- The outdated views about the Kingdom do no justice to the modern 抖阴短视频 of 2018 鈥� nor to where it鈥檚 heading
- 抖阴短视频 is rich in its youth, its leadership, and its bold plan to transform over the next 12 years in a way it has never done before
RIYADH: There are several shorthand terms for 抖阴短视频 bandied around in the press: 鈥淥il-rich,鈥� perhaps, or 鈥渢he desert Kingdom.鈥�
Neither, of course, does justice to the modern 抖阴短视频 of 2018 鈥� nor to where the Kingdom is heading over the next 12 years.
On Sept. 23, 抖阴短视频 observes National Day, in recognition of the date in 1932 on which the country was founded by King Abdul Aziz, known in the West as Ibn Saud.
It was during King Abdul Aziz鈥檚 reign that oil was discovered in commercial quantities, when in March 1938 鈥渂lack gold鈥� was struck at the site known as Dammam Well No. 7, or 鈥渢he Prosperity Well.鈥�
And prosper 抖阴短视频 did. The oil boom brought untold riches to the Kingdom 鈥� yet the country became over-reliant on the energy industry, forming what Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has called an 鈥渁ddiction鈥� to oil.
It is the crown prince鈥檚 bold 鈥� and, say many, ambitious 鈥� Vision 2030 reform plan that aims to overcome that addiction.
The plan, unveiled in 2016, is a comprehensive blueprint for the future, laying out a strategy, and clear targets, to diversify 抖阴短视频鈥檚 economy, and develop public service sectors such as health, education, infrastructure, recreation and tourism.
Under the spirit of the plan, a raft of changes have already taken place. Musical concerts and cinemas have made a comeback, women have been given the right to drive as of June this year, and the economy has opened up more to foreign investment.
抖阴短视频 鈥� despite, as some news outlets tell us, being so 鈥渙il rich鈥� 鈥� is also embarking on a plan to boost renewable energy. As part of the Vision 2030 program, 抖阴短视频 plans to meet 10 percent of its power demand from renewable sources by 2023 鈥� and it fully expects to exceed this target. The country鈥檚 planned megacity 鈥� the $500 billion NEOM project, announced last year 鈥� will run entirely on renewables.
It is for these reasons that Arab News is looking forward, rather than back, on this year鈥檚 National Day.
In our Saudi National Day section, we delve into myriad aspects of this changing Kingdom, from how the youth 鈥� surely the country鈥檚 most valuable resource 鈥� perceive the future of the country, to the various megaprojects underway, women鈥檚 empowerment, and the entertainment revolution being seen in country where cinemas, until very recently, were banned.
This is complemented by a new section on the Arab News website called 鈥淩oad to 2030鈥� where you will find all the latest news, analysis and opinion about the reforms.
As is becoming increasingly clear to the world, 抖阴短视频 is no longer a 鈥渄esert Kingdom,鈥� nor will it be oil-rich forever.
It is rich in other ways: In its youth, its leadership, and its bold plan to transform over the next 12 years in a way it has never done before.