Saudi Arabia's Transformation: Confronting Societal Challenges

As Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 reforms unfold, the Kingdom confronts a complex reality. For those who lived through the rigid past, today's changes are both thrilling and challenging. The younger generation, thriving in this new landscape, lacks the historical context of the old Saudi Arabia. How is society bridging this generational divide, and what does it say about the Kingdom’s evolving future?

When I sit down to write about Saudi Arabia for my website, I often question where my own understanding of the past has gone. I will be honest, it feels in this new era for Saudi, where everything has changed dramatically. that my knowledge and 26 years of experience have become insufficient.

I find myself lost in doubts, questioning where my understanding of the past has gone. But actually, I think working through these doubts and these histories is not just a valuable exercise for me personally but also this blog - and Saudi Arabia more generally.

Growing up in the 1980s and 1990s, life in Saudi Arabia felt dull, restrictive, and devoid of opportunities. The prospects seemed bleak, with rigid rules and an environment that stifled social and economic freedom.

The future appeared endless and uninspiring.

Then, the landscape began to shift. The Iraq invasion of Kuwait marked a turning point, introducing expensive satellite dishes that allowed us to access CNN and NBC for the first time. This new access to global news and entertainment was a sign of change. As Saudi Arabia faced economic challenges, it began to take tentative steps towards diversification.

Hope emerged as it became clear that economic reforms would drive the changes—women entering the workforce, the economy opening to foreign investment, and more.

The pace of progress was slow, but it was evident that substantial, deep-rooted changes were necessary. Everyone recognised that transformation was needed, but the path forward was not yet clear. Then came 2015, with the launch of Vision 2030 and the Transformation Plan.

Initially, many Saudis were skeptical, viewing it as just another plan among many.

However, the changes soon became tangible, and we are now living through them. For someone like me, the issue is the stark divide between the pre-2015 era and the post-2015 reality. The connection between the two periods feels missing; the transformation is so profound that it stands apart from the previous way of life.

Today's Saudi Arabia is charting a new course with different roots, and this shift must be internalised by its people—a process that will take time.

So for me, the challenge is to bridge this gap and find a way to connect the past with the present - and in so doing find a pathway to progress in the future.

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