The objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 are aligned with the leadership’s awareness of the vital role of implementing wide-ranging reforms related to regulations, government entities structure, and performance measurement covering different sectors, in order to achieve economic, social and political sustainability.
The question now is: How can the Kingdom continue to stimulate its long-term social development and economic growth with human welfare at the forefront of its priorities?
E-Government
Saudi Arabia is ambitiously looking to build an efficient integrated governance model and provide world-class services and facilities. It is also looking to turn the government into a high-performing entity, to ease bureaucracy and ensure the betterment of its citizens and expatriates.
This could be based on two major factors: nurturing the human capital and facilitating the required technical resources. Therefore, it will be crucial to hire skillful, talented, and focused individuals who are able to collaborate to accomplish superior outcomes, as well as expand the use of digital technology in government-related services to enhance the productivity of the private sector. It is also necessary to provide citizens, residents and businesses with facilities to increase their return on investment (RoI).
The above will pave the way for speeding up decision-making processes, and ultimately ensuring accountability, as the government has vowed to adopt extensive transparency in measuring the performance of government agencies and institutions.
Tourism: The New ‘White Oil’
On another front, the Kingdom is working to claim a leading place on the map of global tourism destinations— and not just for religious pilgrimage. This will primarily be driven by domestic sightseeing; secondly, by the efforts to improve the experiences of pilgrimages (who registered 6.7 million in 2019) to opt for a longer touristic stay; and thirdly, by inbound travelers who will enjoy the enriching cultural experience of the country.
This was just further backed up by the Saudi cabinet’s approval earlier this month to set up a special residency scheme, aimed at attracting wealthy and high-skilled expats, allowing them to own properties, live, and invest in the Kingdom.
Opening up the tourism and hospitality sector has been earmarked as a strategy for progressing towards Vision 2030, coupled with high-end services, and an upsurge of massive scale projects. New investments and international hotel chains are expanding in the Kingdom as well, which will promote the country’s leisure and holiday profile. It is speculated to be worth 94 Billion SAR, generating hundreds of thousands of job opportunities.
Read here: Why Saudi Arabia's $25 bln tourism market is key to economic diversification
The tourism-focused destinations include luxury resorts built on natural islands, new theme parks, concerts and events, exhibition centers, museums, historical monuments and captivating desert oases.
Specialized Education
Efforts must also be complemented with an enhanced education system so that future generations can harness the right expertise to keep up with the pace of the fourth industrial revolution.
The plan includes building educational institutions to forge training programs that focus on emerging technology trends such as: Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), augmented and virtual reality, Information Technology (IT), cyber security, big data, automation, biotechnology, and nanotechnology.
The Kingdom has also already started efforts to turn the capital city of Riyadh to a smart city.
Also read: Riyadh aspires to be world’s next leading smart city, but still faces challenges
Achieving radical economic and social change must be augmented by capitalizing on the talents and capacities of the younger generation, which makes up the majority of the country’s 27 million citizens.
To pave the way for the youth to contribute to the digital transformation, the strategy is slated to include encouraging startups and entrepreneurships, as well as promoting the culture of innovation, invention, and creativity.
Another core approach to attract these potentials is establishing training institutions to support the youth improving their individual and professional skills, with a particular focus on strategic planning, leadership, critical thinking, and problem solving.
Saudi Women: Key Component of Change
Last in order but not of importance, it is worth reflecting on the unrivaled merit that Saudi women bring to the table.
Young Saudis, including women themselves, are well-aware that change is a continuous and gradual process. Although that change might seem slow and tedious to Western observers, youth and women are nonetheless foraging platforms to represent their voices inside the Kingdom.
All eyes are currently on promoting an empowering environment for Saudi women, especially that the overwhelming majority is well educated in different scientific, cultural, diplomatic, and technical fields.
Check out: This Saudi Princess says more women want leadership positions
This enabling ecosystem incorporates achieving gender balance and engaging women in the leadership and decision-making aspects. The Kingdom now recognizes that there cannot be economic growth and social development without Saudi women.
In fact, three Saudi ladies have made it to Forbes’ 2019 Middle East’s 30 Under 30 List covering retail, technology and art sectors. In addition, six Saudis were listed on Forbes’s 2018 Middle East Most Influential Women List for excelling in the banking and finance, petrochemicals, and consulting services.
Building a prosperous country is a streamlined long-term objective that could not be accomplished without the combined efforts and contribution of all energies. The Kingdom might be perceived on the global level as a giant that is undergoing critical, radical change.
However, the people and leadership acknowledge the fact that change comes from within; and the journey— as long as it might take— will eventually lead to transforming not only Saudi Arabia, but the entire region.
Christine El Cheikh is Deputy Editor of Argaam’s English section.
Write to Christine at christine.elcheikh@argaamplus.com
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