Anybody landing at Riyadh airport can’t fail to notice the billboards. Every government institution carries the logo, even the once-feared religious police. Women can buy a long, traditional dress covered with the same branding.
“Vision 2030” is everywhere in Saudi Arabia. The grand plan to transform society and the economy defines the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who cemented his power in 2017 to drive changes that would have been unimaginable a few years ago. And every decision, from jailing fellow royals in the name of tackling corruption to allowing women to drive and lifting restrictions on entertainment, is aimed at ensuring its success—and the young prince’s legacy.
While 2019 was about selling shares in oil mammoth Aramco, this year was supposed to showcase the next stage of progress as Saudi Arabia welcomes world leaders from the Group of 20. Construction of new cities in the desert from scratch is underway, as are whole new industries from defense to tourism. But then came an oil price war that Prince Mohammed escalated and the unforeseen shock to the globe of the coronavirus pandemic. Now there are question marks over just how feasible “Vision 2030” really is.
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