Changes in the Middle Eastern Kingdom

"Change is the law of life, and those who look only to the past and present are certain to miss the future”  - John F. Kennedy

Visions of Saudi Arabia’s past might call up past visions of sand dunes, camels, tents, oases, oil rigs, mosques in Mecca and Medina, coastlines on the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, or shipping through the Suez Canal. In addition to these things, the Saudi Kingdom is moving forward.  

Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz decreed in 2017 that Mohammed bin Salman is the Crown Prince and is in line for the throne. Affectionately known as MBS, Mohammed bin Salman was a key advisor in the Trump Administration. He leads a 41-nation Islamic Coalition to fight terrorism. The Crown Prince is Deputy Prime Minster, Minister of Defense of Saudi Arabia, and serves as Chairman of the Council of Political and Security Affairs. He is in charge of the state oil company, Aramco, and Chairman of the Council of Economic and Developmental Affairs. Born in 1985, he is married to Princess Sara bint Mashour. They have five children. 

Some western media claim that MBS is responsible for the gruesome death of a reporter who wrote negative articles about him, his father, and the country. Should the reporter’s death have been a goal, undetectable means are readily available. The premise that an intelligent, educated, wealthy royal engaged a band of easily traceable duffers to kill the reporter is feeble. 

Evolving global challenges and the need to reduce the Kingdom’s reliance on oil production are priorities for MBS. His Vision 2030 began in 2016 as a 15-year transformation project for the country using biotechnology and artificial intelligence. The goal is to build platforms for future growth and to improve citizens' quality of life.

Forty percent of the Saudi population is under 24 years of age. Vision 2030 overhauled education. Marcus Sheff, CEO of Impact-se (Institute for Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education) wrote, “The Saudi education system is undergoing major reform. Anti-Semitism has largely been removed.” Saudi Minister of Education, Dr. Hamad Al Sheikh reported that 120,000 changes have been made to textbooks. Lessons featuring demonization of Jews, Christians, non-believers, and violent jihad have been removed.

Stories about Saudi Arabia as the birthplace of the caliphates, loyalty to the state and national identity are emphasized. Textbooks describe the legacy of kings, and tell of women gaining more rights and access to full citizenship. There are pictures of King Salman performing a traditional dance; and of the ancestral home of the al Saud family. There will be a 40% increase in female teachers teaching young boys. Muslim hadiths (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad) that call for genocidal war against the Jews, antisemitic conspiracy theories of Jewish world domination, and demands for Jihad and martyrdom have been deleted. 

The rights of women are improving, though perhaps not enough, but remember this is a Middle Eastern Kingdom, not a western democracy; these are monumental changes. Women are allowed to enter sports stadiums and theatres. Their right to drive is authorized. The Shura Council is a 150-member advisory council to the King. There are 30 women on the council, and the Vision 2030 goal is to have more women on the council. And women and girls have the right to an education. Female literacy rate is 91%, and more than 51% of university graduates are women.

Laws that promote women's rights have passed. Girls under 18 cannot be married against their will, ending legal child brides. Marriage is no longer a family decision. Women can marry someone they want. Women can vote and stand as candidates in municipal council elections. Women can open businesses, and move openly in the workforce. Divorced women can become legal guardians of their children and demand alimony. Women are free to travel without permission from their guardian (father, husband, brother, or son).

Visas for tourists were not issued until recent years. 2030’s Neom project is developing tourism on the Red Sea Coast. Neom will include smart towns, ports, entertainment venues, and tourist attractions. One area of Neom is somewhat like Petra in Jordan, hoping to attract adventure tourists. Buildings where people will live and work will be the tallest in the world. The futuristic plans appear to be something out of Star Trek. An initial public offering in 2024 to raise funds is planned.  

Lovers of science fiction fantasize inhabiting planets far away in space. Vision 2030 dreams of futuristic self-contained super high-rise cities on the Arabian Coast. Transformative changes are taking place in this Middle Eastern Kingdom, changes that few would have envisioned, even a decade ago.