With their achievements this year, Saudi Arabia is well on its way to realizing their vision of having a vibrant society and a thriving economy.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has achieved greatness in the past decade. Led by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and the Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, Vision 2030 was created with the aim of anointing the Kingdom as a top tier country of the future.
Here are the notable milestones that Saudi Arabia has achieved this year:
Government Initiatives and Accomplishments
- The Ministry of Health worked towards eradicating COVID-19 by campaigning strongly to deliver booster shots. This turned out to be a huge success enabling society to reach pre-COVID lifestyle.
- The government has prioritized the training of Saudi youth in all professions. Three sectors had been included for complete Saudization-customs clearance, driving schools and engineering technical professions.
- The Jeddah Central Project was announced to revamp and improve the city of Jeddah. A master plan was unveiled and has been successfully executed to turn the pearl of the Red Sea into a modern-day urban complex. A budget of 75 million Saudi Arabian riyals has been allocated for this massive project.
- A royal decree was passed by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, announcing the commemoration of February 22 every year as “Founding Day”. The “Founding Day” celebrates the formation of the first Saudi state under the reign of Imam Mohammed Bin Saud in 1139H (corresponding to February 1727). The Day has been declared a national holiday and the roads and malls were a beautiful sight to behold with men, women, kids walking around in the national costumes of their respective provinces.
- “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s overall merchandise exports increased by 83.4% in May 2022 compared to May 2021” – General Authority of Statistics
- The Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is currently making waves in East Asia not only for his impeccable style and charisma but also for his role in strengthening ties with our neighbors in that part of the world. Saudi Arabia has signed MoUs with Indonesia, South Korea, and has renewed diplomatic ties with Thailand.
- Saudi Aramco is making its biggest ever investment of $7 billion in petrochemical industry in South Korea.
Sports Champions through 2022
- March was a month of full-blown entertainment as the first Riyadh Marathon was organized by the SFA, supported by the Ministry of Sports and Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee.
- The Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix returned after a successful debut in December 2021. The Jeddah Corniche Circuit is the fastest street circuit in the world. Lewis Hamilton won the race. The race events of the day were celebrated by music concerts at night.
- Saudi Arabia won its bid to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games at Trojena in NEOM.
- The Saudi Games was the largest national sports event to be organized in the history of the country. It took place from October 27 to November 7. A footfall of about 6000 athletes participated with panache supported by an able administrative and technical staff.
- The Saudi Green Falcons, the Kingdom’s national soccer team, won against heavy-favored Argentina on their first match at the FIFA World Cup 2022.
Women Empowerment and Big Wins
- February 21 saw the winning debut of Saudi Arabia’s Women National Team in football.
- The Jameel Rally was organized by the Abdul Lateef Jameel Foundation specifically for women, in line with Vision 2030’s program to support women empowerment.
- Female workforce participation grew by 33.6% in the first quarter of 2022 from 20.5 % at the same time period in 2019. Employment rates and female entrepreneurs are at their zenith right now.
Science, Technology, Security, and the Future
- The first edition of LEAP Tech Conference was organized in Riyadh from February 1-3. LEAP allowed retailers to display their high-technology products to tech enthusiasts who travelled from around the world to display as well as learn about cutting edge developments in the field of education, AI, Biotechnology, and more.
- A 4-day World Defense Show was also organized in March under the aegis of King Salman. It’ll be organized every 2 years and aims to bolster defense and security through air, sea, land, and space.
- The creation of The Line, a green, zero-carbon futuristic city in NEOM was announced by the Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman on July 25. The Line is a sustainable city that will be no longer than 170 km and will require 20 minutes to cover the entire stretch. It aims to house 1.5 million residents by 2030. It is a $1 trillion project.
- BlackHat, the worlds’ largest tech event was organized in Riyadh making it a first in the MENA region. Ethical hackers from around the world participated in the 3-day conference.
Hajj and Umrah 2022
- Saudi Arabia dropped most of its COVID restrictions including social distancing in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. These restrictions had been in place since 2020.
- Hajj 2022 was declared a grand success by the Saudi government with no cases of COVID-19 and no accidents reported amongst the pilgrims. It was after a period of two years that foreign pilgrims were invited to the sacred city of Makkah for the annual pilgrimage. The Saudi General Authority for Statistics announced that the total number of pilgrims in the current Hajj season reached 899,353, including 779,919 foreign pilgrims and 119,434 domestic pilgrims.
Saudi Seasons, Entertainment and Tourism
- Jeddah Season 2022 kicked off on May 2 and lasted until June 30. After a 2-year hiatus due to COVID restrictions, myriad events were held across the city with the slogan, “Our Lovely Days”. It was peppered with concerts, K-pop and anime conferences, pop-up restaurants, cafes and more. The Jeddah Corniche became a focal point for fireworks and festivities.
- AlUla’s is being touted as the cultural and music capital of KSA. This year started with Azimuth, a music event that hosted international singers as well as Saudi and other famous Arab DJs. The AlUla Wellness event was organized with a backdrop of sand and under the blue sky with numerous activities for the guests attending; it marked the return of the Five Senses Sanctuary. The year at AlUla will end with the Ancient Kingdoms Festival and the latest season of Winter at Tantora. The Winter at Tantora is the region’s largest and longest running arts and music festival. A treat for music and culture lovers, it will feature cultural symposiums, gastronomy treats, and international singers and celebrities.
- Riyadh Season 2022, this year boasts of new zones including Boulevard World which will include the world’s largest artificial lake with submarines and fancy restaurants. The Riyadh Zoo has been revamped to accommodate more animals and entertainment zones within. The Groves is back in the Diplomatic Quarter with their second season of fine dining, fun, and FIFA. The slogan is “Beyond Imagination” and it promises just that. The Diriyah Season will kickstart in December with a range of activities planned.
Saudi Arabia is becoming an economic powerhouse armed with the best in education, entertainment, sports, and technology. The future is the Kingdom’s to cherish and behold. Wishing the Kingdom the best for 2023!
Photo credit: Saudi Project and Ministry of Sport
