OPINION:
As Saudi Arabia celebrates its 94th National Day, the citizens of this nation of 36 million have much to be thankful for because their visionary leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has delivered on his promise of a socio-economic renaissance. For the United States, this unprecedented achievement by its trusted ally in the turbulent Middle East is welcome news because Saudi Arabia’s stability and prosperity are an important linchpin for American foreign policy.
The closest comparison one can draw between Prince Mohammed and an American statesman whose aspirations transformed America is Ronald Reagan. Indeed, like President Reagan, this aspirational leader of Saudi Arabia has infused his nation with a newfound vibrancy, a rising sense of purpose, conviction, and a deep sense of national unity. With his mantra of “We Dream and Achieve,” Prince Mohammed is ushering in an unprecedented sense of confidence in his nation to embrace a future full of possibilities.
Prince Mohammed’s roadmap for this new Saudi renaissance is “Vision 2030”: A strategic blueprint of national development for economic diversification, citizen empowerment and investment attraction. At the heart of Prince Mohammed’s vision is to transform Saudi Arabia into a global change agent with the understanding that his most valuable resource is the people of Saudi Arabia. This intelligent and thoughtful leader understands that with 63% of his fellow Saudis under 30, job creation is the key to sustainable economic prosperity.
The data supports Prince Mohammed’s unique position as one of the very few heads of state that has delivered economic prosperity for his people. For example, since assuming the role of Crown Prince, the Saudi economy has risen from $715 billion GDP in 2017 to $1.115 billion GDP today. And most importantly, according to the Ministry of Economy and Planning, today, 50% of Saudi Arabia’s GDP is from the non-oil sector. In short, Prince Mohammad is on track to diversify the Saudi economy away from dependence on energy exports.
Behind these massively impressive GDP numbers lies the lives of millions of Saudis who have been impacted by Prince Mohammed. According to Prince Mohammed, a job brings dignity, and that dignity touches the human soul in an enduring fashion. One group whose lives have been significantly improved is Saudi women.
According to a top executive of the World Bank, no country in the world has been able to keep up pace with Saudi Arabia’s strides in women’s labor force participation. Thanks to Prince Mohammed’s belief that women must play an equal role in this new Saudi renaissance, they account for 36% of the Saudi workforce today. This figure was 17% before Prince Mohammed took charge and ensured that impediments for women were removed and protections such as equal play were put in place. For example, at the Ministry of Economy and Planning, close to 40% of the employees are women.
Tourism is another area of job growth that contributes to Prince Mohammed’s vision to transform the Saudi economy. The visionary leader of Saudi Arabia wants his young nation to become a powerhouse for tourism. For example, last year, Saudi Arabia had 100 million tourists arriving. And, of course, with tourism comes good-paying jobs. An American visitor to the breathtaking oasis called Al Ula will most likely be greeted by a warm and hospitable young Saudi who will explain that this beautiful site in the northwest corner of the Kingdom is a UNESCO heritage.
Under Prince Mohammed’s forward-looking leadership, arts, entertainment and sports have also contributed to this unprecedented GDP growth. In fact, sports investment is part of Prince Mohammed’s broader economic diversification strategy. Under the banner of “Sports for All” lies this thoughtful leader’s vision of a democratic approach to bringing physical activity to every corner of the Kingdom. At its core, investing in sports is about Prince Mohammed’s vision of healthy living, fitness and job creation. And for an American who wants to enjoy a concert by Pitbull or watch Cristiano Ronaldo play, Saudi Arabia offers a one stop entertainment venue.
Within a short seven years, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has turned his country’s lethargic approach to statecraft into one of dynamism, hope and massive economic prosperity. The modern ruler of this proud nation has done away with the red tape of economic stagnation and replaced it with the red carpet of economic opportunity and wealth creation. For American companies with entrepreneurial spirit, there is no better place to invest than Prince Mohammed’s Saudi Arabia. And for young American families looking for a new adventure they will be welcomed with open arms by relocating to this wonderfully entertaining new Saudi Arabia.
This November, Americans will go to the polls to elect their next president, hoping that he or she will deliver on their promise of economic growth and the creation of well-paying jobs. Luckily for the Saudis, their leader, Mohammed bin Salman, has already delivered on his promise of economic prosperity. As such, an invitation for Prince Mohammed to visit the White House should be the first order of business for the next President of the United States.
- S. Rob Sobhani, Ph.D. is an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University
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