Projects Under ‘Saudi Vision 2030’ Set to Enter Implementation Phase

Saudi Vision 2030 continues with implementation steps for targeted economic transformation (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Vision 2030 continues with implementation steps for targeted economic transformation (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Projects Under ‘Saudi Vision 2030’ Set to Enter Implementation Phase

Saudi Vision 2030 continues with implementation steps for targeted economic transformation (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Vision 2030 continues with implementation steps for targeted economic transformation (Asharq Al-Awsat)

National development projects launched under “Vision 2030” in Saudi Arabia are witnessing remarkable and steady progress as they move forward from planning to implementation across the Kingdom.

Considered bold, yet achievable, these projects will raise the international bar in terms of quality, environmental friendliness, sustainability, and the use of renewable and alternative energy.

Largescale developments like “The Line”, “Red Sea”, “AlUla”, “AlSouda”, renewable energy programs like The National Renewable Energy Program (NREP), and initiatives like the “Riyadh Strategy” are steadily moving Saudi Arabia towards achieving the goals envisioned by its national transformation plan for the decade.

The Line, for example, offers a never-before-seen approach to urbanization – a 170km-belt of re-imagined urban development with multiple, hyper-connected communities, with natural and walkable spaces.

It is a model of urban design and livability that puts people and the planet in harmony for the 21st century and beyond. Built around nature, rather than over it, large areas of land will be preserved for conservation, supporting NEOM’s environment and rich heritage.

Construction of the smart city will start in the first quarter of 2021 and is set to be a home for more than 1 million people from all over the world and will create a platform for innovation and prosperous businesses.

It will also help in addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges, like climate change, urban sprawl, traffic congestion, and social disconnection.

Meanwhile, the Riyadh Strategy is on track to generate mega projects, create job opportunities, and expand the Saudi capital’s economic horizons.

It aims to make Riyadh among the top 10 economic cities in the world to drive forward the country’s economic, industrial, and tourism growth in upcoming years.

Moreover, the scheme targets increasing the capital’s population from 7.5 million to around 15 to 20 million in 2030.



Trump Launches His Own Meme Coin, Value Soars

US President-elect Donald Trump views fireworks at Trump National Golf Club Washington DC in Sterling, Virginia, US, January 18, 2025. (Reuters)
US President-elect Donald Trump views fireworks at Trump National Golf Club Washington DC in Sterling, Virginia, US, January 18, 2025. (Reuters)
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Trump Launches His Own Meme Coin, Value Soars

US President-elect Donald Trump views fireworks at Trump National Golf Club Washington DC in Sterling, Virginia, US, January 18, 2025. (Reuters)
US President-elect Donald Trump views fireworks at Trump National Golf Club Washington DC in Sterling, Virginia, US, January 18, 2025. (Reuters)

US President-elect Donald Trump has launched his own cryptocurrency, appropriately called $TRUMP, sparking feverish buying that sent its market capitalization soaring on Saturday to several billion dollars.

In a message posted on his Truth Social platform and X, Trump unveiled the so-called meme coin, which is designed to capitalize on the popularity of a certain personality, movement or viral internet trend.

Meme coins have no economic or transactional value, and are often seen as a means of speculative trading.

"This Trump Meme celebrates a leader who doesn't back down, no matter the odds," says the coin's official site, which makes reference to the assassination attempt against the Republican in July 2024.

In the hours following the overnight launch, the crypto community posed questions about the legitimacy of the $TRUMP coin, and its actual link to the president-elect, with some fearing a scam.

But the fact that the announcements came on Trump's official social media channels seemed to reassure the market, as did the fact that Trump has used one of the companies behind the project, CIC Digital LLC, in the past to sell non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

By mid-morning on Saturday, the market capitalization for $TRUMP stood at nearly $6 billion.

Neither Trump nor the company managing the launch, Fight Fight Fight LLC, offered details about how much he made from the initial batch of meme coins released.

The coin's official site said 200 million meme coins were issued, with Fight Fight Fight saying an additional 800 million would be added over the next three years.

At the current rate, the coins not yet on the market would be worth about $24 billion.

Initially opposed to cryptocurrency, Trump made a sharp about-face during his 2024 presidential campaign, becoming a champion of the concept and promising to develop the sector, notably by loosening regulations.

Before this new announcement, businessmen linked to Trump had in October put online a crypto platform called World Liberty Financial.