Mohammed bin Salman has introduced social and economic reforms as part of his 2030 vision, including restricting the religious police and improving women's rights.

The reforms have allowed women to drive, attend public events, and mix with men, marking a shift in social norms.

The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has had its powers stripped and its role diminished.

Women's workforce participation has increased, reaching 37% in 2022, with some holding leadership positions, including in the diplomatic corps and at NASA.

Over 200,000 women gained driver's licenses in less than four years after the 2017 ban lift.

The proportion of working women rose from 16% in 2016 to 35% in 2023, despite a persistent 49% gender pay gap.

Women can now travel, work, and dress freely without needing male consent.

However, the guardianship system requires women to seek male permission and can lead to imprisonment for asserting their rights or choosing their attire.

Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 plan aims to reduce dependence on oil and diversify the economy through trade, technology, and tourism.

The plan includes developing NEOM, a $500 billion futuristic city expected to create jobs and improve Saudi citizens' standard of living.

The Saudi government has invested in education and entertainment to create a more modern society.

Amnesty International has criticized Saudi Arabia's human rights record, citing corporal punishment and restrictions on freedom of expression and religion.

Human Rights Watch has condemned Saudi Arabia's human rights record, including Jamal Khashoggi's assassination.

The CIA has concluded that Mohammed bin Salman authorized Jamal Khashoggi's killing, sparking international condemnation.

The international community must continue to hold the Saudi government accountable for its human rights record as it responds to Mohammed bin Salman's reforms.

Mohammed bin Salman has introduced social and economic reforms as part of his 2030 vision, including restricting the religious police and improving women's rights.

Title:

Content: Saudi Arabia...
Mohammed bin Salman ’ s change to the kingdom ’ s image is happening quickly and the danger lies in the time to reach the core
Middle East
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Analysis by Nick Robertson, CNN's Middle East Newsletter.
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LONDON, United Kingdom (CNN) -- Saudi Arabia has made headlines recently, this time to try to find its place in the world of sports.
She's spending a lot of money.
In an announcement that shocked the world of sports last Tuesday, the US-based PGA Tour Golf Association announced a merger with its Saudi-backed rival LIV Golf and the Dubai-sponsored DP World Tour (formerly known as the European Tour), ending a dispute that dominated male pro golf last year.
News of the partnership has become the talk in several capitals and stadiums around the world.
Meanwhile, the Saudi Professional League welcomed the winner of the Golden Ball French player Karim Benzema, to catch up with his teammate who previously joined the Saudi league Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo, who is said to earn $200 million a season.
Perhaps the last time many people showed so much interest in the kingdom was in 2018 when journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed by Saudi government agents in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
The golf coup of that partnership may have been the sporting achievement so far of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
He has already secured a spot on the F1 circuit, hosted all boxing matches as well as organising a series of global and regional music events to impress local audiences who considered all this far from reality for them.
None of this was possible before Mohammed bin Salman came to power.
The speed and scale of his changes have earned him popularity among many of the country ’ s youth, which is as unexpected as it is rare in Saudi history.
Fame in sport is built on moments of brilliance.
Unlike politics where it is slowly won.
Decisions can usually take years to mature and yield benefits, but for Mohammed bin Salman it is different.
He's in a hurry.
In fact, he consolidated his power by shaking up the old guard in 2017, many of whom were potential contenders for power.
More than 200 members of the royal family and businessmen were detained at the Ritz Hotel in Riyadh that year over allegations of corruption.
The result is that once vibrant and vocal members of the royal family with strong royal assets have much less influence today and little chance of gaining it.
Arguably among some of Mohammed bin Salman ’ s Western partners, he is still seen as a potentially dangerous interlocutor.
For them, he is seen as responsible for sending the team that killed, sliced and burned Khashoggi, who has been critical of Mohammed bin Salman ’ s high-speed reforms.
Mohammed bin Salman has denied any personal involvement in Khashoggi ’ s killing but has taken full responsibility as the country ’ s leader.
Khashoggi ’ s killing has tarnished Mohammed bin Salman ’ s reputation and may have derailed his father King Salman ’ s ambitions for him to modernize the kingdom.
In 2015, when King Salman came to the throne, the nation was fossilized, its royal office and bureaucracy were arrogant and rigid, and according to the accounts of many Saudis “very corrupt. ”
The conservative religious police took control of the streets and women were banned from driving.
The country has been stuck in a cultural time crisis since its rulers panicked when Muslim extremists stormed the Grand Mosque in 1979, members of the royal family feared for their future and pacified Islamists by giving conservative clerics a huge role in running the kingdom.
A different regional player
By the time King Salman came to power, the 21st century was passing through Saudi Arabia without the benefit of it.
The larger and more powerful Gulf kingdom was culturally different, decades behind its neighbors in business and development, woefully below its capabilities.
That was until King Salman empowered Mohammed bin Salman, not his eldest son, but his chosen son to fix it.
The LIV Golf Championship is the latest example, not only of his intention to do so, but of what he went through before achieving it.
Since coming to power, he has banished the religious police almost overnight, shrinking the space for religion in public life and replacing it with a new kind of Saudi nationalism.
Women were allowed to go to football stadiums with men, and national day parties were held outdoors in the streets with music and dance, unheard of before the Mohammed bin Salman era.
The changes didn ’ t stop there, emancipation allowed unmarried men and women to sit together in cafes, work in the same office, and shop in stores together.
New neighborhoods have sprung up in Riyadh to meet a new lifestyle.
Extremely modern office complexes dotted with fountains and palm trees sprang up, and roadside cafes, which looked like Dubai, lured young people out of their homes.
Mohammed bin Salman is the architect of a new and freer lifestyle for many, but those who skip it and ask on social media skeptical of his decisions risk their disappearance.
Even the few who were released after international pressure, such as Loujain al-Hathloul, have been released from prison, but cannot leave the country and have been warned to keep their thoughts to themselves or risk going back to prison.
But despite the rough edges, there is a soft force at work.
Saudi Arabia recently started to build an extravagant football league with expensive European stars.
Mohammed bin Salman wants the world to take him just as seriously as many of his fellow citizens seem to be doing now.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has become an increasingly close geostrategic partner, and Russian President Vladimir Putin is benefiting at least for now, with Mohammed bin Salman cutting oil production, ignoring U.S. concerns that high oil prices are helping Moscow pay for its war in Ukraine.
The crown prince has also embarked on a regional and international diplomatic track aimed at making the kingdom a bigger player on the world stage.
Saudi Arabia has led efforts to bring Syria out of isolation and has tried to mediate conflicts such as those in Sudan and even in Ukraine.
Mohammed bin Salman has begun mending ties with his former foes, from Turkey and the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to Houthi rebels in Yemen and even arch-foe Iran.
The prevailing idea is that he needs to ensure stability in order for his economic plans to succeed.
In terms of oil, it has made Saudi Arabia a bolder player.
Having been quick to respond to U.S. calls to open faucets and lower prices, the kingdom is now ignoring those requests, risking damage to its decades-old partnership with Washington.
The message is that Saudi interests come first.
These interests are to bring as many oil dollars as possible to the kingdom so that it does not fall into a budget deficit or see its mega projects fail.
What's best for his people?
Like Putin and Xi, Mohammed bin Salman wants what he believes is best for his people, meaning that the old model of affordable energy access in exchange for Western security guarantees that have moved Saudi Arabia to a cultural dead end is no longer an option.
Perception is everything.
America ’ s shift to Asia, its failure in 2011 to side with deposed allies during the Arab Spring, and now its support for Ukraine and what most Gulf Arabs see as misguided Western hegemony reeling from failed wars in Iraq and Afghanistan all help sharpen Mohammed bin Salman ’ s paths toward new relationships where he also has some support.
The United States wants to increase oil production, support Ukraine, and normalize relations with Israel.
But it ’ s on the streets of Riyadh and Jeddah where Mohammed bin Salman ’ s biggest potential challenges lie.
The clock is approaching Vision 2030, a bold and tumultuous reimagining of city life powered by non-oil industries.
It is not only a new way of living, but also securing the work necessary to meet the needs of the country ’ s huge young population.
Two-thirds of Saudis are under 35 and have finally been able, in part thanks to Mohammed bin Salman, to taste what their contemporaries have enjoyed in the outside world for years.
Saudi officials say Vision 2030 for a new city on the Red Sea and another mega project — the New Square — in the capital Riyadh may not even partially materialize, but it aims to inspire the country and investors.
These are great adventures to keep people at work, so they are happy in their lives and less likely to challenge Mohammed bin Salman ’ s autocratic rule.
Plans of this magnitude are often realized over generations rather than the lifetime of a generation already living and yearning for a meaningful future.
Mohammed bin Salman, in a hurry, is attaching stability to a combination of ambition and an antidote to the people.
The process of changing the image is in full swing, but the longer it takes to get to the core, the greater the risk of failure.

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

Strengthened women's rights
gender equality

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

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

No longer acts as the de facto religious police.

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?

The reforms have allowed women to drive, attend public events, and mix with men, marking a shift in social norms.

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?

Strengthened women's rights
gender equality

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?

The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has had its powers stripped and its role diminished.

Title:

Content: Reforms marginalize Saudi Arabia ’ s Commission for the Promotion of Virtue
Reforms marginalize Saudi Arabia ’ s Commission for the Promotion of Virtue
The role of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue in Saudi Arabia has diminished after the reforms initiated by the authorities following the accession of Prince Mohammed bin Salman, where its role is limited to campaigns to raise awareness of ethics and confront the epidemic of COVID-19 and others after it represented a kind of religious police.
RIYADH – Saudi Arabia ’ s reforms following Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ’ s tenure have increasingly sidelined the role of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue (CPVPV).
The body, which resembles the religious police, had considerable influence and prestige on the Saudi street, where its members closely monitored the application of Islamic law principles in the conservative kingdom before they were effectively stripped of their powers in 2016.
Comprehensive repairs
Ahmed bin Qasim Al-Ghamdi: The greatest mistake of the Commission was that it was following the individual mistakes of the people
Faisal, a Saudi teacher, decided to leave the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice in order to preserve its marginalization in recent years, while the Kingdom is witnessing an unprecedented opening coinciding with a campaign of religious and social reforms.
Faisal, a pseudonym, 37, who resigned months ago from the commission, said: “All of our authority has been taken away and we have no clear role at all. ”
The bearded man said in a meeting in eastern Riyadh: “Everything I was working to prevent him became completely legal, so I decided to resign. ”
Since Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman took office in 2017, the kingdom has seen social reforms that include allowing women to drive, allowing concerts, and ending the ban on mixing between men and women.
Faisal, who was wearing a dark cloak, added sarcastically, “In the past there was only one known body in Saudi Arabia, the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue...
Today, the most important body is the Entertainment Authority, ” he said, referring to the Entertainment Authority, which was created by Saudi Arabia in May 2016 and is entrusted with managing and organizing various entertainment events that are witnessing a large turnout of both sexes.
Turki, a pseudonym for a former member of the body, said that "the existence of the body has become completely formal."
“We are no longer allowed to intervene and change any behaviors we once considered inappropriate, ” he said, noting that many continue to work“ for the sake of salary only. ”
In the past, the authority had considerable powers, including ensuring that people applied the rules of public decency and prohibited mixing, which included the right to request their personal documents, stalk them and arrest them.
The group ’ s cars roamed the streets, making sure women wore the black cloak exclusively, stalking people in cafes and malls and forcing shops to close during prayers.
Saud Al-Kateb: The work of the Commission has undergone a radical change, its role must be limited
Gradually, the would-be protesters disappeared from the streets, while the area of personal freedoms granted to the population, especially women, increased.
With the reduction of its role in the street, the Commission is finally launching campaigns to raise awareness of ethics, confront the epidemic and warn against seditious people, from digital screens, billboards in the streets and social media platforms.
Many of its members now spend the majority of their time in their offices without touching people in the streets, reflecting its diminished influence in the kingdom, especially among hardliners.
"The commission has become isolated," said a Saudi official, who asked not to be named, pointing to "a significant reduction in the number of its members, especially those who are not qualified to invite."
The exact number of its members is not known, but sources estimate that there are about 5,000 in the kingdom, where more than half of the population is under the age of 35, according to data released in 2020.
The young Saudi woman, who was previously harassed by HTS men for her colorful clothes, is now able to go out without a head covering and even smoke in the street.
The 26-year-old said while smoking with her colleague in central Riyadh during a break from work: “We didn ’ t even think about smoking in the street years ago. ”
“They were going to beat us with bamboo, ” she added, laughing, referring to the thin sticks used by the authority ’ s subordinates to river the people.
Ahmed bin Qassem al-Ghamdi, a former senior official of the commission who was removed from his post in 2015 because of his progressive views, said “the commission ’ s greatest mistake was that it was following people ’ s individual mistakes, ” which he said“ had a negative impact ” on its image.
The head of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue, Abdulrahman al-Sindh, admitted in an October interview with the state television station Al-Akhbari that the Commission had previously committed “irregularities. ”
Al-Sindh, a university professor, attributed that the members of the commission were practicing “security issues without any reference, background or prior qualification. ”
He stressed that the Shariah of Muslims does not stipulate that “forbidding evil necessarily means removing evil, ” which is a major change in the body ’ s thinking in the past.
The body, which has long been criticised for its crackdown on women, plans to “recruit women ” into its ranks in the near future, Sindh said.
The head of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue admitted that the Commission had committed violations in the past, pointing out that its members were practicing security issues without any reference.
The Saudi writer Saud al-Kateb said that "the work of the Commission has undergone a significant and radical change," noting that "its role must be limited and does not exceed the role of the official regulatory bodies."
It was not clear whether the reduction in the Authority's powers was accompanied by a reduction in its annual budget.
In 2018, the Shura Council overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to merge the body into the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, citing the need for it to continue to fight drugs.
Stéphane Lacroix, a professor at the Institute of Political Science in Paris, ruled out Saudi Arabia ’ s move to disband the commission.
“The body remains a sign of a distinct Saudi identity with which many conservative Saudis are associated.
“The most likely thing is to continue to reposition its role. ”
arabic

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

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

No longer acts as the de facto religious police.

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

Women's workforce participation has increased, reaching 37% in 2022, with some holding leadership positions, including in the diplomatic corps and at NASA.

Title:

Content: Rayana Barnawi is the first female astronaut...
Saudi women break into areas of work that were exclusive to men
Saudi Arabia plans to send its first female astronaut on May 21, 2023.
Rayana Barnawi is supposed to arrive at the International Space Station on a special SpaceX flight.
This is in a new effort by the monarchy to change its conservative image, but at the same time reflects the emergence of a new generation of educated and scientifically qualified Saudi women for jobs and senior positions in society that were once the preserve of men.
Announcement
Rayana Barnawi, 33, is one of the symbols of the rapid emancipation of women in Saudi Arabia.
On Sunday, May 21, she was assigned a seat in a SpaceX rocket to take four astronauts, including two Saudis, to the International Space Station (ISS) from Cape Canaveral, in the United States.
This achievement comes after a Saudi woman, about six years ago, was unable to drive a car.
This special 10-day mission was organized by Exaomi Space.
This is the second flight organized by this American company to the International Space Station.
The first, X-1, carried three businessmen and a former astronaut to spend two weeks aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in April 2022.
Rayana Barnawi will be accompanied by Saudi military pilot Ali al-Qarni and Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut who has visited the International Space Station three times, and American businessman John Shovner, who will be the pilot.
A new generation of Saudi women
The aim of this short mission, led by expert Peggy Whitson, is to conduct a scientific research on the basis of which Riana Barnawi was selected.
Barnawi graduated from the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences from the University of Otago in New Zealand and Alfaisal University in Riyadh, and gained more than nine years of experience in cancer stem cell research.
Arnaud Latcheret, author of “Women Are the Future of the Gulf. ”
What Arab modernity says about us, "Rayana Barnawi" is the symbol of this generation of Saudi women who have studied abroad and earned degrees during the past ten years from very prestigious universities, and later returned to Riyadh and were appointed to senior positions. "
Arnaud Latcheret, a professor at Skima Business School who headed an MBA in Dubai a few years ago, noticed that many middle-class Saudi women in their thirties joined his classes to learn after opening up the labor market for women in Saudi Arabia.
Until 2012, only Saudi women were allowed to exercise jobs out of sight, particularly in offices or shops.
Since then, things have accelerated and the proportion of women in the workforce reached 37% in 2022.
The increase covered all sectors, including defence and security.
The researcher on this generation of women in their thirties with higher education confirms that "ten years ago, several specialties, especially scientific ones, were not available to these women.
The only solution for them to get a specialized education in engineering or technology was to travel abroad.
Girls from wealthier families went to Europe and the United States and were promised more qualifications than their male counterparts, "he said," while the men of this generation remained in Saudi Arabia, where they did not need higher education to enter the labor market. "
Vision 2030 Plan
Returning to the country, these Saudi women are now benefiting from privileges that are part of a broad modernization strategy to contribute to the kingdom ’ s opening up and diversification of its economy.
Rayana Barnawi ’ s space trip is also part of Vision 2030, a broad program of economic and social reforms initiated by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
As part of its manned flight program, the country is also training two other astronauts, one of whom is a woman, Maryam Firdous.
But this is not the first expedition of its kind to this oil-rich country.
In 1985, Saudi Prince Sultan bin Salman participated in the NASA Discovery mission.
For Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has been criticized for the severe repression of his opponents, particularly feminists, it is primarily about reshaping his image.
“Women are highlighted in the workplace, but it ’ s also clear that the project is fuelled by political contacts. ”
This fact does not make us forget the persistent inequality between men and women.
“There are always privileges for men and men will succeed more easily in the world of work, even with fewer degrees and qualifications. ”
Not to mention the male guardianship system.
Although it has been significantly mitigated, it remains in force in the country and is a driver of discrimination against women, as Amnesty International recently noted in a statement published in March.
A statement shared by human rights activist Lina al-Hathloul, she told Vanity Fair in January: “Women are considered minors until the end of their lives. ”
“It ’ s clear now that they can drive or learn, but that doesn ’ t mean that the foundation of this system has been demolished.
Honestly, we can hope for a lot as long as we keep quiet.
Women can become pilots or astronauts, as long as they are still submissive.
It ’ s just enough for them to have the right family that allows them to do things.
It ’ s really the lottery. ”
Her sister, feminist activist Loujain al-Hathloul, was jailed for more than 1,000 days in a Saudi prison before being released in 2021 and says she was sexually harassed and tortured.
He is still banned from leaving the country.
Most recently, in January, Salma al-Shehab, a PhD student and mother of two, was sentenced to 27 years in prison for sharing dissident tweets, including messages published by Lina al-Hathloul demanding her sister ’ s release.
French text Bahar Makuei | Arabic text Sabra Manasir
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Over 200,000 women gained driver's licenses in less than four years after the 2017 ban lift.

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The Story of Three Saudi Sisters: Detained, Refugee, and Banned from Traveling
7 March 2024
Saudi feminist activist Faz al-Otaibi has become a political refugee in Scotland as contact with her sister Manahil, who has been detained for more than a year, has been cut off and their older sister Mariam faces restrictions related to her ability to work or travel outside the kingdom.
https: / / p.dw.com / p / 4dHIo
The three sisters, Foz, Manahil and Mariam, are known for their bold liberal views and opposition to Saudi Arabia ’ s women-related laws, and have hundreds of thousands of followers on various social media sites, which have cost them legal prosecutions that amount to jail time.
The youngest, Manahil, 29, a boxer and travel enthusiast with more than 55,000 followers on the X platform, was arrested in November 2022 after accusing her of leading a “propaganda campaign to incite Saudi girls to disrespect religious principles and rebel against the customs and traditions of society, ” according to court documents seen by AFP.
Her sister, Foz, was able to leave the country before her arrest and then travel and settle in Scotland, where she was granted political asylum.
Fawz, 32, who has 2.5 million followers on Snapchat, told AFP: “When Saudi Arabia decided to open up socially, it also decided to take revenge on all women ’ s rights activists. ”
It considers that the authority “wants to empower a certain group that is under its control and does not object to anything. ”
“It is unfortunate that International Women ’ s Day is coming and there are women ’ s rights defenders who are persecuted or in prison in Saudi Arabia. ”
Repair or Trap?
At least 52 women are in Saudi prisons, among at least 122 women arrested since 2015 in freedom of speech cases, including PhD student Salma al-Shehab sentenced to 27 years in prison, according to a report by the Berlin-based European-Saudi Human Rights Organization.
Since Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman came to power in 2017, the ban on women driving, as well as laws requiring gender segregation in public places and the wearing of black abayas, have been lifted, and women can now leave without a headscarf.
However, some human rights activists question the depth of the reforms, stressing that women have been trapped in a wider campaign of arrests targeting government critics.
Saudi Arabia passed a personal status law that went into effect in June, which Riyadh described as “progressive ” but was criticized for containing what Human Rights Watch described as“ discriminatory provisions against women in relation to marriage, divorce, custody and guardianship of children, ” which Amnesty International also found.
Reporters - Ladies DJs in Saudi Arabia
The mandate of men over women
Manahil was one of the strongest opponents of this law, calling for the abolition of male guardianship over women, prompting the prosecution to accuse her of "calling for liberation and the abolition of guardianship."
“Manahil was happy with the crumbs of freedom that had been achieved, but she was persecuted and imprisoned simply for opposing and calling for more freedom for women, ” she says.
Manahil has not yet been convicted or sentenced, and Amnesty International last month accused the Saudi authorities of subjecting her to “enforced disappearance. ”
“We ’ re not political opponents, but the government has been very violent with us, ” she says, referring to what happened to their 36-year-old sister Maryam, who has more than 100,000 followers on the X platform.
Maryam, a former shopkeeper, is a prominent advocate for ending male guardianship in the kingdom and was previously detained in 2017 for 104 days for her feminist activism.
She is currently subject to a travel ban as well as restrictions on her exercise of freedom of expression in public cases, according to her sister and Amnesty International.
Foz asserts that “Mary ’ s life is almost frozen with the impossibility of her work.
No one is hiring her because of her business history and she can ’ t open a commercial register for any activity. ”
Saudi authorities did not respond to an AFP request for comment on the allegations.
"Dark and mysterious words."
This contrasts with the dramatic rise in the proportion of working women from 16% in 2016 to 35% by the end of 2023 in Saudi Arabia.
From the moment they get off the plane, visitors to the kingdom notice this new reality and in many cases, their passports are stamped by Saudi security agents who speak fluent English and greet them with a big smile.
During their stay, visitors see women driving private taxis, others working in garages and even fast train drivers taking pilgrims to Mecca.
Lina Al-Hathloul, head of communications at the London-based ALQST Foundation for Human Rights, said: “The case of the Otaibi sisters reveals the truth behind the narrative of women ’ s rights reforms in Saudi Arabia. ”
“In the absence of any clear guidelines or transparency, women are left without knowing where the boundaries lie and what the potential consequences may be for their personal choices. ”
“These mixed messages are a feature of broader Saudi women ’ s rights reforms. ”
The Public Prosecution accused the sisters Manahil and Win of “producing content in which they profess disobedience and incite girls to disrespect religious principles and harm public order and morals. ”
However, Fawz considers this a “dark talk ” that runs counter to“ any call for real reform ” in the kingdom.
“The authorities destroyed us, separated us and dispersed our family between a detainee, a refugee and a travel ban.
We live in fear and family tragedy. ”
S / F (AFP)

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?

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?

The proportion of working women rose from 16% in 2016 to 35% in 2023, despite a persistent 49% gender pay gap.

Title:

Content: Breaking news.
Social transformations and economic challenges.
Women come to work.
Social transformations and economic challenges.
Women come to work.
Jeddah - "Women 's News Agency"
Riham Al-Ahmad got out of the taxi she was riding with another woman in central Riyadh and entered the mall where she works four days a week selling cosmetics.
Reham, who has a high school diploma, became the first working girl in her family.
Her parents did not want her to go out to work, but eventually retreated after the cost of living in the capital increased.
With new high taxes and cuts in government subsidies in place, many families are increasingly dependent on women going out to work.
Women are negotiating a new place in the country ’ s delicate social fabric, a trend that has been celebrated by some, while others have been met with suspicion in a kingdom where conservative traditions are still deeply rooted.
Riham, a 24-year-old who lives with her parents and five younger siblings, has chosen a shop, most of whose customers are women, to ease parents' fears of mixing with men.
“I felt guilty when I asked my father for anything.
But since I started working, I am proud to be able to help my family. ”
Every day, thousands of women across the country go out to work, something that would not have come to mind just a few years ago, but has now become a norm under reforms led by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to modernize the kingdom.
It highlights its progress on women ’ s issues, but does not allow political parties or elections to take place.
There are currently no women in the Saudi cabinet or in any senior advisory roles.
The Shura Council has only 30 women among its 150 members.
However, women now make up 33% of the total workforce, nearly double the proportion five years ago.
Women of different age groups and educational levels are now accepting jobs that were previously restricted to Saudi men and expatriate workers in restaurants, supermarkets, accounting firms and graphic designers.
As part of the reforms, women have been allowed to drive since 2018.
But Reham al-Ahmad, who earns 4,500 riyals ($1,200) a month, cannot afford driving lessons, aside from the price of a car.
“I spend about a third of my salary on a taxi, ” she said, adding that she was saving money to buy a car.
“But I ’ m really happy that I have a job where I get a private income at the end of the day.
I never thought it was possible for me. ”
A small number of women have long worked in Saudi Arabia, but their jobs have traditionally been in the government sector of teaching and medical care, following strict gender segregation rules in place, but with the easing of restrictions on mixing genders, driving cars and some aspects of male guardianship, companies have started hiring more women.
This is especially true in the retail and hospitality sectors, where a 2011 plan to replace cheaper expatriate workers with nationals was launched to tackle unemployment among Saudis, which now stands at 11 percent.
Economist Jennifer Beck said, “Many of the jobs held by women have traditionally been held by non-Saudis. ”
The new laws have made it easier for women to work in jobs that require direct interaction with customers.
Her research shows that the number of Saudi women in the private sector jumped to 935,508 in 2021 from 56,000 in 2010, and continues to rise.
In Unaizah, a city in the Qassim region at the heart of a conservative society, trends are changing, and more women are working, though some are wary of turning against tradition.
Ghada al-Salman, 33, after graduating from university, struggled to find work in Qassim, where unemployment among women is about 18 percent, three times the rate of unemployment among men.
It turned to the bakery industry, eventually opening three stores with 45 employees.
More recently, at the Dates Festival, she promoted the production of her bakery, Rose Raben Bakery (Pink Ribbon), one of the few women-owned businesses in Qassim.
She said, “If it weren ’ t for my parents, I wouldn ’ t have been able to do any of this. ”
“Most parents here still don ’ t approve of their daughters working all day with men, even if they are bosses and even if they wear the niqab, ” she said.
She wears face coverings and a long black cloak like most women in public places in Unaizah, but faces reproach from older conservatives.
A man in his 60s complained about the speed of social change, and he relishes eating one of her cupcakes.
The man, who asked not to be named, said the government “tells us that women should work, but it ’ s against our tradition. ”
Others believe that these changes are long overdue.
Rana al-Turki, 45, joined her father ’ s oil and gas company in 2000, and was one of the first women to work at the company, working for years in a gender-neutral office.
Rana al-Turki, who is now the owner and one of the directors of Rawabi Holding, said: “At the time, the men were not even polite.
No one would say good morning or ride the elevator with me, and they couldn ’ t even stand standing with me in one room. ”
He added: “Thank God things have changed.
In my day, we were even afraid to ask for a salary.
But girls these days come in and negotiate hard.
They know their value. ”
Yet the gender pay gap in Saudi Arabia stands at 49 percent, according to research by the non-governmental Al-Nahda Association.
“Social trends continue to govern women ’ s entry into the labor market, ” said Hala al-Dosari, a Saudi women ’ s rights expert who works in the United States, noting that most new jobs for women are poorly paid.
Although laws to prevent harassment and discrimination were in place, women continued to be harassed and denied their rights.
Economist Jennifer Beck said some employers still ask women for their guardian ’ s permission to work, despite recent reforms that give women more control over their lives.
An employer at one of the biggest companies told Reuters he preferred to hire women because they worked harder than men and earned half the pay.
Nearly 400 companies interviewed by Peak ’ s research group said Saudi women were paid less than men, and a third said women were more productive than men.
But for many Saudi women, these are only growing troubles.
Ghada al-Salman, the owner of the bakery, said: “Young women ask me all the time how they can achieve what I have achieved.
10 years ago, it was impossible.
Now the future is yours. ”
Women's News Agency

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

And women's workforce participation doubled to 36%

Women can now travel, work, and dress freely without needing male consent.

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?

Strengthened women's rights
gender equality

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.

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?

However, the guardianship system requires women to seek male permission and can lead to imprisonment for asserting their rights or choosing their attire.

Title:

Content: Saudi women ’ s rights activists ’ use of hashtags is also a crime.
Manaher was arrested for her support of reform.
(Photo / Instagram @ manahelal _ otibi, same below.)
Journalist Wu Mei-yi / Comprehensive Report
Manahel al-Otaibi, a 29-year-old Saudi woman who championed and promoted reforms on Twitter and Snapchat calling for more basic rights for women in the country, was arrested last November and has been jailed since then on charges including using the hashtag # societyisready to call for the abolition of male guardianship.
Manaher, a licensed fitness instructor who loves art, yoga and travel, often shares and promotes female empowerment content, and is accused of not wearing “proper ” clothing in addition to using social media.
She is currently in detention and has not been convicted or sentenced, but previous similar cases have shown that public demands for women ’ s fundamental rights can be seen as inflammatory.
In fact, Manaher ’ s sister, Fouz al-Otaibi, was also accused of not wearing proper clothing, but managed to escape from Saudi Arabia before being arrested.
Another sister, Maryam, a prominent women ’ s rights advocate, was released in 2017 after serving time in prison for protesting against the male guardianship system.
Saudi Arabia has relaxed strict rules for women, including the ability to dress and work outside the country, to help shape the image of the new country, promote the kingdom and tourism, but the authorities continue to clamp down on women demanding more reforms.
Manaher is just the latest example of a Saudi arrest for using social media to challenge authorities.
Previously, Salma al-Shehab, a PhD student at Reed University in the United Kingdom, was arrested and sentenced to 34 years in prison by a special terrorist court after returning home for using Twitter, tracking and forwarding posts from dissidents and activists.
Lina al-Hathloul, head of ALQST, a Saudi human rights group living abroad, said the case highlighted the authorities ’ empty promises of reform: “Saudi women will still be imprisoned or face false trials for claiming their rights or simply believing they are free to wear what they want. ”
Saad bin Khalid Al Jabri, a former Saudi minister of state who has been in exile in Canada since May 2017, also said the case was an example of the Saudi government ’ s hypocrisy and selective application of strict laws, “in order to promote tourism to foreign Instagram models and even publish swimsuit photos, the authorities have locked up Saudi women without burqas. ”
Saudi Arabia ’ s government, led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, routinely suppresses dissidents, allegedly indirectly holding a large stake in Twitter through the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF), and planting spies inside the company to obtain personal data from users seen as threats to the kingdom.
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Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 plan aims to reduce dependence on oil and diversify the economy through trade, technology, and tourism.

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

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

The plan includes developing NEOM, a $500 billion futuristic city expected to create jobs and improve Saudi citizens' standard of living.

Title:

Content: Sorry, this item is not available in your area.
Mohammed bin Salman..
A reform designed to bring prosperity to the Saudis.
And an iron fist to crush his opponents and enemies.
Conversation
By: Euronews
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his visit to the British government headquarters in London 07 / 03 / 2018 - Alastair Grant / AP.
Saudi Arabia ’ s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is leading his conservative kingdom with ambitious radical reforms and accelerated social changes that began with his ascension to the leadership ladder five years ago.
In parallel, he worked to fortify his position as the de facto and future ruler of the world ’ s largest oil state by silencing all dissent.
However, US President Joe Biden ’ s visit to Saudi Arabia this week indicates that bin Salman remains the country ’ s main international modernizer.
After a quick jump to the top in one of the world ’ s wealthiest countries, the brutal murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at his country ’ s consulate in Istanbul in 2018 cast a shadow over Mohammed bin Salman ’ s one-year tenure as crown prince.
Khashoggi was writing articles critical of the prince ’ s performance in the Washington Post.
American reports concluded that bin Salman ordered his death, and this entailed attempts to isolate him on the international scene, although Saudi Arabia has repeatedly denied any involvement in the operation.
But the visit of the US president, who during his election campaign pledged to treat the kingdom as a “pariah state ” against the backdrop of its human rights record and the killing of Khashoggi, to Saudi Arabia appears to reopen external doors for Prince Mohammed.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman is strong, with a trimmed black beard and a hoarse voice.
One of his most prominent mega-projects as he seeks to diversify the kingdom ’ s oil-based economy is the construction of the futuristic mega-city of Neom at a cost of $500 billion.
But he is also seeking to cement his country ’ s position as a powerful regional power.
He has been the driving force behind Saudi Arabia ’ s military intervention in Yemen, the Arabian Peninsula ’ s poorest country, to support government forces against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.
The 36-year-old crown prince, said to be fond of fast food and video games, is also extremely wealthy, owning a $500 million yacht and a mansion in France, while reports suggest he is the owner of a controversial painting by Leonardo de Vinci.
Unlike other Saudi princes who speak English with a British accent, wear elegant suits and have university degrees from foreign universities, the crown prince has clung to his nomadic roots.
He often wears a traditional robe and sandals, and takes friends and relatives to roast lamb meals in luxurious desert breaks.
After his meteoric rise, he oversaw the biggest shift in modern history for the kingdom, the world ’ s largest crude oil exporter and home to Islam ’ s holiest sites in Mecca and Medina.
"Master of everything."
As part of his reform drive, the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, which served as a powerful religious police, was dismantled, cinemas reopened and tourist visas issued for the first time to visit the kingdom.
Saudi Arabia has organised a film festival, a Formula One race, free wrestling matches and concerts.
Women were allowed to drive.
In contrast, during his reign, Saudi Arabia witnessed a crackdown on activists and the increasing number of dissidents by imprisoning them.
As part of an anti-corruption campaign, dozens of princes and businessmen were detained at Riyadh ’ s luxury Ritz-Carlton hotel in 2017 for months.
In his book “The Rise of Mohammed bin Salman to Power, ” the journalist Ben Hubbard says,“ Bin Salman is a deeply divisive figure.
His supporters praise him as a long-awaited game-changer in a region that yearns for it, and his enemies abhor him as a ruthless dictator in the making.
The prince is “determined to give the Saudis a bright and prosperous future and has an unwavering willingness to crush his enemies. ”
Born on August 31, 1985, Prince Mohammed is one of hundreds of descendants of Saudi Arabia ’ s founder, King Abdulaziz Al Saud.
He grew up in a palace in Riyadh with his mother Fahda, one of his father ’ s four wives, and has five brothers.
“As the sixth son of the founding king ’ s 25th son, there was little reason to expect him to rise to prominence, ” Hubbard writes,“ for most of his life, few people expected it. ”
Mohammed bin Salman received a law degree from King Saud University.
Upon graduation, he served as an adviser to his father, then governor of Riyadh.
When King Salman came to power in early 2015, he appointed him defense minister.
Within a few months, the young prince became responsible for coordinating economic policy and overseeing Aramco ’ s oil company and his country ’ s military intervention in Yemen.
Prince Mohammed ’ s positions have been so numerous that diplomats in Riyadh have called him “master of everything. ”
Unlike many princes in the royal family, Prince Mohammed is married to only one woman and has three sons and two daughters.
People close to him say he works 16 hours a day.
A torrent of ideas.
On 21 June 2017, with the support of his father, he was able to remove his cousin Mohammed bin Nayef and replace him.
In March 2020, bin Nayef and the king ’ s brother Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al Saud were arrested on charges of orchestrating a coup.
Since coming to power, bin Salman has vowed to lead a "moderate, free" kingdom that is open to other religions.
Explaining the philosophy of change, he said during an investment forum in Riyadh in 2017, “We want to live a normal life, ” adding,“ We are just going back to what we were, to Islam that is open to all religions, traditions and peoples. ”
"Seventy percent of the Saudi people are under the age of 30, and frankly we will not waste 30 years of our lives dealing with any extremist ideas that we will destroy today," he said.
As his star began to shine, the crown prince toured the United States and was praised by the White House, Wall Street, Silicon Valley and even Hollywood.
New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman spoke of a "flood of new ideas to change his country" that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke of in an interview.
At the start of his reign, Prince Mohammed escalated the confrontation with Tehran, led a three-year boycott against neighboring Qatar, and reportedly detained former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri for days before French President Emmanuel Macron intervened.
Mohammed bin Salman has had a close relationship with the White House under former President Donald Trump, especially with the president ’ s son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner.
But in early 2021, with the arrival of Democratic President Joe Biden in the White House and allowing the publication of an intelligence report that concluded that the crown prince authorized the killing of Khashoggi, relations between Saudi Arabia and Washington cooled.
Biden ’ s visit is an implicit admission of the inability to bypass Prince Mohammed.
This may be an admission that bin Salman could rule Saudi Arabia for half a century or more.
ADDITIONAL SOURCES • AFP

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

The Saudi government has invested in education and entertainment to create a more modern society.

How has Saudi Arabia empowered women and increased their labor market participation under Vision 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 has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

Amnesty International has criticized Saudi Arabia's human rights record, citing corporal punishment and restrictions on freedom of expression and religion.

Title:

Content: Tuesday 9 Ramadan 1445 AH - 19 March 2024 |
Programs
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Amnesty International Criticizes Saudi Sanctions Bill, Calls for Change
Amnesty International on Tuesday criticized a leaked version of Saudi Arabia ’ s first draft sanctions law, saying it would codify practices ranging from flogging to gender discrimination, and called for changes to bring it in line with international standards.
The draft law “dispels the illusion ” that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is seeking“ to implement a real reform agenda, ” the organization said in a report, referring to the social and economic changes he has introduced to develop the kingdom, attract investment and stimulate tourism.
The draft law was first leaked in 2022 and was confirmed by Saudi legal experts.
She added that the Saudi Human Rights Commission denied the validity of the bill, after the organization sent two letters to it and the Saudi government to inform them of its analysis.
The regulator was informed that the bill was currently under legislative review.
Neither the kingdom ’ s government media liaison office nor Saudi Arabia ’ s human rights body have so far responded to questions from Reuters about the report.
The leaked bill, a copy of which was shared with Reuters, has no date and is 116 pages long.
The kingdom ’ s legal system has for years been based on judges ’ interpretation of provisions of Islamic law and has not been written into a written law, making rulings dependent on the discretion of the judiciary.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed announced in 2021 plans for judicial reform that would eventually lead to a fully codified law.
Amnesty International Secretary General Agnes Callamard said: “The Saudi authorities have a critical opportunity to transform their abusive criminal justice system into one that respects human rights with the first written penal code.
“However, our analysis of the leaked draft law reveals that it is a statement of repression that would entrench human rights violations and suppress freedoms. ”
The kingdom has seen changes in recent years, including reforms that have restricted the power of its religious police, allowed cinemas and allowed women to drive.
Riyadh has come under international criticism for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, the imprisonment of women activists who campaigned for women ’ s right to drive, and the issuance of death sentences or prison sentences for decades for posts on social media.
Crown Prince Mohammed indicated in an interview with Fox News in September that he wanted legal reforms.
"Do we have bad laws?" he said in the interview.
Are we changing it?
"Yes."
In December, Saudi Arabia introduced its first written civil code, a civil transaction system aimed at creating a more stable environment for investors.
Amnesty International said the bill criminalizes the right to freedom of expression, thought and religion, along with criminalizing consensual “illegal ” sexual relations, homosexuality and abortion, and does not protect women and girls from gender-based violence.
The leaked bill also codifies the use of the death penalty and continues to allow for corporal punishments such as flogging.
With the bill currently under legislative review, authorities still have a chance to prove to the world that their “reform pledges are more than empty promises. ”
Source:
• Reuters

Human Rights Watch has condemned Saudi Arabia's human rights record, including Jamal Khashoggi's assassination.

Title:

Content: HRW: Saudis face worst period of repression in modern history
Sunday 24 July 2022 - 05: 32 GMT
Since bin Salman became the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia in 2017, citizens have faced the worst period of repression in their recent history, with authorities carrying out waves of arrests targeting political dissidents, intellectuals, and human rights activists.
World - Saudi Arabia
The organization stressed its refusal to rehabilitate the international image of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman following the recent visit of US President Joe Biden to the Kingdom.
Adam Coogle, the organization ’ s deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa, said Biden had pledged during his election campaign to “ostracize ” Saudi Arabia because of its rampant human rights abuses.
But two years later, he greets the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia with his fists.
With President Biden publicly abandoning his promise to hold Saudi Arabia accountable, it is no longer surprising that many view the Jeddah meeting as a victory for Mohammed bin Salman.
“Biden ’ s new position comes at the expense of the moral authority of the United States, and it is also a severe blow to independent Saudi dissidents and activists who are demanding to seriously share their views on the future of their country. ”
Practices have included holding people in unofficial detention sites where they are subjected to torture and ill-treatment, prolonged arbitrary detention, and asset forfeiture without clear legal procedures.
The use of digital surveillance technology to target peaceful dissidents, and extraterritorial repression — notably the assassination of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.
All of this happens without any meaningful accounting.
Although Saudi Arabia has a poor record on freedom of expression, Mohammed bin Salman ’ s reign has wiped out any space for criticism, online and offline.
This Saudi record testifies that the only permissible expression is praise for the ruler filling the throat.
“Repression has long distorted social reforms and those related to women ’ s rights.
Citizens do not play any role in the reform process, and are content to wait for what will be decided on them without any possibility of expressing opinion or criticism.
“Saudi rights activists had hoped that the Biden era would provide oversight of Saudi repression, and the beginnings were promising. ”
In 2020, Saudi authorities released arbitrarily detained women human rights activists, including Loujain al-Hathloul, and US citizens, in what was seen as an opening to Biden.
But Biden ’ s decision not to punish bin Salman in 2021, along with dozens of other Saudi officials, for human rights abuses, has undermined his influence.
Some observers believe his visit helped rehabilitate the Saudi ruler ’ s international image.
Human rights activists and organizations expect the crackdown to escalate again in the coming period, so what should Biden do now?
What he should have done before the visit — demand that Saudi Arabia release dozens of detained activists, and lift the travel ban on others, the official at Human Rights Watch said.

The CIA has concluded that Mohammed bin Salman authorized Jamal Khashoggi's killing, sparking international condemnation.

Title:

Content: Mohammed bin Salman: The New Face of Saudi Diplomacy in the World
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman - Copyright BERTRAND GUAY / AFP or licensors
By: Euronews
The Saudi-Iranian reconciliation and the return of diplomatic relations between the two countries reflected positively on the situation in Yemen, while the issue of the rehabilitation of the Syrian regime comes as a second step to the effects of this reconciliation.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is the new face of Saudi Arabia against the backdrop of the reforms he is undertaking to polish the image of his country since the assassination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the consulate of Riyadh in Istanbul, Turkey in October 2018, especially since a CIA report concluded that the crown prince “authorized ” the killing of Khashoggi, which Riyadh denied, and pointed to the involvement of what it called rogue elements in the horrific crime.
Despite the reforms he has implemented at home, the crown prince has been criticized for a crackdown on activists and dissidents even from the ruling family.
The Sudanese file
Riyadh is mediating between the two sides in Sudan ’ s armed conflict, overseeing, along with the United States, talks between rival military factions.
Saudi Arabia is seeking to throw all its weight in the hope of reaching an effective ceasefire, especially after breaking a previous truce.
It has contributed significantly to the evacuation of foreign nationals from the Sudan.
In light of the meetings, Saudi Arabia expressed hope that an agreement could be reached on allowing humanitarian aid in the wake of the violent blockade imposed on Khartoum residents by the fighting, while tens of thousands of other citizens have been displaced across Sudan and neighboring countries.
Syria ’ s return to the Arab fold
After the Algerian role in Syria ’ s return to the Arab League, Saudi influence came in the decision to return Damascus to the Arab League, taking advantage of the momentum achieved for its diplomacy following the reconciliation with Iran.
During the recent meeting of the League of Arab States, the Arab foreign ministers decided to resume the participation of Syrian regime delegations in the meetings of the Council of the League of Arab States and all its organizations and organs as of May 7.
Reconciliation with Iran
It is clear that Saudi Arabia is seeking to play a positive role in terms of “de-escalation ” with Iran, which is a major shift in relations between Riyadh and Tehran.
By restoring ties with Iran, the kingdom hopes diplomacy will help reduce its vulnerability to direct attacks from Tehran, as well as collateral damage from deteriorating U.S.-Iranian relations.
Chinese mediation has brought Riyadh and Tehran closer together, signaling that the kingdom is able to “diversify ” its international partners even if it requires forging ties with Washington ’ s“ adversaries, ” which viewed the Saudi-Iranian rapprochement as a challenge.
Stability of the situation in Yemen
Saudi Arabia has overseen several arrangements between Yemeni parties, the Gulf Cooperation Council, the United Nations, China and the United States to discuss developments in Yemen and launch a comprehensive political process to end the war in the country, which has been witnessing a devastating war for years.
The Kingdom also supervised indirect consultations sponsored by the United Nations and the Sultanate of Oman during the past months between the government parties on the one hand and the Houthis on the other hand, where the “framework ” of the upcoming peace plan, the renewal of the truce and the establishment of a general framework for the negotiations on the final solution and the exchange of prisoners.
Thus, Yemen is now in front of the hope of achieving a breakthrough between the parties to the war, especially since the talks differed this time from previous rounds.
Saudi delegations have visited Sanaa, which in itself is a clear confirmation that negotiators are seeking to restore the truce and the complete withdrawal of foreign forces from Yemen.
Reconciliation with Qatar and ending the Gulf crisis
The Ula summit two years ago ended the crisis that erupted in 2017 and caused the collapse of relations between Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, Manama and Cairo on the one hand and Doha on the other, where it led to the closure of air, land and sea borders between these countries and the suspension of all commercial and political exchanges.
The final communique of the summit stressed "the non-infringement of the sovereignty of any state or targeting its security, the development of established relations, and respect for the principles of good neighborliness."
Riyadh ’ s role in the development of joint Gulf action was noted.
Election of President of Lebanon
Riyadh is leading a major movement to reconcile the Lebanese parties to get out of the crisis of the constitutional entitlements of choosing a president and forming a government.
The kingdom retains significant influence in Lebanon at a time when the French president has appointed former foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian as a "special envoy to Lebanon" to try to help find a way out of the political impasse.
Lebanon ’ s parliament recently failed for the 12th time to elect a president amid a deepening political divide between Hezbollah and its rivals that threatens to prolong the presidential vacancy, in the wake of an economic collapse ranked by the World Bank as one of the worst in the world since 1850.
Riyadh may play “a role to soften Hezbollah ’ s position through Iran, to reach a compromise ” on Lebanon ’ s presidency, as“ Saudi-Iranian reconciliation may contribute to calming the political scene in Lebanon. ”
Intensifying cooperation with China
Based on its national interest, Riyadh seeks to intensify cooperation with China by building a strategic partnership in the global economic and commercial sense.
The Kingdom wants to raise the level of work to produce results worthy of the partnership between it and Beijing in all vital investment areas as well as strengthening bilateral relations.
China is the largest trading partner of the Arab countries, with total trade volume between the two sides reaching $430 billion in 2022, with a growth rate of 31 percent compared to 2021.
Riyadh accounts for 25 percent of the total trade exchange between China and Arab countries and the volume of trade between them reached more than $105 billion last year, confirming that Saudi Arabia is China's largest trading partner.
The end of last year witnessed the launch of the first Arab-Chinese summit and a Gulf-Chinese summit, which resulted in the signing of several agreements and memorandums of understanding worth more than $50 billion, including several vital sectors.
Growing Saudi-Turkish Cooperation
Relations between Saudi Arabia and Turkey have witnessed significant growth following the increase in the volume of trade and investment between the two countries.
The various meetings between the officials of the two countries culminated in the holding of the Turkish-Saudi Business and Investment Forum in Istanbul in December 2022, with the participation of senior Turkish and Saudi officials, businessmen and investors.
Investment possibilities have been raised in both countries, while the volume of trade between them has increased from $3.7 billion in 2021 to $4.3 billion this year.
The two sides aim to raise the volume of trade exchange between them to 30 billion dollars during 2030.
Strong relations with France
Bilateral relations between the Kingdom and France are developing in many political, economic, cultural and even defense fields, and the two countries share common views on several common issues.
Paris considers Riyadh a key "ally" in maintaining security, regional peace and stability in the region, and therefore works to consult with the leadership in the Kingdom on issues and crises and ways to address them, such as cooperation in the field of counter-terrorism, where Riyadh has granted $100 million in the framework of the "Sahel Alliance" to fight terrorism.
The two countries also have a protocol agreement between French and Saudi companies worth more than $18 billion, covering the economic, industrial, cultural and health fields.
Is Saudi Arabia leading a mediation between Russia and Ukraine?
French President Emmanuel Macron has said he is trying to persuade non-aligned countries to pressure Moscow to end its invasion of Ukraine.
In May, Macron put a French plane at the disposal of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which took him to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for the Arab summit, and then to Japan for the G7 summit, which was also attended by Brazil and India, both members of the emerging world.
The French president said Zelensky ’ s visit to Jeddah had allowed “very clear support from Saudi Arabia and several other major powers in the region. ”
In July, the Saudi crown prince visited Paris and met with Macron, amid rising energy prices over the war in Ukraine.
During their meeting, the two men stressed the need to find a settlement to the conflict in Ukraine and to intensify cooperation to mitigate its effects in Europe, the Middle East and the world.
Since Russia ’ s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022 and the resulting spike in energy prices, the West has been trying to persuade the world ’ s top oil exporter, Saudi Arabia, to increase its output in the hope of easing pressure on markets.
Saudi Arabia has provided an additional $400 million humanitarian aid package to Ukraine, including $100 million in humanitarian aid from the Kingdom to Ukraine.
No alternative to Russia.
Saudi Arabia seeks to develop its relations with Russia through the development of bilateral relations, which are of interest to both countries and the challenges affecting the world.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov recently expressed great satisfaction with the level of his country's relations with the Kingdom, stressing that the development of relations with Riyadh is a priority for Russia.
He stressed the importance of permanent mutual coordination at the level of ministries and government bodies concerned in the field of trade, economy and investments, with emphasis on permanent communication and agreement on the necessary steps to develop this cooperation.
Moscow welcomed Saudi Arabia ’ s interest in actively participating in the settlement of regional and international issues.
What is the future of US-Saudi relations?
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has said Washington ’ s relationship with Riyadh is still “under review. ”
This followed Khashoggi ’ s assassination and accusations that the Saudi crown prince was involved in his murder.
But it appears that Khashoggi ’ s killing was not the only reason Washington ’ s relations with Riyadh have cooled, with arms sales from the United States to Saudi Arabia falling due to the latter ’ s military intervention in Yemen.
Washington ’ s oil imports from Saudi Arabia have also declined.
China has become Saudi Arabia ’ s biggest trading partner, which has not hesitated to step up trade with India.
Additional Topics

The international community must continue to hold the Saudi government accountable for its human rights record as it responds to Mohammed bin Salman's reforms.

Title:

Content: Bin Salman's European visit.
Common interests and discussion of important files!
Saturday 30 July 2022 - 06: 12 GMT
On his first European tour.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was warmly received in Greece and France, while Amnesty International, in the image of the murderous prince, said pretexts would be made, as was the case with America, that realpolitik prevailed in principle.
The world – what do you think?
Observers believe that human rights organizations assume in good faith that the US and European administrations are sincere in their desire to express human rights, and that this is the case, while it is not.
They stressed that the fact that the United States of America and global Zionism have entrusted this prince with a very dangerous task, and he has provided indications that he is ready to go the last way, even at the expense of the Islamic identity of Saudi Arabia.
These observers said that bin Salman was assigned the task of reducing the issue of the killing of Khashoggi and the death of opponents in prisons, and senior scientists, indicating that bin Salman has been sponsored by Western Zionism from the beginning, and is implementing the agenda required of him even if it was punctuated by some lapses and problems.
They added that there was a debate at the beginning of the Biden administration about how to deal with bin Salman, and this debate reached the level that you can not move Mohammed bin Salman from his position and lift the cover of him as Biden was rumored in his election speech, because this will be a bad message to the rest of the Arab dictatorships that we sponsor.
Observers considered that the West is waiting to turn bin Salman into a king in order to enjoy the diplomatic sense of immunity of heads of state, stressing that the visit of bin Salman to France is a prelude to visit the United States of America.
For their part, analysts confirmed that there are large files that the French authorities believe are common with Saudi Arabia, including the Iranian, Yemeni and Lebanese file and the gas and energy file of Europe.
They stressed that the Macron administration did not stop much on the issue of the killing of Khashoggi or the so-called human rights, and received Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman warmly, pointing out that bin Salman seeks public relations and polishing his image in his European visit, while the French were keen on the subject of renewable energy and the importance of stability of oil markets and food supplies, bin Salman was keen to remove the paragraph of human rights in Saudi Arabia.
On the other hand, Yemeni officials confirmed that part of the objectives of Mohammed bin Salman's visit to France is related to the Yemeni issue.
They said: We must not forget the joint Saudi-French ambitions in Yemen, where French companies are present in Hadramaut and the entry of Saudi forces to this province, that is, the division of wealth between the two countries requires that the position there be unified between Saudi Arabia and France, in addition to the French weapon that supplies the Saudi army in its aggression on Yemen.
The officials said that the French support for Saudi Arabia will not happen unless Paris takes its share of the cake of Yemeni wealth, and it is enough that the French Total companies are engaged in the rape of Yemeni gas and oil fields, in addition to multiple companies, considering that the Saudi-French ambitions are involved in the aggression on Yemen.
They also pointed out that the salient feature of the talks between bin Salman and Macron in Paris was oil and the world's oil markets, the increase in oil production and the resumption of French arms supplies to Saudi Arabia.
What do you think...
Is Europe putting its interests above all else as Biden did by coming to Grandma?
Will France re-supply its weapons to Riyadh after it stopped because of the war in Yemen?
Is the West interested in opening a new page with Saudi Arabia to counter the regional influence of Iran, Russia and China, or is there a need for the kingdom ’ s oil?