Mohammed bin Salman has introduced social and economic reforms in Saudi Arabia since 2017 to diversify the economy and reduce its dependence on oil.

The Saudi economy grew 8.7% in 2022, making it the fastest-growing G20 economy.

The non-oil sector grew 4.9% in 2023 and 8.4% in 2022, its best in ten years.

Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 aims to diversify the economy and improve citizens' quality of life through economic reforms.

The reforms have led to an increase in foreign investment, with over 800 opportunities worth one trillion riyals identified.

MBS has restricted the powers of the Wahhabi establishment, including the Commission for Promotion of Virtue.

The Commission's powers were stripped in 2016, and it now focuses on awareness campaigns, and MBS has limited the religious police's role and plans to recruit women to the Commission.

The Saudi Entertainment Authority, led by Turki Al-Sheikh, has opened Saudi Arabia to music and dancing under MBS.

MBS's reforms have shifted Saudi Arabia away from Wahhabi doctrine towards moderate Islam.

Women's labor market participation has increased from 18% to 37% since 2017.

Unemployment rates have decreased, with the overall rate at 8% in 2022 and a 13.7% drop in female unemployment in 2023.

The government has implemented reforms, including abolishing the male guardianship system, and has allowed women to drive and work.

However, Saudi Arabia restricts non-Muslim worship and beliefs, treating freedom of religion as a state-granted privilege.

The international community has responded to MBS's reforms with a mix of praise and criticism, with some expressing concerns about human rights abuses.

MBS's rule has led to the worst repression in Saudi history, with authorities using torture and detention to silence dissidents.

Mohammed bin Salman has introduced social and economic reforms in Saudi Arabia since 2017 to diversify the economy and reduce its dependence on oil.

Title:

Content: Mohammed bin Salman..
Defeating the impossible.
Ahmed Awad
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In 2016, it was an impossible dream for those who did not know Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the Saudi people who believed in his vision.
Programs, interventions, reports, and a lot of noise targeted this dream, and many tried to sow despair in the spirit of the Saudis and their leadership; the impossibility of achieving this vision.
Today, we are approaching half the age of the vision, and the talk is no longer about “will ”, but we“ reap ”, all legislative, economic and social reforms today have become a paved path towards achieving the goals of the vision, and work to be the output “vital society; an ambitious homeland; and a prosperous economy. ”
2023 will be an exceptional year for us, it will be a year to reap the fruits, and in which we will see the results of many projects in all directions and across all sectors, everything that helps to create success has been provided, and the first beginning of this success is the achievement of a financial surplus in the budget for the first time in years.
His Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman defeated the impossible, and provided his people and country with sustainable prosperity, and an economy capable of growth and prosperity; without being affected by global oil prices.
What His Highness succeeded in became an example among the nations.
Moving from the city.
Disclaimer: All published articles represent the opinion of their authors only.
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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?

The Saudi economy grew 8.7% in 2022, making it the fastest-growing G20 economy.

Title:

Content: Vision 2030 drives economic reforms in line with the programs of the largest economic forum
The train of empowerment and the strength of the financial system and the face of inflation..
The most prominent of them
The Kingdom ’ s Vision 2030 and the G20 summit are moving in one direction until the vision agenda aligned with the programs of the World Economic Forum; at the level of economic stability, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) proved two days ago the strength of the Saudi economy and its steadfastness in the face of a series of global shocks from the Corona to geopolitical conditions and conflicts, to countries under the pressure of inflation and high cost of living.
Among the most notable successes that reflected the quality of Saudi reforms that came at the core of the vision, the Saudi economy led the G20 economies in growth rates in 2022 at an average rate of 8.7%, and non-oil GDP continued to rise to an average growth of 4.9 in 2023, a Saudi dream highlighted by the vision ’ s titles “An economy not addicted to oil ”.
The government intervention also contributed to keeping inflation at 2.8% since May 2023, in contrast to the rates that many economic systems are struggling with, and the rate of home ownership in the Kingdom increased as a result of the shift in the housing sector to 60.6% during 2022.
The Saudi project, which was formulated by His Highness the Crown Prince, coincided with the aspirations of the largest economic bloc, as the train of empowerment and investment in local human resources continues its path, with unemployment rates in general falling to 8%, and equal opportunities and wages between the sexes until the participation of Saudi women in the labor market reached 37% from 18% in 2017, exceeding the target of 30%.
The Saudi leadership also supported financial legislation to maintain financial and banking stability, and the capital adequacy rate in the Saudi financial sector reached 20.1% by the end of the second quarter of this year.
Moody's said in a previous report that Saudi Arabia's economy grew at an average rate of about 3.9 percent over the years from 2022 to 2026.
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The non-oil sector grew 4.9% in 2023 and 8.4% in 2022, its best in ten years.

Title:

Content: The Saudi economy.
Empowerment and sustainability
|
In order to develop and diversify the economy, renew its effective tools and reduce dependence on oil, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia launched "Vision 2030" based on several economic and financial reforms, which aimed to transform the structure of the Saudi economy into a diversified and sustainable economy based on enhancing productivity, raising the contribution of the private sector, and empowering the third sector.
During its modern era, the Saudi economy has witnessed a diversified growth in many sectors, taking advantage of the Kingdom ’ s natural resources and its distinctive geographical and cultural location.
This growth has built a solid economic base, becoming one of the top 20 global economies and an active member of the G20, and one of the key players in the global economy and oil markets, supported by a strong financial system, an efficient and stable banking sector, and giant government companies based on qualified national cadres.
Over the past years, the Kingdom has also witnessed structural reforms on the economic and financial side, which promotes raising economic growth rates while maintaining financial stability and sustainability.
This is evident in the improvement of the business environment in the country, the continuous endeavor to enable the private sector to support economic diversification by improving the business environment and overcoming obstacles to make it more attractive, in addition to investing in previously untapped sectors, as well as improving the investment environment and increasing its attractiveness to local and foreign investors.
In this context, the Cabinet renewed its determination to continue implementing economic initiatives and reforms to achieve the objectives of Vision 2030. The financial indicators for the first quarter of this year came in accordance with all plans set before, and confirms the strength of the public finances and its ability to implement its obligations on time. In the first quarter of this year, which exceeds the forecast of average revenues estimated in each quarter by 261.25 billion riyals, "General revenues were estimated at 1045 billion riyals," which means that revenues have increased by 6.41% from the estimate, compared to that 220.5 billion riyals were spent in the first quarter of this year, while the estimated for each quarter at an average of 238.75 billion riyals. During the first quarter of the estimated average of 7.64 percent, all of which resulted in a surplus in public finances of 57.5 billion riyals during the first quarter of this year, and the budget of 2022 was estimated to have a surplus for the fiscal year as a whole of 90 billion riyals.
There is no doubt that the figures speak for themselves, these indicators that indicate the strength of public finances were not only the result of the rise in oil prices, but also the interaction of the data of the new Saudi economic equation diversified, oil is an important factor but not absolutely, and the performance of public finances on non-oil revenues has improved strongly and continuously during the recent indicators. The vision, with all the details of its programs and initiatives, is the most appropriate model for the Saudi reality so far.
Since the launch of the vision, the Kingdom has succeeded in implementing several supporting initiatives and structural reforms to enable economic transformation. This transformation included several major efforts focused on a sectoral dimension, including enhancing local content and national industry, launching and developing promising economic sectors, and an enabling dimension aimed at maximizing the role of the private sector and SMEs, and enhancing the sustainability of public finances.
These structural shifts have contributed to the Kingdom ’ s economy ’ s ability to steadily weather the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
The pace of this structural transformation towards sustainable economic growth is expected to continue in the coming years, especially in light of a number of investment and giant initiatives, under the umbrella of the Public Investment Fund and leading companies.
It is also expected that the pace of localization of knowledge and innovative technologies will accelerate.
Since the collapse of oil prices in 2015, the Kingdom did not stand idly by in front of the reality of the oil market, but contributed under the guidance of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and great efforts and supervision and follow-up of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in re-engineering the market and its governance to get back on its feet quickly and overcome the crisis. The market is even on the most difficult days, such as during the health crisis and the war crisis in Ukraine.
In contrast, Saudi Arabia has worked on an economic reform model from within that focuses on issues that play an important role in long-term growth, such as human capital development, knowledge economy, research and development, and innovation, while recognizing the importance of saving and capital accumulation. I came out of the pandemic with record growth.
It should be noted here that the preliminary statement of the Ministry of Finance on the 2022 budget said that the non-oil sector has grown by 8.4%, and is the best since the second quarter of 2011 (i.e.: within ten years) - the private sector grew 11.1%, and the government sector 2.3% during the second quarter of 2021 on an annual basis.
Non-oil revenues also managed to achieve significant growth, reaching in 2020 about 369 billion riyals, while they did not exceed 127 billion in 2014.
This march of economic reforms came with full commitment to achieve the vision plans, the most important of which is the program of the Public Investment Fund, which jumped from 570 billion in 2015 to more than 1.8 trillion by the end of 2021, and gross contribution to GDP 8%, with the development of human capital with more than 365 thousand jobs. The Council of Ministers, headed by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and in the presence of the Crown Prince and continuing to implement economic initiatives and reforms, has a clear message to move forward in the hard work that has put its daughters in the first phase of the vision of a sustainable Saudi renaissance.
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Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 aims to diversify the economy and improve citizens' quality of life through economic reforms.

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Content: Arab News
Saudi Crown Prince: 2030 plan adopts huge reforms in various fields
Hamdi Abdullah - Cairo, 8 December 2022 12: 29 AM - Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz stressed the Kingdom ’ s leading role in stabilizing energy markets as part of its efforts to contribute to the stability and growth of the global and local economy.
In a speech on the Saudi budget, bin Salman said that the government ’ s success in addressing the risks of geopolitical changes and reducing their economic and social effects proves the strength of the Kingdom ’ s economy in the face of emergency challenges. He expected that the national strategy for industry will have a huge positive impact on the Kingdom ’ s economy, identifying more than 800 investment opportunities worth one trillion riyals.
He added that the Kingdom will continue to increase the attractiveness of the Kingdom ’ s economy as a base for domestic and foreign investments and diversify the economy by developing promising sectors.
He noted that the National Initiative for Global Supply Chains, which reinforces the Kingdom ’ s role as a key link, enhances the efficiency of global supply chains and will contribute to overcoming the challenges that affect the efficiency and growth of the global economy.
In addition to spending areas in general, the government is implementing a number of key initiatives that will contribute to enhancing the role of the private sector and attracting foreign investments that will help achieve ambitions and aspirations.
He pointed out that the 2023 budget is a continuation of the objectives of the Saudi Vision 2030, as it focuses on accelerating the achievement of results, as the government has succeeded in implementing several supporting initiatives and structural reforms to enable economic transformation and involve the private sector in the transformation journey.
He stressed that all the programs of Saudi Vision 2030 aim to enhance the quality of life of citizens, including increasing employment opportunities and improving the level of income, as well as developing the infrastructure of cities, and providing all services according to the highest international standards.
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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?

The reforms have led to an increase in foreign investment, with over 800 opportunities worth one trillion riyals identified.

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 attract foreign investment

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

MBS has restricted the powers of the Wahhabi establishment, including the Commission for Promotion of Virtue.

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. ”
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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?

Has consolidated his power and removed potential rivals

What internal changes has MBS implemented in Saudi Arabia?

Suppressed dissent--especially Islamist opposition

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

Combating extremist and ideological thinking

The Commission's powers were stripped in 2016, and it now focuses on awareness campaigns, and MBS has limited the religious police's role and plans to recruit women to the Commission.

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

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?

The Saudi Entertainment Authority, led by Turki Al-Sheikh, has opened Saudi Arabia to music and dancing under MBS.

Title:

Content: After the call to stop the "Riyadh Season"
The Saudi youth.
Between the closed hammer of Wahhabism and the anvil of loose entertainment
Monday 20 December 2021 - 03: 58 GMT
Mohammed bin Abdulwahab, the grandfather of the Al-Sheikh family, is the first to spread the doctrine that bears his name, the Wahhabi doctrine, in the land of Arabia, with the sword of Mohammed bin Saud, the grandfather of the Al-Saud family, and ironically, the end of this doctrine, or almost, at the hands of the grandson of the first, Turki Al-Sheikh, head of the Saudi Entertainment Authority, and the grandson of the second Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.
The World as a Collection
The Saud family had the upper hand in the context of the historical alliance that arose between Mohammed bin Abdul Wahab and Mohammed bin Saud, given that the elements of power were in the grip of Ibn Saud, and when the role of Mohammed bin Salman, to reach the throne, a young man did not exceed the age of 20, felt that the road will not be impassable to the throne as long as the Wahhabi institution in the joints of the state, To get rid of both.
In the beginning, he ended the power of the sheikhs of Wahhabism, and reduced the role of the Authority for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, in order to win young people to his side, after Wahhabism kept their breath, and in the second removed everyone who felt that he was competing with him, the Sultan of Al Saud and others and imprisoned them under various pretexts.
Since the youth represent the vast majority of the people, bin Salman tried to get closer to them, through the policy of openness, which he entrusted the implementation of one of the grandchildren of Mohammed bin Abdul Wahab, called Turki al-Sheikh, who headed the entertainment authority, and used the wide powers granted by bin Salman, and opened the doors of Saudi Arabia wide to music groups, singing and dancing, and held loud and mixed concerts. Cut, gambling clubs and wine bars.
It is remarkable that the Saudi people, was the victim, to the grandparents and grandchildren of Sheikh Wal Saud, the grandparents and grandchildren, dealt with the Saudi people superior treatment, the grandparents imposed on him the closed Wahhabi doctrine, which was a distorted and false reading of the true Islamic religion, and spawned all the bloody Takfiri groups that appeared in the world without exception, and today imposed grandchildren, dissolution and moral decline In its western version, without any red lines, as entertainment!!
One of the most important symbols of moral laxity in the policy of openness led by Turki al-Sheikh in Saudi Arabia, is the "Riyadh Season", where mixed dance concerts are held, which do not find a counterpart even in countries known for opening to such concerts for many decades, but what happened in the current Riyadh season, made activists in Saudi Arabia, ringing the bell of danger, because of the dangers of moral deviation. They live in the shadow of Wahhabism.
Since Monday morning, the hashtag “Stop _ Riyadh _ Season _ Muttalib ” has been trending on Twitter in Saudi Arabia, where activists expressed their anger at the inappropriate behavior witnessed during the Riyadh season in the past days, thousands have tweeted this hashtag posting pictures and clips of young men and women dancing to loud music, and wearing bold clothes, stressing that these practices do not suit customs and traditions. The Saudi people, and it is absurd not to represent them.
Many commentators directed their contributions to the organizers of this season, considering that it is a waste of money and an alienation from the religion, customs and traditions that Saudi society still maintains to this day. Others felt that the gathering of huge crowds in light of the threat of Coronavirus and the mutated new strains is not wise, calling on the concerned authorities to stop the events immediately to avoid returning to point zero in relation to the spread of the epidemic.

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?

MBS's reforms have shifted Saudi Arabia away from Wahhabi doctrine towards moderate Islam.

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 has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

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

Combating extremist and ideological thinking

Women's labor market participation has increased from 18% to 37% since 2017.

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

And women's workforce participation doubled to 36%

Unemployment rates have decreased, with the overall rate at 8% in 2022 and a 13.7% drop in female unemployment in 2023.

Title:

Content: Saudi Arabia in 8 years.
Unleashing latent forces
|
Member of the Financial and Economic Committee - Shura Council
Under the guidance of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, set the Saudi Vision 2030 to become an inspiring approach and a new path for the Saudi economy away from the five-year development plans.
Saudi Vision 2030 was a challenge in itself, in its philosophy, in the skills required to achieve it and the necessary contexts to implement it, so the early years of the vision required extensive reforms in public sector governance and structure with many reforms in regulations and legislation, to the extent that any enthusiasm was weakened.
The National Transformation Program (NTP) was the most exciting and accurate program, not because it was a development of government work and the infrastructure needed to achieve Saudi Vision 2030, but because of the new concepts added to government work in Saudi Arabia such as increasing spending efficiency, developing non-oil revenues, achieving fiscal balance, empowering women and enhancing their participation in the private and public sectors. Independent such as the Spending Efficiency Commission, the Non-Oil Revenue Development Center, and the Performance Measurement Center, also required restructuring of the ministry and merging a number of them, such as merging the Ministry of Housing with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs, and merging the Ministries of Civil Service and Labor and Social Development.
Today, after eight years, non-oil revenues reached record numbers in 2023 by more than 457.728 billion riyals, an annual increase of 11%, after it did not exceed 180 billion in 2016, with spending growing from 825 billion in 2016 to reach 1.275 trillion riyals in 2023. Total Saudis reached 7.7% for the fourth quarter of 2023, and the unemployment rate for Saudi women decreased by 13.7%, which is staggering figures, where the unemployment rate exceeded 12.3% and the female unemployment rate 34.5%. This synchronization did not come from a vacuum or coincidence, but reflects the work, great effort and wise management to achieve the objectives of the vision. Therefore, the figures attested to the achievement with the percentage of local content in government procurement reaching 40.14%, and the percentage of correct inclusion of local content requirements in government competitions reached more than 83%. An increase of 42.4%, the number of rapidly growing enterprises reached 1,640, of which 105 are classified among large companies, a remarkable growth that highlights the new role played by the private sector and the encouragement it finds with the emergence of new bodies such as the AlUla Development Authority, the Small and Medium Enterprises Authority, and the Saudi Business Center. Completely.
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The government has implemented reforms, including abolishing the male guardianship system, and has allowed women to drive and work.

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Content: Apply the highest standards of responsiveness to national priorities and commitments
Hala Al-Tuwaijri: Human rights in the Kingdom are protected by national laws and regulations
10-12-2022 at 7: 12 am
Citizen - UAS
The President of the Human Rights Commission, Dr. Hala bint Mazyad Al-Tuwaijri, affirmed that human rights in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are protected by national laws and legislations, and that interest in them has doubled under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. It brought about a radical reform in many systems and legislation that would strengthen the protection of human rights.
Human rights in Saudi Arabia
She said in a press statement on the occasion of the International Human Rights Day 2022: “The reforms witnessed by the Kingdom in the field of human rights contributed to achieving the highest standards of response to national priorities and international obligations in this field, ” noting that the Kingdom felt the importance of this field through several amendments and reforms that contributed to the promotion and protection of these rights at the local level. Protection and promotion of human rights.
At the international level, Her Excellency noted the Kingdom's keenness to be a major part of the efforts to protect and promote human rights and development in the world through its developmental and humanitarian efforts and through its established policies aimed at spreading peace and stability to various peoples of the world.
She pointed out that human rights are currently the focus of attention of all countries of the world, and requires dealing with them professionally and systematically based on sensing these rights, knowledge and dialogue, and organized work and exchange of experiences and partnerships to provide effective tools to promote human rights at the local and international levels. She pointed out that the Kingdom has strengthened these Islamic and societal values and established solid regulatory rules that protect and promote human rights through systems, legislation and policies that ensure a decent life and enhance human rights.
Promotion of human rights
She pointed out that the Kingdom government and people are working together to protect and promote human rights and share the world through the international commitment to preserve fundamental rights and freedoms for all, and that this year ’ s day bears the slogan “Dignity, Freedom and Justice for All ”, which confirms the recognition of the inherent dignity of all human beings and their equal rights. Steady in national systems, and the importance of protecting human rights guaranteed in the systems of the Kingdom and taking all necessary means to preserve and promote them.

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?

However, Saudi Arabia restricts non-Muslim worship and beliefs, treating freedom of religion as a state-granted privilege.

Title:

Content: Recommended

Watchdog warns of 'alarming development' that undermines Saudi narrative of religious freedom reform

A new report by a congressionally mandated watchdog committee in the United States warns that "an alarming development" is underway affecting religious freedom in Saudi Arabia, challenging the government's narrative of reform amid the ongoing power shifts from the religious establishment to the ruling family.

While there is some improvement in the country's atmosphere, Shi'a Muslims, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus and other non-Muslim communities continue to face restrictions and targeting, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom stated in an update.

"The ongoing power shifts from the Saudi religious establishment to the ruling family has created some opportunities for reforms to guardianship laws, textbooks, and social policies impacting religious freedom," a statement from USCIRF, which is tasked with advising Congress and the State Department, reads.

"However, the trend of retrying prisoners and sentencing others to decades in prison for peaceful religious dissent is an alarming development that undermines the Saudi narrative of reform."

The kingdom is "issuing egregiously long sentences against those who dissent from its singular interpretation of Sunni Islam," the commission warns, adding the kingdom doesn't even spare Sunni dissidents.

Shi'a Muslims who participated in protests against religious discrimination over a decade ago remain tied up in legal battles or imprisoned. Some facing execution were minors when they allegedly committed their offenses, the report notes.

"Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, and other non-Muslim communities are prohibited from building houses of worship or manifesting their beliefs in public in Saudi Arabia," it adds.

While public worship continued to be prohibited for non-Muslim minorities in Saudi Arabia, these communities were reportedly subjected to less harassment by security officials than in years past, the report acknowledges.

In Saudi Arabia, a leading U.S. ally, most citizens are Muslim, primarily Sunni. But according to some estimates, about 1.5 million Christians, mostly foreigners, live in Saudi Arabia. Wahhabism, described as "ultraconservative," is the dominant form of Islam in the kingdom.

One problem in Saudi Arabia is, the report suggests, that the kingdom continues to treat freedom of religion as a privilege granted by the state rather than a right guaranteed under international law.

This attitude "undercuts the Saudi narrative of progress toward being a global cosmopolitan hub of business and tourism," it says, adding, "These initiatives are a driving force in Saudi domestic and foreign policy, including its relationship with the United States."

"The Saudi government has made meaningful initial reforms of the religiously-based male guardianship system but has not yet addressed its underlying structural, religiously justified elements that position women as legal minors for life," the report concludes.

Although the U.S. State Department has repeatedly designated Saudi Arabia as a "country of particular concern" (CPC) since 2004, an indefinite waiver was put in 2006 on taking an otherwise legislatively mandated action as a result of the CPC designation.

Countries subject to the State Department's CPC designation face negative consequences, including the possibility of crippling sanctions.

Human rights defenders say Western governments need to take religious freedom more seriously in their dealings with Saudi Arabia and not trade it for other strategic needs.

In the report, USCIRF recommends that the U.S. government "continue to publicly and privately express to Saudi government officials its great concern over Saudi Arabia's particularly severe religious freedom violations."

"Such restrictions impede Saudi progress toward its goal of becoming a regional economic hub and raise the cost of public U.S. government engagement with Saudi Arabia," USCIRF contends.

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The international community has responded to MBS's reforms with a mix of praise and criticism, with some expressing concerns about human rights abuses.

Title:

Content: Wednesday, 24 January 2024 09: 18 GMT
Rights in Saudi Arabia: A Leading Experience of Development and Reform
(MENAFN- Al Watan) With utmost transparency and clarity, the Saudi delegation presented its report during the fourth round of the Universal Periodic Review of the United Nations Human Rights Council, which described in full detail the progress achieved during the period from November 2018 to October 2023, highlighting the many positive changes that have taken place in these five years, representing an integrated legislative breakthrough that was necessary. Fulfilling the requirements of the Kingdom's accession to many international charters and covenants.
The report presented by the Chairman of the Human Rights Commission, Dr. Hala Bint Mazyad Al-Tuwaijri, was thorough and professional, as it answered all inquiries and explained the extent of the Kingdom ’ s growing efforts to promote these rights and the many measures it has taken to consolidate them and make them part of the culture of society.
He explained the extent of the efforts made during the past period, and the determination to continue on the same path to complete the achievement of the rest of the goals.
The Kingdom attaches great importance to the issue of human rights and has linked it to economic and social development, which has gained increasing momentum as a result of the unlimited support it receives from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who paid great attention to the development, establishment and protection of these rights. It received the acclaim and appreciation of the relevant international bodies and institutions.
The report was comprehensive and contained all the necessary information that reflects the state of human rights in the Kingdom and explained that the Kingdom is determined to move forward towards achieving the best international standards in the protection and promotion of human rights within the framework of Vision 2030. The human being is given every consideration.
The report explained in an integrated manner the legislative boom experienced by the Kingdom in this prosperous era to complete the system of laws and regulations, especially those related to human rights, strengthen governance and institutional, and uphold the values of transparency, accountability and integrity.
He also stressed the Kingdom ’ s belief in the importance of the Universal Periodic Review mechanism as one of the effective tools of the Human Rights Council to improve these rights, so it has shown the utmost cooperation and seriousness in dealing with them, as evidenced by the implementation of 85% of the 450 recommendations made to it in previous sessions, which is a high achievement rate that clearly indicates the seriousness with which the Kingdom deals. With this case.
The report also noted the great cooperation shown by the Saudi authorities with the special procedures of the Human Rights Council and the effective response to the inquiries of mandate holders with a response rate of 99%, as well as participating fully in the consultations of mandate holders for the preparation and submission of their reports to the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly of the United Nations with a rate of 98%.
This great cooperation proves the clear fact that Saudi Arabia views human rights as a fundamental issue and deals with it very seriously, in response to the desire of its society and its needs and not subject to dictates or external pressures.
What distinguishes these endeavors is that they are not limited to government efforts, but that civil society organizations have become partners in promoting these values to entrench them within the culture of society, where efforts are integrated to promote them.
These organizations play leading roles that complement, support and emphasize government efforts, and they have proven their worth and competence to play their intended roles.
In the same context, this unique approach to fulfilling the voluntary pledges made by the Kingdom in relation to the international track coincides with the huge legislative boom currently taking place in our country. While the competent institutions with the recommendations of the international mechanisms show an unprecedented response to these recommendations and achieve a high rate of achievement, which is reflected in the fact that Saudi Arabia is the first country in the Middle East and North Africa uses the database to track the implementation of these recommendations, and the process of amending the rest of the laws continues in an integrated vision that takes into account the scale and actual needs.
It was remarkable during the submission of the Kingdom ’ s report that it affirmed its belief in the principle of the universality and indivisibility of human rights and the importance of giving them the same attention, because they are one system. The world in which we live has become a small village with no room for differentiation. It is essential that the same human being find the same rights in the rest of the world, without discrimination or double standards.
Based on my previous participation in such events, I register my appreciation for the recent report submitted by the Saudi delegation because it was integrated, and will have many positive effects in the coming period, in addition to that the clear dealing mechanism adopted by the Commission, which is based on hard evidence, hard evidence and official figures will contribute to confirming the truth. The time and the times.
Therefore, I can say with the utmost confidence that the Kingdom is steadily on its way to strengthening its international position in the field of human rights, and it reaps every year renewed gains, using the unlimited support provided by the wise leadership, and the clear strategies brought by the vision of the Kingdom 2030, which called for the promotion and improvement of human rights as an integral part of the heritage of this country. its people and their ancient traditions.
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What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

MBS's rule has led to the worst repression in Saudi history, with authorities using torture and detention to silence dissidents.

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.

What internal changes has MBS implemented in Saudi Arabia?

Suppressed dissent--especially Islamist opposition