WASHINGTON: All Saudis have a personal oil well in their back yard, women from the Kingdom are widely repressed and definitely cannot speak English, and all Americans play beach volleyball.
These are just some of the common stereotypes raised by panelists at an Arab News roundtable discussion held in Washington on Friday, in which women from Saudi Arabia and the US debated public views about their nations and how misperceptions can be addressed.
The discussion, held during the visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the US, heard about both perceptions of citizens of the two countries and about the societies as a whole.
Kerry Boyd Anderson, a US-based political risk consultant and writer, said that Saudi Arabia still struggled with an image problem in the US — although she said that the visit by the crown prince was important in addressing this.
“Saudi Arabia is still struggling with the post-9/11 perception problem in the United States … Even though those of us who actually follow the Middle East know there has been massive change,” she said.
“It’s going to take a lot of effort if you actually want to change American perceptions.”
Allegations about Saudi Arabia’s human rights record were also raised as impacting American public perceptions, Boyd Anderson said. But the move to allow women to drive from this summer provided an image boost, she added.
“A lot of Americans tend to think of Saudi women as very repressed. And I think that the move to allow women to drive … was very important for a lot of Westerners to see. Because it was always the thing a lot of people would talk about,” she said.
The roundtable discussion was the first event to be held in the recently inaugurated Saudi Research and Marketing Group office in Washington, which will be home to Arab News’ planned bureau in DC. The discussion, titled “Vision 2030 and the Role of Women in Saudi Reforms,” was moderated by Faisal J. Abbas, editor in chief of Arab News.
Somayya Jabarti, the editor in chief of Saudi Gazette, said that the move to allow women to drive was just the start of reforms for women in her country.
“This is the beginning. The decision (to allow) women to drive was for practical reasons mostly. It wasn’t to improve the image of Saudi Arabia or to justify ourselves,” she said.
“I think the next step, which is much more important, concerns the male guardianship system, which I believe is sort of being dismantled, bit by bit. Which I also think is a very intelligent approach, so it doesn’t provoke the challenging forces.”
Under the male guardianship system, Saudi women must receive permission for certain activities, such as traveling abroad.
But Jabarti said that the system had been misinterpreted by the international media, with claims that women cannot, for example, open a bank account or gain access to health care without permission.
“The Western media seems to get it wrong when it comes to what we can do and cannot do in relation to the male guardianship system,” she said.
Other members of the discussion group also pointed to the media’s role in covering Saudi society. Rania A. Razek, a Saudi-American photographer, said the global media has only intermittent interest in Saudi women’s affairs.
“It’s as if it’s a snooze on an alarm clock. Once something happens, a woman does something, it goes on the media for one day, and then it’s snoozed for another two years. And then something else happens, a woman does something else and it’s news, and then the world sees it once and then forgets it,” she said.
Jabarti said that, despite the easing restrictions on women in Saudi Arabia, hers is not the first generation to thrive.
“It isn’t (only) now that women are becoming doctors, academics and scientists. We’re not even part of the pioneering generation of women professionals in Saudi Arabia. We’re part of maybe the third or the fourth … Regardless of all the restrictions that have existed, women have achieved. So I think we need to give credit to the women who have come before us,” she said.
She said that there are other misconceptions and stereotypes about Saudis. “We still get the ‘oil well in your back yard’ (comments) … The stereotype that we’re all rich,” she said. “(Some) people are surprised that I’m Saudi and I speak English.”
Dr. Mody Al-Khalaf, Shoura council member and former diplomat at the Saudi Embassy in US, discussed the council’s involvement in an anti-harrassment law for women.
She also raised the recent CBS interview with the Saudi crown prince, in which he acknowledged that Saudi women “still have not received their full rights. There are rights stipulated in Islam that they still don’t have.”
Al-Khalaf said: “He was very honest about women not having all their rights within Shariah. That was the first time, for me, to hear an authoritative figure say, ‘Yes, women in Saudi Arabia still do not have all their God-given rights’.”
Lina Al-Maeena, Shoura council member and women’s sports enthusiast, explained how the Shoura is a consultative council for the king, giving recommendations and assessing and amending existing laws.
But she dismissed the “stereotype” that female members of the Shoura only involve themselves in issues connected to women’s affairs. “We should be the voices of everybody in the Kingdom,” she said.
But stereotypes work both ways, she added — such as the notion that all Americans enjoy beach volleyball.
“A lot of people don’t realize that a lot of American families are very conservative, they are very religious,” said Al-Maeena.
Conversely, not everyone in Saudi Arabia is as conservative as some might think, another member of the discussion group said.
The US-based Dr. Ellen Wald, energy consultant and author of the book “Saudi, Inc.,” pointed out that women already drive cars in Saudi residential compounds attached to the energy company Aramco.
“Most people I’ve spoken to have no idea that women at Aramco do drive in the Aramco area (and) don’t wear abayas,” Wald said. “There’s a lot of things that people don’t know.”
Faisal J. Abbas, editor in chief of Arab News, said that there was too much attention paid to what women wear regardless of whether they are from Saudi Arabia or San Francisco.
“In all societies there is an obsession with what women wear, be it too little or too much. Let’s stop judging women on what they wear, and let’s start judging them on what they do,” he said.
The roundtable discussion also put forward some recommendations for how to improve perceptions.
Wald said that she had found it difficult to get a visa to Saudi Arabia despite spending years researching a book on the country.
Easing such restrictions, as well as providing more efficient embassy services and information, would all help improve public perceptions, Wald added.
“I called the Saudi Embassy so many times to try to talk to them about a visa, and no one would up the phone,” she said. “There’s no information for Westerners about going … There are no guidebooks about Saudi Arabia.”
Ola Salem, head of communications at the Washington-based Arabia Foundation, said that access to Saudi Arabia for the media was also important.
“Journalists have access to Dubai and the UAE so much easier than Saudi Arabia. That’s why you don’t see (many) pictures of women from Saudi Arabia, because (the media) can’t get it,” she said.
Saudi, US women discuss stereotypes, common challenges at Arab News DC roundtable
Saudi, US women discuss stereotypes, common challenges at Arab News DC roundtable
Kingdom arrests 19,328 illegals in one week
RIYADH: Saudi authorities arrested 19,328 people in one week for breaching residency, work and border security regulations, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
A total of 11,245 people were arrested for violations of residency laws, while 4,297 were held over illegal border crossing attempts, and a further 3,786 for labor-related issues.
The report showed that among the 1,360 people arrested for trying to enter the Kingdom illegally, 54 percent were Ethiopian, 44 percent Yemeni, and 2 percent were of other nationalities.
A further 79 people were caught trying to cross into neighboring countries, and 22 were held for involvement in transporting and harboring violators, the SPA reported.
The Ministry of Interior said that anyone found to be facilitating illegal entry to the Kingdom, including providing transportation and shelter, could face imprisonment for a maximum of 15 years, a fine of up to SR1 million ($260,000), as well as confiscation of vehicles and property.
Suspected violations can be reported on the toll-free number 911 in the Makkah and Riyadh regions, and 999 or 996 in other regions of the Kingdom.
How Saudi forestry supports biodiversity and mitigates the effects of climate change
- Despite its arid climate, Saudi Arabia is home to diverse forest types, from mountain woodlands to coastal mangroves
- The Kingdom is expanding its green cover by planting millions of trees and restoring degraded forest areas
RIYADH: It is easy to think of Saudi Arabia as a land dominated by endless dunes and sun-scorched plains. But beyond the sweeping deserts lies an unexpectedly rich tapestry of ecosystems — forests that climb mountains, shade winding valleys, and line the coastal edges of the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf.
While forests cover just 1.1 percent of the Kingdom’s landmass, they play an outsized role in preserving biodiversity, storing carbon, and improving food security. Their ecological importance — and their fragility — has placed them at the heart of Saudi Arabia’s green transformation.
“The forest area in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is estimated to 2.7 million hectares, representing 1.1 percent of the Kingdom’s area,” Najeeb Alsubhi, head of the Valley Forests Department at the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification, told Arab News.
“This includes mountain forests spread across the southern and southwestern parts of the Kingdom, distinguished by juniper trees, as well as the atam (wild olive) tree, in addition to groups of acacia trees.”
Mountain forests trace the high ridgelines from Taif down to Jazan, while valley forests — dotted with sidr and acacia — stretch through much of the country’s interior. Along the coastlines, clusters of mangroves thrive in tidal wetlands, providing critical habitat and natural coastal defenses.
Despite their modest footprint, these forests are ecological powerhouses. Globally, forests are known to contribute more than 80 percent of biodiversity, regulate climate, limit desertification, and provide essential products from honey to medicinal plants.
In Saudi Arabia, they are also a buffer against desert creep and climate shocks — an increasingly vital role as the Kingdom confronts environmental challenges.
To protect and expand this natural wealth, Saudi Arabia has launched a forest conservation and rehabilitation drive, led by the NCVC. The center is planting more than 3.5 million trees and working to protect native species by mapping and restoring perennial tree habitats.
Recognizing the growing threat of wildfires, the NCVC has also established dedicated forest and fire monitoring systems, alongside research centers and public education initiatives aimed at long-term forest sustainability.
Among the most significant of these efforts is a new project to assess the health and changes in forest cover across five key regions: Al-Bahah, Jazan, Asir, Najran, and Taif.
DID YOU KNOW?
• Saudi forests are home to 97 species of tree and cover 2.7 million hectares of the Kingdom’s territory.
• Healthy forests contribute more than 80 percent of the biodiversity found in the natural environment.
• Although predominantly desert, Saudi Arabia also has mountain forests, valley forests, and mangroves.
This initiative, part of the National Forest Inventory Program, is a collaboration between the NCVC and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. The project is designed to support sustainable forest management while meeting international environmental reporting obligations related to biodiversity, climate change, and land use.
Strategies include data collection, identifying key forest locations, and using precision tools like digital hypsometers to measure tree height and forest structure.
Together, these efforts reflect a growing awareness of the vital role Saudi Arabia’s forests play — not only as ecological assets but as symbols of renewal in a land long known for its arid extremes.
As the Kingdom pushes ahead with its broader climate and environmental goals, these green sanctuaries, hidden among the peaks and valleys, may prove to be among its most valuable treasures.
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 enters final phase with strong momentum
- Kingdom achieves 93 percent of key performance indicators — fully or partially — in nine years
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative has seen remarkable progress, with 93 percent of its key performance indicators either fully or partially met since its launch nine years ago, according to the latest official assessment.
The Vision 2030 program, which aims to diversify the economy, empower citizens, and foster a vibrant environment for both local and international investors, is evaluated through the performance of its Vision Realization Programs and national strategies.
These tools are central to the initiative’s execution and are assessed based on two main criteria: the advancement of initiatives and the performance of measurable indicators.
The latest annual report for 2024 reveals that of the 374 key performance indicators at the third level, 299 were fully achieved, with 257 of these surpassing their original targets. Another 49 indicators came close to full achievement, reaching between 85 and 99 percent of their goals.
This progress demonstrates the effectiveness of long-term planning combined with strategic execution, contributing to transformative changes across the country. The success of Vision 2030’s Level-3 indicators indicates strong alignment between national planning and real-world implementation in various sectors.
Detailed metrics also capture tangible outcomes, such as increased hospital capacity, the rollout of digital services, and the issuance of tourism licenses. To ensure continued success, corrective actions are being taken to adjust both initiatives and performance metrics, with a focus on accelerating implementation and keeping the Vision’s objectives firmly within reach.
Strong delivery across initiatives
This performance aligns with strong delivery across Vision 2030’s portfolio of initiatives. As of 2024, 85 percent of all initiatives were either completed or progressing on track.
Out of 1,502 total initiatives launched under the Vision, 674 were completed and another 596 were advancing as scheduled.
This translates to an unusually high success rate for a transformation effort of this scale and complexity.
Each of these initiatives contributes to larger national priorities, ranging from housing and healthcare to digital innovation, clean energy, and cultural development.
Their successful implementation reflects years of investment in institutional capacity, coordination frameworks, and performance monitoring systems, much of which was built during the vision’s first and second phases.
A decade of economic reforms
These latest achievements are rooted in nearly a decade of groundwork, reforms, and phased rollouts that began in 2016 when Vision 2030 was first unveiled.
The first five years focused on stabilizing the macroeconomic base and introducing structural reforms, while the second phase emphasized scaling and acceleration.
The result is a development model that is now attracting international attention for its consistency and ambition.
Between 2016 and 2024, Saudi Arabia undertook sweeping structural reforms to reduce its oil dependency, boost private sector engagement, and unlock new economic engines.
This included targeted policy interventions in tourism, logistics, mining, and tech — areas now becoming core drivers of non-oil growth.
The private sector’s role in the economy has also continued to expand, with its contribution to GDP reaching 47 percent in 2024, exceeding the year’s target of 46 percent.
In 2024, real non-oil GDP grew by 3.9 percent compared to 2023, driven by continued investment expansion in non-oil sectors, which saw a 4.3 percent increase in activity.
By the fourth quarter of 2024, the unemployment rate among Saudis dropped to 7 percent — meeting the Vision 2030 target six years ahead of schedule. This milestone marks an improvement from 12.3 percent at the end of 2016. At the same time, average annual inflation remained low at 1.7 percent, ranking among the lowest in G20 economies.
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This is a result of the efforts made to achieve an economic policy that balances growth with healthy inflation rates.
Foreign direct investment inflows reached SR77.6 billion in 2024, signaling growing international confidence in the Saudi market.
Optimism in the non-oil private sector was also reflected in the Purchasing Managers’ Index, which stood at 58.1 in the fourth quarter of 2024. This was a result of developments throughout the year and was driven by an increase in new orders.
Global recognition
Global institutions such as the International Monetary Fund, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, and World Bank have revised Saudi growth forecasts upward, and all three major credit rating agencies — Moody’s, Fitch, and S&P — affirmed the Kingdom’s sovereign strength with stable outlooks.
The Public Investment Fund has continued to play a central role in financing and driving large-scale development.
Its assets under management have reached SR3.53 trillion by the end of 2024 — more than tripled since the launch of Vision 2030 — exceeding their annual target.
The fund’s assets have made remarkable progress, growing by more than 390 percent from 2016 to 2024, with a compound annual growth rate of 22 percent, exceeding its annual target. This increase is primarily attributed to the fund’s proactive investment strategy across various sectors.
In parallel, the value of Saudi Arabia’s discovered mineral resources has soared to SR9.4 trillion, a 92 percent increase from 2016 estimates, which stood at SR4.9 trillion.
By the end of 2024, the number of achieved investment opportunities surged to 1,865, surpassing the year’s target of 1,197.
Globally, Saudi Arabia has improved its standing in multiple international benchmarks.
It now ranks 16th in the International Institute for Management Development’s World Competitiveness Index, up 20 places since 2017.
The Kingdom has also made progress in digital governance, climbing 25 positions in the UN E-Government Development Index since 2016 to secure 6th place globally — bringing it within reach of its Vision 2030 goal to be among the top five nations.
These rankings highlight the Kingdom’s efforts to digitize services, modernize institutions, and improve public sector performance.
Social and sectoral progress
Social indicators have also advanced steadily. The homeownership rate climbed to 65.4 percent in 2024, exceeding the target of 64 percent for that year.
As part of the long-term goal to plant 10 billion trees, environmental programs have exceeded expectations. Around 115 million trees were planted as of 2024, while 188,000 hectares of degraded land were successfully rehabilitated.
The number of volunteers exceeded 1.2 million by the end of 2024, surpassing the 2030 target of 1 million.
The Kingdom’s expanded e-visa systems and upgraded infrastructure helped drive a historic rise in international pilgrim numbers.
Saudi Arabia recorded 16.92 million foreign Umrah pilgrims in 2024 — its highest ever, far exceeding the annual target of 11.3 million.
Adding to the momentum, Saudi Arabia is set to welcome the premier competition of the world’s most popular sport as the official host of the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
Looking ahead
Much of this progress was supported by the evolution of Vision Realization Programs, which were introduced in the early phase of Vision 2030 as medium-term delivery mechanisms.
Over time, these programs enhanced cross-government coordination, accelerated execution, and helped exceed multiple national targets.
Today, there are 10 VRPs operating across strategic sectors such as health, digital transformation, and tourism, as well as financial services and sustainability, each contributing to the delivery of Vision 2030’s core pillars of a vibrant society, a thriving economy, and an ambitious nation.
As the final stretch of Vision 2030 approaches, the Kingdom’s focus remains on institutional resilience, measurable outcomes, and global competitiveness.
While challenges remain in some areas, the combination of high delivery rates, adaptive governance, and strong financial management has positioned Saudi Arabia as a case study in long-term national transformation.
The next five years will be critical not only in achieving remaining goals but in sustaining the momentum well beyond the 2030 horizon.
The female-only wellness spaces in Riyadh that aim to empower women
- Yoga, Pilates studios provide safe, calm environment
- ‘I have met some pretty incredible women,’ Australian customer says
RIYADH: A number of female-only wellness spaces in Riyadh are aiming to provide empowering communities for women, driven by the desire for privacy and comfort.
Locations like gyms, pools and even some theme parks have created safe spaces exclusively for women on designated days.
This allows women to dress freely and engage in activities that foster a sense of community.
One such place is Sunsets Yoga, a serene studio environment dedicated solely to women.
It offers an array of classes and programs focused on health and wellness and also has an entertainment center where women can unwind and connect.
“Sunsets Yoga was born out of my passion for yoga and my deep desire to help people,” owner Wateen Al-Tuwaijri told Arab News.
Since moving to Saudi I have really noticed the benefits of going to a female-friendly Pilates studio. Not only is it comfortable but I feel confident in my own skin and body. The highlight for me has to be the networking. I have met some pretty incredible women who are not only inspiring but are like-minded.
Emma Shirley
“I opened this space because I believe in the transformative power of yoga — not just for the body, but for the mind and soul as well.
“My goal for Sunsets Yoga is to create a welcoming, peaceful environment where individuals can escape the stresses of daily life, reconnect with themselves and grow both physically and mentally.”
Al-Tuwaijri said it was “especially important” to have places in Riyadh that cater exclusively to women.
“Yoga is a universal tool for balance and I wanted to ensure that women here have access to a space where they can focus on their health and well-being without any barriers.
“It’s about supporting their journey of self-discovery and personal growth in a place where they can feel free, strong and inspired.”
Al-Tuwaijri said she wanted to build “a community that supports, encourages and nurtures” people.
Another prominent female-only space is the reformer Pilates studio Bdn in Al-Rayyan District.
“I’ve been practicing reformer Pilates for over 15 years now and swear by it,” owner Najd Al-Hatlani said.
“It has given me impeccable self-awareness regarding my body and how the smallest muscles move to support the larger ones … it has completely changed my perspective regarding all workouts.
She said she opened the studio to serve an untapped market in the east of Riyadh.
“Female-oriented spaces have always been part of our cultural heritage and experience. I think it’s important to continue to offer these safe haven spaces for women in order to maximize their well-being.
“As kind as many people want to be, we as women have shared far too many similar experiences through life which makes it comforting to be in the same room as that unspoken supportive energy.”
The studio offered a range of regular, pre/post-natal and customized private training sessions, Al-Hatlani said.
Emma Shirley, an Australia living in Riyadh, is a regular at Bdn.
“Since moving to Saudi I have really noticed the benefits of going to a female-friendly Pilates studio. My go-to Pilates studio in Riyadh is Bdn. I have been going there for a few months.
“Not only is it comfortable but I feel confident in my own skin and body. The highlight for me has to be the networking. I have met some pretty incredible women who are not only inspiring but are like-minded.”
Saudi Arabia takes part in European Economic Congress
- The Saudi delegation met with the Poland’s deputy minister of Economic Development and Technology to discuss economic relations between Saudi Arabia and Poland
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia participated in the 17th edition of the European Economic Congress, held in Katowice, Poland, from April 23-25.
The Saudi delegation consisted of Ambassador to Poland Saad bin Saleh Al-Saleh; Undersecretary of the Ministry of Investment for International Relations Sara Al-Sayed; Deputy Governor of the Saudi General Authority of Foreign Trade Abdulaziz Al-Sakran; and representatives from the Federation of Saudi Chambers of Commerce, specifically the Saudi-Polish Business Council.
The Saudi delegation met with the Poland’s deputy minister of Economic Development and Technology to discuss economic relations between Saudi Arabia and Poland and strategies to improve investment and trade exchange, as well as taking part in a dialogue session focused on the same topics and including a review of the economic transformations occurring in the Kingdom in light of Saudi Vision 2030.
The delegation also conducted meetings and workshops with several representatives from companies attending the congress to present investment opportunities in the Kingdom.
