Saudi Arabia is changing. You have to see it to believe it. The Saudi Arabia with strict gender segregation, strict Islamic laws and dress codes no longer exists. It is a new country that is open, fair, hospitable and emerging. With Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman's Vision 2023 as a compass, the kingdom is making great progress and is very quickly dropping the shackles of the past. Wander through Riyadh, the capital, and you'll see the bustle of young and ambitious Saudis making the most of their newfound freedoms and opportunities. According to the 2022 census, 63% of Saudis are under 30 years old. And the regime's policy changes are being guided with this important statistic in mind. The biggest beneficiaries of the new openness are Saudi women, who have never had it so good.
Women-led transformation
The Kingdom's inclusive Vision 2030 aims to diversify and strengthen the country's economy. According to a World Bank report, Saudi Arabia now leads in terms of economic and social progress for women out of 190 economies. The country's women are now truly in the driver's seat. The lifting of restrictions on their freedom of movement and choices has led to Saudi women driving their country's social, cultural and economic transformation. Until a few years ago, they had to look to their fathers, husbands and brothers for even basic things, such as permission to travel or work.
With Vision 2030, women's labor market participation has now risen to almost 40%, up from around 15% a few years ago. This progress is evident in the increasing number of women earning advanced degrees, enrolling in STEM fields, and owning 40% of small and medium-sized startups. From the moment you land in Riyadh, you'll see women taking on important jobs. From immigration counters to shopping malls and government buildings, Saudi women are everywhere. I saw women giving presentations at important government events, doing camera work, running stalls at local markets. The presence of women in the labor market has also led to greater mixing of genders and a rewriting of many social norms and gender behaviors.
Saudi Arabia for everyone
A major focus of Vision 2030 is also the cultural and social integration of everyone who lives and works in Saudi Arabia. The Ministry of Media's Global Harmony project aims to improve understanding and cooperation among diverse groups that call Saudi Arabia home. According to Saudi Deputy Media Minister Dr. Khaled Bin Abdulqader al Ghamdi, the Global Harmony project aims to make expats feel more at home. But more than that, it strives to help local Saudis better understand the different communities living among them. So during the Riyadh season, which starts in September and continues until February-March, you'll see a host of public cultural and social events to bring communities together. It is a true celebration and appreciation for diversity.
Indians are special and loved
Even among expats, special attention is paid to Indians, the largest expat group in Saudi Arabia. Currently, there are 2.6 million Indians living in the Kingdom, working in both the domestic and private sectors, running both start-ups and large companies. Dr. Khaled acknowledges India's role and calls the community “an integral part of the Saudi story.” This year, the Ministry of Media dedicated the Suwaidi Park festival exclusively to India. The 10-day festival celebrated Indian culture, food, music and art. People from all communities poured into the vast Suwaidi Park to enjoy a slice of India. The Global Harmony project seeks to present Saudi Arabia as an inclusive and harmonious society where people from all backgrounds live and celebrate their own cultures, traditions and festivals. And it is not a civil society action. It is a government policy initiative with clear objectives and plans. That makes it an effort worth emulating for many countries that face social divides because of their diversity.
Looking back to the future
As Saudi Arabia moves into modernity, the country is also aware of its history and heritage. It encourages studies and excavations at heritage sites, such as at al Ula, and also promotes its pre-Islamic history. Nouf Marwaai, a yoga instructor and advisor to the Saudi government, gave us a presentation on the historical and social similarities between India and Saudi Arabia. In her lecture she went back to 6000 BC. to trace the Almagar civilization.
It is clear that the new Saudi Arabia projects itself as an ancient civilization, and not just as a society defined by the arrival of Islam 1,400 years ago. That is now portrayed as just an important event, and not as the sole sign of civilization's identity. The kingdom also promotes its historical sites. The town of Diriyah, just outside Riyadh, is one such heritage site with a UNESCO tag. It was home to the Saudi royal family and also served as the capital of the Emirate of Diriyah under the first Saudi dynasty from 1744 to 1818. Today, Diriyah is one of the most important cultural centers and the center of many sports and adventure activities in the Kingdom . Yet the historic character has always been preserved. On the one hand you have mega infrastructure projects, new companies and the modern wave sweeping Saudi Arabia, and on the other hand there is a renewed focus on the country's more than 1,400 year old history.
Music connects
Coming back to the India connection, where there are Indians, there is music. Indian film music is a great brand ambassador and unifier across the world. Saudi Arabia is no different. My local support, Abdulwahab al Ghamdi, a young, cheerful man in his late twenties, played Hindi songs for me in the car as we drove through Riyadh. He told me that he and his friends dance to Punjabi songs at their parties. And how he loved Shah Rukh Khan and Indian film music. He also showed me a video of a Saudi artist singing a popular Hindi film song at a Saudi talent show.
The new Saudi Arabia is truly a surprise, and a pleasant one.
[Mohd Asim is a Senior Editor with NDTV 24X7. He visited Saudi Arabia from October 15 to October 20 on the invite of the Ministry Of Media]
Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author
