A few days ago, the annual report of Vision 2030 was released, marking a journey launched under the leadership of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. It set out to define the contours of a nation renewing itself and a society racing against time, placing people, not infrastructure, at the center.
The ten-year report shows that the Vision’s programs and plans continue to advance steadily, supported by an institutional framework and maturity built cumulatively year after year.
Perhaps the most fitting words on this transformative decade came from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who affirmed that Saudi Arabia has been moving toward a better future through the achievements of Vision 2030 since its launch, making the Kingdom a model in harnessing its energies, resources, and advantages for comprehensive development whose impact is tangible to citizens.
Vision 2030 was not built on hollow slogans or rhetorical speeches. It rests on three strategic pillars that have anchored its stability and strengthened its ability to confront and overcome challenges, particularly in a world undergoing rapid geopolitical and technological change.
The first dimension is social, focusing on a nation whose greatest asset is its people, especially a youthful population seeking the best opportunities to realize its potential at home while engaging with a rapidly evolving world.
The second dimension is economic, centered on the need to build further gains in production and exports comparable to those delivered by the oil rentier model over past decades. The approach has been to unlock the potential of land, sea, and mountains, drawing on resources that had remained dormant for centuries, from plains and valleys to tourism and cultural heritage.
The third dimension lies in enhancing the Kingdom’s competitiveness and global standing by advancing scientific and technological development. This is reflected in Saudi Arabia’s expanding global investment footprint in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
In this context, Riyadh has emerged as a regional hub. Data point to a clear improvement in the attractiveness of the Saudi market. Around 700 global companies have established regional headquarters in the Kingdom, surpassing Vision 2030 targets ahead of schedule. Investment inflows have also risen from 28 billion riyals in 2017 to 133 billion riyals in 2025, bringing the Kingdom close to its targets.
The question is: what has been achieved over the past decade, with roughly four years remaining before the target date? A full answer would require extensive data and analysis. Still, several key observations stand out, foremost among them the rising contribution of non-oil sectors to GDP.
The Vision has also reframed the Kingdom’s historical and cultural landscape, opening the door to the growth of heritage tourism.
The Kingdom’s geography has likewise been reappraised, from its coasts and waters to its deserts, hills, and dunes. Long admired for their allure, these landscapes are now active economic sectors contributing to national income alongside oil revenues.
There has also been a notable rise in women’s participation in the labor market, increasing from around 20 percent to more than 35 percent within a few years, alongside efforts to localize jobs and expand opportunities for citizens.
The Vision has also delivered a marked improvement in digital services, digitizing many everyday processes.
At the heart of this transformation is a broader social shift, fostering cultural openness and engagement with others intellectually and artistically, while projecting a distinct Saudi identity. In this regard, the General Entertainment Authority has played a constructive role.
The space available here does not allow for a full account of this transformation. Mohammed bin Salman summed up the decade by saying: “The Kingdom has presented an exceptional model in turning vision into reality through the determination of its sons and daughters and its effective institutions.”
One clear fact remains: Vision 2030 would not have been possible without the political and security stability the Kingdom enjoys. The successes of recent years provide strong momentum to intensify efforts, consolidate gains, and further advance the nation and its citizens.
