King Salman bin Abdulaziz: Leader of Saudi Arabia’s Modern Renaissance
Saudi Arabia is homeland to many great leaders who have made history with their accomplishments and contributions to building the nation, driving prosperity for all Saudi people and establishing the Kingdom’s status on the world stage. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, is one of the greatest leaders in Saudi Arabia’s modern age. His remarkable achievements are evident across the political, economic, social and developmental sectors.
Throughout his career in government and public service, King Salman has shown unparalleled leadership skills and laid the foundations of several projects that have transformed Saudi Arabia into a modern and more prosperous state.
As the country mark King Salman’s 89th birthday on December 31, 2024, here is a preview of some of his landmark achievements since ascending to the throne on January 23, 2015:
Vision 2030
Under the patronage of King Salman, the Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Salman, introduced the ambitious Vision 2030. The bold vision aims to reform the Kingdom’s public sector, economy, and society.
The revolutionary Vision 2030 has led to a remarkable transformation in Saudi Arabia, as it has launched several mega projects to boost non-oil sectors, diversify the Kingdom’s revenues, and empower Saudi citizens.
The projects include the futuristic city NEOM and its affiliate projects The Line, OXAGON, TROJENA, and SINDALA; Red Sea Global; Qiddiyah; AMAALA; New Murabba; Diriyah Gate; King Salman Park; King Salman Energy Park; and ROSHN.
These projects have attracted foreign investments, bolstered the Kingdom’s status as a global tourist destination, and created job opportunities for Saudi youth, advancing economic growth.
Women Empowerment
Under King Salman rule, Saudi women have assumed key positions and played vital role in advancing economic growth. King Salman has lifted many restrictions and provided more opportunities to pave the way for women empowerment. This has enabled Saudi women to hone their skills, increase their participation in the workforce, and ascend to powerful positions.
One of Vision 2030 primary goals was to increase women’s share in the workforce from 22% to 30%. However, the significant progress made in recent years has prompted the Kingdom to set another milestone of increasing women participation to 40% by 2030. Saudi women now assume leadership roles in various sectors, notably the financial and banking sectors. Additionally, Saudi women now drive cars, hold diplomatic posts, and own businesses.
Hosting Mega Events
Under King Salman leadership, Saudi Arabia has established itself as a global hub for hosting prestigious events. In December, the Kingdom achieved a remarkable milestone by winning the bid to host the FIFA World Cup 2034. Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the grand soccer tournament received the highest evaluation in FIFA’s bidding history, scoring 419.8 out of 500.
Moreover, Saudi Arabia won the rights to host World Expo 2030. In November 2023, the Kingdom managed to defeat contenders, including Italy and South Korea, securing the majority vote of 119 out of 165 to host the mega event in Riyadh.
Transforming Riyadh
King Salman has played a pivotal role in transforming Riyadh into a vibrant economic, cultural, tourist and entertainment hub and one of the fastest growing capitals in the world. Serving as the Governor of Riyadh Region for over 50 years, King Salman oversaw the implementation of several infrastructure projects, including highways, schools, hospitals, universities, museums, and sports stadiums. He also laid the foundations of the Riyadh Metro project.
The Riyadh Metro Project is one of the largest transportation networks in the world. Inaugurated on November 27, 2024, the project consists of an extensive network of 6 main lines, spanning 176 kilometers and connecting 85 stations. It marks a major milestone towards reducing traffic congestion in Riyadh, creating a more sustainable landscape and improving the citizens’ quality of life.
Furthermore, the recent developments in Riyadh have transformed it into a global hub for exhibitions, events and conferences. The capital city has also emerged as a preferred destination for international companies which seek to open a regional HQ in the Middle East and investors who aspire to expand their businesses in the region.
Moreover, Riyadh Season has played a key role in driving tourism in the city, attracting millions of visitors each year with a diverse range of events, including entertainment, music, sports and cultural events.
Driving Non-oil Growth
As part of the Saudi leadership commitment to reduce reliance on oil revenues and diversify the Kingdom’s economy, Saudi Arabia has made great strides in boosting non-oil sectors. These include tourism, entertainment, housing, green energy and others.
Most recently, the Saudi General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) noted that the Kingdom’s non-oil activities increased by 4.8% in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the same period last year.
During the Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh, the Saudi Economy and Planning Minister, Faisal Alibrahim, announced that Saudi Arabia’s non-oil sector now accounts for 53% of its real GDP, another milestone towards achieving Vision 2030 objectives. Alibrahim also noted that private investment in non-oil sectors has expanded by 70%, while the Kingdom’s economy has expanded by 20% since the launch of Vision 2030.
Boosting Tourism
Tourism has been a main pillar in advancing non-oil economic growth. Saudi Arabia has an abundance of tourist destinations and amenities that attract visitors all year-round. Although Saudi Arabia’s initial target was to attract 100 million visitors by 2030, it achieved this milestone 7 years ahead of schedule, adjusting the target to attracting 150 million visits.
Owing to King Salman’s unwavering support, the tourism sector has flourished during his tenure. Saudi Arabia has emerged as an attractive destination for Astrotourism, Wellness tourism, and ecotourism.
According to UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Saudi Arabia has advanced 15 places in international tourist spending in 2023, to rank the 12th globally.
Moreover, the Saudi Minister of Tourism, Ahmed Al-Khateeb, pointed to the significance of tourism in strengthening the Kingdom’s economy. During the Local Content Forum in Riyadh, he said that the tourism sector’s contribution to the national economy increased to 5% in 2023, from 3% in 2019. He added that the sector is working to achieve the remaining 10% over the next few years to reach the global average.
