Then-Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announces Vision 2030. AFP
Then-Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announces Vision 2030. AFP

2016 - Saudi Vision 2030 unveiled to the world

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Updated 19 April 2025
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2016 - Saudi Vision 2030 unveiled to the world

2016 - Saudi Vision 2030 unveiled to the world
  • Mohammed bin Salman’s eagerly awaited moment of change was welcomed in particular by the youth of the country, who form the majority of the population

RIYADH: A seminal event occurred on April 25, 2016. On that date, Saudi Arabia’s then-Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, often referred to simply as MBS, announced the details of what we have come to know as the path-breaking, paradigm-shifting Saudi Vision 2030. 

That day, he gave Al Arabiya News Channel an exclusive interview, his first-ever on television. At the time, I was based in Dubai editing the channel’s English-language digital arm, and it was obvious to me that if ever there was an eagerly awaited moment of change that would positively impact the region, this was it. 

Here was a man who was charting a new course that represented an almost total about-face for Saudi Arabia. It was the kind of thing nobody had tried before. The young prince was giving hope to a nation in which about 60 percent of the population was under the age of 35. 

He talked about the government having targets, key performance indicators and project management offices, and of ridding the Kingdom of its dependence on oil — all things that were unheard of in the past. 

How we wrote it




Arab News celebrated the launch of Vision 2030 with a special front page and an editorial headlined, “KSA’s leap into future.”

Five months later, on Sept. 26, 2016, to be precise, I was in Jeddah after being appointed editor-in-chief of Arab News. Having lived there during my formative years, I felt I had a genuine feeling for, and understanding of, the city. 

What I failed to consider, however, was that in the five months since the announcement of Vision 2030, change had become the new norm. And not a slow, glacial process of change but a fast and urgent one. 

I was nonetheless pleasantly surprised, and on my first day at Arab News I wrote about my sense of optimism. In that column, I mentioned how I was assisted upon my arrival at the Rosewood hotel in Jeddah by a female Saudi receptionist. 

“While the thought of having a woman do such a job was unheard of 20 years ago, I must confess that I honestly have never dealt with a more professional, meticulous and ‘happy to serve’ receptionist in my travels around the world,” I wrote in the piece, which was aptly titled, “The Return of the Prodigal Son.” 

It was a coincidence that I returned to the Kingdom only five months after the announcement of Vision 2030. But from the perspective of a journalist it was an exciting time, even though I had no idea what to expect. Nor did I know whether the announced changes, genuine as they and the intentions underlying them were, would ever materialize into reality. 

Day after day, however, it became evident that Saudi Arabia was on a new track and nothing could stand in the way. For example, curbing the powers of the religious police was a giant step away from what had been the norm. In one fell swoop, the fears that had for so long stopped Saudis from thinking outside the box were done away with. Before the curbs, members of the religious police had been a virtual law unto themselves and, in a few tragic cases, they were responsible for the deaths of young Saudis. 

Key Dates

  • 1

    Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launches his Vision 2030 plan for national development and diversification.

    Timeline Image April 25, 2016

  • 2

    King Salman appoints him crown prince.

    Timeline Image June 21, 2017

  • 3

    At the Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh, the crown prince pledges a return to moderate Islam and launches NEOM, a $500-billion project to develop a new Saudi megacity.

    Timeline Image Oct. 24, 2017

  • 4

    First commercial movie theater opens in Riyadh, with a screening of the Marvel movie “Black Panther,” ending a 35-year ban on cinemas in the Kingdom

    Timeline Image April 18, 2018

  • 5

    Ban on Saudi women driving is lifted.

    Timeline Image June 24, 2018

  • 6

    Crown prince launches a tourism megaproject in AlUla, including a resort designed by architect Jean Nouvel and a nature reserve.

  • 7

    Saudi authorities establish three new ministries, for sports, tourism and investment, as part of commitment to Vision 2030.

    Timeline Image Feb. 25, 2020

  • 8

    Kingdom bids successfully to host Expo 2030 in Riyadh, beating competition from Rome and Busan.

    Timeline Image Nov. 28, 2023

  • 9

    Saudi Arabia awarded hosting rights for 2034 FIFA World Cup, which will be the first time the expanded, 48-team tournament is held in a single country.

    Timeline Image Dec. 11, 2024

It is disappointing that the Saudi leadership gets very little credit for their remarkable achievement, which represented a complete reversal of the status quo in the Kingdom. 

That decision followed the introduction of concerts and musical performances in front of live audiences, the very kind of events that had been unheard of in the past. Some of the old-timers in the newsroom flinched when we decided to run large photos showing ordinary Saudi men and women sitting next to each other, eating popcorn as they enjoyed themselves and hummed along to live music during a show. 

The first concert with a mixed audience of men and women that I personally attended in the Kingdom was by “iLuminate,” the spectacular hit music and light show from New York. In the run-up to the performance, in October 2016, there was a conflict between the security forces, who said the mixed-audience event could not take place, and officials from the Kingdom’s General Entertainment Authority, who insisted it had to be mixed.

Ultimately, the GEA won the argument and it was a fabulously memorable performance that mesmerized thousands of people in the massive Al-Jowhara Stadium. Men, women and children sat together and enjoyed a dazzling show, full of music, energetic dance moves and special effects. 

This was a symbolic moment, in my opinion, because shortly afterward the inevitable occurred; in mid 2017, the Kingdom awoke to the news that MBS had been named crown prince by his father, King Salman. He replaced his predecessor, Mohammed bin Nayef who, as per royal protocol, stepped down and gave his blessing to the appointment of his younger cousin. 




To launch the Sharaan Nature Reserve in AlUla, the Crown Prince symbolically released an idmi gazelle, a species threatened in the wild and experiencing a rapid population decline. SPA

MBS now had full control to push ahead with his plans, and if the world was stunned at the pace of change before, they had seen nothing compared with what was to come. 

Next, the ban on women driving was lifted and draconian guardianship laws were abolished. People of my generation never thought we would see women driving in the Kingdom but we were proved wrong. I invited our senior editor, Mo Gannon, a Canadian working in our Dubai office who had an international driving license, to visit Jeddah and asked her to be part of the history that was unfolding in Saudi Arabia. 

On the day the driving ban was lifted, we got her into the driver’s seat. I sat next to her to record her reactions and those of our Saudi female members of staff who were also in the car. It was an incredible moment and feeling of liberation for the women of Saudi Arabia. The happy faces that appeared on our front pages were those of proud and traditionally, but fashionably, dressed Saudi women of all shades, from all regions. What had been the forbidden exception became the accepted norm. 

Then there were the high-decibel concerts that began to take place at Diriyah. The setting is straight out of the “Arabian Nights,” and it was enthralling to see the nation’s history encounter the modern world in the ancient deserts of Arabia.

As a result of these cultural and social changes, the crown prince received huge support and the admiration of the people. He earned popularity and respect, especially among the youth of the country and women, by making longed-for changes and getting rid of suffocating restrictions. 

At the same time, the crown prince did not forget about Saudi Arabia’s history and heritage. Yes, we have futuristic projects such as the NEOM megacity on one hand, but when it came to preserving history, heritage and even wildlife, MBS was adamant about the importance of that as well. Places such as Diriyah, AlUla and the old town of Jeddah are living examples of this commitment. 

He also set about rehabilitating the image of the country and transforming it into a center of moderation. To do this, he hosted leaders of other religions in Saudi Arabia and focused on the virtues and advantages of interfaith cooperation. He invited Jewish rabbis and Christian preachers to the Kingdom and encouraged them to engage in dialogue with one another and with the Saudi ulema. 

The most significant announcement by MBS, however, was the one in which he stated that he wanted to restore Saudi Arabia to a more moderate form of Islam or, in his words, return things to the way they were before 1979. 

Why 1979? Because, as he said during an interview with Norah O’Donnell on CBS in September 2018: “We were living a very normal life, like the rest of the Gulf countries. Women were driving cars. There were movie theaters in Saudi Arabia. Women worked everywhere. We were just normal people, developing like any other country in the world until the events of 1979.” 

Having said all of this, I must now ask a question: Has the crown prince’s Vision 2030 succeeded in all that it set out to achieve? No. Will it? Probably not. But this is no secret, and Arab News publishes an annual report in which we keep track of the progress and the shortcomings. 




The master plan for Riyadh Expo 2030 revealed. Royal Commission for Riyadh City

Were there mistakes along the way? Yes; painful ones, too, some of which have had harmful consequences on progress and the reputation of the Kingdom. While nothing can be said in their defense, there are two overarching arguments that can be made here. 

The first is to imagine, despite the mistakes, if all these reforms had not happened. What would have become of Saudi Arabia then? 

The second is to consider whether the Kingdom is better off, and its people happier, now than they were nine years ago? Just ask the youths who form about 60 percent of the Saudi population what they think, and there you will find the answer. Or if not, check out the report published by market research and consulting firm Ipsos in 2024 that ranked Saudi Arabia as the world’s second-happiest country. 

  • Faisal J. Abbas is the editor-in-chief of Arab News. 


Iraq’s justice minister says prisons are at double capacity as amnesty law takes effect

Iraqi Justice Minister Khaled Shwani speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, May 3.
Iraqi Justice Minister Khaled Shwani speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, May 3.
Updated 3 min 26 sec ago
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Iraq’s justice minister says prisons are at double capacity as amnesty law takes effect

Iraqi Justice Minister Khaled Shwani speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, May 3.
  • Justice Minister Khaled Shwani acknowledged the overcrowding has put a severe strain on prison health care and human rights standards

BAGHDAD: As a general amnesty law takes effect in Iraq, the country’s prisons are facing a crisis of overcrowding, housing more than double their intended capacity, the country’s justice minister said in an interview.
Justice Minister Khaled Shwani told The Associated Press on Saturday that Iraq’s 31 prisons currently hold approximately 65,000 inmates, despite the system being built to accommodate only half that number.
He acknowledged that the overcrowding has put a severe strain on prison health care and human rights standards.
“When we took office, overcrowding stood at 300 percent,” he said. “After two years of reform, we’ve reduced it to 200 percent. Our goal is to bring that down to 100 percent by next year in line with international standards.”
Thousands more detainees remain in the custody of security agencies but have not yet been transferred to the Ministry of Justice due to lack of prison capacity. Four new prisons are under construction, Shwani said, while three have been closed in recent years. Two others have been opened and six existing prisons expanded.
The general amnesty law passed in January had strong support from Sunni lawmakers who argue that their community has been disproportionately targeted by terrorism charges, with confessions sometimes extracted under torture.
But opponents say the law would allow the release of people involved in public corruption and embezzlement as well as militants who committed war crimes.
The Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights, a watchdog group, said in a statement that “the current version of the general amnesty law raises deep concerns over its potential legal and security consequences.”’
Shwani said 2,118 prisoners have been released from the justice ministry’s prisons since the amnesty law took effect, while others had been released from the custody of security agencies before being transferred to the Ministry of Justice.
“We have a committee studying the status of inmates and identifying those who may qualify for release, but the vision is not yet final,” he said. The minister said he expects a “good number” to be released but “cannot specify an exact percentage until we receive clarity from the judiciary on who qualifies for the amnesty.”
Iraq’s prisons house hundreds of foreign nationals, most of them convicted of terrorism-related charges or affiliation with the Al-Qaeda and Daesh.
The inmates hail from countries including Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkiye, Egypt, North African nations, and several European states, as well as a handful of US citizens. Shwani said discussions are underway with several governments to repatriate their citizens, excluding those sentenced to death.
He said inmates have been repatriated under existing agreements with Iran, Turkiye, and the United Kingdom, including 127 Iranian inmates who were recently transferred back to Tehran.
An Iranian who was convicted in the 2022 killing of a US citizen in Baghdad remains in custody, however, Shwani said.
Stephen Edward Troell, 45, a native of Tennessee, was fatally shot in his car in November by assailants as he pulled up to the street where he lived in Baghdad’s central Karrada district with his family. Iranian citizen Mohammed Ali Ridha was convicted in the killing, along with four Iraqis, in what was described as a kidnapping gone wrong.
All executions have been halted following the issuance of the general amnesty law, Shwani said.
Iraq has faced criticism from human rights groups over its application of the death penalty and particularly over mass executions carried out without prior notice to lawyers or family members of the prisoners.
Shwani pushed back against the criticisms of prison conditions and of the executions.
“There are strict measures in place for any violations committed against inmates,” he said. “Many employees have been referred for investigation, dismissed, and prosecuted.”
He insisted that the “number of executions carried out is limited — not as high as reported in the media” and said the death penalty is only applied in “crimes that severely threaten national security and public safety,” including inmates convicted in a 2016 bombing attack in Baghdad’s Karrada district that killed hundreds of people, as well as cases of child rape and high-ranking IS leaders.
Executions have been paused to reassess cases under the new amnesty law, he said.


Makkah launches digital tools to enrich Hajj pilgrims’ experience

Makkah launches digital tools to enrich Hajj pilgrims’ experience
Updated 11 min 36 sec ago
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Makkah launches digital tools to enrich Hajj pilgrims’ experience

Makkah launches digital tools to enrich Hajj pilgrims’ experience
  • Second version of AI-powered robot Manarah 2 launched
  • Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais reveals Hajj plan Thursday 

MAKKAH: The Presidency of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque has launched several digital tools to enhance the spiritual experience of pilgrims during the Hajj season. 

The initiative aims to convey the universal message of Hajj and highlight its Shariah objectives in multiple languages. 

Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, head of the presidency, inaugurated the second version of the artificial intelligence-powered robot Manarah 2. 

The launch included several smart interactive screens, a global electronic recitation platform, and a multilingual Surah Al-Fatiha app. 

During the Hajj season, the presidency is focused on enhancing the digital experience through integrated services, AI, smart apps, and media, in line with its broader transformation goals.

The initiative also supports Vision 2030 by utilizing advanced digital tools and content developed by local experts to promote the values of moderation and guidance rooted in the Qur’an and Sunnah. 

The presidency’s Hajj operational plan, to be announced on Thursday, will prioritize enriching the pilgrim experience and will include scientific, educational, and guidance-based initiatives that reflect its core mission.


Pakistan central bank lowers key policy rate to 11%

Pakistan central bank lowers key policy rate to 11%
Updated 26 min 25 sec ago
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Pakistan central bank lowers key policy rate to 11%

Pakistan central bank lowers key policy rate to 11%
  • The decision came in the backdrop of soaring tensions with neighboring India following a deadly attack on tourists in Kashmir
  • It will be followed by International Monetary Fund’s decision on releasing $1 billion to Islamabad from its $7 billion bailout

KARACHI: Pakistan’s central bank reduced its key policy rate by 100 basis points to 11% on Monday, resuming a series of cuts that brought the rate down from a record high of 22% after a brief pause in March.
Nine of 14 analysts surveyed by Reuters expected the central bank to cuts its key rate, with three expecting a 50 bps cut and two calling for a 100 bps cut.
The decision came in the backdrop of soaring tensions with neighboring India following a deadly attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir. The nuclear-armed neighbors have announced a raft of punitive steps that aim to hurt each other economically.
It also comes ahead of an imminent International Monetary Fund (IMF) decision on releasing Islamabad’s next tranche of $1 billion from its $7 billion bailout program.
The bank had cut the rate by 1,000 basis points since June from an all-time high of 22% before a surprise decision to hold it in March, citing the risk of price rises including from increased US tariffs.
The inflation rate fell to 0.3% in April, its lowest in roughly a decade and below finance ministry estimates of 1.5% to 2%. The central bank forecasts average inflation to be in the range of 5.5% to 7.5% for the fiscal year ending June.
Pakistan’s manufacturing sector growth slowed to a seven-month low in April, with the HBL Pakistan Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) easing to 51.9 from 52.7 in March, as concerns over global trade weighed due to the impact of US President Donald Trump’s tariff announcements.
New orders slumped while export orders in particular plummeted. Employment fell for a second month as firms cut costs.


Israeli authorities destroy Palestinian homes in West Bank cities

Israeli authorities destroy Palestinian homes in West Bank cities
Updated 36 min 59 sec ago
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Israeli authorities destroy Palestinian homes in West Bank cities

Israeli authorities destroy Palestinian homes in West Bank cities
  • Israeli authorities demolish 25 structures that belonged to the Dababseh family in Khallet Al-Dabaa village
  • In Ramallah, forces raze a 150 sq. meter home that housed five people

LONDON: Israeli authorities demolished several Palestinian structures, including homes, in occupied West Bank cities on Monday.

Israeli forces demolished two homes in Al-Mughayyir village, north of Ramallah. They also destroyed a 200 sq. meter home in Al-Funduq, east of Qalqilya, for building without a permit. Additionally, several structures were demolished in the Jordan Valley.

Wafa reported that Israeli authorities demolished 25 structures that belonged to the Dababseh family in Khallet Al-Dabaa village, including homes, water wells, naturally formed caves, agricultural rooms, barns, and solar panels, after forcibly evicting residents.

In Ramallah, forces demolished a 150 sq. meter home that housed five people, while a demolition notice was issued for another house.

In the northern Jordan Valley, Israeli forces destroyed homes and livestock pens belonging to residents in Khirbet Al-Deir, while in Nabi Elias village, it raided several vehicle repair garages, the Wafa news agency reported.

The Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, associated with the Palestinian Authority, reported that Israeli forces or settlers carried out 1,693 attacks on Palestinian towns, their properties, and lands in April.


Spain probes deaths of thousands of Spaniards in Nazi camps

Spain probes deaths of thousands of Spaniards in Nazi camps
Updated 54 min 30 sec ago
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Spain probes deaths of thousands of Spaniards in Nazi camps

Spain probes deaths of thousands of Spaniards in Nazi camps
  • Thousands of Spaniards fled to France after Franco’s Fascist-backed nationalists overthrew a republic in the 1936-1939 civil war
  • They found themselves under Nazi occupation in France from 1940

MADRID: Spanish prosecutors on Monday said they were investigating whether General Francisco Franco’s dictatorship collaborated with Nazi Germany during World War II to send thousands of exiled Spaniards in France to death camps.
Thousands of Spaniards fled to France after Franco’s Fascist-backed nationalists overthrew a republic in the 1936-1939 civil war, only to find themselves under Nazi occupation in France from 1940.
The investigation will “clarify the relevant responsibilities and the existence of a possible joint strategy” between Franco’s dictatorship and Nazi Germany “in the detention and subsequent transfer of thousands of Spaniards exiled in France to different extermination camps,” the public prosecutor’s office said.
The Mauthausen camp in Austria was among the sites where the republican exiles “were subjected to forced labor, torture, disappearance and murder,” the prosecutor’s office added.
The human rights and democratic memory section of the office will lead the inquiry into the 4,435 recorded dead.
The prosecutors’ office said the probe coincided with the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Mauthausen and was launched in accordance with a divisive 2022 democratic memory law.
The left-wing government passed the legislation in a bid to tackle the legacy of the civil war and honor victims of violence and persecution under Franco, who ruled with an iron fist until his death in 1975.
The right-wing opposition says the left is trying to reopen the wounds of the past with the law and has vowed to repeal it if they return to power.