To lessen reliance on oil.
To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

The primary focus of Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud's 2030 vision is to transform Saudi Arabia into a global economic hub, reducing its reliance on oil.

Title:

Content: Can China Deliver In Middle East? – Analysis

By

By Kabir Taneja*

As the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Iran met in China to commence a thaw in relations, Beijing has positioned itself as an ‘alternate’ power, keeping a policy of cooperation, consultation, and non-interventionism at the forefront. With serious discussions over the conflict in Yemen now underway, can China deliver as a mediator and peacemaker in West Asia?

Beijing clearly puts a lot of weight behind the success of this initiative, as it leverages its rapidly growing relations with Tehran and Riyadh while marketing itself as a power standing for peace and stability. The fact that Wang Yi, former foreign minister and now Director of the Chinese Communist Party’s Foreign Affairs Commission, was present last month with lower-ranking representatives of Saudi Arabia and Iran to announce the resumption of diplomatic ties between the two, showcased the weight that China was willing to put behind this exercise. In a world where Beijing is increasingly seen as a disruptor, this offered a moment of statesmanship for President Xi Jinping in a geography where, until now, the West has been the traditionally dominant external influence.

However, a fundamental question remains: Can China truly deliver? It is one thing to strategically benefit from the work done by the Western and regional states when it comes to building dialogue in the region, but another to be a guarantor of that dialogue, and to intricately place oneself as a fulcrum of power both politically, and by association, militarily. For a long time, Beijing has maintained a similar policy towards West Asia as India, i.e., of not interfering in inter-regional politics. In fact, China has been a critic of American interventionism, not only from a tactical point of view such as the war in Iraq, but strategic as well, disagreeing with Washington’s designs of pushing and tugging on regional leaders for them to align with American strategic thinking. Today, Beijing markets its assistance in the region without such strings attached, with promises of vast economic cooperation without ethical or value-based demands that substitute economic or military assistance. This is an attractive proposition to many in the region.

The Saudis started to drift away from the United States (US) not long after heir-apparent Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (also known as MbS) stamped his authority over the House of Saud. The Crown Prince, only in his late 30s, has a massive agenda in mind. He aims to build the Kingdom into a global economic hub that is not exclusively reliant on oil. For this, MbS needs access to global markets, particularly Asian markets, and even more so, China’s US$18 trillion economy. Aramco, Saudi Arabia’s state-run oil company, posted a profit standing at US$ 161.1 billion for 2022. Some estimates suggest this is the highest profit posted by any corporate in modern history. This came on the back of Riyadh’s close cooperation with an embattled Moscow through the OPEC+ mechanism, much to the dismay of the White House.

MbS orchestrated the above by using the fault lines in Riyadh’s relations with Washington D.C., his own ruptures with the American Democrats, and the Ukraine crisis that has brought forward a great power competition. In the event of a fallout, both the Saudis and Iranians will lose face, but otherwise, lose little. Beijing, on the other hand, would lose much more—both a perception of its role in bringing ‘peace’ in a traditionally conflict-riddled region and a setback to Chinese power projection. China, at the end of the day, has brought the two parties to agree to open embassies, which were shut down in 2016 over Saudi Arabia’s decision to execute a prominent Shia cleric. A move towards this was already in play, with regional actors such as Iraq and Oman facilitating talks between the two parties.

The narrative of a diplomatic coup having been orchestrated did not come as a difficult one for China. In fact, Beijing only platformed an ongoing process while Saudi Arabia leveraged China’s good relations with Tehran to push a struggling Iran into agreeing towards potential normalcy, something the US could not have done. Reports also suggested that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, was frustrated at the lack of progress over normalisation talks in the past two years, giving both Riyadh and Beijing a pressure point to work with. This also fed into a larger discontent in the Arab world over Washington’s nonchalance on the seriousness of a fast-developing threat from Iran while simultaneously isolating another regional power, Israel, which was hoping to rope in MbS into the Abraham Accords architecture.

Despite the diplomatic normalisation progressing positively up until now, fundamental issues that divide Saudi Arabia and Iran will remain. While theological and ideological rapprochement is unrealistic, geopolitical fissures such as the war in Yemen, the role of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in supporting militias in places such as Syria and Lebanon, and peace and stability across the Strait of Hormuz remain up in the air for now. Ending the war in Yemen will be the litmus test. Ceasefire agreements of the past had failed to hold, and the regional countries brokering talks today also tried the same back then. The only new player on the chessboard is China.

Beijing’s victory here is that of offering a table to sit across with no strings attached. It looks at both the Arab states and Iran as big business opportunities; and as the US tightens the screws around the rise of China, the middle powers are hedging their bets to secure long-term interests. The question remains: Is China willing, and able, to play the role of the traditional superpower? Is it willing to be a political and military guarantor? We are set to get answers to these questions soon.

*About the author: Kabir Taneja is a Fellow with Strategic Studies programme. His research focuses on India’s relations with West Asia, specifically looking at the domestic political dynamics, terrorism, non-state militant actors and the general security paradigm of the region.

Source: This article was published by Observer Research Foundation

Observer Research Foundation

ORF was established on 5 September 1990 as a private, not for profit, ’think tank’ to influence public policy formulation. The Foundation brought together, for the first time, leading Indian economists and policymakers to present An Agenda for Economic Reforms in India. The idea was to help develop a consensus in favour of economic reforms.

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To attract foreign investment
To lessen reliance on oil.
To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud's 2030 vision for Saudi Arabia focuses on implementing social and economic reforms, including modernization and liberalization of the economy and society, with the goal of achieving significant progress by 2030.

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

allow recreational activities; Saudi women benefit from relaxed restrictions

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud's 2030 vision focuses on sustainable economic growth and development capabilities to move Saudi Arabia towards a better future.

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To lessen reliance on oil.
To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud's 2030 vision focuses on economic diversification, private sector development, and job creation to reduce unemployment among Saudis.

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To lessen reliance on oil.
To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud's 2030 vision is focused on economic diversification, with an emphasis on supporting promising sectors such as tourism and sports to achieve rapid growth and provide diverse opportunities.

How has Saudi Arabia diversified its economy under Vision 2030?

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To lessen reliance on oil.
To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

Mohammed bin Salman launched Saudi Arabia's 2030 vision in 2016.

Title:

Content: Extensive reforms in the Kingdom in 2022
Financial: The reforms of the Crown Prince have great support from the youth
2020-12-28 at 08: 16
The Citizen - Translated by Hala Abdulrahman
The Financial Times pointed out that the Kingdom is carrying out extensive reforms under the auspices of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in rapid steps that enjoy great support from the Kingdom ’ s youth.
Extensive repairs
The newspaper reported that the year 2022 witnessed extensive changes in the Kingdom, based on the ambitious Vision 2030 launched by the Crown Prince, and the year 2022, when Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, launched an important series of reforms.
These reforms include renewing and diversifying the economy to make it less dependent on oil and more open to other sources such as tourism.
The Kingdom is trying to attract young talent and Western companies in the face of growing global and regional competition, in addition to providing a more modern lifestyle.
Support for youth and women
The newspaper praised the elements of the empowerment of Saudi women and their inclusion in many fields and participation in many activities, which enabled them to achieve achievements at the local and regional level, while the Saudis welcomed these steps and enjoyed great popularity and support.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has received widespread support from Saudi youth.
The words of support and motivation for young people are always present in most of the speeches of the Crown Prince, which was evident during the launch of the National Intellectual Property Strategy, which is one of the possibilities to achieve the objectives of the Kingdom ’ s Vision 2030, aimed at building an intellectual property system that supports the economy based on innovation and creativity.
The real power.
“We have minds and energies that are passionate about innovation and creativity, and by enabling it, the Kingdom will be a fertile environment for the knowledge economy through an integrated intellectual property system that supports the development of innovative technologies and industries and contributes to the growth of enterprises.
In 2016, His Highness the Crown Prince announced the future vision of Saudi Arabia 2030, and Prince Mohammed bin Salman stressed that youth are the real force to achieve the national vision, which he believes will be achieved only through the Saudi youth, which is one of the most prominent advantages in Saudi Arabia.
Since then, Vision 2030 has placed youth as a pillar and roadmap to empower them, get out of the oil mantle, invest, and diversify economic incomes.

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

"Mohammed bin Salman launched Saudi Arabia's 2030 vision in April 2016, aiming to exploit the Kingdom's strengths and achieve great national ambitions."

Title:

Content: Confidence decision and stage vision
|
After a decade-long series of rises, oil prices fell dramatically in 2015, and with it the Saudi economy faced a very complex situation, amid widespread concern about the continued state of the oil market saturated with production and stocks, and the dependence of the Saudi economy on this single resource.
The economy of the Kingdom was on the verge of repeating the experience of falling prices at the end of the 1980s, and the wheel of development stopped until the oil market regained its balance.
The difficult situation of the main fuel "oil" to the state treasury coincided with the pledge of allegiance of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, who made rapid structural changes from the first moments to avoid a repeat of the economic crisis in the 1990s, beginning with the establishment of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs headed by Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
No one realized at the time the importance of the decision and its profound impact on the Saudi economy, enabling a new generation of young leaders to achieve the historic role assigned to them at this important stage.
It was not long before the Kingdom ’ s Vision 2030 shone in April 2016, seeking to exploit the Kingdom ’ s strengths, namely its vital strategic position on the world map, investment power, Arab and Islamic depth, and harnessing all potential to achieve great national ambitions.
The vision promised at that time a huge challenge in all its numbers, and the exact timing of its completion, but most importantly the emergence of the personality of Prince Mohammed bin Salman as an able leader with scientific and practical knowledge of the capabilities and capabilities of his country and people.
His speeches and speeches to the international and local media clearly reflected his vision of the place that the Kingdom should achieve among the countries of the world, especially in important national issues such as national transformation, diversification of sources of income, empowerment of the private sector, fighting corruption and extremism.
The challenges of national transformation began with extensive changes in ministries and leadership and the establishment of bodies with unprecedented transparency, under the supervision and diligent follow-up of the Crown Prince, which contributed to accelerating progress.
The period following the structural changes of the ministries required extensive tours of Prince Mohammed bin Salman around the world to achieve several objectives, most notably reforming the oil market and opening the doors to Saudi investments led by the Public Investment Fund in its new version.
After Prince Mohammed bin Salman assumed the crown prince on June 21, 2017, work continued on maximizing the vision ’ s output.
History records the praise of heads of state and international organizations for his efforts and ability to reform the mechanisms of decision-making in the oil market, which culminated in the production of "OPEC +" with careful governance of its work, which restored prices to levels before the collapse of 2015.
Saudi Arabia is now the world ’ s fastest-growing country among the G20, with 13 percent in the first half of this year, which is witnessing the suffering of many countries with severe economic, social, administrative and political problems.
The current growth is more sustainable than ever because of the actions taken.
The non - oil sector grew by 8.2 per cent.
Already, the Kingdom has overcome difficult circumstances in five years, to crown today the world summit in several indicators, where it advanced eight ranks in the report of the World Competitiveness Yearbook 2022, ranked 24th out of 63 countries considered the most competitive in the world, and the second best performance in the world, and the financial market achieved the best performance in 14 years.
G20 countries topped the flow of international tourist arrivals in the first seven months of last year, according to the latest reports from the World Tourism Organization, at a rate of more than 121 percent.
Within one year, several programs, plans and designs were launched, including the design of The Line, Oxagon, Trogina and ENOA, which deals with innovations and the energy, water and hydrogen industries, NEOM Digital Technology, as well as sustainability projects in Riyadh with more than 68 initiatives in five sectors, worth more than 346 billion riyals, City Visions and Downtown Jeddah.
There is no secret when it is said that all the previous projects, plans and initiatives have been implemented and implemented under the personal follow-up of the Crown Prince, and to achieve sustainability for development, and to complement the mega projects comes the Royal Order appointing him as Prime Minister, to consolidate the firm and lay the foundations of the Kingdom of the future.
There is no doubt that the wisdom of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques was manifested in choosing the right time for this decision, coinciding with the stage of change, reform and development to reach the Kingdom - as the Crown Prince - the highest heaven.
Publish it.

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

"Mohammed bin Salman's plan for Saudi Arabia's development involves implementing Vision 2030, which includes structural reforms in the financial and economic sectors, and has already led to remarkable achievements since its launch."

To drive development in  financial services

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To lessen reliance on oil.
To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

"Mohammed bin Salman's plan for Saudi Arabia's development is outlined in Vision 2030, which aims to drive economic growth and improve the country's future prospects."

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To lessen reliance on oil.
To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

Mohammed bin Salman's plan for Saudi Arabia's development involves supporting promising sectors such as tourism and sports to achieve the goals of Vision 2030, with targets including 150 million visitors by 2030 and the development of an effective sports sector.

How has Saudi Arabia diversified its economy under Vision 2030?

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

"Mohammed bin Salman's plan for Saudi Arabia's development, as outlined in Vision 2030, aims to expand the entertainment market, develop a vibrant society, a thriving economy, and achieve continuity in comprehensive development, marking a significant break from the past."

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

allow recreational activities; Saudi women benefit from relaxed restrictions

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

Mohammed bin Salman's plan for Saudi Arabia's development is outlined in Vision 2030, which aims to reduce the kingdom's dependence on oil, diversify its economy, and develop public service sectors.

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To lessen reliance on oil.
To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

The main economic goal of MBS's 2030 vision is to build Saudi Arabia into a global economic hub that is not exclusively reliant on oil.

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To attract foreign investment
To lessen reliance on oil.
To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy

The main economic goal of MBS's 2030 vision is to achieve sustainable economic growth by diversifying the economy and reducing dependence on oil exports, as evident from the growth of non-oil sectors' GDP.

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To lessen reliance on oil.
To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

The main economic goal of MBS's 2030 vision is to enhance economic growth and diversify the economy through investments in infrastructure, development of promising economic sectors, and increasing non-oil Saudi exports.

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

Diversify the economy from oil
modernize infrastructure

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To lessen reliance on oil.
To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

The main economic goal of MBS's 2030 vision is to achieve economic diversification by developing a stronger private sector, improving the investment environment, and increasing non-oil exports.

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To lessen reliance on oil.
To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

MBS's 2030 vision aims to diversify Saudi Arabia's economy by supporting sectors like tourism and sports, targeting 150 million visitors and rapid growth.

How has Saudi Arabia diversified its economy under Vision 2030?

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To lessen reliance on oil.
To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

King Salman is supporting Mohammed bin Salman's (MBS) vision for Saudi Arabia's future, as outlined in the Vision 2030 plan, which aims to enable the Kingdom to move forward towards a better future.

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To lessen reliance on oil.
To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

King Salman is supporting MBS's vision for Saudi Arabia's economic growth and development through the government's budget for the fiscal year 2024.

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To lessen reliance on oil.
To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy

King Salman is supporting MBS's vision by appointing him as the Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia.

Title:

Content: ISSN 2330-717X

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince MBS Named Prime Minister

By

King Salman ordered on Tuesday the appointment of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia as part of a cabinet reshuffle, Saudi Press Agency reported.

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Under royal decrees issued by the king, Prince Khalid bin Salman will become Defense Minister amidst a cabinet reshuffle, SPA added.

The reshuffle also saw the appointment of Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Bunyan as Minister of Education.

The ministers keeping their positions are the energy minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, minister of investment Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih, minister of interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud and minister of finance Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan.

Prince Abdullah bin Bandar also remains as minister of the National Guard, Walid Al-Samaani stays in his role as Minister of Justice, while Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al Al-Sheikh is also remaining Minister of Islamic Affairs.

Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan will remain as Minister of Culture, and Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal keeps his role as Minister of Sports.

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Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah will also stay in his role as Minister of Hajj and Umrah, while Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi also remains as Minister of Commerce.

Elsewhere, Bandar bin Ibrahim Al-Khorayef stays minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Ahmed Al-Khateeb as minister of Tourism, Faisal bin Fadhil Alibrahim as minister of Economy and Planning, and Fahd bin Abdulrahman Al-Jalajel as Minister of Health.

The SPA report also stated that any Saudi cabinet session attended by King Salman will remain chaired by the king.

Arab News

Arab News is Saudi Arabia's first English-language newspaper. It was founded in 1975 by Hisham and Mohammed Ali Hafiz. Today, it is one of 29 publications produced by Saudi Research & Publishing Company (SRPC), a subsidiary of Saudi Research & Marketing Group (SRMG).

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

Has consolidated his power and removed potential rivals

King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud is the king of Saudi Arabia who is supporting MBS's vision of 2030, which includes social and economic reforms.

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

allow recreational activities; Saudi women benefit from relaxed restrictions

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

King Salman, the king of Saudi Arabia, is supporting MBS's vision by carrying out comprehensive reforms as part of the Kingdom's Vision 2030.

Title:

Content: ROME — On behalf of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif, led Saudi Arabia’s delegation participating in the International Conference on Development and Migration in Rome.

The conference, which began under the chairmanship of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, is attended by a number of the heads of states and governments and ministers of foreign affairs of the Mediterranean region and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) as well as senior European and international officials.

Speaking on behalf of the Crown Prince, Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz conveyed the greetings of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and expressed the Kingdom’s gratitude to Prime Minister Meloni for hosting the conference, which aims to strengthen international cooperation in addressing issues like irregular migration, human trafficking, and climate change.

"The Kingdom, under the leadership of King Salman and the Crown Prince, is carrying out comprehensive and ongoing reforms within the framework of implementing the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which made the human being its main pillar," the minister noted.

Prince Abdulaziz highlighted the Kingdom’s commitment to upholding human rights norms and advancing sustainable development, stating, “the Kingdom's firm stance in favor of international collaboration in addressing all common challenges is unwavering.”

He emphasized the Kingdom's support for developing the regular and institutional structure of the national human rights system, labor regulations and policies, and promoting labor rights and improving contractual relationships. He also mentioned the Kingdom’s launch of the initiatives Saudi Green and Middle East Green to address climate change, reaffirming the Kingdom's support for the United Nations’ efforts in this regard.

On the humanitarian and relief side, Prince Abdulaziz drew attention to the Kingdom’s efforts through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), stating: “The Kingdom is actively working to lessen suffering in areas affected by crises, conflicts, and disasters.” He further shared that the Kingdom has implemented 30 projects to support refugees and migrants at a cost of more than $130 million, and provided humanitarian aid to Ukraine, exceeding $410 million.

Furthermore, the Prince mentioned the directives from King Salman and the Crown Prince to provide humanitarian aid worth $100 million and organize a campaign in support of the Sudanese people, who are undergoing a humanitarian crisis that has caused the displacement of large numbers in various regions of the country and neighboring countries.

Prince Abdulaziz called on the international community to play its role in solidarity and cooperation to address the political, social, and economic aspects of irregular migration, combat exploitation and smuggling crimes, and confront cross-border organized crime networks. The Kingdom appreciated the efforts of those working for the stability and security of people around the world.

The Kingdom’s delegation participating in the conference included Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Eng. Waleed El-Khereiji; Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior Dr. Hisham Al-Faleh; Director General of Passports and Acting Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior for Civil Status Lt. Gen. Sulaiman Al-Yahya; Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Multilateral Affairs Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Rassi, and representatives from the Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs and KSrelief.

© Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To lessen reliance on oil.
To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

Mohammed bin Salman has been the crown prince of Saudi Arabia since 2017, when he replaced Mohammed bin Nayef in a palace coup.

Title:

Content: Latest News

Saudi Crown Prince Signals Family Unity As Royal Succession Looms

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman: Prince Mohammad’s actions sign a passing of the baton.

Riyadh:

An unlikely royal joined a Saudi delegation to the United Arab Emirates(UAE) this week, and readers of the Kingdom’s political panorama are viewing the transfer as a message of household unity from its de facto ruler after fractious years spent constructing his energy base.

Prince Abdulaziz bin Ahmed is the eldest son of Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, the detained brother of the Saudi monarch, and has no official put up.

Yet his identify topped the Saudi state media’s checklist of delegates accompanying Crown Prince and inheritor obvious Mohammed bin Salman to pay respects to the brand new United Arab Emirates ruler.

Known as MbS, Prince Mohammed had held off heading to the UAE till his father King Salman, 86, left hospital after a week-long keep that refocused Saudi watchers’ and analysts’ consideration on problems with succession.

“Having the son of Prince Ahmed sitting next to him in Abu Dhabi is a strong message to local and international public opinions, especially with the succession looming,” stated one Saudi supply aware of the royal household’s workings, declining to be named as a result of sensitivity of the matter.

More broadly, the delegation represented a cautious balancing by MbS of figures from completely different branches of the household, stated Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, a political scientist at Rice University’s Baker Institute within the United States.

“(This) perhaps was designed to demonstrate a show of unity within the Al Saud family that has been under strain from issues such as the detention of Prince Ahmed and Mohammed bin Nayef,” he stated.

The Saudi authorities didn’t reply to a request for touch upon the delegation or alerts its composition may need despatched.

Counterbalancing

In a fast ascent to energy, Prince Mohammed has cracked down on perceived rivals and critics since changing Mohammed bin Nayef (MbN), the king’s nephew, as crown prince in a palace coup in 2017.

Having been endorsed by the Allegiance Council that very same 12 months, MbS’s accession is computerized and never anticipated to be challenged. He can be defence minister and tightly controls state safety providers.

But diplomats have recognized the March 2020 detentions of MbN and Prince Ahmed as a sore level between Riyadh and Washington, whose ties have been strained because the 2018 homicide within the Saudi consulate in Istanbul of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Saudi authorities haven’t commented on the detentions, which a number of sources stated on the time have been on prices of treason and depicted as a preemptive effort to make sure compliance throughout the Al Saud household.

Before his detention, Prince Ahmed had stored a low profile since returning to Riyadh in October 2018 following a visit to London throughout which he appeared in on-line footage to criticize the Saudi management.

The Abu Dhabi journey was not the primary time MbS has elevated kinfolk of royals beforehand out of favour, together with these netted in an anti-corruption purge.

MbN was changed as inside minister in 2017 by his nephew Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef. In 2018, Prince Turki bin Talal was appointed deputy governor of Asir area as his brother Alwaleed bin Talal, detained in the course of the purge, was negotiating a launch settlement.

As he empowers youthful royals in positions of authority, Prince Mohammad’s actions additionally sign a definitive passing of the baton from the era of King Salman and Prince Ahmed – surviving sons of King Abdulaziz, who based fashionable Saudi Arabia and was adopted by six offspring as monarchs.

“Mohammed bin Salman has been counterbalancing resentment from some senior members of the ruling family by courting younger princes,” stated Kristin Diwan, senior resident scholar on the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is printed from a syndicated feed.)

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What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

Has consolidated his power and removed potential rivals

"Mohammed bin Salman has been the crown prince of Saudi Arabia since 2017, as part of his 2030 vision for the country, which includes various social and economic reforms."

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

allow recreational activities; Saudi women benefit from relaxed restrictions

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To lessen reliance on oil.
To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

"Mohammed bin Salman has been crown prince since 2017."

Title:

Content: The great Islamic scientists of the past were interested in various fields of science, including planets, stars, comets and space in general.
Medieval caliphs, like the wise Harun al-Rashid, highly valued astronomers, kept them at court.
And now, a thousand years after the end of the “golden age of Islam ”, Saudi Arabia, on whose territory there are two shrines of Islam, sends its astronauts into orbit, and does it effectively – Ryan Barnawi and Maryam Fardus, the first female astronauts in the history of the kingdom, will fly to the ISS.
Details - in the material NEWS.ru.
Infinity waits
Two flights of Saudi cosmonauts to the ISS are already planned, in each of them the team will consist of one man and one woman.
The first flight is scheduled for the second quarter of 2023, in which Rayna Barnawi will go into orbit with his partner Ali al-Karni.
Together with the Saudis will fly two American astronauts: Peggy Whitson and John Schöffner.
The entire mission is expected to take 12 days.
Since the kingdom does not yet have its own space rockets and cosmodromes, the launch will take place from the US cosmodrome on the SpaceX rocket of Elon Musk.
Given that Saudi Arabia has no experience in organizing flights, the coordination will be carried out by the American space company Axiom Space.
She also trained Saudi astronauts.
Photo by Nasa / Joel Kowsky
This initiative will expand Saudi Arabia ’ s capabilities in the field of manned space flight.
It will also contribute to the kingdom ’ s scientific research in the field of health and space technologies that serve the benefit of humanity, the Saudi Space Agency said in a statement.
Not much is known about the Saudi space conquerors themselves.
The first in the history of Saudi Arabia astronaut Ryan for the past 13 years has been engaged in genetics, biomedicine, the study of the causes of breast cancer and stem cells.
Her colleague al-Karni is closer to the space industry.
He is an experienced military pilot with more than two thousand hours of flying experience.
It is expected that in the near future the kingdom will acquaint the world with the biographies of cosmonauts in more detail, but so far many details of the project are kept secret.
On the pages of astronauts in social networks there is almost no information about them.
Photo: ssc.gov.saRyan Barnavi
Saudi Arabia has also trained two more astronauts - a woman Mariam Fardous and a man Ali al-Ghamdi.
Fardous is a scuba diving instructor who previously worked in medical organizations in various positions, such as a database specialist.
Also on her LinkedIn page it is written that she is the first Arab woman to conquer the North Pole.
Ali al-Ghamdi is a military pilot who has 11 years of flying experience and more than two thousand flight hours.
The head of the Saudi space commission has already stated that in the foreseeable future, Saudi Arabia would like to learn how to conduct launches and space research independently.
He did not name any exact dates or plans, as Muslims say, these are plans from the category of "InshaAllah" (if and when Allah wills).
Photo: ssc.gov.saAli al-Ghamdi
Why space, build a skyscraper
Meanwhile, the news that Saudi Arabia will send its citizens into space, caused a big furor in the Arab world.
The fact is that the Saudi space program (or rather, its absence) until recently was an eternal reason for jokes in the Arab world.
Like, here, despite all the petrodollars, the Saudis have not contributed anything to this area and spend money on some nonsense.
Although the search for knowledge, and therefore travel into space, is not prohibited in Islam, but even encouraged, Saudi imams, ulema, sheikhs and mullahs have always come up with excuses for why it is worth spending money not on an incomprehensible space, but on something more “pleasing ” and useful.
Islam does not forbid the exploration of the wonders of the cosmos created by Allah.
But, first, you need to compare the time, effort and money spent on this goal with the benefits that can be obtained from somewhere else — sounds one such excuse. — Moreover, humanity should live and behave Godly on Earth before going into space.
About the Saudis and space in Arab social networks from time to time you can even find a meme in which the Arab news anchor indignates that Iran, living under heavy sanctions, was able to launch into space a male macaque named Fargam, and all that was able to give the world a rich Saudi Arabia is “only a handful of monkeys like King Abdullah (the former ruler of the kingdom – NEWS.ru) ”..
However, if you dig deeper into the history of Saudi Arabia, it becomes clear that in vain many Arabs are so disrespectful of Saudi merit in space.
After all, the “homeland of monkeys ” was a space pioneer not only among Arab countries, but also the entire Islamic world.
The first Arab and Muslim to go into space was a member of the royal dynasty of the country - Sultan bin Salman Al Saud, the half-brother of the current Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
In 1985, he joined the NASA mission team and spent seven days in space.
Photo: Sergey Karpukhin / TASS Sultan bin Salman Al Saud
The Saudis themselves remember and appreciate this continuity.
A new trailer for the Saudi space program, luring the future generation of the country into space, emphasizes that the fascination with space is not something new for Saudi Arabia, but something that the country has sought before.
Raise your head.
Look at the stars.
Find their coordinates.
Visit them and name them.
Let space be your new passion.
Realize your connection with him, – says in the Saudi trailer. – Stars will always be a part of you.
Your ancestors from the past have already realized this.
Now it's time for you to launch your ambitions into space.
Mecca of feminism
However, the flight into space from Saudi Arabia, many expected, given that recently between the countries of the Persian Gulf (or, as the Arabs say, the Arab Gulf) intensified the struggle for the title of the main space power of the region.
That's just to accept that together with the brave son of the Arab Ummah (community) a woman will fly into space, many Arabs of the old school still can not.
After all, until recently, many considered Saudi Arabia one of the most conservative countries on Earth, and at the same time almost the worst place to be born a woman.
Because of Islamic restrictions, simply seeing a woman somewhere on the street was already a rarity.
As a rule, they appeared in public only on special occasions, wrapped in Islamic robes, and must be accompanied by a husband, brother or father.
Not all Arabs and not all Saudis have yet accepted this abrupt transition from “manual ” wives and sisters to free women who take part in politics, drive high-speed trains between shrines, ride camels in deserts, and now fly into space.
But despite criticism from conservatives, bin Salman — chief conductor of the transformation of conservative Saudi Arabia into a country of “space feminism ” — is more confident than ever in his decisions and reforms of the“ Vision 2030 ” initiative, designed to make desert Saudi Arabia the state of the future.
Photo by neom.com
Recall, having come to power in 2017, the crown prince and the actual ruler of the kingdom decided to arrange a total “rebranding ” and a change of image for the country.
The heir to the throne realized that Saudi Arabia will not be able to live forever on oil sales.
Therefore, he began to turn the state from a closed country into a regional and world center of culture, tourism, economy and everything possible.
To do this, he builds the city of the future Neom, buys the best football players in the world like Cristiano Ronaldo, consults with the Japanese and Koreans on how best to adapt the pop culture of East Asia, develops e-sports, invests in medicine, education and tourism.
Thanks to his reforms, bearded imams, who only insisted that everything in this life is a continuous “haram ” (a sin in Islam), gradually came physicists, chemists, biologists, and now women astronauts.
Photo by Khalid Abdulfaattah / XinHua / Global Look PressCristiano Ronaldo
Given the resources of Saudi Arabia and its boundless desire to hit the world in all spheres, it is difficult to imagine what space goals the kingdom will set for itself.
So far, the Saudis are limited only by the Islamic ban on visiting Mars (it is believed that flying there is tantamount to suicide), and otherwise they have a complete “tawuid mutlaq ” (carte blanche).
Therefore, there is no doubt that the crown prince will still find something to surprise the world, if not on Earth, then among the stars and planets, which, by the way, are mentioned in the Koran.
He is the One who created the night and the day, the sun and the moon.
All of them are in their own orbit, according to the Holy Scriptures of the Muslims.

Mohammed bin Salman has been crown prince since 2017.

"Mohammed bin Salman has been the crown prince of Saudi Arabia since June 21, 2017."

Saudi Arabia aims to achieve a coalition of moderate states, advance modernization and economic diversification, and improve prospects for an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement in the Arab region.

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Content: Magazine

Washington and the world

Opinion | Biden’s Saudi Arabia Opportunity

The president’s first trip to the Middle East offers a chance to make meaningful gains.

The U.S.-Saudi relationship has lately endured some of the worst tensions in its history. But President Joe Biden’s first visit to the Middle East next month, with stops in Israel and Saudi Arabia, offers a surprising opportunity — if both sides will take it.

A wide range of issues have stoked disagreement and mistrust between the longtime partners: Iran nuclear talks, the war in Yemen, the Saudi posture on U.S. rivals Russia and China, human rights (including the murder of Jamal Khashoggi), social reform in the Kingdom, oil production and prices, and the U.S. commitment to the Middle East.

That’s a lot to tackle in one presidential visit of perhaps 24 to 48 hours. As senior officials from both countries travel between Washington and Riyadh to lay the groundwork, they should be realistic about what is achievable. One principle that should guide preparations: Not all bilateral differences can be resolved at once. However tempting a grand bargain may be, the relationship is more likely to be repaired step-by-step.

What is most critical to address first? Each side has core strategic interests for which they need to see the other side demonstrate concern. Cementing a set of understandings around these issues would make a visit valuable, even while other disagreements remain.

For Saudi Arabia, the core strategic interest is ensuring its defense against the threat posed by the regime in Iran and its proxies, particularly the Houthis in Yemen, who, with Iranian backing, training and arms, have launched dozens of rockets against Saudi civilian targets. Closely related is the Saudis’ desire for confidence that the United States is committed to stopping Iran’s development of nuclear weapons and that Washington retains a strategic commitment to the Middle East and to its regional partners, even as it addresses other strategic priorities in the Indo-Pacific and Europe.

Here, Biden’s experience cultivating the close U.S.-Israel alliance, while also navigating real differences, is relevant. His career-long bond with Israelis is evidence that as long as one demonstrates clear understanding and empathy for a partner’s major security fears, it is possible to have very tough discussions on a range of topics and work through areas of disagreement.

Biden and Saudi leaders may not agree on returning to the Iran nuclear deal, for example; neither do Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett (nor do the authors of this article, for that matter). One side sees the agreement as the least bad available alternative to buy the most time delaying Iran’s nuclear program, while the other side argues it only delays the inevitability of an even worse Iranian nuclear breakout and fuels Iran’s other regional aggressions through major sanctions relief.

The bridge to overcome this disagreement is to achieve understandings on what follows the nuclear talks, whether they collapse or result in a renewed nuclear deal. In either case, Iran’s implacable hostility can be expected to fuel escalation. Recognizing the severe threat Iran and its proxies will continue to pose to U.S. forces and partners necessitates clear U.S. commitments, underscored by its ongoing presence in the region: to assist in development of integrated regional air defenses; to sanction and designate Iranian entities engaged in terror and its ballistic missile and drone programs (even while the nuclear agreement lifts terrorism sanctions on Iran’s central bank and oil and tanker companies); to facilitate interdictions of weapons shipments to proxies; to rally international condemnation of the regime’s interference in its neighbors’ affairs and abuse of its own people; and to prepare military deterrence and defense options, alone or with others, to ensure Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon. That should include a clear and credible threat by Biden to use military force to stop an Iranian nuclear weapon. And the Saudis, who were shaken by the lack of any U.S. response to the Iranian attack on its major oil facility at Abqaiq in 2019 under the Trump administration, must have confidence that they will not be left alone in the event of similar attacks in the future. These commitments, which apply both to a renewed Iran nuclear deal and its sunsets and to a no-deal scenario, and which do not rule out maintaining deescalation channels to Iran, should also elicit a Saudi commitment to take no steps toward developing its own uranium enrichment capability.

For Biden, the core strategic interest that must be addressed is ensuring that Saudi Arabia continues to orient its policies toward the United States, rather than hedge its bets by leaning toward Russia and China. There are many aspects to such commitments, from avoiding acquisitions of major Chinese and Russian military systems to standing with the United States in condemning outrages like Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and China’s persecution of Muslim Uyghurs. In the context of the war in Ukraine, it also requires Saudi Arabia to agree to increase oil production to bring down prices, so sanctions on Russia have deeper bite and European energy supply needs can be met by non-Russian sources. Abandoning the oil production quotas the Kingdom and Russia established in the OPEC+ agreement will be a clear sign that the Saudis are prepared to give as well as receive, and understand that to be treated as partners, they must act like partners.

That is the essence of the bargain for both sides: the restoration of a partnership. It has always been somewhat transactional — a steady and cheap supply of oil in exchange for security — but its critical elements remain relevant even in the face of serious, perhaps unbridgeable, differences between the countries’ leaders. Saudi Arabia has no serious alternative to the United States as a guarantor of its security against the very real threats it faces. Facilitation of Saudi Arabia’s own defense capabilities, and assurances of U.S. intentions, are fundamental to the Kingdom’s success. Meanwhile, today’s oil price spike underscores the critical role that Riyadh has often played during past geopolitical crises in stabilizing oil markets. And in an era of global superpower competition, keeping key Middle Eastern nations aligned with the United States is imperative.

These are the central requirements that would make a visit to Saudi Arabia worthwhile. And yet it would leave important issues unresolved, from U.S. concerns over Saudi human rights violations to Saudi complaints that its dramatic social reforms underway have not been recognized. Biden should acknowledge these profound changes, perhaps by meeting dynamic female social and business entrepreneurs only recently allowed by Saudi leaders to pursue their ambitions, which they attribute to decisions of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS). Biden can give credit where due and encourage a positive trend. But the Saudis should go further: They need to release key human rights activists from prison, especially those who pushed for the very social reforms MBS has now embraced, and commit not to imprison them in the future. They should also allow Raif Badawi and Loujain al-Hathloul, recently released from prison for advocating these social reforms, to secure a clemency from travel bans that would allow them to leave the Kingdom and, in Badawi’s case, reunite with his family in Canada.

The Khashoggi murder will continue to hang heavily over this relationship, as it should. In a clear, direct, private conversation between Biden and MBS, it must be made clear that it is a stain that will remain; that there is genuine remorse; that the Khashoggi family’s needs will be met; that no such crimes will be committed again; and that a pragmatic partnership on broader interests must proceed on this basis.

Beyond the confines of this visit, it’s in the broader interests of both countries for Saudi Arabia to eventually join the Abraham Accords. This is a priority that Biden should advance, and a stabilized bilateral relationship should enable him to do so in the remaining years of his first term. Growing Israeli-Saudi military and intelligence cooperation suggests the promise of greater commercial, technology and people-to-people cooperation, and eventual full diplomatic relations. Cementing a coalition of moderate states in the region, advancing Saudi modernization, development and economic diversification goals, and — handled sensitively — offering the Palestinians a path to participate in normalization that improves, rather than impedes, prospects for an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement are all mutual goals that normalization can advance. Biden’s trip may include a signal of what is possible, with a limited step like the resolution of the status of Saudi islands in the Red Sea while ensuring freedom of navigation for Israeli ships, or the expansion of Israeli civilian overflights of Saudi territory. Extending the current U.N.-negotiated truce in Yemen will also help sustain a stabilization of U.S.-Saudi ties, while leaving open the path toward a more permanent settlement.

The mutual interests served by stabilizing this partnership should lead Biden and the Saudi leadership to embrace a framework to recognize and advance their respective core strategic interests. This approach will serve one other critical cause: helping ensure that the U.S.-Saudi partnership is not subject to drastic swings with every change of U.S. administration. Biden is a known skeptic of the Saudis, views he held long before he called them a “pariah” during the 2020 election campaign. Precisely for this reason, in striking such a deal he is well-positioned to strengthen bipartisan support in Congress and among the American people for the principle that this complicated, yet vital, relationship is worth preserving. That is an interest that surely Biden, the Saudis and most Americans can agree on.

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of the Crown Prince, aims to achieve security, stability, and economic prosperity for the Arab region and the world.

"Saudi Arabia, under MBS's 2030 vision, aims to create a more stable and prosperous Arab region by promoting cooperation, supporting diplomatic talks, and reducing the influence of extremist organizations."

What is one of the first priorities of Vision 2030 regarding ideological extremism?

Avoiding actions that cause dissent, encourage violence, or spread dangerous ideas

Combating extremist and ideological thinking

"Saudi Arabia, led by MBS, aims to achieve a diversified economy, peace, and stability in the Middle East through initiatives like Saudi Vision 2030 and the 'Green Middle East', with support from China."

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To lessen reliance on oil.
To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

"Saudi Arabia, under the 'Vision 2030' initiative, aims to become a regional and world center of culture, tourism, economy, and more, transforming from a closed country to a leader in the Arab region."

How has Saudi Arabia diversified its economy under Vision 2030?

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud has introduced social reforms in Saudi Arabia, including improvements to women's rights, such as allowing female entrepreneurs to pursue their ambitions.

How has Vision 2030 affected women's rights and workforce participation?

gender equality
Strengthened women's rights

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

allow recreational activities; Saudi women benefit from relaxed restrictions

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

"Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud has introduced social reforms in Saudi Arabia, including reducing the power of the religious police, allowing women to drive, and reopening cinemas."

How has Saudi Arabia empowered women and increased their labor market participation under Vision 2030?

By removing restrictions on freedom of movement

How has Vision 2030 affected women's rights and workforce participation?

gender equality
Strengthened women's rights

How has the role of the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice changed under Muhammad bin Salman?

No longer acts as the de facto religious police.

Has been reduced to morality awareness campaigns and COVID-19 efforts.

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

allow recreational activities; Saudi women benefit from relaxed restrictions

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

What new permissions have Saudi women gained under Mohammed bin Salman's rule?

"Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud has introduced social reforms in Saudi Arabia, including improvements to women's rights, such as increased participation in the workforce and more liberal dress codes."

How has Vision 2030 affected women's rights and workforce participation?

And women's workforce participation doubled to 36%

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

allow recreational activities; Saudi women benefit from relaxed restrictions

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

What leadership roles have Saudi women achieved under Vision 2030?

Women have been appointed to municipal councils

Mohammed bin Salman has introduced social reforms, including promising new opportunities for Saudi women, as part of his Vision 2030 plan.

How has Vision 2030 affected women's rights and workforce participation?

gender equality
Strengthened women's rights

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

allow recreational activities; Saudi women benefit from relaxed restrictions

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

What leadership roles have Saudi women achieved under Vision 2030?

Women have been appointed to municipal councils

What new permissions have Saudi women gained under Mohammed bin Salman's rule?

Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, is leading the efforts of reform and development in the country, particularly through the implementation of Vision 2030 and structural reforms in the financial and economic sectors.

To drive development in  financial services

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To lessen reliance on oil.
To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is leading the efforts of reform and development in Saudi Arabia, implementing extensive reforms to diversify the economy and provide a more modern lifestyle.

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To lessen reliance on oil.
To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?