Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud introduced the 2030 vision for Saudi Arabia, launching it on April 25, 2016, as part of a significant national transformation program aimed at progress and prosperity.

Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, or MBS, is the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia behind the 2030 vision, aiming to transform the kingdom through various social and economic reforms.

MBS' comprehensive plan for Saudi Arabia's development is called "Vision 2030", a project aimed at achieving progress through inclusiveness and renewal in all aspects of life.

Mohammed bin Salman launched Saudi Arabia's 2030 vision on April 25, 2016, marking the beginning of a significant transformation program in the country.

"Mohammed bin Salman's plan for Saudi Arabia's development is Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the economy, create jobs, and promote foreign investment, with the Public Investment Fund being a key pillar of this vision."

The main economic goal of MBS's 2030 vision is to diversify Saudi Arabia's income sources, reducing its dependence on crude oil revenue by transforming the economy and opening new sources of national income through clean energy, tourism, and entertainment.

King Salman bin Abdulaziz is supporting MBS's vision, specifically the Kingdom's Vision 2030, as he chose Prince Mohammed bin Salman as Crown Prince, a decision that was in the interest of the nation and its future.

Mohammed bin Salman has been the crown prince of Saudi Arabia for six years.

Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud has introduced several social reforms, including improving women's rights by abolishing the requirement for women to wear the black abaya, removing restrictions on their movements, and allowing them to attend concerts and sporting events, as well as granting them the right to drive.

Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, also known as MBS, is leading the efforts of reform and development in Saudi Arabia, as part of the nation's Vision 2030.

Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud introduced the 2030 vision for Saudi Arabia, launching it on April 25, 2016, as part of a significant national transformation program aimed at progress and prosperity.

Title:

Content: Vision 2030
Vision 2030...
It pays off after eight years.
Mohammed Hassan Mohammed Al Nuaimi
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The journey of the future towards progress and prosperity began on the 25th of April 2016, where the launch of the Saudi Vision 2030 by the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, was a real transformation through one of the largest national transformation programs in the world.
Before April 25, 2016, it was not the same for the Saudis, nor for the region, nor even for the world, as the “Saudi Vision 2030 ”, which surprised the Saudis and the world first with an ambition unprecedented in the region in the modern era.
Following the announcement of the Kingdom ’ s vision, King Salman said at the time: “My first goal is for our country to be a successful and leading model in the world at all levels, and I will work with you to achieve that.
“I am pleased to present to you the vision of the present for the future, which we want to start working on today for tomorrow, so that it expresses the aspirations of all of us and reflects the capabilities of our country, success stories always start with a vision, and the most successful visions are those that are built on strengths. ”
Eight years later, Vision 2030 has been achieved.
The hopes of the Saudis and the achievement of the Kingdom ’ s regional and global status, especially as the world is experiencing very rapid changes, and the vision has achieved over the past 8 years many achievements on many levels and dimensions, which included environmental, economic, social, sports and entertainment aspects.
It was amazing to observers locally and internationally, the speed with which the Saudis adapted to a new and rapid start for their country according to a modern compass set by the nascent vision, the vision became present in the councils of Saudis and their religious and private and public conversations, discussing and touching its impact on their lives and seeing it as an eye view in the rapid reforms they experienced day by day since 2016 until the moment.
Eight years have passed since Saudi Arabia and the Saudis were able to dazzle the world with their modern achievements, and identify those who do not know their vision through hundreds of conferences and exhibitions globally, and they are waiting for their arrival to achieve their vision after eight years while their dreams fly away.
Looking forward to Vision 2030.
The Kingdom ’ s Vision 2030 is on track at the speed of light, as it is a roadmap for a journey to build a vibrant society, a thriving economy and an ambitious nation through an unprecedented transformation of the Kingdom over several years to 2030.
At the forefront of these major transformations that have resulted from Vision 2030 …, non-oil activities recorded the highest levels of contribution to GDP in history by 50%, non-oil government revenues increased to reach 457 billion riyals, and the real GDP of the Kingdom increased by 0.9%, with inflation levels falling by the end of 2023 to reach 1.6%, which is in line with the vision ’ s objectives to achieve a prosperous economy through diversification of growth engines....
In view of the vision...
The Kingdom continued its progress in the annual book of global competitiveness, achieving 17th place globally out of 64 countries, and third place among the G20 countries, and the Kingdom ’ s ranking in the economic performance axis reached third place, government efficiency in 11th place, and business efficiency in 13th place, while the infrastructure axis advanced the Kingdom to 34th place.
Recent IMF forecasts indicated that the Saudi economy is poised to achieve the second best economic performance among the G20 countries in 2025, at 6% after India, whose economy is expected to grow 6.5%.
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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, or MBS, is the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia behind the 2030 vision, aiming to transform the kingdom through various social and economic reforms.

Title:

Content: Schengen in the Arabian Desert -- GCC single visa is coming soon

Business

Unified tourist visa being introduced by the year-end as a first step

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DUBAI (Web Desk) – The six GCC member states will have a unified visa, thus replicating Schengen to boost their stature on the international stage and attract visitors while doing away with restrictions that hinder free movement.

The reason is simple: The oil-rich Gulf States – Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Oman – are aiming high. They aren’t going to wait until exhausting their fossil fuel reserves. In fact, they are using their existing resources for economic diversification and minimise dependence on Black Gold while making the region a global economic hub.

It is the great success achieved by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), meaning there is a guide, a precedent that can be followed.

Hence came the Vision 2030 presented by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman who has already transformed the kingdom and is going even further to the levels not even imagined some years.

Read more: MBS has transformed Saudi Arabia, he is an inspiration: Shehbaz Sharif

It was in November 2023 that a GCC meeting held in Oman decided to give the Schengen concept a practical shape in the Gulf States which are now working swiftly to materialise the plan.

And the single GCC tourist visa is the first step to be implemented by the year-end – a move that will allow the visitors to explore all the six countries through the unified document.

The move will boost ‘bleisure’ (business-leisure) travel in the region, as put by the Khaleej Times, given the fact that the visitors will increasingly mix the two to extend their trips to explore the neighbouring countries.

It is a natural outcome of the plans being executed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman – commonly known as MBS – who ensuring economic transformation at a breakneck speed while focusing on manufacturing, green energy, tourism and entertainment.

Read more: Is there any lesson for Pakistan to learn from Saudi Arabia?

With more and more cities in the region attracting more and more visitors, including business leaders and entrepreneurs, the single visa has become a need for these states.

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

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

MBS' comprehensive plan for Saudi Arabia's development is called "Vision 2030", a project aimed at achieving progress through inclusiveness and renewal in all aspects of life.

Title:

Content: Study: The Crown Prince ’ s philosophy of management is a compass for the Kingdom ’ s renaissance and achievements within the framework of “Vision 2030 ”
She said he takes a strategic approach based on inclusivity, a duality of modernization, originality, boldness and realism.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
Al-Qarar Center for Media Studies has issued a new study that provides an analytical reading of the philosophy of His Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the administration, which represents a compass for the Kingdom ’ s renaissance and its successes and achievements within the framework of the pioneering development vision “Saudi Vision 2030 ”.
This came in conjunction with the celebration of the fifth anniversary of the pledge of His Highness as Crown Prince.
The study was based on the monitoring and analysis of a series of speeches, speeches, meetings, statements and statements of His Highness the Crown Prince (may God protect him), the number of which reached (16) articles during the period from 2018 to the current year 2022.
The study concluded with a set of results, including the Crown Prince ’ s adoption of a strategic approach to management based on several pillars, most notably comprehensiveness in approach, dual modernization and originality, boldness and realism, in addition to uniqueness and excellence, universality of presentation, as well as openness to all, and always looking forward.
The study pointed to the adoption of His Highness the Crown Prince in his speeches and statements primarily on logical probabilities in the process of influence and persuasion, through addressing the mind with evidence and proofs, using the language of numbers, logical reasoning, and comparisons between the past, present and the future, in addition to proving what has been achieved on the ground effectively, and citing the reports of international institutions.
The study pointed out that Prince Mohammed bin Salman, may Allah support him, is betting in achieving the comprehensive development process on the Kingdom's own capabilities, especially the great Saudi people.
She pointed out that the language of his speech includes many central actors, which he always mentions clearly, most notably the Saudis, especially the young men and women of the Kingdom, as well as the economic, social, cultural and civilizational potential of the Kingdom, as well as the regional and international status of the Saudi state, whether at the economic, political or Islamic level.
The decision center study concluded that HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman, may God protect him, follows a philosophy based on inclusiveness and renewal in all aspects of life, noting that HRH was able to convey the conviction of his comprehensive development project "Vision 2030" to every Saudi citizen, which made the people united in order to achieve the desired progress.
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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 on April 25, 2016, marking the beginning of a significant transformation program in the country.

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

"Mohammed bin Salman's plan for Saudi Arabia's development is Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the economy, create jobs, and promote foreign investment, with the Public Investment Fund being a key pillar of this vision."

Title:

Content: In a previous statement, the vision of Prince Mohammed bin Salman was described as one of the most important historical events during the 300 years of the establishment of the Saudi state.
It is the comprehensive transformation: how Prince Mohammed bin Salman reshaped the Kingdom with an ambition that embraces the sky, it is Mohammed bin Salman ’ s journey to change the face of Saudi Arabia for more glory!
In this article, we will talk in terms of numbers, international standards and global indicators of countries and also make some comparisons before and after the vision.
Saudi Arabia has undergone radical transformations under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has revolutionized development policies and programs, leading to tangible changes in the country ’ s social, economic, political, diplomatic and even sports structure.
Politically: The Kingdom has taken major and diverse steps and these steps reflect the Kingdom ’ s strategy to strengthen its role as a key player on the international scene and secure its national interests in light of global geopolitical transformations.
This trend reflects the Kingdom ’ s desire to strengthen its relations with multiple world powers and not rely solely on the West and the United States.
Alliances with the East: China: The Kingdom has signed several strategic agreements with China, covering areas as diverse as energy, trade, and investment.
The crown prince stressed the importance of relations with China as part of the "Vision 2030" to diversify the Saudi economy Russia: Saudi Arabia has cooperated with Russia in the fields of energy and investment, and the crown prince held talks with the Russian president to strengthen bilateral relations alliances with the BRICS group: a group that accounts for one-third of global GDP and about 80% of global oil production.
The Kingdom participated in the BRICS meetings, and the Crown Prince expressed his appreciation for the role played by the BRICS in supporting regional and international issues.
OPEC +, which controls about 60% of global oil production, has been crowned as the leader of this group and is the most influential player in a group that controls the energy of the world maintaining alliances with the West: Despite expanding relations with the East, the Kingdom continues to maintain strategic relations with the West, and works to strengthen cooperation in areas such as security, defense, and the economy.
Saudi Arabia seeks to reduce its dependence on the United States by diversifying its strategic partnerships and enhancing independence in its foreign policy, but at the same time it has expanded its cooperation with the United States in areas other than the traditional areas of cooperation between the two countries, thus increasing the overall volume and diversity of cooperation and the economy.
He also worked on developing the Public Investment Fund and increasing the contribution of small and emerging companies to the GDP.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has led expansionary fiscal policies that have made Saudi Arabia one of the fastest-growing economies of the G20.
The vision aims to expand the mineral, technological and industrial base, create jobs, promote foreign direct investment, and expand financial markets.
These ambitious achievements show how Prince Mohammed has not only modernized the Kingdom but reshaped its regional and international economic role, reflecting a strategic vision for a prosperous and sustainable future for Saudi Arabia • The Public Investment Fund (PIF) is a key pillar of Vision 2030.
After Vision: The fund ’ s assets rose to 1.5 trillion Saudi riyals ($400 billion) by the end of 2021.
With current assets of $925 billion, plans to double assets and reach more than $1 trillion by 2030, invest heavily in the local economy and create 1.8 million jobs.
Oil Dependence: Before Vision: Oil revenues made up a large proportion of GDP and the vast majority of the state budget.
After the vision: oil now accounts for less than half of GDP and the share of non-oil activities increased to about 50% of GDP and Moody ’ s predicted that non-oil GDP will grow between 3 and 4% annually until 2030.
Macroeconomic Size: Before Vision: GDP was close to $670 billion in 2015.
After Vision: GDP to exceed $1 trillion by the end of 2022.
World Economic Rank: Before Vision: There were challenges related to oil price fluctuations and the economy rises and falls according to oil prices after Vision: The global report predicted that the size of the Kingdom's economy will increase to rank 13th globally by 2030.
Economic growth indicators: Gross Domestic Product (GDP): Real GDP growth: Preliminary estimates indicate growth of about 2.6% for 2024 and 5.9% for 2025 Inflation indicators: Inflation rate: The inflation rate is an indicator of the level of prices in the economy and its impact on purchasing power.
Global inflation is forecast to decline from 6.8% in 2023 to 5.9% in 2024 and 4.5% in 2025, while Saudi Arabia ’ s inflation rate was 1.6% in May 2024.
The data shows a divergence in unemployment rates between developed and developing economies, with the unemployment rate at 4.4% in the third quarter of 2023.
Trade Balance: Trade Balance: The Kingdom recorded a trade surplus of SAR 33.4 billion in March 2024.
Current Account: Current Account to GDP: The current account to GDP ratio was 5.9% in December 2023.
Government debt: Government debt to GDP: Government debt to GDP ratio of 24.8% Manufacturing PMI: Manufacturing PMI reached 56.4 points in May 2024.
Global Competitiveness: Saudi Arabia jumped in the Global Competitiveness Index (IMD) from 25th place in 2016 to 16th place this year, with a score of 79.83 out of 100.
Tourism: The Kingdom has opened new sectors for investment, the most important of which is tourism and invests $800 billion in tourism, targeting 150 million visitors by 2030 after previously reaching its target of 100 million tourists before the expected time.
The Kingdom has launched major projects, and is currently considered one of the largest workshops in the world, NEOM is the largest project in the world, the Red Sea, Qiddiya, the square and King Salman Airport, the list of major projects or Ghiga is not enough to be mentioned or described as they need independent articles to cover some of them.
Social sphere: I will touch on one of the dozens of areas that have been improved in the social sphere.
Vision 2030 has brought about significant social changes, including the empowerment of Saudi women, the improvement of the working environment for women, and the increase of their employment opportunities. There is a global consensus on the steps taken by the vision to empower women, not to mention the tremendous improvements in other areas, especially entertainment, which has become a global benchmark, and raise the quality of life.
The sports field in the sports field: Saudi sport has witnessed a qualitative leap, where the contracting with the world ’ s top stars, and hosting major international sports events, which contributed to strengthening the position of Saudi sport globally, and the Kingdom has become an important international player in several sports around the world such as golf, tennis and boxing.
As mentioned, it is very difficult to surround even the parties of the vision and its achievements because they are complex and cover almost all aspects of life, and its achievements are more than counted in an article or a full number, but these facts, figures and ranks reflect the current political, economic, social and cultural situation of the Kingdom, which is better and better.
Indeed, a vision, a new era, the path of renewal, and the journey of Prince Mohammed bin Salman in redefining the Saudi identity and raising it and its transcendence globally while retaining its authenticity.

How does Vision 2030 aim to foster new industries and employment?

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

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

The main economic goal of MBS's 2030 vision is to diversify Saudi Arabia's income sources, reducing its dependence on crude oil revenue by transforming the economy and opening new sources of national income through clean energy, tourism, and entertainment.

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.

How has Saudi Arabia diversified its economy under Vision 2030?

Growth in tourism
Growth in renewable energy

To drive development in renewable energy

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

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

King Salman bin Abdulaziz is supporting MBS's vision, specifically the Kingdom's Vision 2030, as he chose Prince Mohammed bin Salman as Crown Prince, a decision that was in the interest of the nation and its future.

Title:

Content: On the anniversary of the sale of the Crown...
Al-Ajmi: The Kingdom has witnessed 6 years of achievements at all levels
He said that this was the result of a lot of clear and strategic planning, looking forward to a bright future for the country.
The expert and professor of digital media, Dr. Fahed bin Salem Al-Ajmi, said that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has witnessed during the past six years a great development at all levels and trends, culminating in many achievements on the ground, which was the result of a lot of clear and strategic planning, looking forward to a bright future for the country.
In detail, Al-Ajmi explained that the past six years have made great achievements that confirmed that the decision of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, may God protect him, to choose His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman as Crown Prince was a historic decision in the interest of the nation and its future, with the support of an overwhelming majority of 31 votes out of 34. The young man who illuminated the Kingdom ’ s skies with many of the plans and strategies that culminated in the Kingdom ’ s Vision 2030, for which His Highness served as an architect and a cornerstone of its strong and solid foundation.
He added that what His Highness has done in the past six years confirms the great and continuous volume of work in a busy journey to achieve the achievements that put the Kingdom in the ranks of the developed countries of the world, and those great and diverse achievements, which are not enough to mention the importance of their abundance and diversity and the strength of their impact on our tangible reality.
Al-Ajmi said: Citizens and residents of the Kingdom believe that the changes made by His Highness the Crown Prince, which were sponsored by the father leader King Salman bin Abdul Aziz - may God protect them - is a turning point at the level of the state.
Despite the existence of many global challenges and difficulties, and despite the Kingdom ’ s passing through difficult situations that served as a crossroads, His Highness went on to give young people a long-term perspective, making his country ’ s history and heritage a starting line to address the present and make his work towards the future in all fields. Internationally, according to an insight into the young leader, who soon became the talk of the world.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia celebrates the sixth anniversary of the pledge of His Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to draw the joy of the people and write a new history of stability at the political level and achievements at the national level. The political, economic, developmental and social files, and this project continues to prove its success and the strength of the foundation on which it was built and confirm that whoever comes with such a vision is a successful leader with a great personality, which can be described as an "exceptional" personality, making his main concern the upliftment of the homeland and the citizen.
Al-Ajmi concluded by saying: “On the occasion of this precious and dear anniversary, we recall the great meanings of the youth inspirer, the leader of reforms and the change-maker to achieve the promising future in the march of prosperity of the homeland and the citizen under the generous care and guidance of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz. ”
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Mohammed bin Salman has been the crown prince of Saudi Arabia for six years.

Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud has introduced several social reforms, including improving women's rights by abolishing the requirement for women to wear the black abaya, removing restrictions on their movements, and allowing them to attend concerts and sporting events, as well as granting them the right to drive.

Title:

Content: After five years in power, Prince Mohammed bin Salman is back on the international stage with Biden ’ s visit.
RIYADH (AFP) - Five years after becoming crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Prince Mohammed bin Salman is poised to reassert his position internationally once again, with US President Joe Biden visiting the region and having long been sidelined by the West over the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul.
Announcement
Biden's visit, which comes amid the war in Ukraine and the associated high energy prices, completes Mohammed bin Salman, 36, from his isolation, after visits to the kingdom by the leaders of France, Britain and Turkey.
On June 21, 2017, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, 86, named his son Mohammed as crown prince, and the latter immediately began a campaign of unprecedented economic and social reforms, but at the same time, he suppressed all opposition and tightened his grip on the country.
The crown prince has become the de facto ruler of the kingdom, one of the world ’ s largest oil exporters, in a reform process that has turned all aspects of life in the kingdom upside down.
But Khashoggi ’ s killing has cast such a shadow over Prince Mohammed ’ s tenure that Biden ’ s visit next month to Saudi Arabia, once a traditional trip for U.S. leaders, is highly controversial.
Khashoggi, who was close to Saudi power before becoming a critic of the crown prince, was killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018 and dismembered by Saudis from the kingdom.
A US intelligence report concluded that Prince Mohammed approved the arrest or killing of Khashoggi.
The Saudi crown prince denies the accusations.
After the visits of French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Biden ’ s visit is a new recognition of the status of the Saudi crown prince.
Yasmine Farouk of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace believes that Washington has been the center of opposition to Mohammed bin Salman in terms of public official statements and mobilization in the West.
"This is exactly what Mohammed bin Salman has wanted for the past year and a half: a meeting and a photo with Biden as his counterpart," a diplomat living in Riyadh told AFP.
Women behind the wheel
Today, Prince Mohammed bin Salman has fingerprints in all the policies of the Kingdom and its society.
His reforms included abolishing the requirement for women to wear the black abaya and removing restrictions on their movements without the consent of their parents.
The wearing of the abaya and headscarf is now optional.
Women were also allowed to attend concerts and sporting events.
In 2018, they were finally allowed to drive.
The kingdom has also relaxed its guardianship system, allowing women to issue passports and travel outside the country without the consent of their male relatives.
This has contributed to the entry of women into the workforce, which has had a positive impact on the economy.
However, Saudi Arabia ’ s approach to women ’ s issues remains incomplete, especially with regard to those who dare to oppose it.
In 2018, authorities arrested dozens of women human rights defenders, most of them just a month before the women ’ s driving ban was lifted, including those who dared to challenge the driving ban.
In November 2017, authorities arrested dozens of princes and senior officials for questioning over corruption or disloyalty at the luxury Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Riyadh.
Hussein Ibish, of the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, said Prince Mohammed "linked his comprehensive cultural, social and artistic revolution...
with a dramatic concentration of political power "in his hand.
"Close all obvious sources of direct opposition in order to control" the country, he said.
Expanding beyond borders
Prince Mohammed has also made his mark on his country ’ s foreign policy.
Two months after his father, King Salman, ascended the throne, and while he was defense minister, he pushed for military intervention in Yemen.
Riyadh formed a military coalition of several countries that carried out this intervention to support government forces against the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.
As a result of the war, Yemen is experiencing one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world.
The war has killed hundreds of thousands of people directly or because of its aftermath, and pushed millions to the brink of famine, according to the United Nations.
Saudi Arabia has come under criticism, including from the United States, over the conflict, particularly when coalition air strikes have killed civilians.
In a sign of its desire to get out of the Yemeni quagmire, Saudi Arabia helped broker a truce in Yemen that began in April.
The boycott of Qatar, announced three weeks before Prince Mohammed takes office on June 21, was also a manifestation of Saudi foreign policy influenced by bin Salman ’ s influence.
But analysts say the kingdom has finally begun to adopt a conciliatory approach in the region, citing, for example, its involvement in direct talks with Iran, its regional rival, and Prince Mohammed ’ s recent statement that Israel is a “potential ally ” of his country amid regular reports of Saudi-Israeli rapprochement.
The most important element of Prince Mohammed ’ s Vision 2030 is reshaping his country ’ s oil-dependent economy.
The plan, which includes attracting about 30 million foreign tourists a year by 2030, is based on mega projects such as NEOM, the futuristic $500 billion science-fiction city with flying taxis and working robots.
Yasmine Farooq says Mohammed bin Salman “is the center of power (behind the change), but he has done nothing that was not already up for discussion in the public sphere. ”
Christian Ulrichsen, an analyst at Rice University's James Baker Institute, said: "Having achieved much of the argument that only he can change Saudi Arabia by 2030, the next several years will be crucial for Mohammed bin Salman and depend on him achieving tangible results that meet expectations."

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

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

Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, also known as MBS, is leading the efforts of reform and development in Saudi Arabia, as part of the nation's Vision 2030.

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 the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

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

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