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Saudi Tourism Minister: Kingdom to Provide 250,000 Jobs while Hosting Expo 2030

In a session entitled "Accelerated Progress in the Labor Market" at the Global Labor Market Conference, Al-Khateeb referred to the inauguration of the National Tourism Strategy in 2019. SPA
In a session entitled "Accelerated Progress in the Labor Market" at the Global Labor Market Conference, Al-Khateeb referred to the inauguration of the National Tourism Strategy in 2019. SPA
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Saudi Tourism Minister: Kingdom to Provide 250,000 Jobs while Hosting Expo 2030

In a session entitled "Accelerated Progress in the Labor Market" at the Global Labor Market Conference, Al-Khateeb referred to the inauguration of the National Tourism Strategy in 2019. SPA
In a session entitled "Accelerated Progress in the Labor Market" at the Global Labor Market Conference, Al-Khateeb referred to the inauguration of the National Tourism Strategy in 2019. SPA

Saudi Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb said Thursday the Kingdom will provide 250,000 jobs during its hosting of the Expo 2030 in Riyadh.

He stressed the importance of sustainable jobs that the Kingdom will provide, including 1,000 hotel rooms on the sidelines of the exhibition.

In a session entitled "Accelerated Progress in the Labor Market" at the Global Labor Market Conference, Al-Khateeb referred to the inauguration of the National Tourism Strategy in 2019, which will take the domestic product in this sector from 3% to 10% in 2030, which requires providing one million additional jobs by 2030.

The minister referred to the Kingdom's chairmanship of the Executive Council of the United Nations World Tourism Organization and its hosting of the forthcoming General Assembly of the council under three priorities: the sustainability of the planet and the environment; the assurance of suitable jobs for human beings, tourism growth, travel and double the number of services; and the importance of maintaining place in any tourist destination.

He explained that the world's population will reach 8.5 billion by 2030, noting that there is a digitization process for many services, including the labor market, especially in terms of trade and manufacturing that have been digitized since decades, which has had a negative impact on the labor market.

Al-Khateeb added that the travel and tourism sector represented 10% of the global labor market, and provided 330 million jobs in 2019 before the pandemic, and that airlines and hotels were the most affected sectors globally by losing 60 million jobs, saying: "We are back in the pre-pandemic according to figures by the United Nations World Tourism Organization, and the World Travel and Tourism Council, which is good."

He noted that the tourism sector globally provides 10% of jobs in the labor market, so it is an important sector for growth in the future, stressing the importance of maintaining the human component of the tourism sector as it plays an essential and central role in sharing the cultures from different countries that we travel to.

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Bahrain Inaugurates Bapco Refinery’s Modernization Project

Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa during the inauguration of the Bapco Modernization Project (BMP). Photo: BNA
Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa during the inauguration of the Bapco Modernization Project (BMP). Photo: BNA
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Bahrain Inaugurates Bapco Refinery’s Modernization Project

Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa during the inauguration of the Bapco Modernization Project (BMP). Photo: BNA
Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa during the inauguration of the Bapco Modernization Project (BMP). Photo: BNA

Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has inaugurated the Bapco Modernization Project (BMP), which stands as the largest strategic undertaking in the Kingdom’s history and a pivotal development in the energy sector. It is expected that production capacity will reach 400,000 barrels per day.

The inauguration took place on Thursday in the presence of Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and on Bahrain’s 53rd National Day celebrations and the Silver Jubilee of the King’s accession.

The King underscored the significance of BMP in fostering national development and sustainability, aligning with Bahrain’s ambition to maximize the value of its natural resources for economic and societal advancement.
"This landmark project reflects our enduring commitment to sustainable growth, utilizing the Kingdom of Bahrain’s natural energy resources to power economic progress and development," he stated.

King Hamad highlighted the BMP’s role in driving the Kingdom’s energy transition strategy, emphasizing the government’s steadfast dedication under the leadership of the Crown Prince and Prime Minister to advancing economic recovery through strategic investments in high-potential sectors.

Group Chief Executive Officer of Bapco Energies Mark Thomas and Dr. Abdulrahman Jawahery, Chief Executive Officer of Bapco Refining, highlighted during a joint press conference held on the sidelines of the inauguration of BMP, that the initiative marks a significant step towards enhancing Bahrain’s production capacity in oil refining.

They noted that the project is expected to substantially support the national economy and increase revenues, representing a strategic step to strengthen Bahrain’s economy by creating new jobs and improving the quality of petroleum products, with a focus on employing Bahrainis in the project.

They also expressed their optimism about the strategic project, which will serve as a foundation for launching new initiatives to enhance Bahrain's position as a leading investment destination. It is expected that production capacity will reach 400,000 barrels per day, representing a 42% increase.

Jawahery highlighted the historical cooperation between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, commending the partnership between Bapco and Saudi Aramco. "We currently import 220,000 barrels per day of Saudi crude oil, and with the project’s completion, imported quantities will exceed 320,000 barrels per day. This sustainable cooperation spanning more than 70 years serves as a model for Gulf integration," he said.