February 22: A Day Immortalizing National Achievements and Cementing the Transformation Journey
February 22: A Day Immortalizing National Achievements and Cementing the Transformation Journey
At precisely 10:00 AM on February 22, 2019, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud officially launched Vision 2030 in a grand ceremony at Al-Yamama Palace in Riyadh. This marked the beginning of an ambitious national project aimed at diversifying the economy, reducing reliance on oil, and building a vibrant society, a thriving economy, and a prosperous nation befitting the Kingdom’s global stature. The ceremony witnessed high-level attendance from state leaders, public and private sector officials, and representatives of international institutions.
The Vision, prepared under the supervision of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, encompasses 12 strategic pillars covering energy, industry, tourism, culture, education, health, and technology sectors. It targets raising the non-oil sector’s contribution to GDP from 16% to 50% by 2030 and increasing foreign direct investment to 5.7% of GDP, according to data from the Ministry of Investment published in its 2023 annual report. The Vision also includes an ambitious goal of attracting 100 million tourist visits annually to the Kingdom, representing a 400% increase compared to 2018 levels.
Since its announcement, the Kingdom has witnessed fundamental transformations: the launch of the NEOM project spanning 26,500 square kilometers, the inauguration of the new King Khalid International Airport, and the establishment of the General Entertainment Authority, which has launched over 15,000 events since 2019, according to the Authority. Tourist visas issued surged from 1.7 million in 2018 to over 16 million in 2023, as reported by the Ministry of Tourism.
In the education sector, the number of Saudi students studying abroad through the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program doubled, exceeding 200,000 male and female students. Meanwhile, licensed private and international universities increased from 12 to 39, according to the Ministry of Education. Startups in the Kingdom surpassed 1,200 companies, based on data from the National Entrepreneurship Authority (Monsha’at), compared to just 200 in 2018.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stated in a speech during the fifth anniversary celebration of Vision 2030: “We are not just building projects; we are building generations and crafting a future measured not by the quantity of oil, but by the quality of people, their ambition, and their capacity for innovation.” Investment Minister Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al Falih confirmed in his annual report: “Foreign direct investment in the Kingdom grew by 140% over five years, the highest growth rate in the Kingdom’s history.”
On the infrastructure front, over 500 major projects worth more than 2 trillion SAR have been completed, including railway lines, renewable energy stations, and state-of-the-art integrated manufacturing complexes, according to the General Authority for Strategic Projects. The Kingdom also saw significant improvement in global competitiveness indicators, ranking 36th globally in the World Economic Forum’s 2023 Global Competitiveness Report, rising from 52nd place in 2018.
In conclusion, February 22 is not merely the birth date of a vision, but a testament to a radical transformation in Saudi Arabia’s development model. The Kingdom has shifted from an oil-dependent nation to a global hub for innovation, investment, and culture. The greatest challenge remains: maintaining momentum, ensuring the sustainability of achievements, and turning ambition into a tangible reality felt by every citizen and resident across this nation.
صحيفة عكاظ اليوم ، موقع إخباري شامل يهتم بتقديم خدمة صحفية متميزة للقارئ، وهدفنا أن نصل لقرائنا الأعزاء بالخبر الأدق والأسرع والحصري بما يليق بقواعد وقيم الأسرة السعودية، لذلك نقدم لكم مجموعة كبيرة من الأخبار المتنوعة داخل الأقسام التالية، الأخبار العالمية و المحلية، الاقتصاد، تكنولوجيا ، فن، أخبار الرياضة، منوعات و سياحة.