Saudi Vision 2030 is the vision of Crown Prince and Prime Minister, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz, to harness the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's strategic geographical advantages, robust investment potential, and rich Arab and Islamic heritage. It is based on three central axes: A vital society, a thriving economy, and an ambitious nation; from which ninety-six strategic objectives branch out.
Launching Saudi Vision 2030
Saudi Vision 2030 was launched on April 25, 2016, upon approval by the Council of Ministers. Through its responsible position toward modern-day challenges pertaining to energy and climate, Saudi Vision 2030 inspires the world to participate in the efforts to build a sustainable future.
The Vision Realization Programs (VRPs) were announced during the first five years of its launch, after the programs were specified on April 30, 2017, by the Council of Economic and Development Affairs (CEDA) as the cornerstone for achieving the strategic objectives. The programs aligned their activities via approved implementation plans guided by the predetermined objectives and key performance indicators.
On April 26, 2021, CEDA reviewed the focus of past years in terms of enabling initiatives, sanctioning public policies, and establishing a potent infrastructure. As Saudi Vision 2030 transitions into the next phase, some programs have been restructured and new programs introduced to bring about a qualitative shift in various sectors and involve the private sector in the transition. The vision's next phase will focus on following up on implementation, speeding up delivery, and further enhancing the participation of citizens and the private sector.
At the launch of the vision, the Crown Prince, Prime Minister, and Chairman of CEDA, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz, said regarding Saudi Vision 2030: "It is my pleasure to present the Kingdom’s vision for the future. It is an ambitious yet achievable blueprint, which expresses our long-term goals and expectations and reflects our country’s strengths and capabilities. All success stories start with a vision, and successful visions are based on strong pillars. The future of the Kingdom is one of huge promise and great potential, God willing. Our precious country deserves the best. Therefore, we will expand and further develop our talents and capacity. We will do our utmost to ensure that Muslims from around the world can visit the Holy Sites. All this comes from the directive of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, may Allah protect him, who ordered us to plan for a future that fulfills your ambitions and your aspirations. In line with his instructions, we will work tirelessly from today to build a better tomorrow for you, your children, and your children’s children."
He added: "We have all the means to achieve our dreams and ambitions. There are no excuses for us to stand still or move backward." Our Vision is a strong, thriving, and stable Saudi Arabia that provides opportunity for all. Our Vision is a tolerant country with Islam as its constitution and moderation as its method. This is our Saudi Vision for 2030. We will begin immediately delivering the overarching plans and programs we have set out. Together, with the help of Allah, we can strengthen the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s position as a great nation in which we should all feel immense pride."
During the period from 2016 until 2023, Saudi Vision 2030 achieved many accomplishments that bore fruit in the government work apparatus, the economy, and society.
The three central pillars of the vision have made significant progress. The vital society pillar has progressed as a result of adopting healthy lifestyles, serving pilgrims, and devoting keen attention to archaeological sites and their inclusion in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage List. With regards to a thriving economy, this pillar has achieved the 2030 target for women's participation in the workforce in 2020, the Public Investment Fund’s assets have grown considerably, the contribution of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to the gross domestic product (GDP) has risen, and non-oil revenues have markedly risen in 2020. With respect to an ambitious nation, this pillar has achieved notable progress in terms of active government and responsible citizens, and the number of annual volunteers has doubled to 409,000 in 2020.
Saudi Vision 2030 focuses on the Kingdom's strengths and works to leverage its strategic location to boost its position in international trade by interconnecting Europe, Asia, and Africa, as well as being the land of the Two Holy Mosques and the Qibla of more than one billion Muslims, in addition to adapting its investment power to create a more diversified and sustainable economy.
Saudi Vision 2030 objectives
Saudi Vision 2030 aims to grow the Saudi economy, capitalize on its status derived from its strategic location and investment power, enhance the effectiveness of government, empower healthy lifestyles, increase employment rates, deepen its Arab and Islamic role, and enable social responsibility in the Kingdom. Some of the objectives of the vision by 2030 include:
- Raising the percentage of local content in the oil and gas sector from 40 percent to 75 percent.
- Raising the percentage of non-oil exports from 16 percent to at least 50 percent of the non-oil GDP.
- Increasing government non-oil revenue from SAR163 billion to SAR1 trillion per year.
- Raising the value of the Public Investment Fund's assets from SAR600 billion (USD160 billion) to over SAR7 trillion (USD1.9 trillion).
- Raising the proportion of households' savings from 6 percent to 10 percent of their total income.
- Raising the non-profit sector's contribution to GDP from less than 1 percent to 5 percent.
- Augmenting the volume of the Kingdom's economy and advancing it from the nineteenth position globally to the top fifteen.
- Raising the percentage of foreign direct investment in GDP from 3.8 percent to the global rate of 5.7 percent.
- Raising the private sector's contribution to GDP from 40 percent to 65 percent.
- Raising the Kingdom's ranking in the Logistics Performance Index from forty-ninth to twenty-fifth place globally, and first place regionally.
- Elevating the Kingdom from the twenty-fifth place in the Global Competitiveness Index to the top ten.
- Climbing from the eightieth to twentieth place on the Government Effectiveness Index.
- Climbing from the thirty-sixth position to the top five on the E-Government Development Index.
- Reaching one million volunteers in the non-profit sector annually, compared to 22,924 volunteers in 2015.
- Raising the number of UNESCO-registered archaeological sites to at least double.
- Ranking three Saudi cities among the world's top one hundred.
- Raising household spending on culture and entertainment in the Kingdom from 2.9 percent to 6 percent.
- Raising the percentage of sports practitioners at least once a week from 13 percent to 40 percent.
- Advancing on the Social Capital Index from twenty-sixth place to tenth.
- Increasing average life expectancy from 77.06 years (baseline) to eighty years.
- Reducing the unemployment rate from 12.3 percent to 7 percent.
- Raising SME contribution to GDP from 20 percent to 35 percent.
- Raising women's participation in the workforce from 22 percent to 30 percent.
- Increasing the capacity to receive pilgrims from eight million to thirty million Hajj and Umrah pilgrims and visitors per year.
Saudi Vision 2030 pillars
Saudi Vision 2030 is based on three pillars: a Vital Society, a Thriving Economy, and an Ambitious Nation. These pillars complement one another in achieving goals and building on the vision's pillars. Each pillar comprises an array of commitments and objectives.
The first pillar serves as a bedrock for achieving and establishing a solid foundation for a thriving economy and building a vital society in which individuals live in temperance and moderation, in a positive environment that secures quality-of-life requisites for citizens and residents, under an enabled healthcare and social welfare umbrella.
Progress and achievements under a Vital Society include:
- The launch of a new visa that allows residents of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to visit the Kingdom and enjoy tourist attractions, which boosted the number of visitors by about 56,000 in one month.
- The organization of recreational events attended by 120 million people from around the world.
- The scoring of an aggregate eighty out of one hundred points in the World Bank's study on Women, Business, and the Law in 2022, up ten points compared to 2020.
- The raising of average life expectancy in the Kingdom from 74.8 to 78.10 years between 2016 and 2023. The Kingdom ranked second on the happiness index among Arab countries in the World Happiness Report 2023.
- The launch of the Haramain High-Speed Railway connecting Jeddah Airport to Makkah al-Mukarramah and al-Madinah al-Munawwarah contributed to improving the travel experience for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims.
- The allocation of eight wildlife royal reserves on the Kingdom's territory, including the King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Royal Natural Reserve, the largest in the Middle East and the fourth largest in the world, to protect nature and biodiversity, preserve native fauna and flora, and protect endangered species.
- The lowering of life-threatening traffic accidents, thanks to road safety laws, by 55 percent in five years.
The Thriving Economy pillar focuses on improving the business environment to attract global competencies and qualitative investments, in order to capitalize on the Kingdom's strategic position. This pillar also focuses on developing opportunities for all entrepreneurs, SMEs, and large corporations, and building an educational system that meets the needs of the labor market, as well as diversifying the economy.
Progress and achievements under a Thriving Economy include:
- Government non-oil revenues increased by SAR291 billion(USD77 billion), from SAR166 billion (USD44 billion) to SAR457 billion (USD121 billion) between 2015 and 2023.
- The Kingdom advanced to ninth place globally in technical and vocational education and training on the Global Knowledge Index for 2021, which confirmed the Kingdom's commitment to training young people, preparing them for the global labor market, and supporting them to seize future opportunities.
- The Kingdom's revenues from the mining sector reached an all-time high of approximately SAR1 billion.
- The International Labor Organization commended the Kingdom's Strategic National Program for Occupational Safety and Health, as the number of establishments complying with professional standards in this domain has quadrupled.
- The Kingdom ranked second among G20 countries in the European Center for Digital Competitiveness's IMD World Digital Competitiveness 2021 ranking.
- The Kingdom ranked first in the speed and coverage of 5G networks, according to the Opensignal global report gauging the performance of 5G networks for 2020.
- The total number of networks licensed to provide fintech services reached twenty-seven companies, thereby shoring up investment and facilitating payment and shopping for all.
The vision’s third pillar is an Ambitious Nation, which is based on empowering the Kingdom's material and human resources, creating the necessary environment for citizens, businesses, and the non-profit sector to assume their responsibilities regarding standing up to challenges and seizing opportunities, as well as enabling the public sector to shape government orientation by promoting a culture of performance and enhancing efficiency.
Progress and achievements under an Ambitious Nation include:
- The accreditation of Yanbu Industrial City by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a Learning City among the global network of learning cities in 2022, the second Saudi city after al-Jubayl Industrial City to promote a lifelong learning culture and empower individuals of all ages with the skills necessary to support national development.
- The success of the Ministry of Justice's Najiz e-platform in digitizing more than 160 justice and judicial services, benefiting more than 65 million people annually.
- The allocation of more than SAR100,000 in grants for every startup in the accelerator stage within the Game Founders Program for fostering e-gaming programmers and designers, which targets one hundred Saudi game developers and entrepreneurs.
- The number of volunteers in the Kingdom has risen more than thirty-six-fold, from 22,924 in 2015 to 834,300 in 2023.
- Increase in the number of enrolments in the online volunteer portal in the field of healthcare services; and 238,000 citizens contributed 20 million hours in volunteer healthcare activities in 2022.
- The Kingdom ranks first globally in government and entrepreneurs' response to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitoring Report of 2020/2021.
- The Ministry of Health launched in 2022 the SEHA Virtual Hospital, the world's largest virtual healthcare hospital, using the latest technologies to support health facilities of 150 hospitals.
Saudi Vision 2030 VRPs
In order to ensure the achievement of the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, CEDA has put in place VRPs as the cornerstone for achieving the ninety-six strategic objectives. These VRPs include:
-
- National Transformation Program: aims to develop the necessary and enabling infrastructure for the public, private, and non-profit sectors.
- Public Investment Fund Program: works to strengthen the fund's status and turn it into an essential arm of Saudi Vision 2030, as a leading economic catalyst for the Kingdom and an effective ingredient of a thriving economy.
- Financial Sector Development Program: aims to enable financial institutions to support private sector growth, develop an advanced financial market, and strengthen financial planning in the Kingdom.
- Fiscal Sustainability Program: aims to develop the state's financial performance, and represents a medium-term financial planning mechanism for sustaining public finances and achieving a balanced budget.
- Housing Program: aims to provide housing solutions that enable Saudi families to own appropriate residences, either through the ownership or usufructuary systems, according to their needs and financial capabilities, in parallel with increasing the supply of housing options built at appropriate prices, in less time, and with high quality.
- Quality of Life Program: aims to improve the quality of life of individuals and families in the Kingdom by creating, supporting, and introducing new options that promote the participation of citizens, residents, and visitors in cultural, recreational, sports, and tourism activities.
- Human Capability Development Program: focuses on citizens' ability to compete globally through the promotion of values, the development of basic and future skills, and the accumulation of knowledge.
- Privatization Program: aims to strengthen the role of the private sector in the provision of services and the availability of government assets to it, thereby improving the quality of services provided and reducing their cost.
- National Industrial Development and Logistics Program: aims to transform the Kingdom into a leading industrial force and global logistics hub, maximizing value achieved from the mining and energy sectors, and focusing on the axes of local content and the fourth industrial revolution.
- Health Sector Transformation Program: develops the healthcare system in general in the Kingdom to improve the quality of healthcare and services provided, and to raise prevention levels against health risks.
Projects of Saudi Vision 2030
Saudi Vision 2030 strives to open new areas of economic activity in the Kingdom, create jobs, and drive economic development. It has announced a number of megaprojects that highlight the Kingdom's efforts in these areas, including:
| Project Name | Sector | Project Description |
|---|---|---|
| NEOM Project | Urban Development | New Futuristic City: Described as the world's most livable city, the project was launched in 2017 with a budget of USD500 billion to build a fully smart city, including a commercial and industrial area, aimed at becoming a global economic and trade hub. In 2021, the Crown Prince and Chairman of NEOM, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz, announced the launch of The Line City in NEOM project, one of NEOM's subprojects, as a model futuristic urban community and a blueprint that ensures balancing living with nature. The city will include interconnected, AI-enriched cognitive communities over a 170 km stretch, in a no-noise, no-pollution environment, free of vehicles and congestion, as a direct response to the challenges of urban expansion hindering humanity’s progress. In the same year, the NEOM industrial city, Oxagon, was announced; the world's largest floating industrial concentration, aimed at introducing a new model for futuristic manufacturing centers, in accordance with NEOM's strategy to redefine the way by which humanity lives and works in the future. In 2022, within the framework of NEOM's plan and strategy to contribute to the strengthening and development of the tourism sector, the Trojena project was unveiled as the world's new mountain tourism destination. The project is a unique engineering marvel unparalleled anywhere in the world, and outdoor snowboarding is one of the project’s highlights. |
| Red Sea Project | Tourism | A global tourism project announced in 2017, established on one of the world's most diverse natural sites, in collaboration with the most renowned international hospitality and hotel brands, to develop exceptional tourist resorts on more than ninety natural islands between the cities of Ummlujj and al-Wajh. In 2021, the Crown Prince and Chairman of Red Sea Company, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz launched the Coral Bloom design vision for the main island of the Red Sea project, inspired by native fauna and flora in the Kingdom. Shura Island is the main gateway to the project. |
| Amaala | Tourism | A tourist area on the Red Sea coast, it has been described as the Middle East Riviera and announced by the Public Investment Fund in 2018. The project aims to establish a whole new concept of high-end tourism focused on convalescence, health, and therapy. |
| Qiddiya Project | Urban Development | It is considered the biggest quality cultural, sporting, and recreational city in the Kingdom and the first of its kind in the world. Launched in 2017 and located southwest of the capital Riyadh, it is the world's first city of its kind with an area of 376 km and includes a large area for safaris. |
| King Salman Park | Urban Development | Located in the capital Riyadh, it is one of four major projects launched by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman Bin Abdulaziz in 2019, and one of the largest city parks in the world, with an area of more than sixteen km. It comprises a cultural, sportive, recreational, and environmental project that contributes to changing the lifestyle in Riyadh. |
| Riyadh Art | Culture | One of four megaprojects launched by King Salman Bin Abdulaziz in 2019, it includes the implementation of more than one thousand works of art and artistic landmarks by local and international artists in view of the public across the capital Riyadh. The project is among ten programs covering residential neighborhoods, gardens and natural parks, public squares and courtyards, public transport stations, road and pedestrian bridges, city entry points, and all tourist destinations. |
| Green Riyadh Project | Urban Development | It aims to plant more than 7.5 million trees across the capital to raise the city's per capita green area from 1.7 m to 28 m, and to increase the percentage of the city's total green space from 1.5 percent to 9 percent. It is one of four megaprojects launched by King Salman Bin Abdulaziz in 2019. |
| Riyadh Sports Boulevard | Culture | The project helps residents of the capital pursue healthy transport lifestyles and encourages the practice of a variety of sports. The project stretches along 135 km, connecting Wadi Hanifa in the west of Riyadh, to Wadi as-Sulai east of the capital. It includes safe pedestrian paths with trees on both sides along the project route, bicycle trails for professionals and amateurs, and sports facilities and sites. It is one of four megaprojects launched by King Salman Bin Abdulaziz in 2019. |
| Sakaka Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Plant Project | Urban Development | It is one of the Ministry of Energy’s renewable energy projects and the first project of The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Renewable Energy Program, announced in 2018 in |
| King Salman Energy Park "SPARK" | Urban Development | It is an integrated industrial city, strategically located in the Eastern Province, spanning an area of fifty km. It is the first and only industrial city in the world to receive the LEED Silver certification in the energy and environmental design sector. It was inaugurated in 2018. |
| Solar PV cell and module manufacturing plant and PV reliability laboratory | Energy | It aims to transfer solar technology and develop its production equipment to suit environmental conditions in the Kingdom. It was launched in 2018. |
| Low Power Research Reactor Project | Energy | Launched in 2018, it is the first nuclear research reactor project of its kind in the Kingdom, comprised of a light-water reactor, with specifications suited for research purposes, with high security and safety standards. |
| Composite Aerostructure Factory Project | Urban Development | Launched in 2018, it is the first of its kind in the Middle East and relies on the latest advanced, integrated technologies in the world. It marks an advanced step in the field of aerospace and aviation products industries, contributing to the achievement of one of the vision’s goals; the localization of 50 percent of military industries by 2030. |
| Drone factory | Military manufacturing | A drone factory opened in 2024 with a production capacity of up to 120 aircraft annually, contributing to the localization of technology. |
| Saudi Genome Program | Healthcare | It works to reduce genetic diseases using advanced genome techniques, which contributes to improving the quality of life and healthcare in the Kingdom. It was inaugurated in 2018. The idea of the program is to create a database documenting the first genetic map of Saudi society and to advance personal medicine. |
| Middle East Green Initiative | Urban Development | It aims to plant fifty billion trees across the Middle East, including ten billion in the Kingdom, equivalent to 5 percent of the global afforestation target, and reduce carbon emissions by more than 10 percent of global contribution within the world's largest reforestation program, launched in 2021. |
| Saudi Green Initiative | Urban Development | Launched in 2021 to increase the Kingdom's reliance on clean energy, reduce carbon emissions, and protect the environment by planting 450 million trees, rehabilitating eight million ha of land by 2030, and raising the percentage of nature reserves to more than 30 percent of the Kingdom's total area, to achieve net zero emissions and reduce carbon emissions by more than 278 million t per year by 2030. Until 2023, more than 520,000 homes have been supplied with electrical power, more than 49 million trees have been planted, and more than 1,660 endangered animals have been resettled. |
| Soudah Development Project | Tourism | It was launched in 2021 with projected investments exceeding SAR11 billion, with the aim of investing in infrastructure and developing the tourism and leisure sectors. |
| Made in Saudi Program | Urban Development | A national initiative launched in 2021, aimed at increasing Saudi non-oil exports in priority export markets and opening up countless possibilities, opportunities, and advantages to the private sector. |
| Adsorption Desalination Plant | Energy | Launched in 2017, the project comprises one of the first desalination plants that relies on industrial-scale crystalline absorption cooling, to achieve the principle of zero salt return to prevent negative impact on the environment. The plant operates with fully electric and thermal renewable solar power. |
| Solar-Powered Seawater Desalination Project | Energy | Launched in 2018, the project aims to reduce the costs of redirecting natural energy to be sold in global markets to maximize revenue. The project consists of a desalination substation using reverse osmosis techniques, and an electrical power substation using solar photovoltaic panels. |
| ROSHN | Housing | A wholly-owned subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund, it was launched in 2020. It develops high-standard residential neighborhoods and contributes to increasing the percentage of residential unit ownership. |
| Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Project for the Development of Historical Mosques | Culture | Announced in 2018, it aims to strengthen the religious and cultural status of historical mosques, while highlighting the Kingdom's civilizational dimension. |
| Diriyah Gate | Urban Development | Launched in 2019, it is one of the major projects of the Public Investment Fund. It is located in the historic Turaif neighborhood and aims to attract twenty-seven million domestic and international visitors by 2030. |
| Al-Ula development project | Urban Development | A Saudi Vision 2030 project launched in 2021, it aims to develop al-Ula as an open museum and a global destination for historical, heritage, cultural, and natural tourism. |
| Boutique Group | Tourism | Launched in 2022, it aims to develop, manage, and operate a series of famous historical and cultural palaces in the Kingdom, transforming them into luxury hotels run by Boutique Group. |
| New Taif Projects | Urban Development | Launched in 2017, it includes Taif International Airport and the development of Souk Okaz, Tech Oasis, housing, and the Industrial City. |
| New Murabba Development Company | Urban Development | The company's launch was announced in 2023 with the aim of developing the largest modern downtown district in the world in Riyadh City. The project design relies on applying sustainability standards and raising the quality of life, including green spaces and walkways, and promoting health and sports concepts, as well as community activities. |
Saudi Vision 2030 VROs
On June 20, 2016, a decision was issued to establish the Vision Realization Offices (VROs) to support the entities operating within the scope of the vision and implement initiatives to achieve VRPs, strategic objectives, and key performance indicators’ targets.
Among the tasks of the VROs are to resolve obstacles faced by these entities in implementing their initiatives, support strategic management processes, follow up on the implementation of entities’ initiatives, improve the skills of entities’ employees in the areas relevant to the vision’s achievement, ensuring the progress of the strategic objectives as planned, and to measure, follow up, and analyze key performance indicators with the stakeholders to ensure the achievement of the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
Orientations of Saudi Vision 2030
Saudi Vision 2030 is concerned with a multitude of social, environmental, economic, and military aspects, including:
Environmental Sustainability
Environmental sustainability is one of the major orientations of Saudi Vision 2030, and the Kingdom has announced a new era in this domain to reach carbon neutrality by 2060. This announcement is part of the broader vision of accelerating the energy transition process and achieving sustainability goals. It also announced the establishment of eight royal nature reserves over an area equivalent to 14.9 percent of the total area of the Kingdom.
Saudi Vision 2030 aims to promote the Kingdom's future with a focus on sustainability as a key pillar in planning, infrastructure establishment, policy development, and investment. The vision inspires the world through its responsible handling of modern energy and climate challenges to participate in efforts to build a sustainable future.
In line with the vision's sustainability orientation, several projects and reserves have been launched, along with the inauguration of the National Center for Meteorology, the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification, the National Center for Environmental Compliance, and the National Center for Wildlife. Among the most significant achievements of Saudi Vision 2030 in the environmental sustainability axis are:
- 2016: Saudi Vision 2030 was launched by Crown Prince and Prime Minister, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, focusing on the environment, renewable energy mix, and environmental sustainability as an essential part of development.
- 2017: Announcement of the National Renewable Energy Program and the launch of King Salman Renewable Energy Initiative.
- 2018: Royal order establishing the Council of Royal Reserves and launching the National Environment Strategy.
- 2019: Joining the International Solar Alliance, establishing national environmental centers, launching the Green Riyadh Project, launching integrated waste management and waste recycling activities in Riyadh, and establishing special forces for environmental security.
- 2020: The G20's chairmanship adoption of the Circular Carbon Economy framework and its commitment to the preservation of global coral reefs, the Kingdom's adoption of the Circular Carbon Economy (CCE) initiative, and the establishment of a research fund for energy and the environment.
- 2021: The launch of the Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative, the accession of Golf Saudi into the UN initiative Sport for Climate Action, the launch of the Sakaka Solar Power Plant, the launch of Dumat Al Jandal Wind Farm, the inclusion of the Farasan Islands in UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Program, Saudi Arabia declaring the target of reaching zero carbon emissions by 2060, and the Kingdom’s joining of the Global Methane Pledge.
- 2022: Registration of the 'Harrat Uwayrid' Reserve in the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Program, establishment of the 'Regional Voluntary Carbon Market' company, and launch of the NEOM energy and water company 'ENOWA' based on renewable energy, to enhance sustainability and support the circular economy.
- 2023: Contribution of the National Transformation Program initiatives to the protection of the environment, rehabilitation of over 192,000 ha of vegetation, and increase of the percentage of protected and registered area of the total area of the Kingdom from 4.3 percent in 2016 to more than 18.8 percent.
- 2023: Registration of 'Uruq Bani Mu'arid' Reserve on the UNESCO World Heritage List as the first natural World Heritage site in the Kingdom.
- 2023: Completion of the system for monitoring light and noise pollution in major cities by launching twenty-five fixed stations to monitor noise pollution in the cities of Makkah al-Mukarramah and Jeddah, distributing one hundred stations to monitor light pollution in various cities across the Kingdom, and establishing a central unit to monitor air quality.
Localization of military industries
Saudi Vision 2030, along with its list of objectives within the framework of localizing various technologies, endeavors to localize military industries. The Kingdom is one of the world’s biggest spenders on the military field, whereas less than 2 percent of this expenditure is locally produced.
The local military industries sector is limited to seven companies and two research centers. Hence, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Mohammed Bin Salman announced that the vision aims to localize more than 50 percent of military spending by 2030. This led to the establishment of the General Authority for Military Industries, as the legislator and enabler of the Kingdom's military industry.
Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) is the investment arm dedicated to meeting the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 regarding the localization of military industries in the Kingdom. SAMI is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund, founded in May 2017, and aspires to be among the world's top twenty-five defense companies.
SAMI works to build aviation and aerospace systems according to a specific strategy that meets the needs of sustainable combat missions, along with defense systems for the manufacture of defensive munitions, high-quality weapon systems, and weapons systems (remote, air, land, and naval), rocket raid systems, defensive missile systems (air, land, marine), multiple-launch rockets systems, anti-drone systems, ground systems to build renewable local capabilities for ground systems’ technologies, naval systems to build high-level naval defense capabilities, and advanced electronics to enhance the Kingdom's defense electronics capabilities.
Sector privatization
The target sectors, according to the privatization program, one of Saudi Vision 2030’s programs, include several sectors. The National Center for Privatization, as part of Saudi Vision 2030, assists in the implementation of the privatization program to secure the Kingdom's economic future.
A decision was issued to establish the National Center for Privatization in 2017, and it was entrusted with the task of developing an effective privatization process, applied by the target entities to attract and engage the private sector, and to market opportunities at the local and international levels. These sectors include:
- Education: includes the Ministry of Education, Technical and Vocational Training Corporation, and Saudi universities.
- Health: includes the Ministry of Health, Saudi Health Council, and the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center.
- Transport: includes the Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services, General Authority of Civil Aviation, Public Transport Authority, Saudi Ports Authority, Saudia, and Saudi Arabia Railways.
- Communications and Information Technology (ICT): includes the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Saudi Post, and the e-Government Program "Yesser."
- Energy: includes the Ministry of Energy and King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy.
- Industry and Mineral Resources: includes the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy, Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (MODON), and the National Industrial Clusters Development Program.
- Municipal, Rural Affairs, and Housing Affairs: includes the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, and municipalities.
- Human Resources and Social Development: includes the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.
- Environment, Water, and Agriculture: includes the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, Saudi Water Authority, General Authority of Meteorology and Environmental Protection, and the National Water Company.
- Hajj and Umrah: includes the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
- Media: includes the Ministry of Media, Saudi Broadcasting Authority, the General Authority of Media Regulation, and the Saudi Press Agency.
- Sport: includes the Ministry of Sport.
In line with the directives of Saudi Vision 2030 in the privatization of sectors, the Council of Ministers approved on March 6, 2017, the establishment of the National Center for Privatization as part of Saudi Vision 2030, to enable the privatization of the assets and services of targeted government entities.
The center has five functions, including enabling privatization through the development of programs, regulations, and tools, proposing sectors and activities for privatization, and conducting studies to analyze benefits and risks in targeted sectors. The center's second function includes developing privatization frameworks through the preparation of a general regulatory framework and the rules, procedures, controls, and standards of the privatization oversight committee, and assisting the privatization oversight committee in developing and improving the regulatory framework for each sector.
The center's third function is to provide advisories and guidance by reviewing strategies and models for privatization sectors and public-private partnerships sectors, and ensuring that they are in line with the center’s directives, standards, and principles. This comes in addition to reviewing sectors’ regulatory changes and ensuring that they empower privatization sectors’ strategy in terms of public-private partnerships.
The center's fourth function includes policy development, through the development of a regulatory framework for the privatization of public-private partnerships, and the development of rules and procedures to guide the efforts of the privatization oversight committee and task force. The center's fifth function is monitoring and reporting, by reviewing readiness plans and technical analyses and following up on their implementation, following up on progress in design, preparation, and implementation, and monitoring the implementation of sectors' commitment regarding the development of special frameworks for the sector.
The Kingdom before and after Saudi Vision 2030
The Kingdom has witnessed many advances following the launch of Saudi Vision 2030 in 2016. The vision’s achievement booklet highlighted these advances up until 2020. They include:
| Comparisons | Pre-vision | First five years after its launch |
|---|---|---|
| Saudi public investments | SAR570 billion | SAR1.5 trillion |
| Non-oil revenues | SAR166 billion | SAR369 billion |
| Non-oil GDP's percentage to total GDP | 55 percent | 59 percent |
| Value of foreign direct investment in the Kingdom | SAR5.321 billion | SAR17.625 billion |
| Volume of investment in the industrial sector | SAR955.4 billion | SAR1.11 trillion |
| Maturity of digital government services | 60 percent | 81.3 percent |
| Ranking of the government effectiveness index (of the World Bank) | 83 | 75 |
| Number of sports associations | 32 | 64 |
| Fintech companies | None | Thirteen companies |
| Number of SMEs | 447,749 establishments | 626,669 establishments |
| Share of women-owned SMEs | 22 percent | 38 percent |
| SMEs share of total financing loans | 2 percent | 8.4 percent |
| Number of factories in the Kingdom | 7,206 | 9,984 |
| Percentage of localization in military industries | 2 percent | 8 percent |
| Establishment of companies and issuing commercial registers | Fifteen days | Thirty minutes online |
| Optical fiber network coverage | 12 million homes | 3.5 million homes |
| Women's participation in the workforce | 19.4 percent | 33.2 percent |
| Productive families benefiting from financing solutions | Three thousand families | 62,865 families |
| Percentage of Saudis who own homes | 47 percent | 60 percent |
| Waiting period to receive housing subsidies | Fifteen years | Instant |
| Percentage of enrollment in kindergartens | 13 percent | 23 percent |
| Economic value of volunteerism in the Kingdom (per individual) | SAR0.06/hour | SAR21.27/hour |
| Number of volunteers in the Kingdom | 22,924 | 409,000 |
| Percentage of working Saudis with special needs who are capable of work | 7.7 percent | 12 percent |
| Cinemas in the Kingdom | None | Thirty-three movie theaters (in twelve cities) |
| Percentage of citizens who exercise weekly | 13 percent | 19 percent |
| Women's football | None | Twenty-five national teams |
| Scientific research studies in the Kingdom | 15,056 research studies | 33,588 research studies |
| Intellectual production movement in the Kingdom | 6,124 | 17,570 |
| Kingdom's ranking in the World Happiness Report | 37 | 21 |
| Number of recreational venues | 154 | 277 |
| Number of national heritage sites with potential for increase | 241 | 354 |
| Availability of specialist health consultations within one month | 50 percent | 80 % |
| Accident mortality rate deaths per one hundred thousand persons | 28.8 deaths per one hundred thousand persons | 13.5 deaths per one hundred thousand persons |
| Waiting period for obtaining Hajj and Umrah visas | Fourteen days | Five minutes online |
| Accommodation capacity for foreign Umrah pilgrims | 6.53 million Umrah pilgrims | 8.2 million Umrah pilgrims |
| Reducing time required for customs clearance | 288 hours | Nine hours |
Saudi Vision in its first five years
In the first five years since its inception in 2016, Saudi Vision 2030 has accomplished a multitude of achievements, including addressing the most important challenges that previously existed, such as the housing issue. It has set its goal to raise Saudi families' home ownership in 2030 to 62 percent and has already reached 60 percent in 2020.
The Crown Prince, Prime Minister, and Chairman of CEDA, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, explained in a television interview broadcast on April 28, 2021, on the Public Investment Fund, that the main focus is the growth of the fund size. This was achieved in about four years, growing by 300 percent. In the next five years, it will grow by 200 percent or more, and by 2030, it will reach SAR10 trillion, after which an ad hoc policy will be put in place, depending on the situation at the time, for disbursing revenue from the Public Investment Fund, but not exceeding 2.5 percent of its value, in order to maintain the fund's continuous growth and revenue flow.
The Crown Prince confirmed that an estimated SAR10 trillion is expected to be injected into the Kingdom, by the government and government development funds, which is the annual budget of SAR800 billion to SAR1 trillion. The National Development Fund, Real Estate Development Fund, Tourism Development Fund, Cultural Development Fund, and other funds, will together annually pump an estimated SAR1 trillion or more or less, according to each year’s budget. The vision set the target for the Public Investment Fund's assets to reach SAR7 trillion by 2030, from a projected SAR4 trillion in 2025.
The non-oil economy grew 4.5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2019. Had it not been for the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, it would have continued growing by more than 5 percent. The Kingdom's unemployment rate declined, from 14 percent at the beginning of the vision to 11 percent in the first quarter of 2020, whereas the vision’s set target is 7 percent. As a result of the pandemic, unemployment rose, albeit the Kingdom was the sixth-best performing G20 nation in terms of unemployment.
Saudi Vision 2030 raised non-oil revenues from SAR166 billion to approximately SAR350 billion. With e-government, the duration for finalizing commercial register procedures was reduced to half an hour, which used to take several days and involved more than six government entities. Foreign investment tripled from SAR5 billion to SAR17 billion per year.
With respect to the environmental aspect, vegetation has risen by 40 percent after falling by 70 percent over the past fifty years, which has minimized sandstorms by 30 percent or more, and resulted in increasing rainfall in the past years. The VRPs also succeeded in enabling five universities, in various indicators, to be classified among the world's top five hundred. The vision targets three Saudi universities among the top two hundred in the world.
Saudi Vision 2030 achievements until 2021
Among Saudi Vision 2030's achievements in its pillars: Vital Society, Thriving Economy, and Ambitious Nation, until 2021 are:
- Launch of the ROSHN real estate project, one of the major projects announced by the Public Investment Fund in 2020.
- The Kingdom's ranking in the World Happiness Report rose from thirty-seventh place pre-Vision 2030 to twenty-first place in 2021.
- The number of entertainment venues increased from 154 to 277 in 2020.
- The hosting capacity of foreign Umrah pilgrims increased from 6.53 million pre-vision to 8.2 million in 2020.
- The launch of ten health congregations covering 12.95 million people until the end of 2020 in all regions of the Kingdom.
- The establishment of seven nature royal reserves over an area equivalent to 13.7 percent of the Kingdom's area to serve as habitats for endangered and vulnerable species.
- The Kingdom led global production of desalinated water, at the highest production capacity of the Saudi Water Authority, reaching 5.9 million mper day in 2020.
- The number of Saudi sites registered in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage List reached six as of 2021.
- The launch of the first women's community football tournament in 2020, and the establishment of women's teams for the first time, reaching twenty-five teams in 2020.
- Achieving the possibility of establishing companies and issuing commercial register procedures in just thirty minutes, in one electronic step in 2020, instead of fifteen days, and accessing eight government entities pre-vision.
- Al-Jubayl Industrial City selected as the first Learning City in the Kingdom.
- The Kingdom advanced to twelfth place in the venture capital availability index, in the Global Competitiveness Report 2020.
- The Kingdom marked the only progress at the level of the countries of the Middle East in the International Institute for Management Development's 2020 World Competitiveness Yearbook, ranking eighth among G20 countries and twenty-fourth out of sixty-eight countries.
- The number of SMEs increased from 447,749 in 2016 to 626,669 in 2020.
- The success of Saudi Aramco's initial public offering in 2019, valued at over SAR110 billion, equivalent to 1.5 percent of the company's stock.
- Attracting the largest technology investment in the Middle East and North Africa, with deals exceeding USD1.7 billion in cloud computing sector.
- Foreign direct investment in the Kingdom jumped from SAR5.321 billion in 2017 to SAR15.926 billion in 2018, then to SAR17.1 billion in 2019, and reached SAR17.625 billion in 2020.
- The Kingdom won first place globally in Internet speed on the fifth generation in 2020.
- The launch of the Sakaka Solar PV Plant, the first of the Kingdom's series of renewable energy projects, with a production capacity of three hundred MW.
- Operation of the Jazan refinery project, the world's largest oil refining project.
- Exceeding the production capacity target of associated and nonassociated gas, reaching a record SAR18 billion cu ft per day.
- Increasing investment in the industrial sector from SAR955.4 billion pre-vision to SAR1.11 trillion in 2020.
- The Kingdom achieved first place globally on the Road Connectivity Index in 2019.
- The Kingdom advanced on the UN E-Government Development Index 2020, reaching forty-third place globally in the main index, twenty-seventh place globally in the subindex Telecommunications Infrastructure, and thirty-fifth place globally in the subindex Human Capital.
- The number of volunteers increased from 23,000 in 2015 to over 409,000 in 2020, exceeding the target of 2020 of three hundred thousand volunteers.
- The launch of fourteen health congregations, providing services to more than 29 million beneficiaries by the end of 2021.
- Ten new hospitals were introduced in 2021 in several regions of the Kingdom, with a capacity of more than 1,500 beds.
- The overall national immunization rate against COVID-19 reached 70 percent in dual vaccination doses by the end of 2021.
- Launch of strategic offices to develop the regions of al-Bahah, al-Jawf, and Jazan.
- Launch of the Human Capability Development Program, a national strategy aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of Saudi human capabilities locally and globally.
- The launch of the Aseer Development Strategy Region under the slogan Qimam and Shem, aimed at achieving a comprehensive, unprecedented developmental renaissance in the region.
- More than 210,000 Saudi families benefited from various homeownership subsidies by the end of 2021.
- Consecrating authentic Saudi culture through the creation of the Holy Quran Exhibition in the third Saudi expansion of the Grand Mosque, to underpin the concept and meanings of the Holy Quran among visitors.
- Completion of restoration works in thirty historical mosques under the Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Project for the Development of Historical Mosques.
- The registration of the Hima Cultural Area in Najran as the sixth Saudi site to be added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2021.
- The addition of Buraydah City to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in recognition of its contribution to gastronomy.
- The addition of Arabic calligraphy to the UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
- Establishment of the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts.
- The return of the economy to pre-pandemic levels in 2021, with real GDP positive growth of 3.2 percent in 2021 compared to the previous year, while non-oil activities achieved a positive growth of 6.1 percent in 2021 compared to the year before.
- The contribution of non-oil revenue to total revenue increased from about 27 percent in 2015 to about 42 percent in 2021.
- Non-oil revenue increased by an annual average of 18 percent during 2015-2021, and revenues became more linked to economic growth and diversification.
- The value of non-oil exports reached SAR274.9 billion in 2021, up 37 percent compared to 2020.
- The value of re-exports reached about SAR44 billion in 2021, up 23 percent compared to 2020.
- In 2021, the Kingdom set a Guinness World Record for the world's lowest-energy-consuming desalination plant, at 2.27 KW per hour/m.
- The establishment of the Cultural Development Fund at over SAR180 million to contribute to promoting the cultural sector.
- The Agricultural Development Fund supported agricultural projects in 2021 with more than SAR3.7 billion, up 97 percent from 2020.
- In 2021, the Saudi Export-Import Bank approved 125 financing requests, with a total value of SAR10 billion, to contribute to Saudi products reaching more than fifty countries.
- The rate of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the second quarter of 2021 recorded the highest quarterly value in the preceding decade, at approximately USD13.8 billion, marking a 607.3 percent rise on a quarterly basis, and a 1573.9 percent hike on an annual basis.
- FDI inflows reached SAR72 billion, achieving 2.3 percent of GDP in 2021, exceeding the general target of SAR42 billion, equivalent to 1.5 percent of GDP.
- The launch of the Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City in 2021, the world's first non-profit city.
- Launch of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, which aims to underpin the Kingdom's position as a global logistics hub connecting three continents.
- Launching the National Investment Strategy, which is one of the key enablers for achieving the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
Key figures on 2022 achievements
- Twenty-one projects and strategies have been launched in various domains, including the National Intellectual Property Strategy.
- SAR71.3 billion was the volume of lending withdrawn by SMEs under the Kafalah program in partnership with banks.
- 99 percent of all businesses in the Kingdom are SMEs.
- The number of businesses increased 35 percent to a total of 1.1 million establishments.
- SAR45 billion was the combined value of real estate finance portfolios in the Kingdom.
- The total number of registered users in the Furas platform to participate in service and developmental projects reached 55,000 investors.
- 430,000 housing units and residential land plots provided.
- Eighty thousand housing units provided at the Khuzam Suburb project in Riyadh at prices starting from SAR350,000.
- Over 1.5 million citizens benefiting from Sakani program.
- Eight thousand families were assisted either by the provision of housing units and rent subsidies extended to the neediest families in all regions of the Kingdom, in cooperation with more than four hundred charities.
- SAR16 billion allocated to 165 infrastructure, drainage, and flood risk prevention projects since 2017 across all regions of the Kingdom.
- SAR9 billion allocated for infrastructure and drainage projects, and to prevent flood risks in Jeddah Governorate.
- Ninety-four international awards won by male and female students in the Kingdom.
- Introduction of six systems, including: Flexible Work Regulation, enhanced awqaf (endowments) system, Voluntary Service Law, enhanced Social Security Law, social responsibility system, and the national policy for occupational safety and health.
- Launch of eleven electronic platforms, including the National Volunteering Platform and Waqfy.
- Establishment of six centers, including the Case Verification Center and the Unified Translation Center at the Ministry of Justice and the Legislation Office.
- Establishment of the SME Bank.
- Achieving first place among G20 countries as the fastest-growing economy in 2022, which is the fastest annual growth rate for the Kingdom's economy in eleven years.
- Achieving first place globally in the ease of doing business index.
- Achieving first place globally in humanitarian aid and relief.
- Achieving second place on the Global Cybersecurity Index according to the Global Competitiveness Report 2022.
- Sending the first Saudi male and female astronauts to the International Space Station.
- The number of Umrah pilgrims has risen to 8.4 million.
- Serving more than 1.4 million families over the past four years, which exceeds the number of families benefiting from housing support over the past four decades.
- Over the past four years, financially assisting more than 684,000 Saudi families to purchase their first home through subsidized real estate loans.
- Provide new real estate financing sources and long-term financing solutions for up to twenty-five years with fixed interest.
- Allocation of one hundred million m of land to Riyadh and a number of densely populated cities grappling with high prices, for the construction of housing units.
- The entry into force of the Real Estate Brokerage Law to raise the quality of real estate transactions, safeguard parties' rights in the real estate market, and sustain real estate assets.
- Continue to create more parks and work to ensure that 80 percent of city dwellers are able to reach the gardens in the range of eight hundred m or a ten-minute walk.
- Increasing pedestrian lanes, playgrounds, and public and recreational service facilities in various cities.
- Achieving the first position in the Government and Electronic Mobile Services Maturity Index 2022. In 2023, the Kingdom provided more than six thousand government services electronically, representing 97 percent of all government services. The maturity rate of the digital experience for government services increased by approximately 80.68 percent.
- Issuing the first industrial license in Oxagon to NEOM Green Hydrogen.
- Bold investment growth in the Kingdom by 72 percent in 2022, with a record total of approximately USD1 billion.
- Approval of the national policy aimed at promoting equal opportunities and preventing discrimination in the employment sector in the Kingdom.
- Launch of Aseer Investment Company.
- Launch of the design plan for King Salman International Airport in Riyadh.
- The adoption of the development orientation for Darin and Tarout Island, and the establishment of an institution to develop the island.
- The Kingdom won first place out of seventy-three countries participating in the World Robot Olympiad.
- Launch of the Nusuk platform, providing 121 diverse services to facilitate the arrival of pilgrims from all over the world.
- The launch of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program Strategy, which represents a new phase in educational grants that contributes to enhancing citizens’ competitiveness by increasing the efficiency of human capital in new sectors.
- The launch of the Ceer brand, the first Saudi brand for manufacturing electric vehicles in the Kingdom.
- The Kingdom advanced ten places on the Green Future Index 2022.
- The establishment of a new resort in the exceptional Red Sea called Faena The Red Sea.
- Launch of the Public Investment Fund’s Halal Product Development Company.
- The government effectiveness index rose to 70.8 in 2022.
- The 2022 Saudi Census is the first digital census in the history of the Kingdom, and the first time the self-enumeration feature is available within the census options through thirty-thousand field researchers.
Key figures on 2023 achievements
Among Saudi Vision 2030's achievements in its pillars: Vital Society, Thriving Economy, and Ambitious Nation are:
- The gross product of non-oil activities reached its highest level, contributing 50 percent of the real gross product. Additionally, non-oil activities grew at a rate of 4.7 percent.
- The unemployment rate for all Saudi males and females decreased to 7.7 percent compared to 8 percent in 2022.
- Inflation levels decreased to 1.6 percent compared to 3.1 percent in 2022, which is the lowest among the economies of the G20 countries.
- Average life expectancy increased to 78.10 years compared to the baseline of 77.06 years.
- The percentage of Saudi families owning a housing unit increased by about 16.7 percentage points to reach 63.74 percent compared to 2016, exceeding the year’s target of 63 percent.
- Achieving the highest rate of Umrah pilgrims from outside the Kingdom, as it rose to 13.56 million Umrah pilgrims, exceeding the year’s target of 10 million Umrah pilgrims.
- Non-oil activities reached their highest level, contributing 50 percent of the real gross product.
- The value of the Public Investment Fund’s managed assets increased by about SAR2.09 trillion, reaching SAR2.81 trillion, exceeding the year’s target of SAR2.7 trillion.
- Total non-oil government revenues increased by about SAR291 billion, reaching SAR457 billion, and this contributed to covering 35 percent of the total budget expenditures for 2023, estimated at SAR1,293 billion.
- The number of volunteers in the Kingdom increased to 834,000, exceeding the target of the year of 670,000 volunteers.
- The government effectiveness index reached 70.8 in 2022, exceeding the year target of 60.7.
- The number of sites registered with UNESCO has been increased to seven sites.
- The percentage of population clusters, including peripheral areas, covered by health services, increased to 96.41 percent.
- The percentage of adults who engage in physical activity for 150 minutes per week (eighteen years and over) increased to 62.3 percent.
- The percentage of beneficiaries of subsidies who are able to work and who have been empowered increased to 32.3 percent.
- The Kingdom ranked seventeenth globally among the sixty-four most competitive countries.
- Riyadh Air, the new national air carrier, has been established.
- The 'AMP-2' facility for the production of electric cars has been inaugurated.
- The Saudi communications and technology market is the largest and fastest growing in the Middle East and North Africa, with a growth rate of 10 percent.
- The Sports Clubs Investment and Privatization Project is launched, and the Public Investment Fund is investing in four sports clubs and converting them into companies.
- Licenses to more than two hundred international companies have been issued to establish regional headquarters in the city of Riyadh.
- The number of foreign investment licenses reached more than 8,500 licenses for international companies by the end of 2023.
- The number of leisure venues increased to 584 venues.
- Eight royal reserves have been established in all provinces of the Kingdom, covering an area equivalent to 14.9 percent of the Kingdom's total area.
- The production of the Saudi Water Authority reached 11.5 million m per day, delivering water services to more than 25 million beneficiaries.
- The number of SMEs increased to 813,000.
- 96.41 percent of the Kingdom’s provinces are covered by health services.
- The arrival of over one hundred million tourists from within and outside the Kingdom has been recorded by the end of 2023.
- Non-oil GDP has risen to SAR1,889 billion in 2023.
- Total non-oil merchandise exports exceeded SAR277 billion, with customs clearance taking two hours. The number of logistics licenses reached approximately 563, and the count of industrial facilities amounted to about 11,549.
- The percentage of localization of military industries increased to 10.4 percent in 2023.
- Ninety-three companies were established in the Public Investment Fund's portfolio, compared to seventy-one companies in 2022. The number of job opportunities reached 644,000, encompassing both direct and indirect opportunities, compared to five hundred thousand in 2022.
- The Kingdom advanced in the logistics sector indicators issued by the World Bank from fifty-five to thirty-eight, advancing seventeen places.
- The foundation stone has been laid for the largest integrated, environmentally friendly logistics area powered by 100 percent renewable energy for the international company Maersk in the Middle East, located at the Jeddah Islamic Port and covering an area of 225,000 m, with an investment value of SAR1.3 billion.
- The first factory for the production of electric cars in the Kingdom was opened by the AMP-2 facility for the production of electric cars in King Abdullah Economic City in Rabigh. The investment amounted to SAR16.4 billion, aiming to assemble five thousand cars in the first phase and reach 155,000 cars upon completion of the project.
- Three factories have been inaugurated in Sudair Industrial City: a factory for oncology medicines worth more than SAR277 million, considered the first of its kind in the Kingdom; the General Factory for Specialized Medicines; and the Gulf Catering Food Factory.
- Launching the second industrial city in Aseer, with an area of 17.3 million m.
- The mining sector achieved record revenues reaching more than SAR1.5 billion during 2023.
- The Kingdom has become second among the G20 countries in the Communications and Technology Development Index for 2023, and third globally in the Digital Government Maturity Index.
- The Kingdom has doubled its interest in artificial intelligence and has become the first among more than sixty countries around the world in the Government Strategy Index for Artificial Intelligence issued by Tortoise Intelligence. Additionally, it ranks second globally in societal awareness of artificial intelligence according to the Stanford University International Artificial Intelligence Index 2023.
- The security system provided its services to about 18 million beneficiaries, the average response speed was two seconds, and the time for relaying reports to the competent entities was about forty-five seconds.
- The participation rate of Saudi women in the workforce reached 35.5 percent, and about 368 capable female leaders were registered on the national platform.
Related quizzes
Related articles
