Saudi Kingdom’s Transformation

From ultra-conservatism to ultra-modernism  

Saudi Arabia is, currently, undergoing a phenomenal metamorphosis; a country widely known for its ultra-conservative outlook is now gradually moving towards liberalism. It is witnessing a remarkable transformation in its socioeconomic and cultural contours. The kingdom, once influenced and controlled by the orthodox clergy, did not let women come out of their domestic confines for decades. But, now, the situation has diametrically changed. It has allowed the womenfolk incredible freedom to not only come out of their homes, but also to travel abroad independently. They are, thus, supposed to contribute to country’s socioeconomic development by working shoulder to shoulder with men. Economy, too, is being diversified; the kingdom is jettisoning its chronic dependence on oil revenues and is moving towards rapid industrialization. Acculturation, once regarded as taboo by Saudi society, is now being appreciated bit

The man, who masterminded the movement of colossal change in KSA, is the Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (MBS) himself. He is the real catalyst and is working devotedly to improve his country’s image to the international community. His ideology is described as nationalist and populist, with conservative attitude towards politics and a liberal stance on economic and social issues.

However, his style of governance came under severe criticism by journalists. He has been dubbed as “extremely brutal” by journalist Rula Jabrael and “authoritarian” by Jamal Khashoggi (late). Nonetheless, his move to reform the country has been widely supported by Saudi populace.

Crown Prince Mohammad feels that his country has been severely harmed by the clergy that considered any reformative move a sin; and, hence, the country has remained stagnant economically and socially. He emphatically stated at one occasion: “We are returning to what we were before—a country of moderate Islam that is open to all religions and to the world. Seventy percent of the Saudi population is under 30, and honestly we will not spend the next 30 years of our lives dealing with destructive ideas. We will destroy them today and at once.” He further added that Saudi Arabia “will remain committed to the principles of Islam, the religion of tolerance and moderation.” The kingdom “will keep on fighting against extremism and terrorism”—a message directly meant to counter the outrageous edicts released by leading clerics against anything they perceived a threat to Saudi society.

The Crown Prince took the clergy as a great hurdle in the way of kingdom’s socio-economic development. He, therefore, clipped its wings by stripping it of its policing powers. Instead, the government took the reins into its own hands to steer the society. Now, with a passive and an emaciated clergy, the Crown Prince is aggressively pursuing his agenda of reforms.

“Vision 2030” is the bedrock of MBS’s scheme of socio-economic change. Under this vision, he aspires to transform his country’s economic face. Vision 2030 aims to steer Saudi economy towards a more diverse and privatized structure. It sets goals and measures in various fields, from developing non-oil revenue and privatization of the economy to e-government and sustainable development.

To this end, Crown Prince Mohammad, in October 2017, at the inaugural conference of “Future Investment Initiative” in Riyadh, announced the plan for the creation of NEOM, a $500 billion economic zone that would cover an area of 26000 sq km on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast, , near Egypt and Jordan. NEOM aims at attracting investment in sectors of renewable energy, biotechnology, robotics and advanced manufacturing.

A project to build KSA’s first nuclear reactor was also announced by MBS in Nov. 2018. The kingdom wants to build 16 nuclear facilities over next 20 years. Efforts to diversify Saudi energy sector also include enhanced production of wind and solar energy.

Apart from this, a much-awaited high-speed railway line, the Haramain Express, connecting two holiest cities of Islam, Makkah and Madina, was inaugurated by MBS in last week of September 2018. The 450km (280-mile) Haramain Express line has 35 trains that can travel up to 300km/h.

Moreover, with an aim to boost Saudi tourism industry, the kingdom started issuing e-visas to tourists before the outbreak of coronavirus. It opened up its borders to fans of live sports, music and culture for the first time with the launch of a new online visa process dedicated to welcoming international tourists.

Moreover, in 2016, MBS shared the idea of “Green cards” for non-Saudi foreigners with Al-Arabia Journalist Turki Al-Dakhil. In 2019, Saudi cabinet approved a new residency scheme “Premium Residency” for foreigners. The scheme will enable expatriates to permanently reside, own property and invest in the kingdom.

Crown Prince Mohammad is a staunch proponent of women’s emancipation. He contends that dream of progress and sustainable development cannot be realized unless women become part and parcel of workforce. He, therefore, has brought about many reforms pertaining to the status of women in Saudi society.

For this very purpose, he allowed women to drive in the kingdom. Driving licenses are, therefore, being issued to women at a very fast pace; the number of women drivers on the road, according to Saudi officials, is expected to grow to 3 million by 2020. Further, Saudi women may now attend soccer matches and other sporting events. Gyms and fitness centres for women are being established. They can also join the military and intelligence services. They are allowed to start their own business, without permission from their male guardians, and to travel abroad independently.

In this very spirit, Saudi Arabia appointed Sarah Al-Suhaimi its first woman to head the Saudi stock exchange.

On entertainment side, Saudi government has established an entertainment authority that began hosting comedy shows, professional wrestling, live music concerts and monster truck rallies.

In April 2017, MBS announced a project to build one of the world’s largest cultural, sports and entertainment cities in AL-Qidiya, southwest of Riyadh. The plan includes a safari and a six-flag theme park.

Additionally, cultural transformation of the kingdom is also underway. It held its first public concert by a female singer in Dec. 2017. And, in January 2018, a sports stadium in Jeddah became the first in the kingdom to admit women. In April 2018, the first public cinema opened in Saudi Arabia after a ban of 35 years, with plans to have more than 2000 screens running by 2030.

This all became possible when clerical hold over the kingdom eviscerated. The orthodox clergy with its antiquated and rigid doctrines was the biggest obstacle in the way of progress and development of the kingdom. Addressing this issue, MBS said that he aimed to have Saudi Arabia start “returning to what we were before—a country of moderate Islam.” He told the country’s clerics that the deal the royal family struck with them after the 1979 siege of Grand Mosque in Makkah was to be re-negotiated.

The Crown Prince believes that industrialization and wahhabism are mutually exclusive. The wahhabis are committed to fixed social and gender relationships. These are consistent with an economy built on oil sales, but industrialization requires a dynamic culture with social relations constantly shifting.

Ayaan Haris Ali, a celebrated author and human rights activist, claimed that if MBS “succeeds in his modernization efforts, Saudis will benefit from new opportunities and freedoms, and the world will benefit from curtailing Wahhabi radicalization agenda. A decade from now, the kingdom could look more like the UAE, its prosperous and relatively forward looking neighbour.”

In the end, I would like to quote Prince Mohammad bin Salman who, while addressing a packed audience at the Future Investment Initiative Forum in Riyadh said that Middle East can be the “New Europe” and that he would like to see the economic transformation of the region happen within his life time. He said that his ‘war’ was restoring the Middle East to its past glory.

The author is a legal practitioner and

columnist based in Quetta.