
Minister of Media: Saudi Vision 2030 achievements are the greatest response to skeptics
RIYADH —Saudi Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary described 2024 as "the year of record numbers of accomplishments" with regard to the Saudi Vision 2030. "The Vision 2030 always precedes numbers and time," he said while addressing a press conference in Riyadh on Monday.
Al-Dossary emphasized that the vision has achieved major successes ahead of schedule as the percentage of vision initiatives has reached 85 percent. "Saudi Vision 2030 is the greatest success story of the 21st century, and transparency is its most important hallmark. The Vision 2030 is not a vision restricted to time and place, but rather an inspiring model for nations, peoples, and societies." "One of the most important highlights of the vision is transparency, which the Saudi Crown Prince always emphasizes and directs all state officials to follow, because no journey can take place without the ambition of the citizen becoming a partner in this journey," he said.
The minister said that the results achieved by the vision are amazing. "We are not supposed to respond to or make justifications to those, who raised skepticism about the vision. What we see of achievements made on the ground ahead of their schedule of completion, is the greatest response," he said adding: "There is no doubt that we have a wise leadership and an ambitious people, and nothing is difficult or impossible to achieve for this people," he said.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Al Arabiya
5 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Saudi Arabia offers Lebanon condolences over death of army soldiers
Saudi Arabia on Saturday offered Lebanon its condolences over the death of Lebanese army soldiers who were killed in a blast at a weapons depot near the Israeli border. The Kingdom 'expressed its condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims and its solidarity with the Lebanese government and people,' The Saudi foreign ministry said in a statement on X. 'The Kingdom commends the army's efforts to uphold the government's sovereignty over all its territory, ensure its security and stability, and contribute to the prosperity of Lebanon and its people.' Six soldiers were killed and other wounded on Saturday 'while an army unit was inspecting a weapons depot and dismantling its contents in Wadi Zibqin,' in the Tyre district near the Israeli border. A military source told AFP that the blast took place 'inside a Hezbollah military facility.' Troops were 'removing munitions and unexploded ordnance left over from the recent war' between Israel and Hezbollah when the blast occurred, the source added. Under a truce that ended a recent war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah, the army has been deploying in south Lebanon and dismantling the militant group's infrastructure there.


Arab News
9 hours ago
- Arab News
Iraqi prime minister removes paramilitary commanders after deadly clash with police
BAGHDAD: Iraq's prime minister approved sweeping disciplinary and legal measures against senior commanders in a paramilitary force after clashes with police at a government facility that left three people dead last month, his office said Saturday. Gunmen descended on the agricultural directorate in Baghdad's Karkh district on July 27 and clashed with federal police. The raid came after the former head of the directorate was ousted and a new one appointed. A government-commissioned investigation found that the former director — who was implicated in corruption cases — had called in members of the Kataib Hezbollah militia to stage the attack, Sabah Al-Numan, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, said in a statement Saturday. Al-Sudani, who also serves as commander in chief of the armed forces, ordered the formation of a committee to investigate the attack. Kataib Hezbollah is part of the Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of mostly Shiite, Iran-backed militias that formed to fight the Islamic State extremist group as it rampaged across the country more than a decade ago. The PMF was formally placed under the control of the Iraqi military in 2016, but in practice it still operates with significant autonomy. Some groups within the coalition have periodically launched drone attacks on bases housing US troops in Syria. The Kataib Hezbollah fighters who staged the attack in Karkh were affiliated with the 45th and 46th Brigades of the PMF, the government statement said. Al-Sudani approved recommendations to remove the commanders of those two brigades, refer all those involved in the raid to the judiciary, and open an investigation into 'negligence in leadership and control duties' in the PMF command, it said. The report also cited structural failings within the PMF, noting the presence of formations that act outside the chain of command. The relationship between the Iraqi state and the PMF has been a point of tension with the United States as Iraq attempts to balance its relations with Washington and Tehran. The Iraqi parliament is discussing legislation that would solidify the relationship between the military and the PMF, drawing objections from Washington, which considers some of the armed groups in the coalition, including Kataib Hezbollah, to be terrorist organizations. In an interview with The Associated Press last month, Al-Sudani defended the proposed legislation, saying it's part of an effort to ensure that arms are controlled by the state. 'Security agencies must operate under laws and be subject to them and be held accountable,' he said.


Arab News
14 hours ago
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia's drive to build a defense powerhouse
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia's military equipment manufacturing sector is undergoing a significant expansion, emerging as a pivotal element of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 economic diversification strategy to boost domestic industrial capacity. Supported by robust government backing, strategic global partnerships, and growing local innovation, the defense industry is becoming a critical contributor to national security and a promising source of non-oil revenue. Under Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia aims to localize 50 percent of its military spending by the end of the decade. The sector's regulator, the General Authority for Military Industries, reported notable progress, with localization rising from 4 percent in 2018 to 19.35 percent in 2024 — reflecting steady advances toward self-sufficiency in defense manufacturing. The Kingdom's military expenditure reached $75.8 billion in 2024, according to official estimates, representing 3.1 percent of global defense spending. Using its own methodology, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute estimates the figure slightly higher at $80.3 billion. The country has allocated about $78 billion for the military sector in its 2025 budget — 21 percent of government spending and 7.2 percent of gross domestic product — supporting its goals to diversify the economy and reduce oil dependence. GAMI is driving efforts to attract investment, support small and medium-sized enterprises, and develop a strong defense industry spanning aerospace, armored vehicles, and missile systems, as well as electronic warfare, and UAVs — boosting both national security and long-term industrial growth. Global defense spending hits $2.7tn According to its April 2024 report Trends in World Military Expenditure, SIPRI said global military spending exceeded $2.7 trillion in 2024, marking a decade of continuous annual growth and a 37 percent increase between 2015 and 2024. 'The 9.4 percent increase in 2024 was the steepest year-on-year rise since at least 1988. The global military burden — the share of the world's GDP devoted to military expenditure — increased to 2.5 percent in 2024. Average military expenditure as a share of government expenditure rose to 7.1 percent in 2024, and world military spending per person was the highest since 1990, at $334,' the report added. The US, China, Russia, Germany, and India are the top five military spenders, making up 60 percent of global defense expenditure. The US leads with $997 billion — more than three times China's $314 billion, while Russia's spending rose 38 percent to $149 billion. Germany and India spent $88.5 billion and $86.1 billion, respectively. SIPRI estimated Middle East military spending at $243 billion in 2024, up 15 percent from 2023. Saudi Arabia led the region with $80.3 billion, ranking seventh globally, just $1.5 billion behind the UK. 'Its spending was 1.5 percent higher than in 2023 but 20 percent lower than in 2015 when its oil revenues peaked,' the independent institute said. Sector key to economic diversification Khaled Ramadan, chairman of the International Center for Strategic Studies in Cairo and an economic expert, described the Saudi military industries sector as a cornerstone of the country's economic diversification efforts and a vital pillar of Vision 2030. 'Localizing military industries reduces reliance on imported weapons,' Ramadan said, emphasizing the sector's role beyond defense. 'It also supports advanced industries such as electronics, telecommunications, aviation technology, and advanced manufacturing, contributing broadly to non-oil economic growth.' amadan projected the military manufacturing sector will contribute SR14 billion ($3.7 billion) to the Kingdom's GDP by 2030, with military exports expected to reach $666 million. 'This will boost non-oil revenues and create more job opportunities for Saudi youth,' he said. He also said the sector had 300 licensed firms by 2024, reflecting rising investor interest, with 40,000 jobs expected by 2030, mainly in technical fields like engineering and electronics. 'This is in addition to skills development through specialized training programs conducted in partnership with global institutions to enhance competencies in technologies such as artificial intelligence and cyber warfare,' he said, adding the sector's growth boosts demand in manufacturing and tech, supports private jobs, cuts unemployment, and promotes hiring of young Saudis. Qualitative partnerships and technology transfer In May, Saudi Arabia produced its first THAAD missile components with US-based aerospace and defense company Lockheed Martin, while agreements with Turkish firms Baykar, Fergani Space, and Aselsan will boost UAV, space, and defense electronics capabilities. Moreover, the launch of BAE Systems Arabian Industries, formed by merging BAE Systems Saudi Development and Training with the Saudi Maintenance and Supply Chain Management Co., aims to accelerate localization in maintenance and technical services. Highlighting how vital global collaborations are to Saudi Arabia's military manufacturing goals, Ramadan pointed to partnerships with leaders like Lockheed Martin for THAAD missile components, Boeing for aircraft support, and France's CMN for HSI32 fast interceptor boats, providing access to advanced technologies and expertise. 'These partnerships are examples of a balanced strategy combining foreign technology acquisition with domestic capacity building,' he said. This approach is supported by the establishment of 21 research centers focused on developing military technologies, especially in electronic warfare and drones, targeted for 2030. Ramadan said local and foreign investments in military manufacturing are projected to reach SR37.5 billion by 2030, with SR6 billion allocated by GAMI specifically for research and development. He added that domestic military procurement has already reached SR13 billion, with local production covering drones, defense systems developed by sustainability-focused firms, and fast interceptor boats. Despite this progress, Ramadan said that achieving localization goals will require intensified investments and overcoming legal and technical obstacles. Talent development and inclusion Launched by Saudi Arabian Military Industries in 2024, the Women in Defense program supports sector growth by empowering Saudi females through training and leadership initiatives. Overall, the military industries sector is expected to generate 60,000 indirect job opportunities by the end of the decade, supporting broader economic diversification goals. The economic expert described this initiative as part of SAMI's broader collaboration with international universities to enhance national expertise in engineering and advanced manufacturing. Ramadan said that the sector's expansion is expected to create thousands of jobs, particularly in high-demand areas such as engineering and electronics, while driving the need for labor in related industries and strengthening private sector participation. SAMI's transformation as a catalyst SAMI marked 2024 as a turning point, launching the Kingdom's first combat management system, expanding its workforce to over 7,000, and securing global partnerships. Echoing Ramadan's insights, Youssef Saidi, research fellow at the Economic Research Forum and a member of the Saudi Economic Association, told Arab News that the Kingdom is undertaking ambitious and wide-ranging initiatives to attract foreign investment into the defense sector. 'The Saudi Arabian Military Industries is leading these efforts through strengthening strategic partnerships and joint ventures with major global companies,' Saidi said, adding that the Kingdom is firmly committed to technology transfer, local defense manufacturing, and investing in national talent and research and development as integral parts of international defense contracts. He further said that GAMI is working to foster an attractive investment climate, support manufacturers, and leverage Saudi Arabia's considerable defense spending to position the Kingdom as both a regional hub and a global exporter of military products. Reflecting on SAMI's development, Saidi highlighted the company's 'profound transformation and rapid growth' since its establishment, which has made it a cornerstone of Vision 2030. 'SAMI has achieved remarkable growth in its revenues and contracts, expanded its employee base by 633 percent to reach 2,500 male and female employees by 2022, and successfully entered the list of top 100 global defense companies, advancing 19 places to rank 79 in 2023,' he said. Saidi added that, supported by the Kingdom's status as one of the world's top defense spenders, these efforts have shifted Saudi Arabia from a major arms importer into an ambitious, self-reliant player and trusted partner, making it an 'international prize' for global defense companies seeking strategic and profitable partnerships.