Khalid Al-Baker to Asharq Al-Awsat: We Seek to Preserve our Identity, Modernize Saudi Arabia’s Standing

The Quality of Life (QoL) - one of the programs of Saudi Vision 2030 - aims to shape the future of the wellbeing sectors in Saudi Arabia, by making the Kingdom’s cities more attractive, and its cultural offerings richer and more diverse, according to the program’s CEO, Khalid Al-Baker.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Baker said that in order to achieve the goal of including at least three Saudi cities among the top 100 cities in the world by 2030, the program attracted investments in the sectors of sports, culture, entertainment, tourism, and other, and launched specialized training programs for Saudi citizens.

Al-Baker spoke eagerly about the program’s impact, as its mission also extends to preserving Saudi Arabia’s rich cultural heritage and promoting arts, music and traditional cuisine.

He said: “Over the past five years, our initiatives have increased access to cultural events and venues, and contributed 20.4 billion riyals ($5.4 billion) to the national GDP.”

He added: “We played a pivotal role in promoting a vibrant cultural scene. The participation rate of talent and local companies reached 33 percent of the total content, and our efforts ignited the cultural energy of Saudi cities by transforming them into international cultural and artistic hubs.”

The Impact

Regarding the program’s positive impact on the well-being and quality of life of Saudis, Al-Baker said: “We have witnessed a significant improvement in the fields of culture, entertainment, sports and tourism... Today, 41 percent of the Kingdom’s population practices physical activity, and in 2022, more than 940 cultural events were held across the country. This was part of a major step that comes in line with the goals of Vision 2030 to provide sports and entertainment opportunities.”

Al-Baker stressed that the program’s efforts “contribute to transforming the Kingdom into a world-class center for arts, culture, entertainment and sports.”

He noted that this transformation was translated in the establishment of organizations such as the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts and the Red Sea International Film Festival, to encourage citizens and tourists to interact with cultural content, discover the rich heritage in Saudi Arabia, and share it with the world.”

International reputation

Al-Baker touched on the international significance of the program and its impact on the world’s view of Saudi Arabia.

“Our mission has an important international dimension. We are changing the global perception of the Kingdom by continuously improving the living standards of Saudis and expatriates, and demonstrating the remarkable progress it has made in the past few years,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.

The CEO of the QoL program emphasized that work was focused on creating opportunities and change across the country, by meeting local needs and getting rid of inaccurate and outdated preconceptions about life in the Kingdom.

“Our vision for Saudi Arabia is not only to provide the same opportunities as anywhere else, but also to raise international standards for quality of life and place Saudi cities in the top 100 cities for livability in the world,” he stated.

He continued: “Our program seeks to create a thriving cultural and entertainment scene, with 5,000 different events and 20 major sports tournaments, which has boosted tourism and attracted visitors from around the world. We are directly challenging preconceptions about our nation, and everyone is beginning to recognize us as a dynamic society that specializes in technology and looks toward the future.”

The program particularities

Regarding the particularities of the Saudi Quality of Life program compared to other programs in the world, Al-Baker explained that what makes the QoL unique is the commitment to achieving balance between modernization and the preservation of cultural heritage.

“As we evolve by adopting international trends and innovations, we do so with deep respect for our roots and cultural heritage. Our approach is entrenched in our community’s values and traditions, and allows us to maintain our distinct identity, as we seek to build and modernize our global standing. The focus on cultural continuity and development distinguishes our program from programs adopted in other countries,” he remarked.

Al-Baker went on to say that Saudi Arabia focuses on the wellbeing of the people. “What’s beautiful is the Kingdom’s emphasis, through the QoL program, on the necessity of enhancing the human dimension and its importance, through art, culture, sports and entertainment. Not only are we making cities more livable, we are also humanizing them, ensuring they enhance the vitality of our citizens,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Cultural aspects

Al-Baker continued by touching on the cultural aspects of the program. He pointed to three important goals, namely preserving the Kingdom’s cultural heritage, enhancing the country’s contributions to arts and culture, and developing the necessary cultural infrastructure to support these endeavors.

He stated that the increase of cultural production has confirmed the success of the Saudi endeavor to promote the culture scene. Last year, 6,875 local books were published, and 38 new cultural facilities were established, he underlined.

Al-Baker added: “Important steps have also been taken to preserve our heritage. Today, there are 7 World Heritage sites in Saudi Arabia that have been recognized by UNESCO, and 11 qualified archaeological sites. These developments demonstrate the cultural transformation of our urban cities, characterized by improved living standards and enriched experiences for our citizens.”

Diversity

Al-Baker stressed that the Quality of Life program encourages cultural diversity in Saudi Arabia by facilitating the launch and operation of educational and recreational areas.

“These spaces, which allow people of all ages and community members to come together to participate in cultural activities and projects, are at the forefront of our efforts to increase the Saudi contribution to arts and culture, and promote the comprehensive development of our societies. Our goal is to see three of our cities be ranked among the top 100 cities in the world in terms of livability, and to attract talent and expertise from various countries to live, work, and enjoy life inside the Kingdom.”

On a sunny afternoon in Cape Town's seaside village of Simon's Town, three young chacma baboons cause a commotion, clambering on roofs, jumping between buildings and swinging on the gutters.

Enchanted tourists stop to photograph the troop crossing the road. Locals are less impressed: it's a daily scene in the charming village nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and Table Mountain National Park.

About 500 chacma baboons -- among the largest monkey species and weighing up to 40 kilos (88 pounds) -- roam the peninsula south of Cape Town, says the South African National Biodiversity Institute.

And as human development pushes up the mountain into their natural habitat, the animals are increasingly entering plush properties to forage in gardens and take the pickings from the bins. Some manage to sneak into houses where they can wreak havoc.

Many locals are fond of the creatures, giving them pet names and following their daily adventures on social media.

But others are increasingly frustrated.

"They've become so bold now. They're more domesticated than they should be," said Duncan Low, 60, who runs an ice cream shop.

The intruders have even started raiding kitchens and grabbing food from plates in restaurants. "They're on a sugar and fast-food rush," Low said.

In 2021, the city put down a notorious alpha-male monkey who had terrorized residents with more than 40 raids for food in rubbish bins, from lawns and porches, sometimes entering homes while people were inside.

- Monkey management -

Tension between humans and baboons is "the highest it's ever been", said ecologist Justin O'Riain, who directs the Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa at the University of Cape Town.

A baboon on the edge of a wild and an urban area is "the most difficult animal in the world to manage", O'Riain said.

"They are strong, they can climb... and they can learn from each other: there's no landscape that they can't conquer."

As human settlement of the Cape has expanded, the baboons have been "pushed higher and higher up the mountain" where foraging conditions are harder, O'Riain added.

The lush gardens that people have built, with fruit trees and swimming pools, are tempting attractions.

The City of Cape Town, in partnership with park authorities, has for years run a program to manage the marauding monkeys that relies on teams of baboon monitors.

They employ a primarily non-lethal approach, O'Riain said.

However, some techniques, such as firing paintball guns to keep troops away or culling a particularly problematic animal, have come under fire.

Amid an increasingly emotional outcry, vociferous campaigner Baboon Matters announced court action against the city and parks authorities in May for failing to implement what it considers more acceptable control measures, such as baboon-proof fencing and bins.

Facing criticism and funding limits, the authorities said the baboon management program would be wound down by the end of the year as they investigate other "more sustainable urban solutions".

It will however remain in place through December -- a particularly busy month for tourists -- but with fewer rangers, it said.

"We're going to lose our first line of defense," O'Riain said, with more baboons already entering urban areas often at risk to their lives.

- Deaths highest in 10 years -

Thirty-three baboons were known to have died between July 2023 and June 2024, the highest number in 10 years, city authorities say.

Nearly half the deaths were caused by human factors, including shooting with pellet guns, collisions with vehicles and dog attacks.

Coexistence with baboons should come with "a degree of human compliance", starting with managing food waste, conservation activist Lynda Silk, head of the Cape Peninsula Civil Conservation group, said.

"We don't need to be in competition with our natural resources: there can be ways that we can manage our lifestyles to minimize the negative impacts," she said.

For O'Riain, the only viable solution to the baboon battle is to erect fencing in certain areas that is made up of electric wiring and underground mesh to prevent the animals from digging underneath.

A prototype installed 11 years ago had shown great success, with almost no animals entering the area, he said. A 2023 report already suggested where the fencing should be placed.

"Baboons can come and forage right up to the edge of the fence and no one will disturb them," said O'Riain.

"It's a completely peaceful interaction, a win-win for people and for baboons."

Khalid Al-Baker to Asharq Al-Awsat: We Seek to Preserve our Identity, Modernize Saudi Arabia’s Standing