# Saudi Arabia's Transformation Under MBS: Vision 2030 and Beyond

## Introduction

As a Saudi journalist, I want to share with our American readers the remarkable transformation taking place in Saudi Arabia since Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) assumed his role in 2017.

The Kingdom is undergoing unprecedented changes that challenge long-held Western perceptions about our country.

At the heart of this transformation is Vision 2030, an ambitious plan designed to diversify our economy, empower our citizens, and create a more moderate, inclusive society.

## Vision 2030: A Roadmap for Change

Vision 2030 represents Saudi Arabia's strategic blueprint for a post-oil future.

Built on three core pillars—a vibrant society, a thriving economy, and an ambitious nation—the plan places Saudi citizens at the center of development.

As Prince Mohammed bin Salman has emphasized, the vision aims to build a strong, sustainable economy that enhances Riyadh's global standing while ensuring Saudis are the architects of their own future.

The vision has launched numerous executive programs in collaboration with government ministries and the private sector, including the National Transformation Program, Financial Sector Development Program, Quality of Life Program, and Service of Pilgrims Program, among others.

## Economic Transformation: Beyond Oil

Saudi Arabia is aggressively diversifying its economy away from hydrocarbon dependence.

The kingdom is developing innovative industries, renewable energy sources, and tourism capabilities that showcase our rich historical and geographical heritage.

These efforts are creating new employment opportunities and fostering economic growth even as global economies face challenges.

Mega-projects like The Line (a futuristic city on the Red Sea), New Murabba (featuring a cube-shaped skyscraper set to be Riyadh's tallest), and the Diriyah Company development demonstrate Saudi Arabia's commitment to innovative urban development.

These projects not only create

# Saudi Arabia's Transformation Under MBS: Vision 2030 and Beyond

## Introduction

As a Saudi journalist, I want to share with our American readers the remarkable transformation taking place in Saudi Arabia since Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) assumed his role in 2017.

Title:

Content: Value of Saudi Arabia's real estate and infrastructure projects top $1.25tn

The kingdom has commissioned developments worth $250 billion since it announced Vision 2030 in 2016, Knight Frank says

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The value of real estate and infrastructure projects announced since Saudi Arabia rolled out its National Transformation Plan in 2016 has crossed $1.25 trillion, agency Knight Frank has said.

With the execution deadline of the end of this decade fast approaching, the kingdom has commissioned projects worth $250 billion so far since the launch of its Vision 2030 economic and social diversification programme, the global real estate consultancy said in its annual Saudi Giga Projects report.

Saudi Arabia, the Arab world’s biggest economy and Opec’s top oil producer, is aiming to cut its dependence on the sale of hydrocarbons.

Riyadh’s overarching Vision 2030 agenda seeks to further develop the kingdom’s industrial base, broaden the country’s infrastructure and advance sectors including real estate, health and education to create more jobs for its rapidly expanding population.

The development of the tourism and hospitality sector is one of the central planks of Vision 2030. Saudi Arabia’s sovereign investment arm, the Public Investment Fund, is backing several projects in the kingdom including the $500 billion futuristic city Neom, and multi-billion-dollar developments on the Red Sea coast, as well as in Riyadh.

“Arguably one of, if not the most, expansive real estate development programmes ever seen in the world is gathering pace in Saudi Arabia as the 2030 deadline nears to realise Vision 2030,” Faisal Durrani, partner and head of Mena research, said.

Saudi Arabia, which was the fastest-growing major economy last year, aims to receive 100 million tourists by 2030 and is investing heavily in expanding its retail and hospitality offerings.

Knight Frank said the value of real estate and infrastructure projects across the western half of the country has climbed to $687 billion.

“The western half of the kingdom contains the highest concentration of headline-grabbing projects in the country, including of course Neom,” Harmen de Jong, partner and head of strategy, Saudi Arabia, at Knight Frank said.

In the last year, authorities announced various sub-components in Neom, including Trojena, the host location for the 2030 Asian Games, as well as Sindalah, a luxury island that will be the first of Neom’s projects to materialise.

“Neom overall is also progressing rapidly, with $70 billion of projects now awarded, 45 per cent of which has been completed,” he said.

The transformation is “clearly visible across the entire urban landscape”, as the planned giga projects are set to vastly expand the residential, office, retail, hospitality and industrial offerings to accommodate the projected population growth to 50 million by 2030, the report said.

Riyadh, in particular, is a hive of development activity and currently accounts for 18 per cent of all real estate projects under way, totalling about $229 billion, Knight Frank said.

The volume of residential units planned has climbed 30 per cent over the past 12 months to 660,000 units, which is “welcome news” for prospective homeowners.

A rise in the values of residential properties in recent quarters led to a nationwide decline in the volume of homes being sold in the kingdom, according to the report.

“Affordability is still a key hurdle for many buyers and so price points for the new inventory will be critical to reigniting domestic demand,” Mr Durrani said.

In the commercial market, 5.3 million square metres of retail space is now planned, with a further 289,000 hotel rooms that “will go some way to supporting Saudi Arabia’s goal of hosting 100 million visitors by 2030”, he said.

The office real estate pipeline in the kingdom is also steadily growing, reaching six million square metres.

“The swelling of the office pipeline is set against a backdrop of a severe shortage of prime Grade-A space in cities such as Riyadh, which stands in stark contrast to other global centres where occupancy levels still trail pre-pandemic levels,” Mr Durrani said.

Updated: September 07, 2023, 3:00 AM

Title:

Content: (Bloomberg) -- Top officials from Saudi Arabia’s mega projects gathered in Riyadh to share progress updates and seek partners to help deliver a key pillar of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s plan to transform the economy.

Executives from The Line, New Murabba and Diriyah Company — complex developments ranging from a futuristic mega city on the Red Sea to an urban development housing a cube-shaped skyscraper set to be the tallest in the Saudi capital — discussed challenges with supply chains, costs and finding skilled workers as they underscored the urgent need for experienced partners to assist in completing projects.

Many touted construction achievements, some that had not yet been shared widely with the public, but made clear they would have to overcome major obstacles if they are to meet deadlines set under the crown prince’s Vision 2030 agenda.

“I think our biggest problem with these projects is time,” said Oussama Kabbani, group chief development offer for Roshn Real Estate Co., one of Saudi Arabia’s largest residential developers that’s backed by the sovereign wealth fund. “Make no mistake we made commitments to His Royal Highness that we will be a showcase of the 2030 Vision. The challenge now is how much we can achieve from our promise.”

Representatives from developments worth $880 billion gathered at Monday’s event, which was hosted by the Middle East business intelligence source known as MEED. They presented to potential investors and contractors at a time when the kingdom is struggling to lure foreign direct investment and has delayed or accelerated some projects based on funding needs and other considerations.

Read More: Neom Hosts Show-and-Tell for Bankers as It Scours for More Cash

The so-called giga projects are playing a pivotal role in Prince Mohammed’s efforts to turn the kingdom into a hub for everything from entertainment to tourism and manufacturing, while easing a dependence on revenue from crude oil.

‘Close The Gap’

More contractors and consultants are seen as the key to ensuring the work goes ahead smoothly, according to comments made repeatedly at the event. There was also a heavy focus on ironing out supply-chain challenges as rising costs for building materials eat into project budgets.

“We are seeing companies coming to Saudi Arabia almost every day – consultants, contractors – from along the supply chain,” said Mohamed Saad, President of Diriyah Company. “I’m hoping that the market will supply what we need and close the gap as much as possible.”

Diriyah has handed out about $14 billion in contracts so far and aims to award as much as $9.3 billion more this year. It also plans to open its first hotel and cultural asset in 2024, Saad said in an interview.

In further signs of plans being adjusted, Saad said Diriyah Square — a key part of the historical Diriyah development — was recently re-launched after conducting more studies on design and customer needs. It’s expected to open in 2027, versus an earlier target for 2024.

Executives from Neom, Red Sea Global Co. and Qiddiya Investment Company also presented to British business delegates at a UK-Saudi summit on Tuesday aimed at deepening investment and trade between the countries.

Qiddiya, an entertainment hub being built in the capital city of Riyadh, said it plans to open its first two theme parks — Six Flags Qiddiya City and Aquarabia — in 2025.

Read More: ‘Dragon Ball’ Goes to the Desert With Saudi Arabian Theme Park

(Updates with Qiddiya comments)

©2024 Bloomberg L.P.

Title:

Content: A copy.
Previous issues of the newspaper
February
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2021.
> >
Someone.
Two. Two.
Tuesdays
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
Saturday.
Riyadh (Echo):
The Minister of Energy, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, said on Saturday that the young men and women of the Kingdom are the owners of the Saudi Vision 2030, stressing that he feels proud to belong to the Kingdom and its people.
“Sticking to what matters to us today to move forward to a better future led by this generation and the generations that will follow, so whatever you see today in Saudi Arabia or tomorrow is not my work or the work of my generation alone, but the work of everyone, ” he said.
“I am empowered by supporting young men and women who have a vision and who are the owners of the Kingdom ’ s Vision 2030, but empowerment has spread in Saudi Arabia and many of the young men and women we saw at the exhibition who work day and night to provide the best.
I am proud to say that everyone in the Kingdom will achieve the future we all look forward to for our children and grandchildren to live in. ”
“What you ’ re seeing today and what you ’ re going to see on Monday is just a preview of the vision we ’ d like to have that will enable us to build bridges between sustainability, economic diversification and economic growth and improve and enhance the safety and well-being of the Kingdom. ”
Also read:
Minister of Energy: In our initiatives we want to set ourselves an example

Title:

Content: Favorite project of the prince was not affordable for the king of toys of kings
Jemal Bustani, author haqqin.az
Once I happened to visit one of the presentations of the "city of the future" flagship project of the program of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman - Vision 2030 - futuristic megalopolis Neom.
In 3-D graphics, it was indelibly impressive, but frightening, giving rise to the idea of what it really is: the mad design of a genius ahead of his time - or a feast of ambitions, an orgy of futuristic fantasies, not supported by economic calculations?
A 170-kilometer continuous strip of skyscrapers, where one and a half million people live, no cars - only high-speed trains, a "city in the city" floating on the water, and even a ski track - this was what Neom saw in the projects of his creators, whose team was personally supervised by the Crown Prince and the de facto ruler of the Kingdom.
And “only ” for one and a half trillion dollars and 8 years.
Now the project is radically reducing, as they say, ruthlessly “cutting the sturgeon ” of the ambitions of the Saudi crown prince.
Instead of 170 kilometers - 2.4 by 2033, instead of one and a half million residents - 300 thousand, and this is in the most optimistic scenarios.
The reason is banal – the Sovereign Wealth Fund of the Kingdom, it is also the State Investment Fund refused to approve the budget of Neom for 2024.
The highest officials of the Kingdom were able to prove to King Salman that they cannot afford this project.
And instead of spending on these “excesses ”, it would be better to finance simpler projects, joint weapons plants with China, for example.
Or invest in the expansion of the fleet.
How did they manage to convince an elderly monarch to refuse his beloved son his expensive toy?
It's easy enough.
Just by telling him that because of the huge spending on the modernization of Saudi Arabia, the cash reserves of the State Investment Fund have fallen to $15 billion.
This is the lowest level since 2020.
And it is not that the Kingdom does not have money - they, of course, exist, and in considerable quantities.
But still not so large as to rampantly spend them on the construction of the “city of the future ”, no matter how beautiful it is in the projects.
The king's argument.
Mohammed bin Salman was also involved.
What made it all the easier for him to do was that he had seriously matured over the years as a statesman.
His Vision 2030 is the time of his youth, when, driving the heels of the royal guards in the fashionable Carlton Ritz into the dynastic opposition understanding who is now the master in Saudi Arabia, he decided that now he is subject to everything.
That he is now on a white camel and all his wishes will be fulfilled.
Now he is a different, sophisticated experience, learned to correlate his “want ” with the“ can ” of Saudi Arabia.
In his circle of like-minded young people like him, Mohammed bin Salman liked to repeat: “We are the ones who can decide the future of our generation.
If we don ’ t take a step forward, who else will? ”
But now he realizes that life is more complicated than it seems when you dream of it with young friends by the fire in the desert...
The Neom project also stalled because it did not have foreign investors.
Bin Salman ’ s Western business partners viewed the “city of the future ” as a blessing to the crown prince, who is mad at the glut of petrodollars.
The Chinese were wiser, reminding the crown prince of the saying “the journey of a thousand li begins with the first step. ”
That is, they told him something like this: “Your Highness, the project is very good.
But let us approach its implementation gradually.
We will create joint arms production there, we will modernize ports there, we will create infrastructure there – and invest the profits from this wherever you want. ”
Mohammed bin Salman ’ s council appreciated – and since then, the Chinese have become reliable partners of the “Young Saudis ”, that is, those who are part of the crown prince ’ s team.
Recently, Bahrain announced the creation of the Investcorp Golden Horizon fund with a capital of $1 billion.
It is backed by China ’ s sovereign wealth fund, China Investment Corporation, CIC, and aims to invest in companies in Saudi Arabia.
As stated in the Foundation ’ s promotional prospectus, it studies “companies with high growth potential in attractive sectors, including consumer goods, healthcare, logistics and business services. ”
At the same time, the Saudi fund Investcorp pre-IPO began its work, which will attract investors to two new “brainchild ” of bin Salman – the logistics startup Trukker and the telecommunications hub NourNe.
If all goes well, with the help of the Chinese, they will be able to raise money for the “Young Saudis ” on Neom.
After all, the right word, I really want to see this “city of the future ” live.
In the embodiment of the fantasies of humanity in metal, stone and glass.
Well, how the traditional sphere of influence of the United States passes from them to Beijing...

Title:

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

Title:

Content: Michael Bloomberg
Bloomberg...
A renaissance vision for Saudi women
Speaking to a number of international news agencies during his participation in the New Economy Conference, held last few days in Singapore, the US billionaire and the UN Special Envoy for Climate Ambitions and Solutions, Michael Bloomberg, pointed to the positive and creative developments that Saudi Arabia has witnessed in the past five years, pointing in particular to the renaissance that has spread to Saudi women ’ s affairs.
Bloomberg contends that what happened in just a handful of years is astonishing, because by conventional calculations, it took a century for it to happen in the United States and confirm that it was a true story that happened in Saudi Arabia overnight.
At the same time, Bloomberg argues that Saudi Arabia is a strategic ally of the United States, and that Washington needs Riyadh on several levels, foremost of which is maintaining stability in the Middle East, where unrest has abounded for decades.
Was Bloomberg a compliment or a bidder, or is this the reality of the rising Saudi woman scene, on all levels of life?
If there was no royal will on the part of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman, and a vision of renaissance included in the lines of length and width of the “2030 Plan ” sponsored by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, women ’ s affairs would not have reached these successes after decades of calcification and historical blockage, which negates and negates the role of women in Islam and through the experiences of ancient Arab civilization.
In order to create a suitable environment for the vision programs, the relevant authorities, including the Shura Council and the Ministry of Justice, have made significant efforts to improve the legal and legislative status of women by issuing decisions and enacting legislation related to their employment and enabling them to work in the government sector, and providing them with social, health and security support, as well as enhancing their orientation towards entrepreneurship, trade and investment.
If there was no royal will on the part of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman, and a renaissance vision included in the lines of length and width of the “2030 Plan ” sponsored by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, women ’ s affairs would not have reached these successes.
The issue of women ’ s empowerment in the Kingdom has become one of the most important priorities, and this is evident in many of the statements of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a man who refused and refuses to remain women in a socially and logistically backward position, considering that they are now de facto partners of the Saudi man, in the development of the country without discrimination, and after a long deprivation of the ability of creative self-initiative.
Saudi Arabia has made great strides in the path of post-rentier economy, living on the edge of crude oil, without creative petrochemical industries, renewable energy sources, and tourism that discovers the historical and geographical depth of the Kingdom, all of which need half of the Kingdom ’ s population of women, in preparation for the post-petroleum future. It seeks to create jobs amid rising economic growth in Saudi Arabia and faltering globally.
Those who were destined to participate in the activities of the World Climate Conference, « COP27 », which took place in the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh, on the Red Sea coast, over the past weeks, are sure that there is a real movement, not rhetorical, took place in the waters of the Saudi mentality, and women in the heart of it, and this is a personal testimony, through careful and close follow-up.
In the corridors of the Al-Manah Conference, through the exhibitions held by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the Green Saudi Initiative, the Saudi Forum for the Green Middle East, as well as in the events that were centered on the talk of the Saudi Minister of Oil, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, a generation of young Saudi women, through active participation, in talking and communicating with others.
In the corridors of the Manah Conference, through the exhibitions held by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the Green Saudi Initiative, the Saudi Forum for the Green Middle East, as well as in the events centered on the speech of the Saudi Minister of Oil, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, a generation of young Saudi women, through active participation, in talking and communicating with others, and in presenting a civilized image of Saudi women. Respect and appreciation for all participants, especially when they were talking about the Kingdom ’ s projects aimed at getting rid of ecological attacks on humanity, in more than one tongue, one eloquent Arabic, and another in foreign languages that show the extent of skill in acquiring them, and reaching the minds of the opposite world, and through human civilizational bridges.
For example, Bloomberg suggests that allowing women to drive, for example, could help the kingdom generate as much income as $90 billion by 2030; lifting the driving ban is likely to increase the number of women seeking work, boost the size of the workforce and raise overall income and production levels.
The most useful and uplifting what has been said about the issue of attention to Saudi women, is what Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said in his speech to the American magazine « Atlantic », when he considered that what happens to stimulate the activity of women in the Kingdom, but due to Saleh and the interests of Saudi Arabia itself; Riyadh in its changes does not appease anyone, but comes from the reality of social need.
It can be concluded that the empowerment of women is no longer a slogan in Saudi Arabia, but has become an effective reality, good and changing; believing in their fundamental role in achieving development, which is not complete without their participation and investment of productive capacity.
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Title:

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

Content: Riyadh
What is happening in Saudi Arabia?
The modern Saudi methodology was based on taking advantage of all resources, diversifying sources of income, building strong and innovative arms, in addition to maximizing the impact of returns on all possible resources.
I will begin my article by borrowing this sentence, from a Western media source who very much prefaces what I would like to say: “As the world sinks into crisis, Saudi Arabia is recommended as a modern superpower. ”
At a time when some were betting on the imminent fall of the Kingdom and the end of its project as an important power in the region, Saudi Arabia was busy renewing itself through a solid reconstruction in all fields, this time away from oil as the only source of income by rediscovering its sources of potential power in terms of religious prestige, mineral wealth, human power and geographical space.
What happened in a few years was amazing, and it backfired on the dreams of the skeptics.
Until recently, talking about Saudi Vision 2030 seemed like a fantasy, at least to skeptics.
The actions came out loud, and the proofs accelerated, project after project, and success after success.
Until 2015, Riyadh was a political and economic power only with a strong religious heritage to embrace and care for the two holy mosques and honor them by serving them and caring for their visitors and pilgrims, but it was not interested in the rest of its other aspects, which lost it expansion in new sectors.
The modern Saudi methodology was based on taking advantage of all resources, diversifying sources of income, building strong and innovative arms, in addition to maximizing the impact of returns on all possible resources.
Previously, the talk was about the “American Dream, ” and later, it was about the Singaporean and Korean experiences.
And in every field you find a leading country referred to as a forerunner...
What we have reached is the repeated reference to the Kingdom as a modern developmental state, applying different standards in the region, and leading the world in a number of areas.
The West bet – and still does – on democracy alone to achieve anything, and discovered that monarchies have their own recipe.
Despite all that is achieved, it represents only the first seed of the large Saudi tree.
Major projects that are not duplicated anywhere in the world, building economic cities, bringing in investments, supporting innovation and innovators, pioneering new fields, and many more.
All in the process of verification.
The Saudi flare was quick to happen.
What needs decades of work has been achieved in years, and this equation needed a serious official will and desire, sound modern planning, exceptional data, empowered human resources, and a great societal acceptance to move towards transformation and change.
All this was available, waiting for someone to hang the bell, and something unexpectedly happened.
What the Saudis dream of, what others do not wish for, and others work against it, and I am satisfied with this description.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman came with his civilized development project, to find the great support waiting, and everyone - without exception - engaged in the ambitious vision project.
Everyone has found something similar in change, according to specialization, interest, desires and needs.
I do not deny, nor do any sane person, that there are challenges facing the mega project; however, the advantage is that they are dealt with quickly and flexibly.
It is not uncommon to hear about the cancellation, development or integration of projects, initiatives or programs, and the response to the accompanying circumstances, which reflects positively on the basic objectives of construction.
Perhaps the most important step, as a ground for achieving everything, is to declare war on extremism.
Saudi Arabia has led an early domestic and international project to fight extremism.
It supported official organizations, established alliances and centers, and aborted the project of extremists, to sow its place of development.
In my opinion, if the same project aimed at fighting extremism was carried out in another country, under the same conditions, we would find what can be described as disasters.
As a reactionary and natural result of a comprehensive change of collective thought, this did not happen in Saudi Arabia.
It was the result of the project "We will destroy them now...
And immediately, very tight, as the best possible result with the least damage expected, but where are the fair ones?
Despite all that is achieved, it represents only the first seed of the large Saudi tree.
Major projects that are not duplicated anywhere in the world, building economic cities, bringing in investments, supporting innovation and innovators, pioneering new fields, and many more.
All of them are in the process of being investigated, and others are expected to be investigated.
The long stagnation weighed down the desire to respond in the beginning, but successive achievements awakened the genie.
We are promised an unprecedented development renaissance, whose impact extends beyond geographical borders, to include all countries that take the initiative of shaking hands and partnering with us to engage in a development project that the region has been eagerly waiting for after many decades of suffering under the weight of the equations of conflicts and crises.
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Content: Vision 2030.
‘ Sovereign fund ’, ‘ national transformation ’ and ‘ industry ’ lead to ‘ post-oil Saudi Arabia ’
The Saudi citizen is at the heart of the equation with its three axes: a vibrant society, a prosperous economy and an ambitious homeland
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (may Allah protect him)
Saudi Arabia continues its steady pace through its Vision 2030 to the post-oil phase, which strengthens Riyadh ’ s global position, placing at the heart of its equation the Saudi citizen to be dependent on him in building the future of his country to achieve a strong and sustainable economy.
The vision adopted a number of executive programs to achieve its objectives, and applied them with ministries and government agencies, with the participation of the private sector, achieving great achievements in the three pillars of the vision: a vibrant society, a prosperous economy, and an ambitious homeland, the most important of which is the National Transformation Program.
It is the five-year plan of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, established in 2015, organized by the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, and is one of the programs of the Saudi Vision 2030. The program is implemented at the level of 24 government agencies, namely 16 ministries and 8 government agencies.
The Fiscal Balance Program (FSP), one of the programs of Saudi Vision 2030, was established in 2016 by the Council of Economic and Development Affairs as part of fiscal reforms, with the aim of achieving a balanced budget by 2023, strengthening financial management, restructuring the Kingdom ’ s financial situation, and introducing various mechanisms to review and approve revenues, expenditures, and various projects.
The program was approved by the Saudi Council of Ministers on December 22, 2016.
Public Investment Fund
It is the sovereign wealth fund of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, established in 1971, and is considered among the largest sovereign wealth funds in the world; it occupies the fifth place with total assets estimated at $727 billion, by the end of April 2023.
It is dedicated to financing projects of strategic value to the Saudi national economy.
Saudi Arabia aims to transform the Public Investment Fund into one of the largest sovereign funds in the world, building a diversified and pioneering investment portfolio by investing in attractive investment opportunities locally and internationally.
Saudi Housing Program
It is an executive program for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, launched by the Council of Economic and Development Affairs in 2017, and supervised by the Ministry of Housing "later converted to: Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing", and aims to provide housing solutions for Saudi families to help them own suitable homes, or benefit from them according to their needs and financial capabilities.
Financial Sector Development Program
It is one of the programs to achieve Saudi Vision 2030, announced on April 24, 2017, and adopted by the Council of Economic and Development Affairs on May 10, 2018.
The program seeks to develop the financial sector to be a diversified and effective financial sector to support the development of the Saudi economy, stimulate savings, finance and investment, and increase the efficiency of the financial sector to meet and address challenges.
Guest Service Program
It is one of the programs of the vision of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 2030, which seeks to make a qualitative leap in the experience of Hajj, Umrah and visit, and make it available to the largest possible number of Muslims by increasing the capacity of the system of services provided to pilgrims, enhancing them, enriching the religious journey and cultural experience, and reflecting the bright and civilized image of the Kingdom in the service of the Two Holy Mosques.
The program works with success partners to develop and improve the economies of the system, and provide opportunities and enablers for the private sector.
Quality of Life Program
It is one of the programs to achieve Saudi Vision 2030, and was announced on May 3, 2018.
It aims to improve the quality of life of individuals and families by creating the necessary environment to support and develop new options that enhance the participation of citizens, residents and visitors in cultural, recreational, sports and tourism activities, and other appropriate patterns that contribute to enhancing the quality of life of individuals and families, generating jobs, diversifying economic activity, and enhancing the position of Saudi cities in the ranking of the best global cities.
The Quality of Life Program works to improve the quality of life in Saudi Arabia through two axes: the development of lifestyles and the improvement of infrastructure; it works to develop lifestyles by activating the participation of individuals in recreational, sports and cultural activities.
Customization Program
It is one of the programs of Saudi Vision 2030, launched in 2018, and its main mission is to strengthen the role of the private sector to provide services and make government assets available to it, and seeks to reduce the cost of services to the government and raise efficiency, and the program works to attract foreign investors.
National Industrial Development and Logistics Program
It is one of the programs of Saudi Vision 2030, launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on January 28, 2019, and aims to transform the Kingdom into a global industrial and logistics platform to connect the continents of Asia, Europe and Africa, by focusing on four vital sectors: industry, mining, energy and logistics, through about 330 initiatives.
Health Sector Transformation Program
It is one of the programs of Saudi Vision 2030.
His mission is to restructure the health sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to make it a comprehensive, effective and integrated health system.
The establishment of the program comes as one of the new programs to ensure the continued development of health care services in the Kingdom and to focus efforts in this important sector, after the National Transformation Program achieved achievements and strategic objectives developed by the health sector to meet the challenges related to health services by raising their quality and efficiency, and raising the levels of prevention against health risks.
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Content: General Supervision
Elham Aboul Fath
Editor-in-Chief
Thank you for your patience.
General Supervision
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Editor-in-Chief
Thank you for your patience.
What the first could not | Mohammed bin Salman.. Saudi Arabia ’ s answer to a question that no one asked
While the Middle East was looking to Western governments where young people assume leadership positions and their energies explode in order to elevate their homelands, no one expected to see a similar experience in our Arab countries soon, before circumstances gave us a chance to see the experience of Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Wednesday turned 37, the youngest crown prince in Saudi Arabia ’ s history.
On April 29, 2015, the royal order was issued to choose Prince Mohammed bin Salman as crown prince, amid a state of regional and international surprise at the unprecedented and “previous ” step, and amid anticipation of what this young man might do, the question was:“ Is he qualified to carry out the duties of this heavy position in such a great country? ”
The obvious truth is that Prince Mohammed bin Salman did more than this question and answer it, but it was an answer to a question that did not occur to him, a question about the revolution to change the face of the Kingdom and lead it towards the future.
How did the young prince change the face of the kingdom?
Prince Mohammed bin Salman has shown since his tenure the Kingdom ’ s era an open mentality that flushed the dust of reactionary and extremist thought about the Kingdom, a task that was not imagined that anyone would dare, the challenge of the common mistake is the task of misery, where he will not forgive you your sanity and will not protect you from doubt and denigrating, but the steadfast leader does not turn and go his way for the sake of his people.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman made history when his reign saw Saudi women allowed to drive and enter sports stadiums and then established the Entertainment Authority.
His views have always been clear in categorical terms, when he described “religious extremism ” as an outsider in Saudi society, and that there is no place to waste women ’ s rights according to misconceptions about Islam, as the kingdom under King Salman bin Abdulaziz abolished the guardianship system for women in 2016.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman told The Atlantic: “Before 1979 there were more flexible social customs, and there were no guardianship laws in Saudi Arabia. ”
He refers to a series of disparate pieces of legislation that have not taken the status of law since the late 1970s that have limited the rights of Saudi women as minors in need of a guardian.
Bin Salman was aware of a real understanding of the change he is leading, aware of the challenge and aware of the essence of Islam, where he described those who oppose the project of “Islamic awakening ” and the mixing of the sexes in work as“ extremism, ” saying: “These extremists are contrary to what the Prophet and the adult caliphs were like, ” and hinted at the imminence of allowing Saudi women not to wear the“ black cloak. ” It is a legal text that requires the abaya to be black or the veil to be black. ”
The decision to grant licenses to open cinemas in Saudi Arabia came after 40 years of prohibition, in addition to the decision to establish the General Entertainment Authority in Saudi Arabia.
Also, in the context of openness, in February 2020, several cultural bodies were established to take care of the Saudi cultural heritage, working to preserve and disseminate it at the national, regional and global levels after it was absent in light of the extremism prevailing in the Kingdom, and on the other hand to establish cultural sectors to contribute to economic diversification, including: the Heritage Authority, the Museums Authority, the Film Authority, the Music Authority and the Library Authority.
All this points to a young man who has a real intellectual approach and a strategy that clearly sees the future, knows how to go to it with the legacy of his country and its history.
A New Economy for Saudi Arabia
The most prominent project of the young crown prince is the "Saudi Vision 2030" plan, which aims to make the Saudi economy based on investment, in addition to not relying on oil as a basic and sole income, as he promised to end the relationship of dependence of the Saudi state on oil, which he described as "addiction".
The vision coincides with the date set for the announcement of the completion of the delivery of eighty giant government projects, which cost the least one of them the equivalent of four billion riyals.
Through this plan, and related programs, Mohammed bin Salman aims to increase Saudi non-oil revenues sixfold from about $43.5 billion annually to $267 billion annually.
In addition, the share of Saudi non-oil exports increased from 16% of Saudi GDP (in 2016) to 50% of Saudi GDP (in 2030).
As well as the giant NEOM project, the land of opportunities and dreams, announced by Prince Mohammed bin Salman in October 2017, which aspires to serve as a global commercial and economic capital that represents the spirit of the age associated with artificial intelligence.
NEOM is located in northwestern Saudi Arabia on an area of twenty-six thousand five hundred square kilometers in partnership with Egypt and Jordan.
Everything mentioned is just a tip of the iceberg, they are just examples to cite that the young prince has something beyond the youth and his enthusiasm, but he also has the vision and the necessary qualities and requirements to lead the change.

Title:

Content: - A plus A.
"Oakaz" (grandmother)
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has affirmed its strong commitment to combating racism and discrimination in the workplace, promoting equality and diversity, and is doing so through its adherence to Islamic law, which confirms the rejection of such practices as ignorance, and through the Saudi Vision 2030.
As revealed by the Permanent Delegation of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations in New York via the platform « X », this came during the speech of Saudi Arabia during the general debate of the work of the Fifth Committee at the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, item (136) « Combating racism and promoting dignity for all ».
He added that the fight against racial discrimination is a fundamental pillar in promoting social, economic and cultural progress around the world, and that diversity is a source of strength and creativity to achieve development in work and sustainable development, especially for an ancient organization such as the United Nations, which includes many different races and nationalities.
Through Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia has been able to implement a range of initiatives and reforms that have enabled it to evaluate employees on their performance and achievements rather than on their gender, nationality or other racial criteria.
Saudi Arabia also encourages the United Nations and Member States to implement all that helps to reject racism and discrimination in the workplace.

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Content: Home World Saudi Arabia, activist sentenced to 34 years for his tweets

Saudi Arabia, activist sentenced to 34 years for his tweets

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Thirty-four years for a series of tweets. This is the sentence inflicted in Saudi Arabia on a doctoral student at the British University of Leeds, specialized in health care and mother of two children: the one against Salma al Shebab, announced in recent days by the human rights organization Freedom Initiative, based in Washington specializes in the Middle East. According to the same group, the harshest sentence imposed on an activist who deals with women’s rights in the country.

Salma al Shehab was on vacation in Saudi Arabia in January 2021 and had planned to return to the UK when she was stopped, the Freedom Initiative explains in a series of tweets. “What happened is irrational, heartbreaking and disastrous for her and the hundreds of women detained on similar rights-support charges,” said Hala Dosari, a Saudi Arabian refugee for years, a US refugee.

Biden returns to America and denies the Saudis’ account of the conversation with MBS regarding the Khashoggi case

by our correspondent Paolo Mastrolilli

Al Shehab was originally sentenced to six years in prison for a series of tweets she posted calling for more rights for women in the kingdom. A fate similar to that of other activists – especially those active on the right to drive – in past years. But on appeal last week the court increased the sentence to 34 years.

A case that risks not being isolated. According to Bethany Alhaidari, an American-Saudi activist and responsible for the country for the Freedom Initiative, the cases in which the sentences have been increased on appeal are numerous. Arrests of female activists are also on the rise.

See also  Spokesman but not only, Psaki silences the journalist: "You have never been pregnant"

Biden in Saudi Arabia, Khashoggi’s girlfriend: a “heartbreaking” visit

The squeeze denounced by the Freedom Initiative comes at a time when the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who effectively leads the country in place of his elderly father, King Salman, has returned to being a protagonist on the international scene after the years of frost that followed. to the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by a commando made up of men close to him. In a few weeks, MbS, as is known, received in Jeddah the American president Joe Bidenwent to the Elysée by the French leader Emmanuel Macron and spoke on the phone with the Russian Vladimir Putin.

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Content: Maximize the value of a barrel of oil
|
Saudi Vision 2030 unleashed national energies, honed talents, and raised the ceiling of our ambition as citizens with a brighter future for our children and the future of the nation in all political, economic, social, and other aspects.
The sun does not obscure a sieve, Saudi Arabia has turned since the beginning of the "vision" into a large workshop from its east to its west, and from its north to its south, where there is no place except for competencies, and is not consistent with its orientation except dreamers.
At the launch of our blessed vision, which we are proud of, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman described the state of the country as an oil addiction, and because of this situation there has become a kind of disruption to development, and this is the real danger to the future of the country and its growth, as there was the impression that oil will cover all the needs of the Kingdom, and this is true in the 1930s and 40s when the population of the Kingdom was less than three million.
I would like to refer here to a point that I find very important, which is that freedom from oil does not mean getting rid of it, it means reducing dependence on it for state revenues, as His Highness the Crown Prince stated that we want more than a barrel of oil.
Saudi Arabia is working according to its vision to exploit all natural resources and available opportunities efficiently to expand and strengthen its economic base, and this undoubtedly contributes to diversifying sources to achieve the objectives of the vision, including freedom from oil.
There are many opportunities in various sectors, including mining, tourism, services, supply chains, attracting investment and others, and in recent years Saudi Arabia has made great strides in developing the non-oil sector, which is in the interest of the financial sustainability of the Kingdom, and reducing the impact of oil price volatility on the state budget, strategic plans and projects.
In 2019, for example, in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic and its strong effects on the whole world, non-oil revenues grew 4.5 percent, and without the pandemic in my opinion growth would have been about 6 percent, with non-oil revenues that year rising from 166 billion riyals to 350 billion riyals.
It is worth mentioning that non-oil revenues in the second quarter of this year 2023 increased by about 13% compared to the same period last year, reaching 135 billion Saudi riyals compared to 120 billion Saudi riyals for the same period last year.
Raising the efficiency of oil extraction as well as its consumption, will be of great benefit to the economy of the country, the first reduces the cost of oil production, and the second allows us to exploit every barrel of oil supplied optimally by exporting or directing it to the refining and conversion industries.
I would like to mention here that freedom from oil does not mean the contraction of its industry, and there is no contradiction between diversifying sources of income and expanding the oil industry in its three main sections, namely upstream industry, intermediate industry and downstream industry.
The energy sector, led by oil, is the most important strategic sector, as all other sectors depend on it directly and indirectly, it is the heart of the vibrant development, the door of industry, and the address of the broad civilization.
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What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Kingdom is undergoing unprecedented changes that challenge long-held Western perceptions about our country.

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Content: Connect with us

#Current Affairs

From Cairo To Dhaka: Exploring The Impact Of The Arab Spring On Bangladesh

Published

The Arab Spring of 2011 was a pivotal moment that shook the foundations of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The Egyptian Revolution, in particular, was a seismic event that marked a turning point in the region’s political landscape, with the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak leading to a wave of political upheaval from the Maghreb to Bengal.

However, the aftermath of the revolution was marred by a relentless wave of political suppression aimed at silencing moderate Islamist movements and leaders who sought to bring about change. This repression of moderate Islamist groups and individuals by autocratic regimes poses a serious threat to the stability and security of nations, as it undermines the prospects for peace and fuels extremism. The West’s Islamophobia, which brands “brown” communities as “terrorists,” and the Muslim world’s tendency to associate “terrorism” with anything Islamic, demonstrate the impact of colonialism on the political landscape. This parallelism reflects the way these two worlds perceive Islam and Muslims. Those who truly consider themselves social reformers and progressive thinkers should take a hard look at the dawn of the Arab Spring and consider what went wrong, and how to protect the voices of the oppressed in the future. As we approach the 10th anniversary of the 2013 Egyptian coup d’état and Rabaa massacre, it is more important than ever to re-examine this history and understand the underlying forces that shape the current political landscape of the Arab world.

The Colonial Legacy

To understand the rise of Islamism, or political Islamic activism, in South Asia and the Middle East, it is important to consider the historical context of both regions during the colonial years of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Under British rule, South Asia and the Middle East were melting pots of various cultures and religions, with the Muslim population being a significant minority in the Indian subcontinent. The British imposed their own system of governance, which led to the marginalization of religious Muslim communities and anti-colonial Muslim nationalism. In South Asia, organizations such as Jamaat-e-Islami have faced systematic repression and political imprisonment well into the modern era as a means of neutralizing their influence. Similarly, in Egypt, the fall of the Ottoman Empire and the subsequent colonization by the British led to the formation of political parties that sought to expel foreign presence. The Muslim Brotherhood, the most infamous opposition group in contemporary Egypt, has also faced repression and political imprisonment throughout its existence. Despite these efforts, both organizations have remained resilient and continue to fight for a more representative and autonomous society.

Ideological Connections

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The groups in question have been bound together inseparably since the inception of their existence. Hassan al-Banna, the founder of the Muslim Brotherhood in 1928, was a major influence on the intellectual development of Abul A’la Maududi, the founder of Jamaat-e-Islami. Maududi was inspired by al-Banna’s ideas on the integration of Islam in all aspects of society and the need for an Islamic revival. Both organizations are known for providing social services such as free clinics, libraries, and schools as a means of social welfare. This model became popular among scholars and political leaders of other countries like Palestine, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. Maududi went on to develop his ideas on the role of Islam in society, which he outlined in his numerous writings and speeches. Specifically, his activism had a significant impact on the development of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, as he called for the establishment of a just society based on Islamic principles. He argued that the implementation of Islamic law was necessary for the preservation of justice and the promotion of welfare in the country, and those ideas continue to shape the political and cultural landscape of South Asia to this day.

Bangladesh’s Struggle for Autonomy

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Jamaat-e-Islami played a crucial role in unifying the relationship between East and West Pakistan. East Pakistan, which was geographically separated from West Pakistan, had a significant Bengali population and its own distinct language, culture, and history. However, West Pakistan dominated the political and economic power in the country, which led to feelings of neglect and discrimination by East Pakistanis. The Bengali language movement, which emerged in response to the promotion of Urdu as the national language in Pakistan, sparked the desire for independence among Bengalis in East Pakistan. Some argued that Jamaat-e-Islami, however, did not support the effort and instead saw it as an elitist ethnostate effort for power in Bengal. In 1958, Jamaat-e-Islami became highly critical of the Pakistani government, largely in response to the policies of Ayub Khan, the country’s second President, who was known for favoring the military and the elite while suppressing political opposition and civil liberties. They believed went against the principles of justice claimed by the “Islamic Republic”. During the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, Jamaat-e-Islami East Pakistan opposed independence on the grounds of Muslim unity and the fear of a violent war, as well as the consequences of India fully supporting and funding the separation, such as a neocolonial relationship between India and Bangladesh. Specifically, if India were to provide substantial support to Bangladesh, it could potentially exert significant influence over the new state’s policies, such as trade agreements and deployment of military or economic aid, which has been the case since independence. Despite their unwavering support and significant contributions to the nation since its birth, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has been targeted by a ruthless political crackdown fueled by unsubstantiated accusations made by Hindutva India of war crimes committed during the Liberation War. This relentless pursuit aims to silence any intersection of justice and activism, threatening the very essence of the organization’s existence.

The Complex Relationship with Islamist Parties

After Bangladesh gained independence in 1971, the government targeted Jamaat-e-Islami as a political opponent, much like the Egyptian government’s targeting of the Muslim Brotherhood. The Jamaat-e-Islami leadership was arrested and the party was banned. Likewise, in the 1950s in Egypt, Gamal Abdel-Nasser, the second President of Egypt who was known for his nationalist policies aimed at modernizing the country, took power with a cordial relationship with the Muslim Brotherhood. However, as time passed, he perceived them as a threat to his autocratic rule and banned all political parties, cracking down on individuals who he deemed as political dissidents. Zainab Al Ghazali, a leader within the movement in Egypt and a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, shared her experiences of this period in her memoir, Ayam min Hayati (Days of my Life). In her book, she exposed the harsh crackdown on the Brotherhood and other groups, including the arrest of the Brotherhood’s leadership, as well as Sayyid Qutb, a close associate of Abdel-Nasser. Zainab was also arrested in 1965 and exposed the violence and brutality she and other activists faced in prison. She characterized the crackdown as targeting “anything Islamic,” which happened to be the major political opposition to Abdel-Nasser’s rule.

Despite this, the crackdown had the opposite effect and instead galvanized the members of the Brotherhood over time. In 2011, the Arab Spring, a series of pro-democracy uprisings supported by the Brotherhood, swept across the Arab world and had far-reaching consequences. In Egypt, it led to the election of Mohamed Morsi, a Muslim Brotherhood candidate, as President in 2012. However, his tenure was short-lived as he was removed from office through a Western-backed military coup in 2013.

Sheikh Hasina’s Strategy for Crackdown

From 6000 kilometers away, Sheikh Hasina, the current Prime Minister of Bangladesh and daughter of the founding leader of Bangladesh, began taking notice of the revolutions in the Arab world and initiated her own crackdown to prevent a rebellion in her lands. The crackdown in Bangladesh primarily targeted Islamic groups, just like in Egypt, where “anything Islamic” was seen as a threat to Hasina’s rule. Her strategy was that during the general elections, her party started a smear campaign and pledged to try war criminals, which coincidentally included leadership from the opposition coalition. This was enacted through the Parliament’s amending of the International Crimes (Tribunal) Act 1973 to try the 195 war criminals from the 1971 War, an act which was previously never enacted due to the Delhi Agreement, a tripartite agreement signed to officially end the Bangladesh Liberation War and facilitate the repatriation of Pakistani prisoners of war from India. The original list did not include any leadership from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, but an “updated” list in 2013 did. The trials resulted in several convictions and sentences, including life imprisonment and the death penalty, such as the hanging of 73-year-old Motiur Rahman Nizami, the Ameer of Bangladeshi Jamaat-e-Islami from 2000 until his execution.

The 2013 International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in Bangladesh faced significant criticism both domestically and internationally. The trials were proved to have been politically motivated, with a lack of due process and fair trial. The verdicts were based on circumstantial evidence, and the prosecution relied heavily on hearsay, which is rejected in other fair trial jurisdictions. The corruption in the trials was exemplified by the infamous Skype scandal, in which one of the judges was caught having private conversations with a prosecution witness through the online platform about critical information regarding the case.

Following the trial and during Nizami’s time in jail awaiting his death sentence, he was reported to have been heavily mistreated, including being denied access to proper medical care and being held in inhumane conditions. Around the same time in Egypt, Mohamed Morsi was arrested and placed in prison, where he would die on June 17, 2019. Despite being shuttled between court cases and not being found guilty of any charges, Morsi maintained his position as the constitutionally legitimate and democratically elected President of Egypt. Throughout his imprisonment, he also reported being denied medical treatment, visits from his family, and access to legal representation. International observers believe that these conditions were a contributing factor to his death.

The Oppressed Voices of Justice and Activism

The repression by political authorities extended beyond opposition leaders to encompass the general population. These individuals’ levels of involvement with their respective organizations ranged from committed membership and local leadership to mere sympathizers and protestors against the regime. For example, one committed Brotherhood member, who was arrested in 2013 after the Rab’aa massacre in which over a thousand people were killed by Egyptian security forces, detailed how he was targeted by security forces on false charges. He explained that he was charged with handling explosives during protests with no evidence presented to him, to which his reaction was a sarcastic retort, “Do you think if I was handling explosives any of you would be here today?” In Bangladesh, Human Rights Watch reported similar incidents of government authorities using “arbitrary arrests, detentions, and enforced disappearances” against opposition party supporters, including Jamaat-e-Islami members. The Bangladesh Rifles massacre, during which 74 people were killed, has been widely criticized as politically motivated, with many of the victims being supporters of Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing. Additionally, journalists who have reported critically on the government’s actions have been targeted, with some being arrested or disappearing.

These stories of a few opposition activists in both nations provide insight into the brutal military policing tactics used by the regimes, a manifestation of the lasting impact of Western imperialism on these governing bodies through the passing of learned behavior of violence and suppression from colonialist rule. In British-occupied Egypt and British India, those who rebelled against colonial rule were often subjected to brutal treatment in prisons. This included the use of torture, solitary confinement, forced labor, physical abuse, and starvation. Over a century later, similar tactics were used in 2013 by both countries’ governments, with little being done to hold them accountable.

To this day, many autocratic regimes continue to target democratic groups and individuals who oppose their rule, owing to its widespread backing and its ability to establish an alternative system of governance. While the legal spaces of each country have enabled them to exercise their authority, the level of brutality and repression has been at an extreme high since the Arab Spring. Thus, the disproportionate crackdown on moderate and democratic parties by militaristic regimes is a threat to the stability and security of these nations and will only fuel extremism in the long run. By targeting moderate groups, these regimes risk pushing citizens towards more violent and radical organizations, and ultimately undermining the prospects for peace and stability in the region.

The disparate and unjust treatment of activists in these countries serves as a reminder of the long-term effects of oppressive regimes, and the continued struggle of those seeking freedom and justice in the Arab world and beyond. Through the torture and criminal conditions of these prisoners and martyrs, the movement lives on in the hearts of those who stay loyal to the oppressed.

Related reading:

The Bangladesh Crisis Explored – MuslimMatters.org

Iraq Crisis | From an Arab Spring to a Desert of Desperation – MuslimMatters.org

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Johaer Jilani is a recent graduate from the University of Pennsylvania, where he completed a double major in Neuroscience and Philosophy (with a concentration in political philosophy) and also received a master's degree in Biology. He is attending medical school at Howard University, while continuing Islamic studies with private teachers in the United States

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

At the heart of this transformation is Vision 2030, an ambitious plan designed to diversify our economy, empower our citizens, and create a more moderate, inclusive society.

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?

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?

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?

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?

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?

## Vision 2030: A Roadmap for Change

Vision 2030 represents Saudi Arabia's strategic blueprint for a post-oil future.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Built on three core pillars—a vibrant society, a thriving economy, and an ambitious nation—the plan places Saudi citizens at the center of development.

As Prince Mohammed bin Salman has emphasized, the vision aims to build a strong, sustainable economy that enhances Riyadh's global standing while ensuring Saudis are the architects of their own future.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The vision has launched numerous executive programs in collaboration with government ministries and the private sector, including the National Transformation Program, Financial Sector Development Program, Quality of Life Program, and Service of Pilgrims Program, among others.

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

## Economic Transformation: Beyond Oil

Saudi Arabia is aggressively diversifying its economy away from hydrocarbon dependence.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The kingdom is developing innovative industries, renewable energy sources, and tourism capabilities that showcase our rich historical and geographical heritage.

How has Saudi Arabia diversified its economy under Vision 2030?

Growth in renewable energy
Growth in tourism

To drive development in renewable energy

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

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

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

These efforts are creating new employment opportunities and fostering economic growth even as global economies face challenges.

Mega-projects like The Line (a futuristic city on the Red Sea), New Murabba (featuring a cube-shaped skyscraper set to be Riyadh's tallest), and the Diriyah Company development demonstrate Saudi Arabia's commitment to innovative urban development.

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

modernize infrastructure
Diversify the economy from oil

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

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

modernize infrastructure
Diversify the economy from oil

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

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

modernize infrastructure
Diversify the economy from oil

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

These projects not only create