2019 September Saudi Arabia - Eng

PUBLISHED BY THE ROYAL EMBASSY OF THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA IN BUDAPEST

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Foreword

FOREWORD BY HIS EXCELLENCY, THE AMBASSADOR OF THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA

I am pleased to warmly welcome... ...all of our Hungarian guests, friends and members of the diplomatic corps, who will join us this year for the celebration of the 89th anniversary of the National Day of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is pleased to present this special edition for the third consecutive year on this glorious national occasion.

Saudi Arabia celebrates its national day on the first day of Libra, corresponding to September 23 each year. This occasion is very passionate and patriotic to all Saudis. The advancement of any nation won’t be upright if it is not built upon authentic foundations and solid structures.

The celebration of the National Day is a precious occasion. We recall the great deeds and historical achievements by the founder King Abdul Aziz Al Saud, may God rest his soul, and his loyal and faithful men in laying the foundations of our nation.

Under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdul Aziz and HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Primer and Minister of Defense, Saudi Arabia as a founding state of the United Nations, has

a leading role in its region and worldwide.

We have paid special attention in this year's edition to provide our readers with updated information about the latest events, developments and achievements.

This year has witnessed the participation of a Saudi high delegation in the G20 Summit in Osaka headed by HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. During the summit, HRH Crown Prince welcomed the leaders of the G20 to the next 15th annual summit in Riyadh on November 21-22, 2020, chaired by King Salman. This summit will be the first of its kind in the Arab world.

This year's edition will highlight the upcoming international events in line with Vision 2030, such as the third copy of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) to be held in Riyadh on October 29, 2019. In addition, my country will host the Dakar Rally, which will move to the Middle East for the first time. The race will start on January 5 from the city of Jeddah.

This year's publication includes updated information relating to giga projects as part of the kingdom’s Vision 2030, such as Qiddiya, Neom, the Red Sea Project and Amaala.

Qiddiya in Riyadh will become the place to live, work and play, a prominent landmark and an important hub to meet and satisfy the recreational, social and cultural needs of the kingdom’s current and future generations.

NEOM is the world’s first independent international zone, stretching over three countries. It will be the world’s new disruptor destination.

The Red Sea Project will be the world's most ambitious and exciting tourism and hospitality project. It is a luxury destination created around one of the world's hidden natural treasures. The Red Sea Project will encourage visitors to explore the wonders and rich cultural heritage of Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Coast.

An updated brief overview of the Kingdom's humanitarian and disaster relief efforts organized and provided by King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center will also be covered in this edition.

Finally, I thank you once again for celebrating this national occasion with us. We hereby reaffirm, and cherish the friendship and partnership ties between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the friendly Hungary, to which we wish further progress and development.

H.E. Mohammed A. Almatrafi THE AMBASSADOR OF THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA TO HUNGARY

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Saudi Arabia broad consensus on policy proposals that address G20 topics. These meetings will be crowned by the G20 Leaders’ Summit.”

As Al Arabiya puts it, the Saudi Vision 2030 corresponds to the priorities of the G20. It quotes a statement from the G20 Troika, a three-member country committee chaired

by Japan, holder of the current summit presidency, by saying that “Saudi Arabia is undergoing major economic and social transformation guided by its Vision 2030, which is closely aligned with core G20 objectives of achieving macroeconomic stability, sustainable development, women empowerment, enhanced human capital, and increased flow of trade and investment.”

FROM OSAKA TO RIYADH

SAUDI G20 SUMMIT THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE ARAB WORLD

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COURTESY OF THE EMBASSY OF THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA

AS ANNOUNCED AT THE 2017 G20 SUMMIT IN HAMBURG, GERMANY, SAUDI ARABIA WILL HOST THE 2020 GATHERING IN ITS CAPITAL, RIYADH. COLLECTIVELY, THE G20 COUNTRIES REPRESENT TWO-THIRDS OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION, 85% OF ITS ECONOMY, AND 75% OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE. THE PRESIDENCY OF THE G20 WAS TRANSFERRED TO SAUDI ARABIA DURING THE SUMMIT PROCEEDINGS IN OSAKA, JAPAN IN JUNE 2019.

Saudi Arabia’s first participation in the G20 meetings was at the 2008 Washington summit. At that time, as the world suffered from a global crisis, Saudi Arabia had the tenth largest sovereign wealth fund in the world and had the second largest oil reserves after Venezuela. Initially, the Saudi entrance to the G20 was due to its economic importance as an effective pricing force in the energy market, according to the news site Al Arabiya.

First in the Arab world Through its 2020 presidency, the Kingdom looks forward to further strengthening its ties with other G20 countries and to reaching an international consensus on the Summit’s agenda items. Saudi Arabia is fully committed to the G20’s objectives and to the stability and prosperity of the international economic system, according to the Saudi Gazette.

The Riyadh summit, to be held on November 20-21, 2020 and chaired by the King of Saudi Arabia, Salman bin Abdulaziz, will be the first G20 summit to be hosted in the Arab world.

This reflects Saudi Arabia’s key role and influence in the region and in the global arena.

The summit will be attended by leaders of the world’s largest economies, as well as leaders of other guest countries,

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international and regional organizations.

The summit agenda will cover financial, economic and social issues, including energy, environment, climate, digital economy, trade, agriculture, healthcare, education and labor. The summit will in particular aim to develop effective policies to achieve sustainable and balanced development and create job opportunities.

Saudi preparations In the run-up to the Summit, Saudi Arabia will host preparatory ministerial meetings as well as meetings for senior government officials from G20 members and representatives of international organizations, the private sector and civil society entities. According to a G20 press release dated December 2018, “the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia commenced a whole government approach for its presidency’s preparation…

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The G20 Saudi Secretariat was established to coordinate efforts, with the aim of pursuing a progressive agenda that advances the Group’s accomplishments and priorities across global economic and developmental fronts.”

According to the document, Saudi Arabia will capitalize on its regional and international roles to engage with G20 members, invited countries, civil societies, and international and regional organizations to incorporate diverse viewpoints that reach policy recommendations addressing current and emerging global challenges impacting societies and economies throughout the world.

The press release said that the “G20 Saudi Arabia presidency will include a multitude of meetings, throughout the year of its presidency, for ministers, deputies, working groups and other stakeholders with the aim of building

On the map of the world economy The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has the tenth largest sovereign wealth fund in the world and the second largest oil reserves after Venezuela. Its entry into the G20, which includes the world’s largest and fastest-growing economies, has increased its influential role in the global economy as a solid industrial and financial base.

Speaking at the closing session of the Osaka Summit, HRH Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman pointed out that the need to enhance international cooperation and coordination is more pressing than ever before, considering the complex and interrelated challenges facing the world today. He stressed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is determined to continue working toward achieving progress on the group’s agenda and to work with all member states, especially Troika members Japan and Italy, to discuss the pressing issues of the 21st century, promote innovation and preserve land and human well-being.

The venue for the gathering of the leaders of the G20 countries will be the King Abdullah Financial City in Riyadh, with an area of 1.6 million sqms, which is being developed to form one of the world’s major financial centers.

In June 2010, the G20 Summit was held in the Canadian city of Toronto, during which King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud addressed the leaders, stressing that the meeting must be in line with developments in the world economy’s map and must respond to the need for a more representative group of the economies.

The Kingdom has taken several measures in the field of monetary policy, financial sector, and trade, which helped reduce the impact of the global financial crisis and enhance the performance of the Saudi economy.

SAUDI ARABIA LOOKS FORWARD TO HOSTING THE SUMMIT IN 2020. CHAIRED BY THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES KING SALMAN BIN ABDULAZIZ AL-SAUD, THE GROUP OF TWENTY (G20) IS A PREMIER FORUM FOR INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC COOPERATION. (SAUDI PRESS AGENCY)

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Saudi Arabia

ANNOUNCED IN APRIL 2016, VISION 2030 IS A LARGE-SCALE PLAN TO REDUCE SAUDI ARABIA'S DEPENDENCE ON OIL, DIVERSIFY ITS ECONOMY AND DEVELOP SERVICE SECTORS SUCH AS HEALTH, EDUCATION, INFRASTRUCTURE, RECREATION AND TOURISM. ONE OF ITS MOST IMPORTANT PROGRAM IS THE FUTURE INVESTMENT INITIATIVE (FII), RUN BY THE PUBLIC INVESTMENT FUND, SAUDI ARABIA’S SOVEREIGN WEALTH FUND.

At the First FII forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced a USD 500 billion plan for a major industrial and business zone named NEOM, calling it a very lucrative investment opportunity under the Kingdom’s ambitious Vision 2030 plan for the future.

According to the announcement, a 26,500sqkm piece of land in Saudi Arabia’s northwest corner will be transformed into a revolutionary project of sustainable cities, villages and communities run by solar and wind power that is also home to stateof-the-art manufacturing facilities. Over the coming years, the project is expected to attract more than USD 500 billion from both local and international investors, including the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF). NEOM’s contribution to the Kingdom’s GDP is projected to reach at least USD 100 billion by 2030.

Economic power slipping eastward In October 2018, international business people and thought leaders gathered for the second Future Investment Initiative

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conference in the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Riyadh to discuss some of the weightiest global issues, from environmental sustainability to financial pressures.

According to a report by Arab News, Samir Assaf, chief executive of global banking and markets at HSBC, one of the largest banking and financial services institutions in the world, told a plenary meeting that global economic power was slipping eastward at the expense of the West. He added that HSBC’s long-term view of the global economy is that it will be driven by higher growth prospects in Asia and the Middle East.

“More people in Asia are rising to middle class status, and total wealth in Asia will be higher than in North America by 2021,” he told a panel, adding that short-term economic prospects were clouded by the prospect of higher US interest rates and worries about debt in some emerging market countries.

Other big global corporations at the FII forum discussed how chief executives could help support the UN’s goals on sustainable development. Alex Dimitrief,

president and CEO of GE Global, part of the big US engineering corporation General Electric, said that there were customers in some of the 180 countries in which it operates who still wanted to use older energy technologies like coal and steam, but that the trend was moving toward more sustainable energy sources. “The customer is ahead of the regulator in many places,” he said.

For the big US food and drinks group PepsiCo, chief scientific officer Mehmood Khan said that water supply and agricultural techniques were two big challenges in the path toward sustainability. Paul Holthus, CEO of the World Ocean Council, told the audience that usage of desalinated water was an issue for the marine environment, especially in the Middle East, where it doubles every 20 years.

Saudi Arabia signed more than 25 deals ranging from petrochemicals to metals at the forum.

State-run Saudi Aramco signed 15 of the agreements worth USD 34 billion, including deals with French oil giant Total

What is next for global business?

This year, the Future Investment Initiative forum will be organized with the theme ‘What is next for global business?’ on October 29-31 in the RitzCarlton Hotel and the King Abdulaziz Conference Center in Riyadh.

According to the Saudi Gazette, the FII conference will again bring together decision makers, leading investors and global experts to explore future economic trends and opportunities, shed light on the future of industries, and discuss how investment can continue to drive overall global prosperity and development.

The event will focus on three key pillars: • Sustainable future: Exploring new innovations and investment models that can support profit, people and the planet.

• Technology for good: Business and policy frameworks that can guide the future growth of the tech industry.

• Advanced society: Cultural and organizational systems that can inspire humanity in the age of machines.

• The FII will also host three summits, along with the main event, looking at how changes in business, entertainment and society are driving innovation and creating investment opportunities: • Immersive work: How changes in technology, demography and business models are altering the nature of work.

• Interactive entertainment: How innovations, globalization and consumer behaviors impact the worlds of sports, leisure and entertainment.

• Interconnected society: How governments around the world are attempting to integrate intelligent systems, advanced mobility, new educational models and greater cultural awareness into their cities and communities.

As part of FII’s goal to build relationships and encourage in-depth discussion, the event will host twelve cross-sector taskforces, designed to explore emerging business and investment trends and to identify early-stage growth opportunities.

These taskforces will cover social, energy, climate, technology, healthcare, data, transportation, food, tourism, sport, retail and youth related topics.

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INTERNATIONAL PLATFORM FOR EXPERT-LED DEBATE BETWEEN INVESTORS, INNOVATORS, GOVERNMENTS AND ECONOMIC LEADERS

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FUTURE INVESTMENT INITIATIVE

SA, oil-services provider Halliburton Co. and Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Commodities trading house Trafigura Group, while an affiliate of Riyadh-based Modern Industrial Investment Holding Group announced a joint venture to develop a smelting and refining complex, according to an emailed statement.

Some of the deals, totaling about USD 50 billion, had been announced previously, while others were for new ventures or marked progressive steps on existing agreements.

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Saudi Arabia SAUDI SEASONS

THE KINGDOM POSITIONS ITSELF AS A LEADING GLOBAL DESTINATION WITH UNIVERSAL APPEAL THE SAUDI SEASONS INITIATIVE IS AIMED AT TRANSFORMING THE KINGDOM INTO ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT TOURIST DESTINATIONS IN THE WORLD. VISITORS ENJOY THE MANY COLORS OF MAJOR EVENTS AND UNIQUE TOURIST EXPERIENCES FILLED WITH JOY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR IN MOST OF THE CITIES AND REGIONS OF THE KINGDOM, WHERE THEY DISCOVER THE HERITAGE OF THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA AND ITS UNIQUE CULTURE, AND THE CHARM OF ITS BEAUTY THROUGH THE VARIED SEASONS OF SAUDI ARABIA. perform include Jennifer Lopez, Pharrell Williams, Usher, Nicki Jam, Gwen Stefani, Nicole Scherzinger, Akon, Gipsy Kings by Andre Reyes, and DJ Martin Solveig.

Taif Season: from roses to camels A welcoming scent of roses from Taif, the city of roses, brings visitors a whole month of excitement, fun and enthusiasm in August with its cultural authenticity, artistic heritage, and charming atmosphere in the southwest of the country. The Taif season which includes Souq Okaz, the Camel Festival, the Roses Village and the Land Masters enriches the experience with

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The further development of the travel and tourism sector, with the Kingdom making bold moves to explore its untapped potential as a destination for leisure travelers is also very much in line with the goals of Vision 2030, the government's inspiring roadmap for the future, as the Kingdom continues its path of economic and cultural diversification.

Many of the seasonal activities have ended for this year – but the seasons never end!

On this page, you can find descriptions of some of the greatest attractions Saudi Arabia can offer to tourists.

Inspired by the city's reputation as a top destination for water-based activities and its history as a multicultural hub for international travelers, the Jeddah Season festival was held this June and July under the theme 'Sea and Culture'. Visitors and residents alike had the opportunity to enjoy an exciting array of experiences ranging from live concerts, theatrical performances, and art exhibitions to standup comedy and major sporting events.

Jeddah Season: 'Sea and Culture' Long regarded as Saudi Arabia's cultural capital, the coastal city of Jeddah is currently at the vanguard of this drive to strengthen the Kingdom's position as a tourist destination with diverse offerings for visitors from around the world. Traditionally serving as the main gateway for pilgrims visiting the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah, Jeddah boasts a stunning location and rich cultural diversity, and is affectionately known as the 'Bride of the Red Sea'. This vibrant destination is now extending its international appeal to a wider audience through the Jeddah Season, an exciting program of events that celebrates the best in music, art, and culture.

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Riyadh Season hosts world stars of entertainment After the resounding success of the Jeddah Season, the Riyadh Season, considered the biggest entertainment event in the capital city, will start on October 11 and continue until December 15, the Saudi Gazette reports. The season will consist of a number of sports, musical, theatrical and fashion shows, a circus and various other entertainment activities.

A number of international restaurants will open for the occasion in addition to a huge number of eateries offering local cuisines.

About 20 million returning visitors, including a million from Riyadh, are expected to visit the festival. The show will extend on an area of 14 million sqms at 11 different locations, including King Fahd International Football Stadium, Wadi Hanifah and others.

The Riyadh Season will bring 14 international star acts and an array of exclusive shows to the country’s capital, hosting renowned artists including Bruno Mars, Pitbull, John Legend and Alicia Keys. Concerts are scheduled to take place at a range of venues across the city. Other big names due to

dozens of exceptional activities, art events, entertainment and exciting competitions presented with authentic Arab ambiance.

At the Souq (open-air market), people can experience the culture of different Arab nations by visiting pavilions showcasing the food, art and commerce of 11 countries.

The Taif camel festival celebrates and promotes the cultural importance of camels, while its growing success also provides a major economic boost to the Kingdom. This year, the world’s biggest camel sports event saw around 12,000 camels from throughout Saudi Arabia and other Gulf and Arab countries competing in 439 categories for

prizes worth SR42 million (USD 11.2 million).

The Ward (Roses) Village at the Radf Park features roses that are considered among the best in the world. The village includes the museum of roses, the road of art and the laboratory of roses, in addition to workshops on introducing professions related to the roses of Taif, as well as the amusing events with competitions related to the fragrance of the season.

Al-Soudah Season presents a variety of nature The Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage added Al-Soudah in the Asir region of the Kingdom to the 2019 Saudi Seasons initiative. The Al-Soudah area enjoys natural beauty, ranging from forests and highlands to its distinct climate.

The Season took place in August.

As Al-Soudah Season’s director, Hossam Al-Din bin Saleh Al-Madani told Arab News, “the Al-Soudah Season comes within the framework and interest of the Kingdom’s wise leadership, by supporting the domestic tourism sector, entertainment and culture, raising the quality of life for citizens, and building a vibrant society, because of the important touristic components that characterize the Kingdom.” He pointed out that the events calendar is based on the area’s key features of nature, scenery, heritage, culture, adventure, sports and climate.

Al-Madani highlighted that the program includes a series of cultural, sporting and entertainment events, concerts, musical evenings, artistic and heritage shows, as well as quality new services in Al-Soudah parks, international luxury restaurants, and tours of the city and Abha. The season’s events also put to the test the improved infrastructure and services in Al-Soudah, he added.

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Saudi Arabia in Riyadh. From the capital, the route winds its way back toward the coast through the Asir region and ends in the city of Al-Qaddiya on January 12.

SAUDI ARABIA’S VISION 2030 IS AN INITIATIVE THAT SEEKS TO DIVERSIFY SAUDI ARABIA’S INTERESTS AWAY FROM THE OIL SECTOR. THE KINGDOM NOW HOSTS SEVERAL EVENTS THAT ATTRACT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FOREIGNERS. THESE INCLUDE, AMONG OTHERS, THE SIX FLAGS THEME PARK IN AL QIDDIYA AND CAR RACES SUCH AS THE DAKAR RALLY AND AN EVENT IN THE FORMULA E SERIES. Being built just outside the capital, Riyadh Six Flags Qiddiya, Saudi Arabia’s first familyoriented theme park, is to deliver “all the thrills and excitement that audiences from all over the world have come to expect from the Six Flags brand, and elevate those experiences with authentic themes connected to the location,” said Michael Reininger, CEO of Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC).

Six Flags Qiddiya will be one of the main entertainment offerings in Qiddiya’s first phase when it opens in 2023. The park, which will span 79 acres, will feature 28 rides and attractions designed thematically to fit within six unique lands: – The City of Thrills will be the vision of Saudi Arabia in 2030: a future city with Arabic design motifs. Guests will find the park’s thrill rides here, including The Falcon’s Flight, which will be “the longest, tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world;” and the Sirocco Tower, which will become “the world’s tallest drop-tower ride.”

– Discovery Springs is inspired by Qiddiya’s relationship between the desert and the ocean. Rides here take elements from earth and water. The entire land will be filled with waterfalls, aqueducts and geysers, along with exotic plants and trees.

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– Steam Town is where the past and future meet in a rugged frontier town powered by steam and screams. This land’s signature ride is the Iron Rattler Mine Train, which combines elements of a roller coaster with a dark ride, leading into a hydraulic lift that sends passengers into a freefall through a narrow mineshaft.

– Twilight Gardens, an oversized area filled with flowers and friendly creatures, and designed with younger guests in mind. This land’s main attraction is the Twilight Express Coaster, which travels through a garden; the Critter Chase, an interactive dark ride in a 3D environment; and the Kaleidoscope hot air balloon ride.

– Valley of Fortune takes guests into the ruins of an old Arabian masonry, where fortune seekers from around the world find fame and riches. The cornerstone attraction for this land is Spitfire, a triple-launch coaster, which will take riders into a sky roll before an acrobatic stall, and then dive back to the ground.

– Grand Exposition, a celebration of innovation and science, combined with traditional carnival midways. Here, guests can experience the Gyrospin Pendulum swinging ride; Colossus, a gravity-driven wood-steel hybrid coaster; the Arabian Carousel, where

Arabian horses march; the Expo Flyer swinging ride; and Automania, a bumper car attraction themed to London cabs.

Dakar: the Colors of Arabia The world’s most famous off-road endurance event, the Dakar Rally moves to a new venue from 2020: Saudi Arabia.

“We are in front of a clean sheet of paper.

But it is suddenly filled with colors. This is the magic of the world’s deserts,” Dakar Director David Castera said. “Our first trip to Saudi Arabia seemed promising and all the intuitions, based on our documentation work and on the knowledge of neighboring countries, were exceeded during the reconnaissance of the first part of the rally-route, in the northern and western regions of the country. The diverse topography, terrain, and scenery allowed us to come up with a format for a complete rally. After 4,500 kilometers and 10 days of crisscrossing this part of the country, we can already say with certainty that the competitors of the 2020 Dakar will need a lot of endurance!”

As seen on the map, the race starts on January 5 in Jeddah, with the drivers set to race through Al-Madinah, Tabuk and Ha’il regions before a having a rest day

Professional boxing: ‘Clash on the Dunes’ Former Olympic champion MexicanAmerican boxer Andy Ruiz Jr. will defend his unified WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight title against British rival Anthony Joshua in Diriyah, which incorporates the UNESCO World Heritage site of Al-Turaif, on the outskirts of the Saudi capital Riyadh on December 7 this year.

It will be a re-match as Ruiz scored a major upset in June 2019 in New York City by defeating Joshua. It will be another example underlying the Kingdom’s ambitions of hosting more international sports events. In February, the first European Tour golf event was hosted, while in July, British boxer Amir Khan won the WBC international welterweight title with a knockout of Australian Billy Dib in Jeddah.

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OPEN TOURIST VISA Saudi Arabia is to issue tourist visas as of this September 27 and the new scheme is reported to benefit the citizens of about 50 countries. Travelers will be able to apply for such visas online or at the point of entry.

The initiative is seen as an important step towards reforming the economy, in keeping with the Vision 2030 plan to diversify the economy away from oil dependency. Travel experts say tourism and leisure could account for 10% of GDP by 2030, adding more than USD 100 billion a year to the economy.

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SAUDI ARABIA OFFERS VISITORS INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN ATTRACTIONS

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SIX FLAGS IN QIDDIYA

Formula E at a world heritage site While the Dakar Rally had its inaugural race in 1979, Formula E, a class of motorsport that uses only electric-powered cars, commenced only in 2014 and four years later, Saudi Arabia provided a venue for it.

A year later, the Saudia Ad Diriyah E-Prix, held on November 22-23, 2019 will, in fact, be the season opener event with crowds of up to 100,000 expected to attend – a marked increase on 2018’s 60,000.

As ‘Arabian Business’ points out, more fans, more races, more cars and more global acts are being promised by the Gulf kingdom as its reputation as a sports and entertainment destination continues to grow. Last year’s sell-out Ad Diriyah E-Prix included music icons such as David Guetta, Enrique Iglesias, One Republic and the Black-Eyed Peas, performing as part of the racing championship’s debut in the Middle East.

Now, Formula E’s return for the 2019 Saudia Ad Diriyah E-Prix promises to eclipse the inaugural year with two races, instead of one, being staged at the UNESCO world heritage site of Ad Diriyah.

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Saudi Arabia AMBITIONS TRANSLATED INTO PROGRESS

SAUDI ARABIA’S ‘VISION 2030' DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IS MANIFESTED IN MORE AND MORE PROJECTS

HRH CROWN PRINCE MOHAMMAD BIN SALMAN IN 2016 MANDATED THE DEVELOPMENT OF A LONG-TERM MODEL OF PROSPERITY FOR THE KINGDOM. THE RESULT WAS VISION 2030, AN AMBITIOUS YET ATTAINABLE BLUEPRINT TO ENSURE THAT SAUDI ARABIA IS A VIBRANT SOCIETY, A THRIVING ECONOMY AND A PROGRESSIVE NATION. THIS PAGE DESCRIBES SOME OF THE DEVELOPMENTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS THAT ARE PART OF THIS AMBITIOUS PLAN THAT AIMS TO DIVERSIFY THE ECONOMY, AWAY FROM A DEPENDENCY ON OIL, AND PROVIDE ITS SOCIETY WITH VARIED AND RICH EXPERIENCES OF A QUALITY LIFESTYLE INCLUDING WORLD CLASS TOURISM. Bin Abdulaziz Medical Complexes; King Salman Energy Park (Spark); Saudi Aramco’s Berri and Marjan;Hanergy solar park; Dumat Al Jandal wind power plant; Saudi Aramco-Total’s PIB factory and Pan-Asia bottling facility.

These projects and other economic achievements have translated the goals and objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 into facts and figures that will not only benefit the Saudi economy, but will also benefit the people of Saudi Arabia.

GIGA PROJECTS The biggest of these development projects to date are Qiddiya Entertainment City, NEOM, the Red Sea Project and Amaala resort that will shape the future of tourism as an important hub to meet and satisfy the recreational, social and cultural needs of the Kingdom’s current and future generations.

The Qiddiya project aims to be a destination where Saudis can find excitement, inspiration, creative communities and opportunities for investment and work. NEOM is a giant zone being developed in the northwest of Saudi Arabia with USD 500 billion investment support from the Public Investment Fund.

The Red Sea Project has been described as one of the world’s most ambitious tourism and hospitality projects, aimed at setting new standards in sustainable development and redefining the world of luxury tourism. The Amaala project aims to focus on ultra-luxury ‘wellness tourism’ and the arts.

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QIDDIYA Qiddiya city is named after the Aba Al-Qid road (Camel Trail) that used to connect Al-Yamama to Hijaz.

When completed, Qiddiya will become a place to live, work and play, a prominent landmark and an important hub to meet and satisfy the recreational, social and cultural needs of the kingdom’s current and future generations.

Qiddiya, an important hub planned in the Saudi capital to fulfill the recreational and entertainment needs of the people, saw the launch of the construction phase this year.

The Qiddiya site is 40 kilometers from the center of Riyadh city. When completed, this prominent landmark is expected to be the world’s largest entertainment city, surpassing Walt Disney World in Florida, featuring Six Flags Qiddiya, Saudi Arabia’s first family-oriented theme park.

“Our ambition is for the long term. It goes beyond replenishing sources of income that have weakened or preserving what we have already achieved. We are determined to build a thriving country in which all citizens can fulfill their dreams, hopes and ambitions. Therefore, we will not rest until our nation is a leader in providing opportunities for all through education and training, and high quality services such as employment initiatives, health, housing, and entertainment.” These words from the welcome message of the Crown Prince to the readers of the Kingdom’s ‘Vision 2030’ comprehensive development program in 2016 held out the prospect of large-scale developments. And they did follow. Last year, for instance, foreign investments in the country rose by 110%, double the previous year, according to the Saudi minister of economy and planning.

As Arab News reports, the government’s commitment to economic reforms has resulted in excellent economic and financial results, as indicated in a report recently released by the Council of Saudi Chambers.

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For example, last year 10 development and investment projects worth SR 685 billion (USD 182 billion) were launched and the private sector’s contribution to GDP at constant prices doubled to about SR 1.2 billion (USD 319 million).

Construction schemes At present, the Middle Eastern professional journal ‘Construction Week’ has compiled the list of the top 20 construction schemes that are currently progressing in Saudi Arabia.

These developments offer a glimpse into the country’s focus on infrastructurebuilding, economic diversification, and raising the standard of living for its citizens and residents alike.

These schemes include Neom; The Red Sea Project; Qiddiya entertainment city; Amaala; Al Sharaan resort in Al-Ula; Makkah Grand Mosque – Third Expansion; Jeddah Tower; Ministry of Housing’s Sakani homes; Al Widyan; Riyadh Metro; Riyadh Rapid Bus Transit System; King Fahd Medical City Expansion; King Abdullah

NEOM The NEOM project, which has been described as “the destination for the future of living,” will stretch across the Egyptian and Jordanian borders and transform the Kingdom into an international pioneering example, through the introduction of value chains of industry and technology.

The area earmarked for the NEOM project offers excellent prospects for leisure tourism, combining the Red Sea, beautiful beaches and islands and unspoiled natural beauty.

June 30 this year saw the first flight taking off from NEOM Bay Airport, one of the most modern and distinctive airports in the Middle East and strategically located at the border of three countries: Saudi Arabia Jordan and Egypt.

THE RED SEA PROJECT Billed as one of the world’s most ambitious tourism and hospitality projects: an ultra-luxury destination that is being created around one of the world’s hidden natural treasures.

The Red Sea Project will set new standards in sustainable development and redefine the world of luxury tourism with objectives to position the Kingdom on the global tourism map.

Once completed, visitors will be able to explore the wonders and rich cultural heritage of Saudi Arabia’s untouched Red Sea Coast.

The area between the cities of Umluj and Al-Wajh covers more than 90 of the Red Sea’s untouched islands and a nature reserve containing regional flora and fauna.

AMAALA The Amaala resort, already being dubbed the Riviera of the Middle East, will be focused on wellness and healthy living. This ultra-luxurious destination will be located in the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Nature Reserve on the Kingdom’s northwestern coast of the Red Sea. The PIF, which is spearheading the project, will provide initial funding. Partnership and investment packages will be available to the private sector as it progresses. According to the developers, Amaala will feature “extraordinary architecture and unprecedented luxury in both hotels and private villas as well as a quaint retail village.”

It will also include an arts academy that will foster the growth and development of young artists from Saudi Arabia and the region.

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Saudi Arabia Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen that will rehabilitate critical infrastructure like roads, seaports and airports in addition to securing Yemen’s needs regarding energy, health care and agriculture. Both the Kingdom and the UAE have offered UNICEF USD 70 million to fund teachers’ salaries. Equally important is the program’s support for the energy sector in Yemen, USD 60 million each month to keep the power and water running. The Saudi assistance has extended to a demining program called ‘Masam’ aimed at removing landmines planted by the Houthi militia that took the lives and maimed many Yemeni civilians. The Masam program has managed to remove 89,761 mines to date.

SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT IN MAY 2015, THE KING SALMAN HUMANITARIAN AID AND RELIEF CENTER (KSRELIEF) HAS BEEN THE KINGDOM’S LINCHPIN IN FOSTERING HUMANITARIAN AID AND CONSECRATING SAUDI ARABIA AS A LEADING CONTRIBUTOR TO INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE AND RELIEF. A major component of Saudi Arabia’s foreign policy is built on humanitarian contributions as well as development and relief assistance, covering a wide spectrum of fields and operations that extend to those in need of assistance, regardless of religious, racial or gender-based considerations.

The Kingdom’s humanitarian contribution and assistance programs stretch back in history to its founder, King Abdulaziz Al Saud.

Overall, Saudi Arabia has contributed USD 139 billion over the last four decades to the benefit of more than 95 countries. The scope of the Kingdom’s contributions places it firmly at the top of world rankings in terms of humanitarian assistance, totaling 1.9% of its GDP, more than the 0.7% target set by the UN. KSrelief The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center has garnered international recognition and struck a favorable note with international organizations and officials like

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the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres who praised the Center as being "one of the most important humanitarian actors. It is today one of the actors that gives hope to so many people that are suffering because of conflict, because of natural disasters, because of all the dramas in today’s world.

KSrelief is today a very important pillar of humanitarian aid in the world. And I am very happy with the fact that there is such a strong cooperation between KSrelief and the UN humanitarian agencies."

The Center has initiated as many as 1.778 projects in more than 85 countries with a total cost of USD 37.56 billion. The implementation of these projects is the result of close cooperation with the UN specialized agencies, and civil society organizations in the beneficiary countries. The assistance extends to a myriad of sectors, including development programs, relief operations, running refugee camps, providing accommodation, education, health, food assistance and other logistical and communication related operations.

Yemen In Yemen, the coup against the legitimate government staged by the Iran-backed Houthi militias in September 2014 precipitated a severe humanitarian crisis. Saudi Arabia wasted no time, positioning itself at the forefront of international efforts to bring relief and humanitarian aid to the afflicted Yemeni people. In this regard, Saudi Arabia committed, in the period between 2015 and 2019, as much as USD 14.56 billion of humanitarian aid and relief assistance. During that same period, the Center provided an additional USD 2.26 billion in the form of more than 363 projects implemented in partnership with 80 partners. The aid has extended to all Yemeni provinces, including those under the Houthi control. Furthermore, Saudi Arabia hosts as many as 561,000 Yemenis, treating them as guests, benefiting from health care, education and job opportunities.

The aggregate financial support provided

by Saudi Arabia, the Emirates and Kuwait to the UN humanitarian response plan in Yemen by 2019 amounted to an estimated USD 1.44 billion. More recently, Riyadh pledged a USD 750 million contribution to the UN plan in a conference held in Geneva on February 26, 2019.

Keen to help the beleaguered Yemeni people, Saudi Arabia has launched the

Iraq In the same vein, Iraq was one of major beneficiaries of the Kingdom’s assistance and support, totaling USD 546 million through April 2018. During an international conference for the reconstruction of Iraq held in Kuwait in 2018, Saudi Arabia appropriated USD 1.5 billion for reconstruction projects.

Helping the Rohingya The Rohingya crisis is yet another example of how the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia stepped forward to provide humanitarian aid and relief assistance.

For the Kingdom, however, helping the Rohingya minority is nothing new; it goes back to 1948 when it hosted more than 300,000 Rohingya migrants.

In 2012, the Kingdom contributed USD 50 million to relief and humanitarian efforts aimed at the Rohingya. In 2014 the Kingdom decided to regularize half million of the Burmese community living in Saudi Arabia, granting them educational and health services as well as the right to seek employment. Similarly, the Center has allocated some USD 16 million to help the Rohingya inside Myanmar and those who fled to Bangladesh.

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COURTESY OF THE EMBASSY OF THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA

SAUDI ARABIA’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO HUMANITARIAN AID AND RELIEF ASSISTANCE

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FROM HEALTHCARE TO DE-MINING

Palestine Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian aid is more conspicuous in Palestine, where assistance provided to the Palestinian people over the last two decades has amounted to USD 6.5 billion. As many as 200 projects in the West Bank and Gaza came into fruition, benefiting Palestinian refugees in Syria, Lebanon and Jordan.

Syria According to UN estimates, as many as 5.6 million people have been forced to leave their country, with another 6.1 million displaced in Syria. Worse still, of more than 13 million Syrians who need urgent humanitarian aid, six million are children.

From the onset of the Syrian crisis through November 2018, Saudi Arabia has contributed as much as USD 2.77 billion in humanitarian aid. As the second Brussels conference kicked off in 2018 and within the UN Humanitarian Response Plan in Syria, the Kingdom donated a hundred million US dollars to the Syrian people. The Kingdom also hosted approximately 2.4 million Syrians, providing them with health care and the right to seek employment as well as granting as many as 141,000 Syrian students with scholarships to pursue their studies in the Kingdom’s schools and universities.

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