MBS: Progress & Repression in Saudi Arabia
- During a May visit to Riyadh, President Donald Trump lauded Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, calling him "an unbelievable man." Trump's visit, the first major overseas...
- Despite its status as an absolute monarchy, saudi Arabia presents a paradox: high levels of personal satisfaction among citizens alongside meaningful repression. A recent FII Priority Global...
- Power in Saudi Arabia is inherited, and accountability relies on the monarchy's self-directed reforms.
Discover the complex reality of Saudi Arabia under MBS: a nation balancing modernization and human rights. News Directory 3 explores how Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman drives Vision 2030, aiming to diversify the economy beyond oil, yet faces criticism over ongoing repression and human rights concerns, including a troubling rise in executions. While Saudi citizens report high satisfaction, dissent is stifled, and democratic institutions remain absent.This article examines emerging sectors, the influence on women’s workforce, and the challenges of reconciling progress wiht authoritarianism, asking if stability can truly thrive without freedom. Discover what’s next for the Kingdom.
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030: balancing Modernization and Human Rights
During a May visit to Riyadh, President Donald Trump lauded Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, calling him “an
unbelievable man.” Trump’s visit, the first major overseas trip of his second term, included praise for the
kingdom’s de facto ruler at an investment summit. Trump seemingly set aside concerns about Saudi Arabia’s human
rights record, including the 2018 assassination of Jamal Khashoggi, which U.S. intelligence linked to MBS,
while celebrating Saudi pledges of billions in defense and AI deals,including a reported $142 billion weapons
agreement.This visit highlights the complex relationship between Saudi Arabia’s global ambitions and its
internal policies.
Despite its status as an absolute monarchy, saudi Arabia presents a paradox: high levels of personal satisfaction
among citizens alongside meaningful repression. A recent FII Priority Global Survey indicated that 84% of
Saudis are content with their lives, citing free healthcare, low inflation, and increasing economic and social
freedoms. Critics argue that this contentment is manufactured by a state that suppresses dissent. However, many
young Saudis express deep loyalty to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, possibly enough to win a hypothetical
election, despite the absence of democratic institutions. The Saudi government has integrated popular aspirations
into its Vision 2030, projecting stability and well-being while maintaining strict control.
Power in Saudi Arabia is inherited, and accountability relies on the monarchy’s self-directed reforms. Unlike
democratic leaders who depend on elections and transparent governance, MBS prioritizes order and citizen welfare
over political pluralism. The Saudi state aims to ensure stability,protect its people,and improve societal
well-being without embracing democracy,achieving a quality of life that,by some measures,surpasses Western
nations. Though, this progress occurs alongside the suppression of dissent and the monarchy’s absolute power.
MBS’s focus on prosperity and opportunity challenges the notion that good governance requires democratic norms,
raising questions about the balance between freedom and stability.
While some attribute Saudi Arabia’s prosperity to its oil wealth, Vision 2030 emphasizes economic
diversification. In 2024, non-oil exports reached a record $137.29 billion, a 13% increase from the previous
year and a 113% increase as 2016. this growth is driven by petrochemicals, plastics, fertilizers, metals, and
emerging sectors like technology, renewable energy, and agriculture. MBS’s strategic investments have strengthened
the non-oil economy, aiming to increase its GDP contribution from 40% to 65%. This shift aims to protect the
kingdom from the eventual decline of oil reserves and bolster the monarchy’s legitimacy by creating a thriving,
diversified economy.
Vision 2030 is designed to transform Saudi Arabia into a major global economic power while reinforcing
monarchical stability. Driven by the need to reduce oil dependency, it includes enterprising projects like NEOM, a
$500 billion futuristic city, and the Red Sea Project, a luxury tourism destination, along with investments in
renewable energy and infrastructure. By promoting non-oil GDP growth and targeting foreign direct investment at
5.7% of GDP, the plan seeks to elevate Saudi Arabia into the world’s top 15 economies. MBS highlighted these
goals in a Fox News interview, noting exceeded targets and new objectives for resilience and global
competitiveness.
Beyond economics, Vision 2030 serves as a social contract, solidifying the monarchy’s legitimacy by addressing
the aspirations of Saudi society, particularly its youth. In the absence of elections, MBS has incorporated
public desires into targets such as increasing women’s workforce participation from 22% to 30%, doubling the
number of UNESCO heritage sites, and raising household spending on culture and entertainment to 6%.Projects like
Qiddiya, an entertainment megacity, along with investments in education and global connectivity, aim to foster a
dynamic society rooted in Islamic values and national pride. By aligning government plans with societal demands,
he seeks to reduce dissent and strengthen authority through inclusive progress.
This combination of opportunity and reform also enhances MBS’s political security by neutralizing threats to the
established order. Saudi Arabia’s improvement from 80th to 20th on the Government effectiveness Index and a
tenfold increase in non-oil revenue indicate stronger institutions. Outreach to youth, coupled with cultural and
economic openings, builds a loyal base less likely to challenge the crown. On the global stage, MBS is working
to strengthen the kingdom’s position, protecting his rule through initiatives ranging from re-establishing ties
with Iran to developing regional logistics hubs. Vision 2030’s promise of prosperity and stability reinforces his
leadership.
However,the human rights situation in saudi Arabia contrasts sharply with its modernizing image and Vision 2030.
In 2024, the kingdom executed at least 338 people, a significant increase from 170 the previous year and the
highest number in decades, according to amnesty International and AFP. Amnesty International reports that
activists face crackdowns, including arbitrary arrests, unfair trials, and severe sentences for challenging the
regime. such as, Muhammad al-Ghamdi, a retired teacher, was sentenced to death in July 2023 for peaceful
online posts, convicted by a Sharia-based court for non-violent criticism.
MBS described the al-Ghamdi case as “shameful” in a September 2023 Fox News interview, attributing it to “bad
laws” and promising reform. However, while mega-projects and cultural events dominate headlines, reports of
executions and suppressed freedoms often go unnoticed. He is creating a state where tradition and global
integration coexist, but persistent harsh penalties suggest a regime seeking international recognition while
suppressing dissent at home. As global scrutiny intensifies, these abuses threaten to undermine the kingdom’s
narrative of progress without accountability.
Saudi Arabia’s human rights record clashes with MBS’s extensive social reforms, which have transformed the
cultural landscape but also provoked conservative opposition. By 2025, women’s workforce participation reached
37%, exceeding Vision 2030’s target, driven by restrictions on the religious police and new roles in the
military. the 2017 anti-corruption purge demonstrated his commitment to streamlining power and modernizing
governance. However, these advancements are overshadowed by ongoing abuses, such as the 338 executions in 2024
and severe sentences for expression, linked to a Sharia judiciary. MBS faces resistance from clerics and
traditionalists who adhere to conservative norms, challenging his vision of a progressive yet authoritarian
state.
MBS’s rule embodies securitization, framing reforms and repression as essential for stability. Vision 2030
addresses critical issues like oil dependency,while executions are presented as necessary to prevent dissent.
This approach mirrors authoritarian strategies where security encompasses narrative control and economic prospects.
What’s next
The future of Saudi Arabia hinges on whether top-down changes can create lasting social shifts without political
pluralism. The nation’s deep cultural conservatism complicates MBS’s vision. Progress without democracy is
evident in economic advancements and social openings,but the world is watching the executions and silenced
voices. The key question remains: can Saudi Arabia reconcile its ambitions with the hidden costs of those it
silences, or will MBS’s vision always be caught between reform and repression?