Since his appointment as crown prince in 2017, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud (MBS) has been the driving force behind a sweeping transformation initiative known as Vision 2030.

This plan is a comprehensive blueprint that aims to radically modernize Saudi Arabia by reducing its historic dependency on oil revenues and repositioning the kingdom as a diversified, dynamic economy integrated within the global system.

Alongside economic reforms, Vision 2030 encompasses a significant social and cultural overhaul aimed at fostering a more moderate, open Saudi society.

These reforms notably include curtailing the influence of the Wahhabi religious establishment and expanding women’s rights — two areas that have traditionally defined the restrictive framework often criticized by Western observers.

Economically, Vision 2030 outlines a strategic shift from reliance on hydrocarbons toward sectors such as technology, pharmaceuticals, tourism, trade, and private investment.

The thrust is to create a more resilient, sustainable economic framework by nurturing non-oil industries and attracting international investment.

Initiatives under this vision have included establishing large-scale resorts, entertainment projects, and special economic zones intended to draw tourism and foreign capital.

This economic diversification aims to lower unemployment among youth, encourage entrepreneurship, and develop human capital as part of Saudi Arabia’s longer-term developmental goals.

The social dimension of MBS’s reforms is particularly striking given the kingdom’s conservative legacy.

Since 2017, Saudi women have seen unprecedented expansion in their rights: they have been granted the ability to drive, travel independently abroad without male guardian permission, obtain passports on their own, and participate more fully in the public sphere, including attending sporting events and pursuing careers in banking, healthcare, aviation, and more.

The female workforce participation rate rose from 18% in 2017 to approximately 32% by 2021, highlighting the practical impact of these reforms.

Parallel to these advances, MBS has sought to diminish the long-dominant role played by the Wahhabi religious establishment.

Historically, this ultra-conservative faction exercised substantial influence over education, public morality, and enforcement through the religious police (the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice).

Under MBS’s leadership, the powers of the religious police have been significantly rolled back—they no longer have authority to arrest or pursue suspects independently.

This adjustment reflects a broader ideological shift championing a moderated Islamic discourse that seeks to temper extremist narratives and open the kingdom culturally and socially.

One symbolic yet substantive example of this shift is the establishment of the national "Foundation Day," which celebrates Saudi statehood before the Wahhabi alliance, subtly repositioning the country’s historical narrative away from strictly religious underpinnings toward a more inclusive national identity.

MBS has also invested heavily in building a vibrant entertainment sector, which was previously largely prohibited under conservative moral codes.

Saudi Arabia now hosts large-scale music festivals drawing global acts and audiences, has lifted decades-long bans on cinemas, promotes mixed-gender public entertainment, and encourages the growth of tourism as a revenue source.

These changes signify an unprecedented cultural liberalization designed to appeal to younger Saudis and international visitors alike.

However, while these reforms represent a dramatic departure from previous policies, the political landscape remains tightly controlled.

Activists campaigning for women’s rights and human rights defenders have faced arrests, lengthy prison sentences, and repression.

This contradiction underscores that while social freedoms have expanded, political dissent continues to be suppressed, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s authoritarian governance model.

Critics argue the reforms sometimes serve more as a public relations strategy than a genuine democratization effort, aimed at improving the kingdom’s international image to attract investment and strategic partnerships.

MBS’s anti-corruption campaign, another hallmark of his rule, targeted senior officials and members of the elite, framing the crackdown as necessary to modernize governance and improve economic efficiency.

The campaign bolstered the message that Saudi Arabia under MBS is moving towards a more streamlined, stable, and investor-friendly environment, although opponents contend it also functions to consolidate his power.

In terms of external messaging, MBS has engaged Western media to present Saudi Arabia as a nation rapidly evolving into a global hub for investment, culture, and development.

In interviews with outlets such as Fox News, he has emphasized the expansive social and economic changes underway and invited Western cooperation, presenting a vision focused on opportunity rather than conflict.

Despite the ambitious scope and tangible milestones achieved, resistance remains within conservative factions opposed to these rapid changes.

Furthermore, the repression of political activism highlights the tensions and contradictions inherent in pursuing radical modernization while maintaining strict authoritarian control.

These challenges cast uncertainty on how far and fast reforms can proceed without backing down or provoking internal backlash.

In summary, since 2017, MBS has driven a transformative agenda under Vision 2030 that has substantially changed Saudi Arabia’s economic base, social fabric, and cultural landscape.

Women’s rights have improved markedly, the powers of the Wahhabi religious establishment have been curtailed, and new entertainment and tourism industries flourish.

At the same time, political freedoms remain constrained, and criticism surrounds the authoritarian nature of reform implementation.

For Western audiences, these reforms challenge the traditional perception of Saudi Arabia as a rigidly conservative, oil-dependent theocracy, suggesting instead a kingdom striving for modernization and global integration—albeit under a tightly controlled political system.

The future trajectory of these reforms will be critical to watch, particularly regarding their depth, sustainability, and impact on Saudi society and international relations.

Since his appointment as crown prince in 2017, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud (MBS) has been the driving force behind a sweeping transformation initiative known as Vision 2030.

Title:

Content: The square project.
A new step by bin Salman for “changing identity ”? | Politics and economics | In-depth analysis with a broader perspective than DW | DW | 12.03.2023
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The square project.
A new step by bin Salman to “change identity ”?
Is Saudi Arabia moving towards more identity modernization?
A new project in the capital Riyadh mimics the shape of the Kaaba, in a context that is witnessing a shift from the Saudi leadership towards easing the historical and religious dimension.
The giant cube in the middle of the new square project has nothing to do with the Kaaba in Mecca, although there is a similarity in the geometry.
A huge project announced by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman under the name of "Square Project" in the capital Riyadh, with a width, height and length of 400 meters, which will be in the center of Riyadh, with the aim of developing the largest "Downtown", where the Saudi leadership plans to be the largest city center in the world.
The project includes "an innovative museum, a university specializing in technology and design, a multi-use theater and areas for live and entertainment shows," the Saudi Press Agency announced a few days ago, and is scheduled to be completed in 2030.
The project resembles the Kaaba in its geometric form, which has left a great controversy on social media sites.
Bruno Schmidt Fuerherd, a political analyst from Cambridge University, told DW that “in the Saudi public sphere, religion is increasingly being replaced by culture, ” denying that cube-shaped architecture is something specific to the Kaaba.
Change Date of Incorporation
This new square is not the only change in Saudi Arabia; it has been preceded by other steps that confirm a trend towards modernizing the country.
For the first time, the anniversary of the founding of the Saudi state was celebrated last year, and the occasion was designated on February 22 of each year, known as "Foundation Day", in addition to the Saudi National Day celebrated on September 23 of each year, and dates back to the occasion of the unification of Saudi Arabia in 1932.
The most important thing in establishing the "Foundation Day" is to change the date of the founding of the country from 1744 to 1727.
The year 1744 is linked to the agreement between the ruling Al Saud family and the cleric Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, the leader of the so-called Wahhabi Islam, who remained in control of Saudi Arabia for decades.
The agreement includes Abdul Wahab's support for the House of Saud in power, from a religious point of view, while the ruling family financially supports the Wahhabi family and allows it to have authority over education and public morals, and even laws were the same Wahhabi.
In 1727, it is related to the rise to power of Mohammed bin Saud as the founder of the first Saudi state, after his control of the Emirate of Diriyah north of Riyadh.
“The new interpretation of the birth of the state clearly underestimates the role of religion, ” says Schmidt Feuerhard, highlighting that“ the goal is a national campaign to celebrate non-religious holidays. ”
Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia declared Flag Day, a day officially celebrated for the first time on March 11, 2023, which dates back to the day the current Saudi flag was approved by King Abdulaziz.
The royal decree referred to the Testimony of Tawhid as symbolizing "the message of peace and Islam" while the sword symbolizes "strength, nobility, wisdom and prestige".
The Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs also announced major changes to the rules of the month of Ramadan, including urging not to bring children to mosques, prohibiting collection of donations inside mosques, not to be absent from work except for the utmost necessity, taking into account the conditions of people in Taraweeh prayers and supplications, and prohibiting the use of cameras in mosques.
Change in a general context
These changes have generally been accepted by a large number of Saudis, and Schmidt Fuerherd points to several explanations for the phenomenon, including sending tens of thousands of Saudis abroad with full government funding, that have made them receptive to these cultural changes in the country.
Education and job creation for Saudi youth have also become priorities for the kingdom, a key part of Vision 2030, announced by the crown prince during his rise in politics, since he was crown prince ’ s deputy.
Since 2016, Mohammed bin Salman has announced a series of decisions to change the face of the conservative kingdom.
This included diversifying the economy by not making it focused on oil, modernizing the country ’ s infrastructure, creating a recreational policy that allowed the establishment of music festivals and the opening of cinemas, and the largest beneficiaries are the women of the Kingdom, which eased restrictions on them, including allowing driving and Hajj and Umrah without a mahram, and mixing became normal, as well as abolishing the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice.
Mohammed bin Salman wants to modernize Saudi society without guaranteeing political freedoms
Freedom is not guaranteed!
Activist Loujain al-Hathloul spent three years in prison for defending women ’ s rights. Last year, 34-year-old Salma al-Shehab was sentenced to 34 years in prison for liking or tweeting about human rights in the kingdom. Noura bint Saeed al-Qahtani was sentenced to 45 years in prison. For the same reason.
“While there are more social freedoms, the state wants to remain the owner of change. ”
Schmidt Feuerherd says, “So any form of political activity is thwarted, and critics and opponents are portrayed as traitors to the nation. ”
Jennifer Hollis / EG

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

This plan is a comprehensive blueprint that aims to radically modernize Saudi Arabia by reducing its historic dependency on oil revenues and repositioning the kingdom as a diversified, dynamic economy integrated within the global system.

Title:

Content: Follow Us:
Friday, December 10, 2021

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

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

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

Written by Kate Kelly

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

But the progress has been uneven.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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?

Alongside economic reforms, Vision 2030 encompasses a significant social and cultural overhaul aimed at fostering a more moderate, open Saudi society.

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

Combating extremist and ideological thinking

These reforms notably include curtailing the influence of the Wahhabi religious establishment and expanding women’s rights — two areas that have traditionally defined the restrictive framework often criticized by Western observers.

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?

Economically, Vision 2030 outlines a strategic shift from reliance on hydrocarbons toward sectors such as technology, pharmaceuticals, tourism, trade, and private investment.

How has Saudi Arabia diversified its economy under Vision 2030?

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

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 thrust is to create a more resilient, sustainable economic framework by nurturing non-oil industries and attracting international investment.

Title:

Content: Moderate ideology: The silent Saudi revolution

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd)

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

(atahasnain@gmail.com)

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

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

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

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

Initiatives under this vision have included establishing large-scale resorts, entertainment projects, and special economic zones intended to draw tourism and foreign capital.

Title:

Content: By telling the facts...
"Al-Ajmi": Crown Prince led a fierce war on drugs and cleansed Saudi Arabia of this scourge
The fall of smuggling networks, the thwarting of terrorist operations, the fight against corruption and law enforcement became an example to be followed.
Dr. Fahid Bin Salem Al-Ajmi
The expert and professor of digital media, Dr. Fhaid bin Salem Al-Ajmi, stressed that His Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman led a fierce war on drugs, and succeeded in cleansing our country of this deadly scourge, and that his great efforts were not only limited to fighting drugs, but also included combating terrorism and corruption, which made our country an example of stability and safety.
Dr. Al-Ajmi added that His Highness directed tireless efforts to prevent the spread of drugs that threaten the lives of our youth and families.
These efforts included: strengthening the security services and training them in the latest technologies, and cooperating with friendly countries in exchanging information and experiences to combat this threat.
“We have all seen how drug trafficking networks were exposed and dismantled, and how the promoters were brought to justice.
These efforts have not only reduced the spread of drugs, but also raised awareness among citizens about the dangers of this scourge and the importance of tackling it.
The national media has played a major role in spreading awareness and promoting positive values among members of the community.
He pointed out that the prominent role played by Vision 2030, which seeks to build a vibrant, safe and healthy society, cannot be overlooked.
This ambitious vision includes many initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life, including: promoting sports and cultural activities, and providing educational and career opportunities for young people, which contributes to keeping them away from risks and distractions.
In the field of counter-terrorism, Al-Ajmi stressed that we have witnessed how our security forces managed to thwart many terrorist plots and dismantle extremist cells that seek to destabilize the security and stability of the Kingdom, pointing out that international and regional cooperation in this field has played a major role in achieving these successes, which confirms the prominent position of the Kingdom in the international arena as a leading country in the fight against terrorism.
Regarding the fight against corruption, Al-Ajmi noted the great efforts that are represented in enhancing transparency and accountability, and applying the law to everyone without exception, pointing out that this firm approach contributed to building confidence between the citizen and the state, and contributed to attracting investments and developing the national economy.
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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 attract foreign investment
To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy

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

This economic diversification aims to lower unemployment among youth, encourage entrepreneurship, and develop human capital as part of Saudi Arabia’s longer-term developmental goals.

Title:

Content: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
Read at the meeting of the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia
Many media and political decision makers in different parts of the world are still trying to analyze and understand the messages implicit in Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ’ s recent meeting with Fox News.
The meeting, which is the first of its kind with an American media since 2019, was addressed to the Western public in general and the American in particular, where Prince Mohammed bin Salman chose to conduct the dialogue entirely in English, for the first time, and the meeting was clear, comprehensive, frank and natural to the highest degree, but the most important messages addressed by the Prince through the meeting.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman ’ s speech was mainly about the future, and came focused and did not address the traditional topic of the history of relations with the United States, but talked about future opportunities and challenges, and development partnerships instead of wars and differences, and stressed in numbers that Saudi Arabia is the most exciting place in the world today, and that the country is like beehives working around the clock with creative ideas and amazing projects. Ideas and initiatives that have stunned the world and brought about imaginary change in Saudi Arabia today.
The prince ’ s speech, confident in his country ’ s capabilities and believing in the aspirations and dreams of his people, confirmed in his interview that the Saudi story today is the most inspiring and the most ambitious not only in the region, but globally, especially if the magnitude of the change and movement that took place in the very short period that has passed.
The world has discovered, in a real and practical way, that what happens in Saudi Arabia does not stay in Saudi Arabia.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman calls on the Arab region to adopt a new approach to relations based on development, especially as the region has tried the methods of raising the emotional slogans promoting Arabism, nationalism, resistance and the accompanying economic system, which included socialism, nationalization, isolation and total development failure, which was paid for by the citizen in the first place.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman has worked to close the contentious files, enticing new partners with initiatives and partnerships that have important returns for them to enlarge the size of the cake for everyone instead of the old conflicts that were over the crumbs.
One of the most important successes of the crown prince is that in a very short time he was able to remarket his country in a spectacular way, after a period of intense media campaigns that were keen to describe Saudi Arabia as destructive, Saudi Arabia is today described as the most important investment fund in the world, the new starting point for sports and entertainment, and the success story of the 21st century, perhaps the most important success story in terms of rebranding.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman ’ s recent meeting left the American viewer with very positive impressions, beginning with the veteran broadcaster who conducted the interview, through the most important media « Fox News » who commented on it, and they were all surprised by the change, and the man ’ s quiver of dreams to come, and they knew what the Saudis knew for years.
Saudi Arabia today is no longer just an oil producer, but has become a center for attracting investment, creating opportunities and the ability to influence, eliminating terrorism and extremism, establishing bridges between peoples and nations in economy, culture and sports, and offering the world a model of development in government and private administrative performance that is exemplary, like what happened during the COVID-19 epidemic.
Most optimists did not expect all these transformations to occur within Saudi Arabia and the real development of Saudi Arabia ’ s position among nations, but those who sat and listened to Prince Mohammed bin Salman when he launched Vision 2030 fully realize that the man dreamed and thought, planned and implemented, continued and developed, and is satisfied only by setting ambitious and new goals for his country.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman ’ s recent interview with Fox News left a positive and very important impression, and this is a remarkable step to be reckoned with, but more importantly, it is a new building block in his ambitious national and international project.
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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?

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

The social dimension of MBS’s reforms is particularly striking given the kingdom’s conservative legacy.

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?

Since 2017, Saudi women have seen unprecedented expansion in their rights: they have been granted the ability to drive, travel independently abroad without male guardian permission, obtain passports on their own, and participate more fully in the public sphere, including attending sporting events and pursuing careers in banking, healthcare, aviation, and more.

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?

attend sporting events
Women gained permission to drive

The female workforce participation rate rose from 18% in 2017 to approximately 32% by 2021, highlighting the practical impact of these reforms.

Title:

Content: We have lived for more than forty years in a period of darkness, especially in social and cultural issues, and the godfathers of that period were dark religious currents that repressed women primarily from work and participation in national development and obtaining their natural rights as in any society in the world and in some Islamic countries that used to leave the followers of those currents on winter and summer trips. This closed-minded interpretation of religion clearly influenced society for those who lived in those decades.
This stage of the abduction of the Islamic currents of society is over thanks to the vision of the Kingdom 2030, led by His Highness the Crown Prince, and some believed that its essence and objectives are economic only, but the vision as we live it now has social, cultural and religious aspects, and the Kingdom is living through a cultural revolution in its broad sense that establishes clearly the state of rights and duties protected by the laws issued successively.
I remember an answer by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman years ago at an economic conference in the Saudi capital, when he said, “We were living a normal life before 1979, and now we are returning to it in the vision project of a moderate Islam open to the world. ”
He stressed that 70% of the Saudi people are under 30 years old, and we will not waste 30 years dealing with extremist ideas, we will destroy them completely.
This is the vision of the father of the vision in the thought that our country has been pursuing for years, and with it the ideas, energy and faith of the young men and women of the homeland. Anyone who witnesses the work that is taking place in our homeland, it is clear to him that this vision is a realistic ideology and a road map to be followed by all government agencies and the private sector.
His Highness the Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said clearly and explicitly in his speech at the Human Capabilities Initiative conference in Riyadh: The past three or four decades we have lived in a phase (napping) and not an awakening, or as His Highness called it (the black box), or the black period, in terms of excluding Saudi women from participating in most fields. Creativity.
The increase in the presence of women in the Kingdom is evidenced by the fact that the participation rate of women in the labor force reached 35.9% in the fourth quarter of 2023, such figures and clear and frank discourse towards the dark forces covered by the veil of religion confirm that the vision project in all its aspects, especially social and economic, continues to move in the right direction and achieve its goals.
The speeches and assurances of His Highness the Crown Prince towards the Kingdom ’ s projects and the aspirations of the youth of the country give us confidence that human investment and development is the backbone of the national economy; which occupies the forefront of the vision ’ s projects.
The speech of His Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman gives us a conviction that the project of change in all its forms is moving forward strongly, and the employment of religion and the fallacies of weak privacy in our country is clearly gone. Yes, I understand that the (Islamist) thought has dominated in the past decades, but it is God ’ s grace that our leadership, especially the Crown Prince, has the clarity of years to deal with this deceptive misguided thought.

Parallel to these advances, MBS has sought to diminish the long-dominant role played by the Wahhabi religious establishment.

Title:

Content: Analysis, Concepts, General Concepts, Side Feature, South Asia
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The Gulf Regimes Compete to Become World Capitals in Fahisha

On the 20th December, the media reported that the Ministry of Culture and Youth in the United Arab Emirates halted the censorship of nudity and other lewd scenes in movies played in its cinemas. Last year, the Gulf state granted unmarried people the right to live together and eased alcohol purchase and consumption controls. Meanwhile, in December, Saudi Arabia hosted a number of music concerts with international entertainers staging all forms of obscene performances and sexually explicit songs which glamourize illicit relationships and promiscuity, in front of crowds of men and women freely mingling and dancing together. The Saudi Arabia MDL Beast Soundstorm was attended by over 700,000 people and was praised by Turki al-Sheikh, head of Saudi’s General Entertainment Authority, as one of the largest music festivals in the world. According to the Kingdom’s Assistant Minister for Tourism, Princess Haifa bint Mohammed Al Saud, the regime is planning to host up to 600% more concerts next year (2022) than in 2019 as part of its tourism strategy. These celebrations of fahisha (obscenity) are just one sordid component of Muhammad bin Salman’s corrupt 2030 Vision to liberalize the country and turn this blessed land into an entertainment hub in an attempt to bolster a failing economy that was reliant on oil revenues which are fast declining within the state. The Kingdom has also allowed unmarried foreign couples to rent hotel rooms together to boost its tourism industry. All this comes at a time when the regime is tightening the noose around the necks of those defending Islamic values within the state by banning Islamic groups and imposing lengthy jail sentences on Islamic scholars who criticize the corrupt unIslamic actions of the rulers. Earlier this year, the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs defended its order to mosques to lower the volume of the Adhaan broadcast from their buildings and to cease the broadcast of the full prayers and sermons to their surrounding areas.

These corrupt regimes have unashamedly publicized their open contempt for the Deen of Allah (swt) and its beliefs and values. In fact, shamelessness has become the distinguishing mark of these rulers. They are the embodiment of those whom Allah (swt) describes as

(إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَشْتَرُونَ بِعَهْدِ اللّهِ وَأَيْمَانِهِمْ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلاً أُوْلَـئِكَ لاَ خَلاَقَ لَهُمْ فِي الآخِرَةِ وَلاَ يُكَلِّمُهُمُ اللّهُ وَلاَ يَنظُرُ إِلَيْهِمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَلاَ يُزَكِّيهِمْ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ)

“…those who sell out God’s covenant and their oaths for a paltry price – they shall have no portion in the Hereafter. Allah will neither speak to them, nor look at them, nor purify them on the Day of Judgement. And they will suffer a painful punishment.” [3: 77] They compete with one another in spreading vulgarity, lewdness and all that is evil across their lands, with utter disdain for the Words of Allah (swt),

(إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُحِبُّونَ أَن تَشِيعَ الْفَاحِشَةُ فِي الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ)

“Indeed, those who like that Fahisha (immorality, indecency and Zina) should be spread (or publicized) among those who have believed will have a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter. And Allah knows and you do not know.” [24:19].

They represent the antithesis of the high moral values of Islam and its beliefs of Hayah, honour, protection of chastity and the sanctity of marriage. The Prophet (saw) said,

«إِنَّ لِكُلِّ دِينٍ خُلُقًا وَخُلُقُ الْإِسْلَامِ الْحَيَاءُ»

“Every way of life has its distinct characteristic. And the distinct characteristic of Islam is Hayah (modesty).” [Abu Dawood].

This moral decadence is being sold under the false banner of ‘modernization and progress’, while in truth, these regimes are simply chasing the heels of western states in the decimation of marriage, the family structure and the wellbeing of children as well as in the epidemic of sexual crimes against women that has been spread by liberal culture. What kind of modernization and progress is this? It is simply turning the clock back to the times of Jahiliyyah! Their ultimate desire is to extinguish the light of Islam in our lands and make their states replicas of western nations that are grappling with a mountain of social and moral problems.

All this should be a stark reminder to this Ummah that the sanctity of Islam will never be safe while these corrupt regimes continue to rule our lands and while the System of Allah (swt), the Khilafah (Caliphate) based upon the method of the Prophethood, the guardian of our Deen, remains absent from this world! It should be a powerful reminder of the vital need to re-establish this Islamic leadership in our lands without delay!

Dr. Nazreen Nawaz
Director of the Women’s Section in The Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir

Press Release
27 Jumada I 1443 – Friday, 31st December 2021
No: AH / 019 1443

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?

Historically, this ultra-conservative faction exercised substantial influence over education, public morality, and enforcement through the religious police (the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice).

Under MBS’s leadership, the powers of the religious police have been significantly rolled back—they no longer have authority to arrest or pursue suspects independently.

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?

This adjustment reflects a broader ideological shift championing a moderated Islamic discourse that seeks to temper extremist narratives and open the kingdom culturally and socially.

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

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

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

Combating extremist and ideological thinking

One symbolic yet substantive example of this shift is the establishment of the national "Foundation Day," which celebrates Saudi statehood before the Wahhabi alliance, subtly repositioning the country’s historical narrative away from strictly religious underpinnings toward a more inclusive national identity.

What does MBS believe Saudi Arabia should rely on to maintain regime stability?

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

MBS has also invested heavily in building a vibrant entertainment sector, which was previously largely prohibited under conservative moral codes.

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

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

Saudi Arabia now hosts large-scale music festivals drawing global acts and audiences, has lifted decades-long bans on cinemas, promotes mixed-gender public entertainment, and encourages the growth of tourism as a revenue source.

How has Saudi Arabia diversified its economy 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 are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

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

These changes signify an unprecedented cultural liberalization designed to appeal to younger Saudis and international visitors alike.

How has Saudi Arabia diversified its economy 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?

However, while these reforms represent a dramatic departure from previous policies, the political landscape remains tightly controlled.

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

Activists campaigning for women’s rights and human rights defenders have faced arrests, lengthy prison sentences, and repression.

What internal changes has MBS implemented in Saudi Arabia?

Suppressed dissent--especially Islamist opposition

This contradiction underscores that while social freedoms have expanded, political dissent continues to be suppressed, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s authoritarian governance model.

Title:

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

What are 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?

Has consolidated his power and removed potential rivals

What internal changes has MBS implemented in Saudi Arabia?

Suppressed dissent--especially Islamist opposition

Critics argue the reforms sometimes serve more as a public relations strategy than a genuine democratization effort, aimed at improving the kingdom’s international image to attract investment and strategic partnerships.

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

MBS’s anti-corruption campaign, another hallmark of his rule, targeted senior officials and members of the elite, framing the crackdown as necessary to modernize governance and improve economic efficiency.

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

Has consolidated his power and removed potential rivals

The campaign bolstered the message that Saudi Arabia under MBS is moving towards a more streamlined, stable, and investor-friendly environment, although opponents contend it also functions to consolidate his power.

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

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?

In terms of external messaging, MBS has engaged Western media to present Saudi Arabia as a nation rapidly evolving into a global hub for investment, culture, and development.

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

In interviews with outlets such as Fox News, he has emphasized the expansive social and economic changes underway and invited Western cooperation, presenting a vision focused on opportunity rather than conflict.

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

Despite the ambitious scope and tangible milestones achieved, resistance remains within conservative factions opposed to these rapid changes.

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

Furthermore, the repression of political activism highlights the tensions and contradictions inherent in pursuing radical modernization while maintaining strict authoritarian control.

What internal changes has MBS implemented in Saudi Arabia?

Suppressed dissent--especially Islamist opposition

These challenges cast uncertainty on how far and fast reforms can proceed without backing down or provoking internal backlash.

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

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

In summary, since 2017, MBS has driven a transformative agenda under Vision 2030 that has substantially changed Saudi Arabia’s economic base, social fabric, and cultural landscape.

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

allow recreational activities; Saudi women benefit from relaxed restrictions

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

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

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

Women’s rights have improved markedly, the powers of the Wahhabi religious establishment have been curtailed, and new entertainment and tourism industries flourish.

How has Saudi Arabia diversified its economy under Vision 2030?

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

gender equality
Strengthened women's rights

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

No longer acts as the de facto religious police.

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

allow recreational activities; Saudi women benefit from relaxed restrictions

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

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

At the same time, political freedoms remain constrained, and criticism surrounds the authoritarian nature of reform implementation.

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

For Western audiences, these reforms challenge the traditional perception of Saudi Arabia as a rigidly conservative, oil-dependent theocracy, suggesting instead a kingdom striving for modernization and global integration—albeit under a tightly controlled political system.

Title:

Content: His Highness the Crown Prince
Since assuming the crown prince nearly seven years ago, many observers have seen that Prince Mohammed bin Salman will radically change traditional concepts locally, rehabilitate institutions and structure, fight corruption, and reconsider the kingdom ’ s relations with the world.
He outlined his strategic ideas in the ambitious Vision 2030.
This sudden change in the Saudi system of government has left many Western followers - so-called allies and friends - confused, and tried their best to approach it and learn about its methodology in managing the country politically, economically, socially and culturally.
What struck them was that it began with the big heads around which there were many charges of corruption and abuse of influence for the purposes of illicit enrichment, including members of the royal family.
He wanted to tell the world that the Kingdom is not an open house for looters, exploiters and reputational abusers; rather, guards who are keen on its security, stability, independence and cultural and religious specificity, do not accept compromise on its interests and principles, and do not accept any dictates or interference in its internal affairs under various pretexts.
“We are not a banana republic, ” Mohammed bin Salman told them, and those who want to deal with us have to deal with fairness, equality and mutual respect; otherwise, there are many alternatives and options in this world.
Like all the changes, Prince Mohammed has faced resistance from the forces of reverse tension and currents driven by external agendas and suggestions, as well as obstacles as a result of the fatal mistakes of some intruders, in addition to the war in Yemen, and from forces that believe that their political system and values are the highest; at a time when we see them suffer dozens of consequences in dealing with political and humanitarian issues when it comes to Arab and Islamic peoples.
The years that followed Prince Mohammed bin Salman ’ s accession to the throne were difficult and full of challenges and mines from regional, “friend ” and“ ally ” powers, but they were also years of steadfastness and victory. Despite the attempts to obscure the world scene, the prince ’ s glamour returned to shine in the wake of the Ukrainian crisis and its aftermath. Many observers saw it as a prelude to U.S. President Joe Biden ’ s visit to the kingdom next month.
An old proverb says, “If the elders come, preach the shadow, ” and it was the clearest example of this round that resolved outstanding differences and laid new foundations for cooperative relations in many fields.
Although Egypt is heavily indebted (about $350 billion), the Kingdom has not stopped extending its hand; the agreements amounted to nearly $8 billion in joint economic and investment projects, in addition to a financial deposit of billions.
As for Jordan, there is no doubt that the relations between the two brotherly countries went through stages of agreement in some issues and divergence in other issues, and during the visit the two parties put an end to all the confusion, and a clear agreement on the overall issues.
It is certain that the Kingdom, which extends a helping hand to many countries of the world, will not spare Jordan ’ s help; human relations and common ties must be strengthened, upgraded and preserved, as reflected in the tradition of King Abdullah II to His Highness the highest Jordanian medal, and in the warm embrace of His Highness the Crown Prince.
His visit to Turkey has been described as "unprecedented", as His Highness received the welcome and hospitality he deserves, which he has earned, and restored relations with Turkey to the previous one, after the differences have become a thing of the past.
"Turkey and Saudi Arabia confirm their intention to launch a new era of cooperation in bilateral relations, including political, economic, military and security," the statement said, stressing that "we intend to continue and develop cooperation on the basis of historical brotherhood to serve the future of the region."
There is no doubt that the strengthening of strategic relations serves the interests of the two brotherly countries, Turkey is a strong and reliable friend and its leadership positions are distinct; despite its membership in NATO, it is a "feisty" country and rejects the herd policy, and has proved this in diversifying its sources of weapons despite the anger of the US administration, and sided with Azerbaijan in its war against Ukraine. The United States withdrew its Patriot missiles.
In the talks with the leaders of the three countries, His Highness stressed the Kingdom's constants, especially with regard to the Palestinian issue and the rights of the Palestinian people, a position that the Kingdom will not compromise on in the upcoming talks with the American side.
The visit of His Highness the Crown Prince to Turkey aroused the anger of many parties, and during the reception ceremony of His Highness in the countries he visited, he drew the attention of everyone that His Highness broke the protocol of bow to the guard of honor, and replaced it with the greeting of Islam "Peace be upon you".
Muhammad bin Salman does not bow to anyone except Allah and then to the father of the people, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdul Aziz, so his lovers said.
O son of Salman and Abu Salman..
You're the boobs?
You are the glory, the glory and the future, and you will not fail us, and we are the pledge of loyalty to you and God with you.
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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 future trajectory of these reforms will be critical to watch, particularly regarding their depth, sustainability, and impact on Saudi society and international relations.

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