Saudi Arabia

In the second instalment of a two-part series, Al Majalla looks at how Saudi Arabia moved from a horizontal to a vertical development model, powered by an ambitious package of reforms

The first in a two-part series explains how the country capitalised on its black gold decades ago to expand its economy horizontally, a stunning success that paved the way for Vision 2030

To set up 153 Cultural Houses across the Kingdom by 2030, Saudi Arabia wants to foster creativity and dialogue in pursuit of its vision for a knowledge-based society.

The Kingdom wants to become a global logistics hub bridging three continents, so it is upgrading and expanding its ports on both the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf.

Once considered a niche pastime, electronic sports (eSports) is now a multibillion-dollar global industry, drawing millions of viewers and professional players. Competitive video gaming now fills…

Rather than exporting additional crude, it is now refining it at home, highlighting a policy shift to value-added products over raw commodity exports

The drive for shared prosperity is dependent on security, which is why the Trump administration has made this the main focus of ties

A string of deals ranging from defence to technology were signed in Riyadh worth at least $300bn, including the "largest military sales contract in history"

A high-powered delegation will accompany him on his first official foreign trip of his second term as US president, reflecting a diverse agenda, spanning trade, defence and geopolitics

Ambitious targets are largely being met, with several areas exceeding expectations, but with foreign direct investment still less-than-hoped, there is still work to be done.