RIYADH: The population of Saudi Arabia has reached 32.2 million, statistics from the 2022 census released by the General Authority for Statistics on Wednesday revealed.
Of the total number, Saudis made up 18.8 million people (58.4 percent), while non-Saudis accounted for 13.4 million, or 41.6 percent of the population.
The census results also revealed the Kingdom’s youthful population, with the median age being 29 and the proportion of Saudis aged under 30 reaching 63 percent of the population.
The number of males reached 19.7 million, 61 percent of the population, while the number of females reached 12.5 million, representing 39 percent.
Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning and General Authority for Statistics Chairman Faisal Al-Ibrahim said: “The Saudi census 2022 is an important national project, and its outputs will be a key pillar for planning and decision-making, developing economic and social policy, creating development plans for various sectors and services, and supporting the investment environment in the Kingdom and the achievement of Vision 2030 goals.”
General Authority for Statistics President Fahad Al-Dossari told Arab News that technological advancement allowed the authority to reach a confidence level of 95 percent for the 2022 census.
“Saudi census 2022 is the most accurate and comprehensive. It will be used as a foundation for the General Authority for Statistics’ projects, publications as well as numbers,” he added.
The 2022 census was conducted in line with the best international methodologies and by using satellite and self-enumeration technologies.
Error monitoring and automated data correction techniques were deployed to ensure the quality of the census data.
More than 1 million phone calls, 900,000 field visits, and advanced data analysis and statistics methods were used.
The comparisons included five different data sources, and more than 200 indicators reviewed data to confirm its accuracy.
Al-Dossari told Arab News: “For that reason, we decided to use 2022 as a base year for us to do the backcasting – an international practice whenever there is a new census – as an exercise to the previous census.
“We looked at 2022, and we backcasted based on the multiple sources of data that helped us estimate the changes and numbers of the census, especially from 2010 to today.”
The backcasted 2010 data shows that the total population of Saudi Arabia has increased by 8.2 million (34.2 percent) since 2010; the number of Saudis by 4.8 million (33.8 percent); and the number of non-Saudis by 3.5 million (34.7 percent).
The announcement of the Saudi census 2022 results included detailed data on three main categories: population, households and housing. Results on education, health, employment, income, migration and diversity will be announced over the next few months.
The authority will make the census results available on a dedicated website featuring interactive dashboards, easy-to-use interactive maps, reports, tables and charts. It will also host a livestreamed webinar covering the census methodology and key findings in the coming month.
Saudi Arabia’s population passes 32m, census results show
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Saudi Arabia’s population passes 32m, census results show
- The number of males reached 19.7 million, 61 percent of the population, while the number of females reached 12.5 million, representing 39 percent
- The 2022 census was conducted in line with the best international methodologies and by using satellite and self-enumeration technologies
Immersive ‘Diriyah experience’ to open in London’s Knightsbridge
- Diriyah Experience House, at One Hyde Park, will feature the project masterplan for the city
- Jerry Inzerillo: We are thrilled to launch the Diriyah Experience House in the heart of London
JEDDAH: A pavilion hoping to attract investment in the development of historic Diriyah will open in London’s prestigious Knightsbridge borough next month.
The Diriyah Experience House, at One Hyde Park, will feature the project masterplan for the city, which is projected to welcome more than 50 million visitors annually by 2030. Interactive content will allow visitors to explore the scheme in more detail.
Jerry Inzerillo, group CEO of Diriyah Company, said: “We are thrilled to launch the Diriyah Experience House in the heart of London. Through this global platform, our team will share the story of Diriyah in a way that reflects its stature on the world stage — supporting our international outreach as we build one of the world’s most iconic destinations rooted in the Kingdom’s deep history and rich cultural heritage.”
The pavilion is set to have its official opening in early July, in collaboration with Sotheby’s International Realty, which will operate the venue.
It follows a successful month-long event held in London in July 2024, which highlighted the plans for Diriyah and was accompanied by an intensive promotional campaign across the British capital.
The efforts aim to elevate Diriyah’s global profile as the birthplace of Saudi Arabia and attract increased international interest in its investment potential.
Diriyah Art Futures also recently concluded “The Light Footprint” exhibition at Venice’s Querini Stampalia Foundation. Held in collaboration with Italian architecture firm Schiattarella Associati, it coincided with the opening of the Venice Biennale of Architecture 2025.
Curated by Marta Francocci, the exhibition explored the design and conceptual development of DAF’s innovative Riyadh headquarters, an architectural landmark inspired by Najdi tradition and sustainable design. It highlighted the fusion of cultural heritage with technological advancement through models, sketches, videos and archive materials.
Developed by the Saudi Museums Commission, DAF is envisioned as a global hub for art, science and education. “The Light Footprint” was also featured in the collective exhibition, “Intelligens Naturale, Artificiale,” curated by Carlo Ratti as part of the biennale’s official program.
Saudi and Bahraini military chiefs discuss efforts to fight terrorism
- Review recent work and achievements of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition, including its strategic initiatives and regional programs
RIYADH: During a meeting in Manama on Wednesday, the secretary-general of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition, Maj. Gen. Mohammed Al-Moghedi from Saudi Arabia, and the chief of staff of the Bahrain Defence Force, Lt. Gen. Theyab Al-Nuaimi, reviewed the coalition’s recent work and achievements.
In particular, they looked at its strategic initiatives and regional programs in various locations including the African Sahel region, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
They discussed Saudi Arabia’s flagship training program for specialized counterterrorism operatives in more than 27 member states, the funding mechanisms employed by those states to support the work of the coalition, and operational strategies for implementing its mission.
Al-Moghedi and Al-Nuaimi emphasized the importance of joint action and stronger coordination among coalition member states, and the enhancement of capabilities in key operational areas, including: efforts to counter intellectual extremism; strategic media; tackling the financing of terrorism; and military operations.
They reiterated a shared commitment to deeper cooperation, unified efforts, and enhanced coordination to combat terrorism.
Saudi woman guide showcases Riyadh’s history on free walking tours
- Fatimah Abusrair runs her tours on a voluntary tip-based model
- Focus on storytelling, personal experiences, she tells Arab News
RIYADH: A Saudi woman is leading free walking tours through Riyadh’s traditional neighborhoods, blending cultural exploration with a personal, story-driven approach.
Fatimah Abusrair, a communication and marketing consultant — and a licensed guide — told Arab News she sees a growing interest in informal, community-led tours.
“I can see that people care about doing activities and interacting with locals in unofficial ways,” she said.
Abusrair runs the tours on a voluntary tip-based model, and uses a storytelling approach which she says allows her to connect more personally with participants.
“To meet the local person and speak with them, that’s part of the experience,” she said. “I speak about history and culture, but I’m also speaking about myself, my life, and how I was raised.”
She views her approach as a way to strengthen the image of Saudi Arabia and offer visitors a more grounded understanding of local life.
“It increases positivity and understanding,” she added. “They’re not getting the information only from formal resources, but they’re getting exactly the same information from the locals.”
The idea of a tip-based model, Abusrair said, was meant to make the experience more accessible.
“You truly do not want to pay that much money,” she said. “So the idea of a tip-based (model), it means that they will pay me based on their budget.”
Lawrence Eta, a Canadian participant in a recent tour, spoke about how the experience helped to bridge a cultural gap.
“For many visitors and newcomers, Saudi Arabia is still unfamiliar territory,” he said. “A personalized tour helps bridge that gap. It gives travelers a chance to experience the city beyond the headlines.”
Unlike traditional tours that focus on facts and timelines, Eta said this experience allowed for genuine connection.
“This kind of authentic, personal tour adds real depth to tourism in Saudi Arabia,” he said. “It shifts the focus from sightseeing to storytelling, from just visiting places to connecting with people.”
He added that the experience was especially meaningful because it was led by someone who lives in the city and speaks from personal experience.
“A personalized walking tour in Riyadh feels truly authentic when led by someone who brings it to life through personal stories, rather than just historical facts.”
Eta said walking alongside people from different countries all curious and open to learning, created a unique sense of community.
“The tour becomes a shared memory, not just a checklist of landmarks,” he said.
As Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector continues to grow, Abusrair sees an opportunity for more community-driven initiatives.
“There are a lot of tourists coming,” she said. “But there aren’t enough guides yet. Everything is new in the tourism industry for us in Saudi Arabia.”
Tourism is a central pillar of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 economic diversification strategy. One of the initiative’s key goals is to reduce the Kingdom’s dependence on oil by turning it into a global tourism hub.
While Vision 2030 initially aimed to attract 100 million visitors annually by 2030, the Kingdom surpassed that milestone seven years ahead of schedule. The new target has now been raised to 150 million visitors per year.
Abusrair said that being a local guide contributes to how Saudi Arabia is seen.
“It will support promoting Saudi Arabia as a tourist destination because (tourists hear) people speak,” she said.
Music festival celebrates Franco-Saudi ties
RIYADH: A music festival celebrating the cultural ties between France and Saudi Arabia will take place in Riyadh, Alkhobar and Jeddah from June 20-26.
Organized by the French embassy in Saudi Arabia in collaboration with the Alliance Francaise, the Saudi Music Hub, Unstable, Hayy Jameel and MDL Beast, the Fete de la Musique will use a shared love of music to bring diverse audiences together.
Since its inception in France in 1982, the Fete de la Musique has evolved into a global celebration and now takes place in more than 120 countries. True to its founding principle of making music accessible to all, free of charge, it has become a powerful platform for cultural dialogue.
The 2025 edition features a diverse and eclectic line-up, highlighting the vibrancy of both the French and Saudi music scenes.
French artists such as Karimouche, a bold, socially engaged voice in word and song, and DJ SONGE, a producer known for immersive Afro-futuristic electronic sets, will share the stage with Saudi talent such as Kosh, a beatmaker who fuses traditional rhythms with deep electronic bass, and Seera, a rising star on the local rock scene.
Each host city will offer a distinctive atmosphere.
Riyadh starts the celebrations on June 20 at Unstable, a hybrid venue at the heart of the Saudi urban music scene. Alkhobar followed on June 21 at the Saudi Music Hub, a space dedicated to music education and performance that offers a more intimate setting. Jeddah will bring the festivities to a close on June 25-26 with performances by powerful female artists at Hayy Jameel, a cultural hub.
More than the concerts it features, the event also fosters cultural exchange, artistic dialogue and discovery, creating lasting connections between French and Saudi artists and audiences.
Four years with a company counts as loyalty in the modern job market, HR summit hears
- Delegates at Human Resources Summit and Expo in Riyadh hear generational diversity and differing views on career progression are challenges that must be addressed
- Experts discussed the effects of AI on the job market and explored strategies businesses need to adopt to ‘future-proof’ talent and navigate changing work landscapes
RIYADH: An employee who remains in the same role for four years is considered loyal in today’s job market, the audience at a human resources conference in Riyadh heard during a panel discussion on Tuesday.
The comment, at the Human Resources Summit and Expo, came from Syed Azharudin, director of learning and organizational development at logistical services company Ajex, who cited a recent study into workforce trends. Generational diversity is a factor that has to be addressed, he added.
“The biggest challenge for the HR industry is that you have different generations working together, like Gen X, baby boomers, millennials, Gen Z, and soon Gen Alpha, so you cannot have a blanket approach,” Azharudin said.
People from the most recent generations are more likely to be “job-hoppers,” he added; a study by global tech consultancy FDM Group found that Generation Z respondents were 13 per cent more likely than their non-Gen Z counterparts to view their current role as a stepping stone to a better career.
In other sessions, HR experts discussed the effects of artificial intelligence on the job market, and explored the strategies companies need to adopt in their attempts to “future-proof” talent and navigate ever-changing work landscapes. As the rapidly evolving technology continues to dominate headlines, they considered a hot-button question: What would the future look like if human labor was replaced by AI?
“We’re not going to lose (our jobs) but we also need to make sure that we go efficiently and with innovative ways to utilize such tools,” said Eid Alkhaldi, succession management director at the Saudi Telcom Company.
During another discussion, Nada Al-Hassan, the Saudi Ministry of Investment’s director of training and development, spoke about ways to advance inclusive leadership in the region.
“There are a lot of success stories and a lot of initiatives in all governmental sectors (in Saudi Arabia),” she said, highlighting in particular the Vision 2030 Human Resources Development Program and the Saudization program Tawteen.
The Human Resources Summit and Expo began on June 15 and continues until June 19.
