JUHAINA Z. ALJEHNI
Millennials are witnesses to a lot of technological growth and development. They are known as the generation that is more progressive, creative, and far-thinking than older generations. But what makes millennials who are born and raised and currently living in Saudi Arabia different? In celebration of the 92nd Saudi National Day, we give you a glimpse of a Saudi millennial’s mind.
Today, if you ask any millennial to describe their lives, most likely they will answer: “My life is like being on a never-ending roller coaster ride. Everything is very fast-paced, intense, constantly changing, has lots of ups and downs, and sensory overloads”.
Yet, I can guarantee that if you ask a Saudi millennial the same question, the answer would differ greatly, because what they are witnessing in their beloved Kingdom is nothing short of a beautiful renaissance. I, as one, am beyond proud to be living here in these glorious times and feel deeply grateful for our Kingdom’s founding father, King Abdulaziz.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has always been known for its safety and stability, and even as a child I would immediately miss these vibes while traveling abroad. My mind was always observing, comparing, and learning. I would always take notice that back home, government and private schools, hospitals, and clinics were present and accessible on every block. Our streets were always spotless clean, and everything was available for us. Subconsciously, I’ve always viewed Saudi Arabia as a huge parental figure and I always knew that Saudi Arabia is always taking care of me and its people.
When I was a teenager in the early 2000, I started hearing about all the changes occurring in the academic systems and job environment. King Abdullah (May God rest his soul) established scholarship programs for all Saudi citizens: both for males and females. Soon, Saudis (individuals or families) were traveling all around the globe, pursuing their educational goals, learning from other cultures, representing their country abroad, teaching other societies about us, and returning home with fresh experiences and boundless ambitions. At this point, I realized that everything in Saudi was expanding and evolving, and that my generation’s future prospects will completely define what’s to come next.
Now, as a Saudi woman in her 30s, I can confidently tell you that my intuition was indeed spot on, and ever since HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman became the Crown Prince, the narrative completely changed, starting at the precise moment on April 25, 2016, when he announced Vision 2030 and the great plans that came with it.
From 2016 until this moment, under his Majesty King Salman’s rule and patronage, everything in Saudi Arabia has been developing, upgrading, and taking huge leaps. Legal and social reforms took place too at the same time of digitizing and connecting all government databases together. Take for example the Absher phone application, which can connect us to a lot of services with just a click on a smartphone, from issuing new passports, payment of utilities, availing of government services, and more. A few years ago all these steps had to be done in person and would take several days.
Nowadays, new sectors are constantly opening, and job opportunities for the Saudi youth (who are statistically the majority of KSA’s population) are to be found all over Saudi Arabia’s vast regions, whether it’s in the field of technology, business, science, investments, education, tourism, sports, e-gaming, media, arts, fashion, hospitality, events, and health and wellness.
All these changes in our country have reflected positively on our society. The Saudi society’s collective consciousness has elevated immensely. People are now happier, more educated about our country’s diversity and acceptance, open to newness and modernization while remaining loyal and proud of our history and heritage. The current modern Saudi identity stems from its deep and strong roots planted by our faithful forefathers.
Although Saudi Arabia has just celebrated its 92nd National day, I have been celebrating it and appreciating it every single moment. I’m privileged to be a Saudi woman in this era; it genuinely fills my heart with joy. Everything is just radiating with positive energy and hope. I can’t wait to tell my future grandchildren all about it! It is an honor for me to be witnessing all that happened and is happening in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. May Allah always bless our country, leaders, and people.
