Saudi Vision 2030

A major global conference in Saudi Arabia shifts the focus of investment and expenditure to programmes and policies with a human-centred impact, not least in healthcare and education

Now in its ninth edition, Riyadh's Future Investment Initiative has transformed from an investment forum into a geo-economic platform redefining how nations link peace, progress, and technology

It will be the largest gathering since the inception of the Future Investment Initiative in 2017, with 600 speakers set to address the four-day event and an impressive lineup of attendees

Strategic investments aim to stimulate the economy, attract tourists, and elevate culture and the arts in Saudi Arabia as part of the country's Vision 2030 goals

Whether in cinema or heritage, there are dozens of big cultural projects that investors are interested in, as the sector increasingly contributes towards growth and development.

The Future Minerals Forum has become one of the world's most influential gatherings in the minerals sector, uniting stakeholders around the shared goal of building sustainable mineral supply chains

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 region's youth see themselves as active participants in developing their own countries. They want their voices heard and their talents recognised globally.

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"

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.