The provided texts explore Saudi Arabia’s substantial foreign investments, driven by Vision 2030’s diversification goals. These investments span diverse sectors and global markets, including significant contributions to the US, China, and Japan, alongside expanding ventures in Africa. The articles also examine Saudi Arabia’s industrial growth, from its early beginnings to its current status as a major player in global manufacturing and technology. Further, the texts discuss the impact of Vision 2030 on various aspects of Saudi society and the government’s commitment to achieving its ambitious targets. Finally, included are reflections on Saudi culture, including prose poetry and handicrafts, and commentary on the role of art and artistic criticism.

Saudi Arabia’s Global Investments and Cultural Landscape: A Study Guide

Short Answer Quiz

Instructions: Answer each question in 2-3 sentences.

1. What is Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, and how does it relate to the Kingdom’s foreign investments?
2. Name three of the most prominent destinations for Saudi Arabia’s foreign investments in 2023.
3. According to the text, how has the relationship between Saudi Arabia and China developed in recent years?
4. What role does the Public Investment Fund (PIF) play in Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification strategy?
5. What is meant by “arts of anesthesia,” as described in one of the articles, and in what contexts do they often emerge?
6. According to the text, what is the main critique of material success if moral and ethical values are not taken into consideration?
7. How did social media impact the spread and development of prose poetry in Saudi Arabia?
8. What is the significance of the Riyadh train, according to the text, beyond simply being a means of transportation?
9. According to the text, how is the Saudi government supporting handicrafts in 2025?
10. What agreement did Donald Trump claim that he made with Venezuela?

Short Answer Quiz Answer Key

1. Vision 2030 is Saudi Arabia’s plan to diversify its economy and reduce its dependence on oil. Foreign investments are a crucial component of this plan, aimed at generating new sources of income and establishing the Kingdom as a major player in the global economy.
2. The United States, the United Kingdom, and European countries are among the most prominent investment destinations for Saudi Arabia in 2023. Saudi Arabia also invests in Asian and emerging markets, such as China and Japan.
3. The relationship between Saudi Arabia and China has deepened through a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement, resulting in increased trade, investments, and cooperation in areas like renewable energy and education. China also supports the Kingdom’s “Green Middle East” initiative.
4. The PIF is a major driver of Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification. It invests in diverse sectors both locally and internationally, such as technology, renewable energy, and infrastructure, to reduce reliance on oil.
5. “Arts of anesthesia” are forms of art that emerge during times of crises and social unrest, designed to distract the public from real issues. They are intended to numb awareness and often prioritize entertainment over critical reflection.
6. The text critiques a purely material understanding of success by using the analogy of wine. While wine is more valuable than grape juice, it is not considered permissible, highlighting the need to consider ethical values, in addition to financial gain.
7. Social media has allowed for the spread of prose poetry among younger generations in Saudi Arabia, giving poets platforms to share their work and interact with audiences, bypassing traditional restrictions and promoting a direct form of literary communication.
8. The Riyadh train symbolizes a civilized shift in thought, time management, and social perspectives, beyond being just a mode of transit. It represents a cultural scene, prompting a rediscovery of life and the Kingdom’s advancement.
9. The Saudi government, through the Ministry of Culture, is actively promoting craft awareness, preserving traditional crafts, and documenting their stories. This is done to support local and global recognition of the craft heritage and the Saudi identity.
10. Donald Trump stated that Venezuela has agreed to take in all illegal Venezuelan migrants found in the United States and pay for their transportation. He also claimed that Venezuela would take in members of the Tren de Aragua cartel.

Essay Questions

Instructions: Answer each of the following essay questions in a well-organized essay format.

1. Analyze the ways in which Saudi Arabia is attempting to achieve economic diversification, according to the provided texts. What are the major sectors of investment, and what challenges does the Kingdom still face?
2. Discuss the role of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) in Saudi Arabia’s economic strategy, with specific examples from the texts.
3. Compare and contrast the concept of “arts of anesthesia” with the traditional role of art as described in the text. Provide specific examples from the text to support your answer.
4. In what ways does the provided material demonstrate the cultural and social shifts occurring in Saudi Arabia, and how are these shifts reflected in economic activities?
5. Evaluate the relationship between traditional crafts and modern economic development, as seen in the texts.

Glossary of Key Terms

• Vision 2030: Saudi Arabia’s strategic plan to diversify its economy, reduce dependence on oil, and transform the country into a global hub.
• Public Investment Fund (PIF): Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, playing a major role in economic diversification and global investments.
• Sovereign Wealth Fund: A state-owned investment fund composed of money generated by the government, often from a country’s reserves.
• Arts of Anesthesia: Art forms that emerge during times of social and political unrest, used to distract the public from real issues by focusing on entertainment.
• Prose Poetry: A form of poetry that does not adhere to the traditional structures of meter or rhyme, focusing on poetic image and expressive freedom.
• Global Investment: The process of investing money in foreign countries or markets, aimed at diversifying assets and maximizing returns.
• Economic Diversification: The process of expanding an economy’s sectors beyond a single area (like oil), in order to reduce risk and increase stability.
• Comprehensive Strategic Partnership: A formal agreement between countries that includes commitments to strengthen relations in various fields, such as trade, investment, and technology transfer.
• Industrialization: The process of developing industries in a country or region.
• Soft Power: The ability to influence others through cultural or ideological means, rather than by military or economic force.
• Green Middle East Initiative: A Saudi Arabian initiative focused on addressing environmental challenges and promoting sustainable development in the region.
• Cultural Heritage: The legacy of physical artifacts and intangible attributes of a group or society that are inherited from past generations, maintained in the present, and bestowed for the benefit of future generations.

Saudi Arabia: Vision 2030 and Beyond

Okay, here is a detailed briefing document summarizing the main themes, ideas, and facts from the provided sources:

Briefing Document: Saudi Arabia’s Economic Transformation and Cultural Landscape

Executive Summary:

This briefing document consolidates information from various sources to provide an overview of Saudi Arabia’s current economic strategy, cultural developments, and social commentary. The primary focus is on the Kingdom’s ambitious Vision 2030, which seeks to diversify the economy away from oil dependence through substantial foreign investments, infrastructure development, and the fostering of new sectors. Additionally, the document touches upon cultural shifts, including the rise of prose poetry and reflections on societal values.

Key Themes and Ideas:

1. Vision 2030 and Economic Diversification:

• Goal: The overarching aim is to reduce reliance on oil revenues and create a more diversified and sustainable economy. This is being pursued through large-scale foreign investments, domestic industrialization, and the promotion of sectors like tourism, technology, and renewable energy.
• Foreign Investments: Saudi Arabia is making massive investments globally, totaling approximately $600 billion in 2023, with major destinations being the USA, UK, Europe, China, Japan and Africa. Investments span various sectors, including real estate, financial markets, technology, renewable energy, and infrastructure.
• Public Investment Fund (PIF): The PIF is a critical instrument in the Vision 2030 plan, managing assets worth nearly $1 trillion. It drives much of the foreign investment and focuses on strategic, long-term partnerships in promising sectors.
• Quotes:“Saudi Vision 2030, which is the Kingdom’s post-oil plan, has maintained and strengthened the momentum of Saudi investments abroad, in an effort to strengthen the good economic and diplomatic relations that link the Kingdom with various countries of the world…”
• “The Public Investment Fund aims to work towards achieving the goals of Vision 2030, as it is the main driver of the economy and investment in the Kingdom.”
• “The strategic objectives that the fund seeks to achieve include: Maximizing assets The fund aims to increase the value of its assets through diverse local and international investments, and launching new sectors as the fund seeks to develop promising sectors within the Kingdom, such as tourism, entertainment, technology, and renewable energy…”
• Impact: This diversification effort is intended to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s economic presence internationally and to improve internal sustainability and increase non-oil revenues.

1. Global Investment Partnerships:

• United States: Saudi Arabia has substantial investments in the US, estimated at around $200 billion in various sectors.
• China: Investments in China are rapidly growing, focused on renewable energy, mineral projects, AI, and advanced technologies, reaching $50 billion. There is also increasing bilateral trade and collaboration, with a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement.
• Japan: The Kingdom is investing heavily (nearly $30 billion) in advanced technologies like cars and robotics.
• Africa: $15 billion has been allocated for major projects in agriculture, energy, and minerals to support African economies.
• Quote: “On another level, Saudi investments in China are witnessing significant growth, reaching about $50 billion, with a special focus on renewable energy and mineral projects…Relations between Saudi Arabia and China extend back more than eight decades…”
• Strategic Alliances: The Kingdom emphasizes building strategic partnerships with major economies to enhance its global investment footprint.
• Emerging Markets: Saudi Arabia invests in emerging markets, including Egypt, Pakistan, Bahrain, Ukraine, and Argentina, aiming for financial returns while also supporting these economies.

1. Industrial Development & Innovation:

• Localizing Industries: From historical roots in crafting the Kiswa of the Kaaba to the rise of major companies like SABIC and Maaden, the kingdom has consistently focused on industry localization.
• Technological Advancement: Major investments in AI, robotics, and renewable energy, demonstrate a shift towards a future driven by cutting edge tech.
• Quotes:“Since its inception, our country has planned to localize industries and focus on spreading factories and contributing to that directly.”
• “In Japan, the Kingdom is investing nearly $30 billion in advanced technology industries such as cars and robots…”

1. Cultural Transformation and Expression:

• Rise of Prose Poetry: Prose poetry has gained popularity, challenging traditional Arabic poetic forms and embracing more contemporary themes and expressive freedom. Social media has played a significant role in its proliferation.
• Quote: “Prose poetry is one of the most prominent modern poetic forms that has witnessed a remarkable development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia…it was able to find its place in the Saudi cultural scene thanks to the ability of its poets to go beyond the traditional molds of Arabic poetry that depend on meters and rhymes…”
• Role of Culture: The Ministry of Culture is actively promoting crafts as a vital part of Saudi heritage, highlighting their cultural and economic significance.
• Quote: “This article comes from the cultural direction that the Ministry of Culture saw this year (2025 AD) to pay attention to handicrafts, and what they represent in terms of embodying our creative heritage, and our diverse cultural details, and consolidating the status of handicrafts locally and globally, as a cultural heritage, and a pillar of the pillars of the Saudi identity…”
• Social Awareness: There is recognition of a need for deeper societal understanding of values and issues beyond material success (as explored in the “Wine and Grape Juice!” piece)

1. Social Commentary & Reflections:

• Personal Growth: The article “From the flash of speech..” presents a series of short observations on commonly used phrases and their deeper meanings, encouraging reflection on personal behavior and the impact of words.
• “Arts of Anesthesia”: This article provides critical analysis of art forms that aim to distract or numb society during times of crisis, emphasizing the importance of critical engagement with art.
• Impact of Modernization: The article “Four days in Novel Criticism” highlights the positive social and cultural changes, such as time management and rediscovering oneself, brought by modern infrastructure, specifically the Riyadh train.

1. Real Estate Development:

• Real Estate Future Forum 2025: The Kingdom’s real estate sector is highlighted as experiencing a renaissance, with a focus on modern technologies, sustainable practices and opportunities for global collaboration and investment.
• Innovation: The forum emphasized innovative methods of financing, real estate investment, and the integration of technology.

Key Facts and Statistics:

• $600 Billion: Total Saudi investments abroad in 2023.
• $200 Billion: Saudi investments in the United States.
• $50 Billion: Saudi investments in China.
• $30 Billion: Saudi investments in Japan.
• $15 Billion: Planned Saudi investments in Africa.
• $1 Trillion: Approximate value of assets managed by the Public Investment Fund.
• 720 Billion Saudi Riyals: Total foreign investments by Saudi Arabia.
• 3.47 Trillion Saudi Riyals: Assets under management by the Public Investment Fund (PIF).

Conclusion:

The provided sources paint a picture of a Saudi Arabia undergoing rapid economic and cultural transformation. Vision 2030 is the driving force behind these changes, with massive foreign investments, infrastructure projects, and the promotion of new economic sectors. While the country is pushing for modernization, it remains grounded in cultural values. There is also a focus on individual reflection and personal growth, and the importance of critical thought.

Additional Notes:

• The articles are written with a positive tone regarding the Saudi government’s vision and actions.
• The sources provide insights into various aspects of life in Saudi Arabia, from economic policy to cultural expression and social commentary.
• The references to the World Economic Forum and global figures like Larry Fink highlight the kingdom’s increasing global prominence.
• The inclusion of a news article about US/Venezuela relations provides a point of comparison in terms of national priorities.

This briefing document provides a comprehensive overview of Saudi Arabia’s current trajectory, highlighting its economic ambition, cultural shifts, and critical perspectives on its societal fabric. It underscores the kingdom’s global aspirations and its commitment to long-term development and sustainability.

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030: Economic and Social Transformation

FAQ on Saudi Arabia’s Economic, Cultural, and Social Transformations

• What are the key drivers behind Saudi Arabia’s significant foreign investment strategy?
• Saudi Arabia’s foreign investment strategy is primarily driven by the goals of Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the Kingdom’s economy away from oil dependency. This involves securing new sources of income, expanding growth opportunities, accessing diverse resources, ensuring stable supplies of essential goods, and reducing economic risks through investment diversification across global markets. The Public Investment Fund (PIF) plays a pivotal role, seeking to maximize long-term returns and establish the Kingdom as a preferred investment partner globally.
• Which countries and sectors are the primary focus of Saudi Arabia’s global investments?
• The United States, the United Kingdom, and various European countries are major investment destinations, with significant capital allocated to real estate and financial markets. Saudi Arabia also has a strong and growing presence in Asian markets, including China and Japan, focusing on renewable energy, minerals, artificial intelligence, and advanced technologies. Additionally, investments are being channeled into emerging markets in Africa, targeting agriculture, energy, and mineral sectors. The PIF has invested heavily in sectors such as electric vehicles (e.g., “Seer”), aviation (e.g., “Riyadh Aviation”), and has acquired a stake in Heathrow Airport, reflecting a strategic focus on key industries and infrastructure globally.
• How has Saudi Arabia’s relationship with China evolved, and what are the key areas of cooperation?
• Saudi-China relations have deepened significantly, evolving into a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This includes a substantial increase in Saudi investments in China, particularly in renewable energy, minerals, and technology. China supports Saudi Arabia’s “Green Middle East” initiative, and welcomes Saudi participation in global development initiatives. Cooperation extends to education, with the inclusion of Chinese language in Saudi curricula and the exchange of teachers. Trade and technology collaboration are also growing, reflecting an ambition to enhance both economies.
• Beyond economic diversification, what other objectives does Saudi Arabia aim to achieve through its foreign investments?
• Saudi Arabia’s foreign investments seek to strengthen its economic and diplomatic ties globally. The Kingdom aims to enhance its soft power in the region and foster positive, mutually beneficial strategic partnerships with various countries, contributing to global stability, combating terrorism, and establishing peace in the Middle East region. Foreign investments are also used to transfer knowledge, expertise, and attract partners in sectors vital for Saudi Arabia’s development, aligning with its Vision 2030 goals for a diversified and resilient economy.
• What role do the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and other major Saudi companies play in Saudi Arabia’s economic transformation and foreign investment strategy?
• The PIF is a key driver of economic transformation and investment in Saudi Arabia. As one of the largest sovereign funds in the world, it aims to maximize its assets through diverse local and international investments, launch new sectors, localize technologies and knowledge, and build strategic global partnerships. Major Saudi companies, such as Kingdom Holding Company, also play a crucial role in enhancing foreign investments through significant international holdings. The PIF focuses on sustainable growth, and seeks to be a global economic leader by supporting innovative sectors and global infrastructure projects.
• How does Saudi Arabia’s focus on local industry and manufacturing contribute to its overall economic strategy?
• Saudi Arabia has long aimed to localize industries, starting with historical efforts like the establishment of the house dedicated to manufacturing the Kiswa. The development of industries has evolved from traditional crafts to petroleum and petrochemical sectors after the discovery of oil. The establishment of organizations like Petromin, SABIC, and Maaden, along with the Industrial Cities Authority, show the Kingdom’s dedication to building a robust industrial sector. This commitment aims to meet local demands, enhance industrial integration with other nations, and foster growth in various sectors, such as heavy industries and electronics, which are vital for economic diversity and advancement.
• How is Vision 2030 impacting Saudi culture and society, according to the sources?
• Vision 2030 is driving significant cultural and social transformations in Saudi Arabia, reflected in an increased focus on preserving national heritage while integrating modern advancements. The Kingdom has experienced a rise in various cultural expressions, including prose poetry, which are now widely shared through social media, indicating a willingness to explore new artistic forms. Socially, a renewed emphasis on tourism has increased interactions and connections, creating a more diverse and inclusive environment. These changes demonstrate a reevaluation of time, space, and traditional roles, fostering a dynamic and evolving society.
• What challenges and opportunities are associated with the rapid economic and social changes occurring in Saudi Arabia?
• Saudi Arabia faces challenges such as global economic fluctuations, geopolitical changes, and technological advancements. However, the Kingdom’s commitment to Vision 2030 and initiatives like “Green Saudi Arabia” offer significant opportunities. These include investment in clean energy, sustainable development, the growth of innovative industries, and enhanced quality of life. Rapid economic and social transformations require a balance of embracing change and preserving its heritage. The government’s focus on building a more resilient and flexible economy will be critical to navigating these challenges effectively and capitalizing on emerging opportunities.

Saudi Arabia’s Global Investment Strategy

Saudi Arabia is a major player in the global economy, with significant foreign investments aimed at diversifying its income sources and strengthening its economic position [1-3]. These investments are a key part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 plan to reduce dependence on oil [2-5].

Key Investment Areas:

• Geographic Distribution: Saudi Arabia’s investments span across the globe with a focus on the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe, as well as Asian and emerging markets like China, Japan, and Africa [4].
• United States: Saudi investments in the U.S. are substantial, totaling around $200 billion across various sectors, particularly real estate and financial markets [4]. In 2022, $160 billion was invested in U.S. financial markets, with additional investments in technology, renewable energy, and healthcare [6]. The Public Investment Fund (PIF) increased its ownership of U.S. stocks to $26.7 billion in the third quarter of last year, with $144 billion in U.S. Treasury bonds held by the central bank [6].
• China: Saudi investments in China are growing significantly, reaching approximately $50 billion, focusing on renewable energy, mineral projects, artificial intelligence, and advanced technologies [7]. Chinese investments in the Kingdom reached $16.8 billion in 2023, up from $1.5 billion in 2022, while Saudi investments in China amounted to 75 billion riyals [8].
• Japan: The Kingdom is investing around $30 billion in Japan, particularly in advanced technology industries like cars and robots. This is projected to increase to $50 billion over the next five years [9].
• Africa: Saudi Arabia is allocating $15 billion for major projects in Africa, including agriculture, energy, and minerals [10].
• Sector Focus: Saudi investments are diversified across multiple sectors [1-3, 5, 11].
• Technology: The Kingdom is heavily investing in technology, including artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and robotics [6, 12].
• Renewable Energy: Investments in renewable energy projects are also a key priority [5-7, 13].
• Real Estate: Significant investments are made in real estate, both domestically and internationally [4, 12, 14].
• Financial Markets: The Public Investment Fund (PIF) is increasing its presence in international financial markets, including stakes in major banks and hedge funds [6, 12].
• Manufacturing: Investments are expanding in heavy industries and electronics, enhancing industrial integration between Saudi Arabia and other countries [11].
• Other sectors: The investments also include the electric car sector, aviation, and the entertainment industry [15-17].

Investment Strategies and Goals:

• Diversification: Saudi Arabia is actively diversifying its investment portfolio to reduce risks and ensure sustainable returns [11, 13].
• Strategic Partnerships: The Kingdom aims to build strategic partnerships with major economies to enhance its position in the global investment landscape [13].
• Vision 2030: Saudi Vision 2030 is the driving force behind these investments, aiming to diversify the economy, reduce reliance on oil, and achieve sustainable development [2-5, 10, 18].
• Economic Growth: Foreign investments are intended to contribute to the Kingdom’s economic strength and increase non-oil revenues [17].
• Knowledge Transfer: Investments are targeted at sectors that can benefit Saudi Arabia by transferring expertise and attracting partners [10].
• Global Influence: Through its investments, Saudi Arabia seeks to become an influential global economic center [17]. The Public Investment Fund aims to be a driving force for investment and the most influential investment entity in the world, supporting new sectors and opportunities that shape the global economy [19, 20].
• Supporting Emerging Markets: The Kingdom has a dedicated investment policy for emerging markets to support their growth and achieve returns, with investments in countries like Egypt, Pakistan, Bahrain, Ukraine, Argentina, and Jordan [10].
• Sustainability: The Kingdom is also focused on sustainable development through initiatives such as the “Green Saudi Arabia” initiative, which promotes investments in clean energy [13].

Public Investment Fund (PIF):

• The PIF is a major driver of Saudi foreign investments and is one of the largest sovereign funds in the world [2, 18, 20, 21].
• It manages assets worth approximately 3.47 trillion Saudi Riyals [20].
• The PIF aims to maximize assets, launch new sectors, and localize technologies and knowledge [20].
• It is responsible for investments in strategic sectors, including technology, infrastructure, and major projects like NEOM and Qiddiya [22].
• The fund has a goal to make long term investments and achieve sustainable returns [19].

Challenges and Opportunities:

• Saudi Arabia faces challenges related to global economic fluctuations, geopolitical changes, and rapid technological developments [13].
• However, the government’s commitment to Vision 2030 and initiatives like “Green Saudi Arabia” offer opportunities for investment and growth [13].

In summary, Saudi Arabia’s foreign investments are a significant component of its economic strategy, aimed at diversifying the economy, enhancing its global presence, and achieving sustainable growth through strategic investments across various sectors and regions [1-3, 5, 11].

Saudi Vision 2030: Economic Transformation and Global Growth

Vision 2030 is a comprehensive plan that drives Saudi Arabia’s economic and social transformation, aiming to reduce the Kingdom’s dependence on oil and diversify its economy [1-3]. It serves as the primary framework for the Kingdom’s foreign investment strategy [3-5], and is designed to achieve sustainable growth, enhance its global economic position, and create a more prosperous future [5-7].

Key Objectives of Vision 2030:

• Economic Diversification: A central goal is to diversify the sources of income and reduce reliance on oil [2-4]. This is being pursued through investments in various sectors, both domestically and internationally [2, 5].
• Sustainable Development: Vision 2030 emphasizes sustainable development through initiatives such as the “Green Saudi Arabia” initiative, which promotes investments in clean energy and environmental conservation [6, 8].
• Global Economic Presence: The Kingdom aims to strengthen its economic presence on the international scene and become an influential global economic center [3, 6, 7]. This is being achieved by increasing the size and diversity of its foreign investments [3].
• Job Creation: The plan aims to launch new and promising sectors, creating both direct and indirect job opportunities for Saudi citizens [9].
• Improved Quality of Life: Vision 2030 seeks to enhance the quality of life for Saudi citizens through various social and economic reforms [10].

Role of Foreign Investments:

• Diversification of Investments: Saudi Arabia is actively diversifying its investment portfolios across various sectors such as technology, renewable energy, real estate, and financial markets to reduce risks and ensure sustainable returns [5, 6, 11].
• Strategic Partnerships: The Kingdom aims to build strategic partnerships with major economies to enhance its position on the global investment map [8, 11].
• Global Expansion: The Kingdom seeks to expand its investments in various global markets, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia, and Africa [4, 12].
• Knowledge Transfer: Investments are targeted at sectors that can benefit Saudi Arabia through the transfer of expertise and attraction of partners [12].

The Public Investment Fund (PIF):

• The PIF is a key instrument for achieving the goals of Vision 2030 [9, 13]. It is one of the largest sovereign funds in the world, with assets under management amounting to approximately 3.47 trillion Saudi riyals [14].
• Strategic Objectives: The fund aims to maximize assets, launch new sectors, localize technologies and knowledge, and build strategic economic partnerships [7, 14].
• Major Projects: The PIF is involved in major projects within the Kingdom, such as NEOM, Qiddiya, and the Red Sea projects [7].
• Global Investments: The PIF contributes to shaping the future of the global economy through its investments in leading technology companies, infrastructure projects, and other vital sectors [7].
• Economic Driver: The PIF has become one of the main drivers of the growth of the Saudi economy [9].

Impact and Progress:

• Economic Transformation: Vision 2030 has initiated a process to rebuild the Saudi economy, and through it, the Kingdom has realized what kind of economy it wants [15].
• Increased Momentum: The vision has maintained its momentum and enthusiasm, which is considered a rare case in transformation processes [16].
• International Recognition: The Kingdom’s progress has been recognized by international organizations and global figures, with the World Economic Forum highlighting Saudi Arabia’s prominence [15, 16].

Challenges and Opportunities:

• Global Economic Fluctuations: The Kingdom faces challenges related to global economic fluctuations, geopolitical changes, and rapid technological developments [8].
• Commitment and Progress: Despite the challenges, the government’s commitment to Vision 2030 and ambitious initiatives provides new investment opportunities in areas like clean energy and sustainable development [6, 8].

In summary, Vision 2030 is a comprehensive, long-term strategy to transform Saudi Arabia’s economy and society. It aims to diversify the economy, enhance global competitiveness, and improve the quality of life for Saudi citizens. Foreign investments, driven by the PIF, play a crucial role in achieving these goals. The plan is recognized for its ambition and momentum, with significant progress made across various sectors [15, 16].

Saudi Arabia’s Global Investments: Vision 2030 and Beyond

Saudi Arabia is actively engaged in global markets through a variety of investments and strategic partnerships, aiming to diversify its economy and strengthen its international presence [1, 2]. The Kingdom’s approach is guided by its Vision 2030 plan, which seeks to reduce dependence on oil and create a more sustainable and diversified economy [2-5].

Key Aspects of Saudi Arabia’s Engagement in Global Markets:

• Investment Volume and Reach:In 2023, Saudi investments abroad totaled approximately $600 billion [3].
• These investments are spread across various regions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, European countries, Asia, and Africa [3].
• Saudi assets invested abroad have reached about 5 trillion Saudi riyals [2].
• Net direct Saudi investments abroad reached 2.42 billion riyals in the third quarter of 2023, raising the total cumulative investments to 721.78 billion riyals [2].
• Geographic Focus:United States: The U.S. is a primary investment destination, with about $200 billion invested in various sectors, including real estate and financial markets [3]. The Kingdom also holds a significant amount of U.S. Treasury bonds, with the central bank owning $144 billion [6].
• China: Investments in China are growing, reaching approximately $50 billion, with a focus on renewable energy, mineral projects, and advanced technologies [7]. Trade exchange between the two countries is expected to increase [7].
• Japan: Saudi Arabia is investing around $30 billion in Japan’s advanced technology industries, with plans to increase this to $50 billion [8].
• Africa: The Kingdom is allocating $15 billion for major projects in Africa, including agriculture, energy, and minerals [9].
• Sectoral Focus:Technology: Significant investments are being made in global technology companies, particularly in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and robotics [6, 7, 10].
• Renewable Energy: There is a strong focus on renewable energy projects, with investments in both domestic and international projects [5-7].
• Manufacturing: Saudi Arabia is expanding its investments in the manufacturing sector, particularly in heavy industries and electronics [11].
• Real Estate: Investments are made in real estate and tourism projects in the United States and Europe, with a focus on emerging markets in Asia and Africa [3, 10].
• Financial Markets: The Public Investment Fund (PIF) is increasing its presence in international financial markets through stakes in major banks and asset management companies [10].
• Other Sectors: Investments also include the electric car sector, aviation, and the entertainment industry [12, 13].
• Strategic Goals and Initiatives:Diversification: A core goal is to diversify investment portfolios to reduce risks and ensure sustainable returns [9, 11].
• Vision 2030: All investments are aligned with Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the economy and reduce dependence on oil [2-4].
• Partnerships: The Kingdom is keen on building strategic partnerships with major economies to enhance its global position [11, 14].
• Economic Growth: Foreign investments are designed to strengthen the Kingdom’s economic power and increase non-oil revenues [13].
• Knowledge Transfer: Saudi Arabia aims to benefit from these investments by transferring knowledge and attracting partners to the Kingdom [9].
• Global Influence: The Kingdom aims to become an influential global economic center through its strategic investments and partnerships [13, 15].
• Supporting Emerging Markets: The Kingdom has a dedicated investment policy for emerging markets to support their growth and achieve returns [9].
• Public Investment Fund (PIF):The PIF is a major driver of Saudi foreign investments and one of the largest sovereign funds globally [2, 16].
• It manages assets worth approximately 3.47 trillion Saudi riyals [16].
• The PIF aims to maximize assets, launch new sectors, and localize technologies and knowledge [16].
• It is responsible for significant investments in strategic sectors, including technology, infrastructure, and major projects [15].
• The PIF aims to be the most influential investment entity in the world [17].
• Specific Investments:The PIF acquired a stake in Heathrow Airport to support its sustainable growth [18].
• The PIF is investing in global entertainment companies and energy companies to expand the Kingdom’s presence in the renewable energy market [13].
• The PIF is also promoting investments in the financial technology sector to keep pace with global digital transformations [13].

Challenges and Opportunities in Global Markets

• Economic Factors: Saudi Arabia faces challenges related to global economic fluctuations, geopolitical changes, and rapid technological advancements [14].
• Sustainability Focus: The government’s commitment to Vision 2030 and initiatives like “Green Saudi Arabia” contribute to new investment opportunities in sustainable development [14].

In summary, Saudi Arabia’s engagement in global markets is extensive and multifaceted, driven by its Vision 2030 goals. The Kingdom seeks to diversify its economy, build strategic partnerships, and become a major player in the global economic landscape through its various investments and strategic initiatives.

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030: Economic Diversification

Economic diversification is a central theme in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, aiming to reduce the Kingdom’s reliance on oil and create a more sustainable and robust economy [1-3]. This strategy involves expanding investments across various sectors and global markets, fostering growth, and enhancing the Kingdom’s economic stability [2-4].

Key aspects of Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification strategy include:

• Reducing Dependence on Oil: The primary goal is to decrease the economy’s reliance on oil revenues by developing alternative income sources [2-5]. This is crucial for long-term economic stability and resilience.
• Investment in Diverse Sectors: Saudi Arabia is actively investing in various sectors, including technology, renewable energy, manufacturing, real estate, and tourism [2, 5-11]. These investments are intended to create new industries and job opportunities, thereby diversifying the economy [3, 12, 13].
• Technology: Investments are being made in global tech companies, focusing on areas like artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and robotics [6, 10, 14].
• Renewable Energy: The Kingdom is investing in renewable energy projects, both domestically and internationally, as part of its commitment to sustainable development [5, 6, 14, 15].
• Manufacturing: There is a significant expansion in investments in the manufacturing sector, particularly in heavy industries and electronics [11].
• Real Estate & Tourism: Investments in real estate and tourism projects, both locally and globally, aim to attract international visitors and boost the economy [10, 16].
• Other Sectors: Investments also include the electric car sector, and aviation [9].
• Global Investments: Saudi Arabia is strategically investing in global markets to diversify its income sources and strengthen its international economic position [1-4].
• Major Destinations: Investments are being made in the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia (including China and Japan), and Africa [2, 5, 7, 8, 10, 14].
• Emerging Markets: The Kingdom also has a dedicated investment policy for emerging markets to support their growth and achieve returns [8].
• Public Investment Fund (PIF): The PIF plays a crucial role in driving economic diversification, with assets under management of approximately 3.47 trillion Saudi riyals [3, 13]. It acts as a major driver of the Saudi economy through its investments [3, 12, 13, 17].
• Strategic Objectives: The fund aims to maximize assets, launch new sectors, localize technologies and knowledge, and build strategic economic partnerships [13, 17].
• Global Investments: The PIF is making investments in leading technology companies, infrastructure projects, and other vital sectors globally, and it aims to be the most influential investment entity in the world [17, 18].
• Strategic Partnerships: The Kingdom is focused on building strategic partnerships with major economies to enhance its position on the global investment map and facilitate technology and knowledge transfer [19].
• Vision 2030 Alignment: All of these efforts are aligned with the goals of Vision 2030, which seeks to create a diversified and sustainable economy [2-5, 19, 20]. The vision has been described as a process to rebuild the Saudi economy, and through it, the Kingdom has realized what kind of economy it wants [21].
• Job Creation and Economic Growth: Through the diversification of its economy, Saudi Arabia aims to create both direct and indirect job opportunities for its citizens, boosting economic growth and development [12, 13].
• Sustainability: Economic diversification also includes a focus on sustainability through initiatives like the “Green Saudi Arabia” initiative, which is geared towards clean energy [19].
• Increasing Non-Oil Revenues: Foreign investments are aimed at increasing non-oil revenues to support financial sustainability [15].

Progress and Impact:

• Increased Investment: The volume of Saudi investments abroad has increased significantly, reaching approximately $600 billion in 2023, and total foreign investments have risen to more than 720 billion Saudi riyals [2, 3, 5].
• Economic Transformation: Saudi Arabia is undergoing a significant economic transformation, with investments in diverse sectors contributing to a more resilient and balanced economy [3, 21].
• Global Recognition: The Kingdom’s efforts have been recognized by international organizations and global figures, and the progress of Vision 2030 has maintained its momentum and enthusiasm [21, 22].

In summary, Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification strategy, driven by Vision 2030, involves a comprehensive approach to reducing dependence on oil, expanding investments across various sectors, and engaging strategically in global markets. The PIF is a key driver of this strategy, aiming to create a more diversified, sustainable, and influential global economy. This strategy is designed to not only enhance the Kingdom’s economic stability but also its position on the global stage.

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund: Vision 2030 and Beyond

The Public Investment Fund (PIF) is a central component of Saudi Arabia’s economic strategy, playing a vital role in achieving the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals [1, 2]. The PIF is one of the largest sovereign wealth funds in the world and is a major driver of the Saudi economy and investment [1, 3, 4]. It is actively involved in both domestic and international investments to diversify the Saudi economy, reduce dependence on oil, and enhance the Kingdom’s global economic presence [1, 5, 6].

Key aspects of the PIF include:

• Size and Assets: The PIF manages assets worth approximately 3.47 trillion Saudi riyals [1]. The Fund has doubled in size and continues to grow [3].
• Strategic Objectives: The PIF aims to maximize the value of its assets through diverse local and international investments [1]. It seeks to launch new sectors within the Kingdom, such as tourism, entertainment, technology, and renewable energy, to enhance economic diversification [1]. The fund also strives to localize modern technologies and advanced knowledge to enhance local capabilities and create job opportunities [1].
• Global Investments: The PIF is actively involved in global markets through strategic investments [2]. Its investments include:
• Technology: The PIF invests in leading global technology companies, especially in areas such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and robotics [2, 7].
• Infrastructure: The fund invests in infrastructure projects [2].
• Energy: The PIF has investments in the renewable energy sector [6].
• Other Sectors: The PIF has made investments in the electric car sector through the launch of the “Seer” brand, the aviation sector through “Riyadh Aviation,” global entertainment companies, and the financial technology (Fintech) sector [8, 9].
• Real Estate: The PIF invests in global real estate and tourism projects [7].
• Financial Markets: The PIF has increased its presence in international financial markets by acquiring stakes in major banks, hedge funds, and global asset management companies [7].
• Specific Investments: The PIF completed the acquisition of a stake in FGP Topco, the holding company of Heathrow Airport, and aims to support its sustainable growth [10].
• Role in Economic Transformation: The PIF leads the economic transformation in the Kingdom and pushes it towards sustainable change by localizing technologies and knowledge, diversifying its investment portfolios, and building strategic partnerships [2, 4]. It also contributes to shaping the future of the global economy [2]. The fund is a key driver of the Saudi economy, working to achieve the goals of Vision 2030 [3, 4].
• Vision and Mission: The PIF’s vision is to become the most influential investment entity in the world, supporting the launch of new sectors and opportunities [11]. Its mission is to invest effectively in the long term to maximize sustainable returns and to consolidate its position as the preferred investment partner globally [11].
• Domestic Projects: The PIF is also involved in developing major projects within the Kingdom, such as NEOM, Qiddiya, and the Red Sea, which aim to attract global investments and enhance tourism and entertainment [2].
• Partnerships: The PIF seeks to establish partnerships with global economic entities to enhance the Kingdom’s role in the global economy [1].
• Alignment with Vision 2030: The PIF’s goals are directly aligned with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, aiming to diversify the economy and reduce dependence on oil [1, 6]. It is also focused on creating both direct and indirect job opportunities, and establishing and founding companies [3].
• Investment Strategies: The PIF has adopted an ambitious strategy that contributes to achieving its goals and reaching a set of unique achievements at the level of sovereign funds around the world [4].

In summary, the Public Investment Fund is a major instrument for Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification and growth. It is not only a financial powerhouse, but also a key strategic entity focused on creating a sustainable and influential global economic presence for the Kingdom in line with Vision 2030 [3, 4, 11].

The Original Text

“The Kingdom’s Foreign Investments” .. A Distinctive Global Presence

Riyadh – Mohammed Al-Haider

The Kingdom is one of the largest economies in the Middle East, and one of the most prominent players in the global economy, as it is ranked among the 20 strongest economies in the world, thanks to its huge reserves of oil and natural resources, and the diversity of its international investments in various sectors, which are a major element in strengthening the Kingdom’s economic position and enhancing its effective role in global markets.

The volume of investments abroad

In 2023, the total Saudi investments abroad amounted to about $ 600 billion, as the United States, the United Kingdom and European countries are among the most prominent investment destinations for the Kingdom. The Kingdom also contributes to many Asian and emerging markets, including China, Japan and Africa. These investments represent an important part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which aims to diversify sources of income and reduce dependence on oil. Saudi investments in the United States constitute a large part of this outcome, amounting to about $ 200 billion in various sectors, most notably the real estate sector and financial markets.

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund data for 2022 showed that the Kingdom invested about $160 billion in US financial markets, in addition to other investments in technology companies, renewable energy, and healthcare. The fund intends to significantly increase these investments in the future, especially in future sectors such as artificial intelligence.

Data from the third quarter of last year showed that the fund, which manages assets worth nearly $1 trillion, increased its ownership of US stocks to $26.7 billion, an increase of about $6 billion from the second quarter of the same year. The Kingdom also increased its holdings of US Treasury bonds last October to the highest level in four years, and Saudi investments in US government bonds increased, as the central bank currently owns $144 billion in Treasury bonds.

Joint cooperation entitlements

Riyadh and Washington are awaiting many entitlements in the important areas of joint cooperation previously agreed upon over the next four years, most notably military industries, space exploration, development of artificial intelligence uses, development of nuclear energy, and others; This is expected to take place in light of joint bilateral investments between the private sectors in both countries worth billions of dollars, achieving the common interests of both sides.

The focus of the call of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister – may God protect him – with President Trump was to discuss ways of cooperation between the two countries, to establish peace, security and stability in the Middle East region, in addition to enhancing bilateral cooperation to combat terrorism, confirming the importance of work between the two countries in enhancing international security and peace.

Investments in China and Japan

On another level, Saudi investments in China are witnessing significant growth, reaching about $50 billion, with a special focus on renewable energy and mineral projects. This investment includes the artificial intelligence sector and advanced technologies that represent the future of the global economy. Experts believe that this number will increase by about 25% by 2030, which will enhance trade exchange between the two countries and provide great opportunities in the fields of technology and scientific research. Relations between Saudi Arabia and China extend back more than eight decades, during which they witnessed steady and continuous development in cooperation between the two countries, until they were crowned by the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement, which was signed by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz – may God support him – and Chinese President Xi Jinping during his official visit to the Kingdom in December 2022, which transferred relations to a distinct path of cooperation in achieving their interests.

The new level of relations between Riyadh and Beijing was reflected in various fields, including the field of investment, as the value of Chinese investments in the Kingdom amounted to $16.8 billion in 2023, compared to investments worth $1.5 billion in 2022, while Saudi investments in China amounted to 75 billion riyals.

The manifestations of rapprochement between the Kingdom and China, stemming from the strategic partnership between them, were evident; In China’s support for the “Green Middle East” initiative launched by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister – may God protect him – in March 2021, and in China’s welcome of the Kingdom’s joining the global development initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping; to direct global development towards a new stage of balanced, coordinated and comprehensive growth, accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, and achieve the desired development goals.

Cooperation in the field of education is one of the most prominent fruits of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Riyadh and Beijing, as Saudi Arabia has included the Chinese language in its educational curricula, and has attracted 171 Chinese teachers to teach the Chinese language during the current academic year 2024, and has sent 100 male and female teachers to China to obtain a master’s degree in teaching the Chinese language.

In Japan, the Kingdom is investing nearly $30 billion in advanced technology industries such as cars and robots, and the volume of investments in Japan is expected to rise to $50 billion over the next five years, to meet the Kingdom’s needs in achieving its industrial aspirations and developing the local technology sector.

Saudi Investments in Africa

The Kingdom seeks to expand its investments in Africa by allocating $15 billion to a number of major projects, including the agriculture, energy and minerals sectors. These strategic investments support the Saudi desire to enhance the growth of African economies and exploit the opportunities available in these promising markets

Seizing Opportunities

Jeddah – Mohammed Hamidan

Saudi Vision 2030, which is the Kingdom’s post-oil plan, has maintained and strengthened the momentum of Saudi investments abroad, in an effort to strengthen the good economic and diplomatic relations that link the Kingdom with various countries of the world, peoples and nations, in addition to exercising its inherent right to aspire to expand the scope of its business and increase growth opportunities and other targets that any investment aims for, such as searching for sources of resources such as energy sources or any of the raw materials that are used in various industries and to secure stable supplies of basic commodities for the Kingdom, and to contribute to food sufficiency and to reduce risks by distributing investments across several markets instead of limiting them to a specific market or economy. The Kingdom did not pay attention to those who did not understand the depth of this trend and the extent of its benefit to the Kingdom and the peoples of the world or were satisfied with it, so they reduced it to hollow, resonant phrases “like buying the world.” Various Saudi foreign investments (for individuals, companies or government funds) improved in various parts of the world on this planet, and regional and global strategic partnerships increased that are consistent with achieving the goals of “Vision 2030.” To carry positivity with it wherever it goes, the joint industries between the Kingdom and many countries have multiplied, whose people and economies have benefited from this partnership, and the agricultural projects capable of exporting crops grown to Saudi Arabia have diversified at reasonable rates. The Minister of Finance, Mohammed Al-Jadaan, recently confirmed that the Kingdom invests all over the world, and that it has an investment policy dedicated to emerging markets to support them and achieve returns. These are not development funds, but rather are dedicated to those markets. There are investments in several emerging markets, including, for example, Egypt, Pakistan, Bahrain, Ukraine, Argentina, Jordan, and others. The emphasis was on the fact that what is more important than that is to focus on sectors that can benefit Saudi Arabia, whether inside or outside Saudi Arabia, by transferring the knowledge expertise related to those industries or attracting partners.

Industrial Power and Global Platform

Prepared by: Hamoud Al-Dhuwaihi

Since its inception, our country has planned to localize industries and focus on spreading factories and contributing to that directly. At the beginning of Muharram 1346 AH, King Abdulaziz – may God have mercy on him – issued his orders to establish a house dedicated to the manufacture of the Kiswa. This house was established in the Ajyad neighborhood in front of the Ministry of Public Finance in Makkah Al-Mukarramah, and its construction was completed in about the first six months of 1346 AH. This house was the first institution dedicated to weaving the Kiswa of the Holy Kaaba in the Hijaz. This factory was the first factory to be established in the country. Then, industry began in the Kingdom with the successive oil discoveries in the 1930s and the establishment of Aramco. Before that, it was limited to traditional crafts and handicrafts. In 1962, the General Petroleum and Minerals Organization – Petromin – was established to take over everything related to industry in the Kingdom except for Aramco’s work. It continued until 1975, when the new Ministry of Industry and Electricity took over the projects. Petrochemical and mineral industries, while Petromin retained the refinery projects. The years 1974, 1975 and 1976 witnessed three important industrial establishments, respectively: the Industrial Development Fund, the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, and SABIC, which undertook the huge industrial projects, and later became one of the leading companies in the petrochemical industry. In 1997, Maaden Company was established, which undertook the construction of the mining sector. In 2005, the dissolution of Petromin Corporation was announced and it was incorporated into Saudi Aramco, which was nationalized by order of King Faisal – may God have mercy on him – and fully Saudized in 1988. At the beginning of the third millennium, the Kingdom established the Industrial Cities Authority in 2001, which devoted its continuous efforts to contributing to the economic development of the Kingdom.

Exploiting investment opportunities in various global markets

The Kingdom.. A diversified and sustainable economy

Report – Rashid Al-Sakran

Vision 2030.. Diversifying sources of income and reducing dependence on oil

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continues to enhance its foreign investments as part of its strategy to diversify sources of income and enhance its global economic position. These efforts are evident through multiple investments in various sectors and international markets.

The volume of Saudi investments abroad has increased, as Saudi assets invested abroad amounted to about 5 trillion Saudi riyals. In the third quarter of 2023, net direct Saudi investments abroad reached 2.42 billion riyals, raising the total cumulative investments to 721.78 billion riyals. The Public Investment Fund, whose leader, Yasser Al-Rumayyan, Governor of the Public Investment Fund, was selected in the Fortune list of the 100 best business figures for the year 2024, has a major role in this and a pivotal role in enhancing Saudi foreign investments thanks to the guidance of His Highness the Crown Prince, Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

“Global Investments”

Among the Fund’s most prominent investments: the electric car sector, through the launch of the first electric car brand in the Kingdom, “Seer” in 2022, and also in the aviation sector, where “Riyadh Aviation” was established as a new national air carrier.

As for regional investments, a plan was previously announced to invest $24 billion in six Arab countries, with the aim of enhancing the Kingdom’s soft power in the region.

Major Saudi companies contribute to enhancing foreign investments. For example, Kingdom Holding Company’s investments outside Saudi Arabia amounted to about 32 billion riyals.

The Public Investment Fund previously announced the completion of the acquisition of a stake of approximately 15% in FGP Topco, the holding company of Heathrow Airport (Heathrow Airport Holdings Limited) from Ferrovial SA, as well as from other shareholders in Topco.

The Public Investment Fund aims to support the sustainable growth of Heathrow Airport, and the investment in Heathrow Airport, which is considered one of the important assets in the United Kingdom and a world-class airport, and a distinguished global gateway, and this step is in line with the Public Investment Fund’s strategy to implement influential investments in strategic sectors within leading international markets.

The Public Investment Fund’s investment in Heathrow Airport is in line with its strategy to enable important sectors and companies through long-term partnerships within the Fund’s portfolio of international investments.

The Kingdom has future directions as it seeks to increase the size of its foreign investments and diversify them across various sectors, including technology, renewable energy, and infrastructure. This comes within the framework of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the economy and reduce dependence on oil. Through these ongoing efforts, the Kingdom confirms its commitment to strengthening its economic presence on the international scene and achieving sustainable development.

“Diversification of Investments”

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia seeks to enhance its foreign investments in line with Vision 2030, and these investments reflect the Kingdom’s orientation towards achieving sustainable growth and exploiting economic opportunities in various global markets.

Reports indicate that the value of Saudi direct investments abroad has reached record levels, as recent years have witnessed a significant increase in investment flows. According to official data, total foreign investments have risen to more than 720 billion Saudi riyals, driven by investments in strategic sectors such as energy, technology, industry, and infrastructure. One of the most important sectors of Saudi foreign investments is the energy sector, as the Kingdom continues to pump large investments in the renewable energy and fossil fuel sector abroad through companies such as “Aramco”, where strategic partnerships have been concluded with international companies to develop petrochemical and oil refining projects in Asia, Europe, and North America.

The Public Investment Fund invests in global technology companies and seeks to acquire stakes in emerging companies in the fields of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and robotics. Through major Saudi companies, the Kingdom is working on investments in global real estate and tourism projects in the United States and Europe, with a focus on emerging markets in Asia and Africa. The Public Investment Fund is strengthening its presence in international financial markets by acquiring stakes in major banks, hedge funds, and global asset management companies.

“Industry and Manufacturing”

Saudi foreign investments in the manufacturing sector are witnessing a significant expansion, especially in the fields of heavy industries and electronics, which enhances industrial integration between the Kingdom and other countries, Saudi strategies to enhance foreign investments, and the Kingdom adopts a number of strategies to enhance its foreign investments, including: Diversifying investment portfolios, by seeking to invest in several sectors to reduce risks and ensure sustainable returns.

Working to conclude international partnerships to build strategic partnerships with major economies to enhance the Kingdom’s position on the global investment map, in addition to improving the local business environment by enhancing cooperation with international companies to encourage the flow of investments to the Kingdom and benefit from global expertise.

The Kingdom faces challenges and opportunities. Despite the promising opportunities provided by foreign investments, the Kingdom faces challenges related to global economic fluctuations, geopolitical changes, and rapid technological developments. However, the government’s commitment to Vision 2030 and ambitious initiatives such as the “Green Saudi Arabia” initiative contribute to creating new investment opportunities in the fields of clean energy and sustainable development.

The Kingdom is keen on major projects, and recent deals are the best evidence. Among the most prominent Saudi foreign investments recently made are the Public Investment Fund’s investment in global entertainment companies, the purchase of shares in European energy companies to expand the Kingdom’s presence in the renewable energy market, and the promotion of investments in the financial technology (Fintech) sector to keep pace with global digital transformations.

The Kingdom seeks to achieve profitable future returns. As the Kingdom continues to expand its foreign investments, these investments are expected to contribute to strengthening the Kingdom’s economic strength and increasing its non-oil revenues, in addition to consolidating its position as one of the major investment powers in the world. These efforts are demonstrated by the Kingdom’s commitment to achieving financial sustainability and diversifying sources of income, which reflects its ambitions to transform into an influential global economic center in the coming years.

“Achieving Targets”

The Public Investment Fund is working to achieve the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, and adopts a defined mechanism that contributes to launching new and promising sectors, creating direct and indirect job opportunities, and establishing and founding companies. The Public Investment Fund owns leading investment portfolios, based on investing in promising opportunities locally and globally; Being one of the largest sovereign funds in the world.

The Public Investment Fund has become one of the main drivers of the growth of the Saudi economy, and – thanks to God – it has been able to double its size, and continues with steady steps towards achieving its goals related to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, as outlined by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud – may God protect him – Crown Prince, Prime Minister, Chairman of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Public Investment Fund.

Through the vision of the Public Investment Fund, it seeks to be a driving force for investment, and to become the most influential investment entity in the world, and to support the launch of new sectors and opportunities that contribute to shaping the future of the global economy, and thus drive the wheel of economic transformation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The message from which the Fund was launched is to invest effectively in the long term to maximize sustainable returns, and to consolidate the Fund’s position as the preferred investment partner globally, and to support the efforts of development and economic diversification in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Public Investment Fund aims to work towards achieving the goals of Vision 2030, as it is the main driver of the economy and investment in the Kingdom.

The Fund has adopted an ambitious strategy that contributes to achieving its goals and reaching a set of unique achievements at the level of sovereign funds around the world.

The Fund leads the wheel of economic transformation in the Kingdom and pushes it towards sustainable change, through localizing technologies and knowledge, diversifying its investment portfolios, and investing in global sectors and markets by building strategic partnerships and launching a number of initiatives that contribute to achieving the goals of Vision 2030.

«Sovereign Fund»

The Public Investment Fund (PIF) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the largest sovereign funds in the world, with assets under management amounting to approximately 3.47 trillion Saudi riyals. The fund plays a vital role in achieving the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the Saudi economy and reduce dependence on oil.

The strategic objectives that the fund seeks to achieve include: Maximizing assets The fund aims to increase the value of its assets through diverse local and international investments, and launching new sectors as the fund seeks to develop promising sectors within the Kingdom, such as tourism, entertainment, technology, and renewable energy, to enhance economic diversification, and strive to localize technologies and knowledge: The fund works to bring and localize modern technologies and advanced knowledge, which contributes to enhancing local capabilities and creating new job opportunities.

And building strategic economic partnerships with the aim of establishing partnerships with global economic entities, which enhances the Kingdom’s role in the global economy, and the global economic role of the fund is achieved through its global investments, as the Public Investment Fund contributes to shaping the future of the global economy. Its investments include leading technology companies, infrastructure projects, and other vital sectors. These investments enhance the Kingdom’s position on the international stage and support the transition towards a diversified and sustainable economy. In addition, the Fund is working to develop major projects within the Kingdom, such as NEOM, Qiddiya, and the Red Sea, which aim to attract global investments and enhance tourism and entertainment. Through these efforts, the Public Investment Fund consolidates its role as a major driver of the global economy, contributing to achieving sustainable development and enhancing the position of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the international stage.

Article

The Vision.. Continuing Momentum and Billionaire Testimony

Habib Al-Shammari

On the eve of the launch of Saudi Vision 2030, its godfather, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Chairman of the Council of Ministers, said that it (will devour our problems), meaning the problems of unemployment, housing, infrastructure, and others. Now half of the specified period has passed, and most of these problems seem to be in the past. Is that the whole story? Of course not.

The important story is that the vision still has the same momentum and enthusiasm despite the passage of more than eight years, which is a rare case in the transformation and reform processes that fade after a few years, and the government administration is able to proceed with the same speed, ability, and efficiency, and this is confirmed by the numbers of international organizations and classifications.

Last week, we all lived with the World Economic Forum (DFWAS) event, which was Saudi par excellence. Saudi Arabia was the most prominent story, and its ministers were the most present and influential. In fact, the forum was a place for global testimonies such as those discussed by the global billionaire Larry Fink, founder of BlackRock, when he said: I have never seen government ministers more cooperative with each other than the ministers of Saudi Arabia.

The ministers themselves had a remarkable presence, as Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Al-Ibrahim, in his participation, summarized the definition of the vision by saying: It is a process to rebuild the Saudi economy, and through it we realized what the economy we want is, and we look at the world with two lenses, one of which sees where we are and the other towards the future, and the vision is on the right track with increasing momentum, and our journey is in the middle of it. Al-Ibrahim added: Vision 2030 was launched with bold decisions in the first wave, and the second wave focuses on more complex challenges in partnership with the private sector.. Ministers and their teams work up to 16 hours a day to ensure achieving the goals and responding to the needs of the private sector. ” His speech ended.

Minister of Finance Mohammed Al-Jadaan took us to a very important financial dimension, when he referred to “Vision 2030” as being based on confronting shocks with the most appropriate solutions and creating a more flexible economy. Perhaps this statement by Minister Al-Jadaan is supported by what happened during the pandemic and the Kingdom’s ability to overcome the shock, in addition to its ability to overcome the challenges of global oil prices during the past years, which were less than hoped for.

The ministers did not stop at talking about the vision and explaining it to the world, but they also tried to help the world economy achieve sustainability, by calling for the need to find various indicators to measure economies instead of relying solely on GDP as a standard, through a symposium held by the Ministry of Economy and Planning at the forum entitled “New Methods for Measuring Growth Other than GDP”, where Al-Ibrahim pointed out that the diversity of economic sources is an important basis, and relying solely on GDP may be misleading, while Al-Jadaan stressed that measuring economic growth is not limited to the GDP indicator, but must include additional indicators to ensure that it is comprehensive, strong and sustainable.

One of the most beautiful statements I heard was Al-Jadaan’s statement that the entire Saudi people were behind Vision 2030, and his indication that the Kingdom targeted a return of $100 for every dollar spent when establishing the Spending Efficiency Authority and achieved double that. The statements of the Minister of Tourism, Ahmed Al-Khateeb, were striking, and I was impressed by his statement that “we have tourism assets distributed throughout the Kingdom to avoid over-tourism in one city, and that the number of tourists has reached 30 million tourists annually in the Kingdom, and our goal is to reach 70 million.” Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, said that Saudi Arabia presents an inspiring model for transformation, as it combines proactive thinking and strategic planning that ensures the sustainability of progress in various sectors, most notably tourism, and she expressed her amazement at the transformation in Al-Ula and invited the world to visit it.

Reflection

Prose Poem.. History and Challenges

Ibrahim Al-Wafi

Prose poetry is one of the most prominent modern poetic forms that has witnessed a remarkable development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as it began to emerge in the literary arena in recent years, after it was a strange form in some conservative literary circles. However, it was able to find its place in the Saudi cultural scene thanks to the ability of its poets to go beyond the traditional molds of Arabic poetry that depend on meters and rhymes, and focus instead on the poetic image and expressive freedom, and liberation from the requirements of the system that has exhausted and shackled the Arabic poem for centuries. It may not be easy to determine the exact starting point for the emergence of prose poetry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, but it can be said that it coincided with the cultural and intellectual transformations that the Arab world witnessed in the second half of the twentieth century. At a time when the traditional Arabic poem dominated the literary arena, Saudi poets began to search for new ways to express their concerns and aspirations, whether in politics or social life. Poets influenced by Western literary movements such as surrealism and abstractionism began to use prose poetry as a means of liberating themselves from the constraints of meter and rhyme. Prose poetry in Saudi Arabia was influenced by a number of international literary movements such as surrealism and symbolism, as well as by Arab cultural waves that promoted a literature that was less constrained in form and more free in content. Prose poetry began to be embodied in modern poetic works characterized by linguistic experimentation, expression of human psychological states, and interaction with contemporary issues such as social modernization and political change. One of the most prominent pioneers of prose poetry in Saudi Arabia is the poet Saud Alsanousi, who is considered one of the first to contribute to enriching prose poetry in Saudi Arabia. His works were characterized by a philosophical and existential character, relying on wordplay and capturing unconventional poetic images, making him one of the poets who opened the way for prose poetry to take a respectable place among other poetic forms. On the other hand, social media played an important role in the spread of prose poetry among new generations in the Kingdom. These platforms have made it easier for Saudi poets to publish their works and interact with their audience, making poetry transcend geographical borders and opening the way for a kind of direct literary communication. These sites have become essential platforms for poets to display their creativity, which has helped spread free verse poetry among Saudi youth, who have found in this poem a means of expressing their thoughts and feelings in a way that is closer to their reality. There is no doubt that its presence today as a poetic track within a major television program such as the Mu’allaqa program confirms its presence and distinction as a prominent poetic form with its supporters and adherents. One of the most important features of the free verse poem in Saudi Arabia that distinguishes it from traditional poetry is its focus on the aesthetics of language and the use of diverse, innovative and unconventional poetic images, and the creation of a new future space for Arabic poetry that is inherently past. The free verse poem is often short and condensed, as the poet is content to convey a specific moment or idea with high concentration, without the need to expand on the description. It also moves away from the traditional topics known and repeated in Arabic poetry, to address more modern topics, such as existence, daily life, and social issues. Despite the success achieved by the free verse poem in Saudi Arabia, there are still challenges facing it, as some still see it as an unconventional literary form that is incapable of conveying the depth of Arab culture. There is no doubt that the continuity in confronting traditional poetry, which still has a strong position in Saudi society, in addition to the critical rejection of it by some literary circles, who see it as a break and distance from the Arab literary heritage, are nothing but serious attempts to hinder and limit it. However, despite these challenges, the free verse poem continues to develop in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and it seems that it has a promising future with the new generations who prefer free and direct methods of expression.

From the flash of speech..

Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Youssef

“Leave it to the days”.. We say it simply, and feel it with difficulty, we repeat it after pain, or waiting for hope, yes, the days will not be a solution, nor will time be able to solve what must be solved, and the days will not achieve anything by themselves.. The days are a vessel for what we do, and time is the threshold of forgetfulness, so we have to help ourselves with God’s help, not wait for the future to help us.

“If only I had”.. Why don’t we notice that we always jump on what we have.. So we are not satisfied and run after what we desire.. So we don’t reach it.

“You deserve better than me”.. Don’t be harsh on someone with that phrase to get rid of him.

“By his own safety”.. You may shout it, but know that some doors do not know the value of the one who knocks until he leaves them without returning.

“Understand, or else”.. You also want them to talk to people as much as they want to hear from you and not as much as you want to tell them.

“Take your time” .. say it when you choose your comfort and know that if you choose to live in the margin .. you will remain without a title.

“What matters” .. do not say it carelessly because you may triumph for yourself and plant your coarse desires in the fields of illusion then you will reap nothing but disappointment.

“Explain to me more” .. sometimes this request may overwhelm you with sadness because you will be a victim of small details ..

“I don’t care about anyone” .. you will fall here because the attention of others will pursue you, and you force your facial features to be a proud escaper and you find that the things around you may defeat you.

“Later” .. do not make it a word that is fluid between your emotions and do not care because if you postpone messages of love and goodness, the titles may change.

“Calm down” .. do not ask someone to calm down .. and you are the one who made his depths noisy .. be with him and he will calm down.

“I want to live without misery” .. the problem is not to live a miserable life .. but the problem is to live a false life.

“Ignore” .. Not everything is suitable for neglect or ignorance, do not pretend to be what you are not, leave the metaphors of false features, interact to save your feelings and save your mind.

“Leave it for the days” .. We say it simply, and feel it with difficulty, we repeat it after pain, or waiting for hope, yes, the days will not be a solution, nor will time be able to solve what must be solved, and the days will not achieve anything by themselves .. The days are a vessel for what we do, and time is the threshold of forgetfulness, so we must help ourselves with God’s will, not wait for the future to help us.

“Take care of yourself” .. A crimson phrase, it is nice to say it to someone like this, but it is more beautiful to say to whomever you love: “I will take care of you”.

“Circumstances” .. An irresponsible saying, meaningless .. Do not make circumstances a trash can for every failure, delay, failure to fulfill a promise or retreat from reality .. If you consume circumstances without feeling or value, they are not a sticker for justification and apology that you put on your back.

“Luck is blind”.. Luck never had any senses.. Luck has no sight to search for you, or for it.. This is the phrase of the helpless who did not see luck around him with his work and diligence.. and of the ignorant who neglected who receives luck.. and of the one who neglects the meanings and loftiness of fate and success from Allah.

“I am so and so”.. repeated by the empty person who does not realize the features of himself or the limits of his self.. and does not appreciate the value of proper behavior.. wants to do, and his justification is “the ego”.

“I am like others”.. no one is like others, be as you are and not a shadow of others, or for others to justify your bad actions.

“Respect yourself”.. we say it when we seek others’ respect for us.. and before we react to others.. self-respect is the starting point for respecting others.

“You are the best”.. do not try to convince someone of it, and put them in a basket of dazzling epithets and then crush them with exaggeration.

“No one is perfect”.. True statement but don’t make it an excuse and a pretext.. When you don’t do your best.

“Paradox”.. When your heart is present and things are absent.. And things are present and your heart is absent.

“Your money serves you”.. Words said by materialists.. Who are ignorant of the value of money, and its reality in front of fate, principles, and values.

“Days revolve”.. And when you revolve with them, don’t force yourself that time revolves around others and not around you.

“If only”.. When your soul is full of it and your devil keeps you in it.. Here you will abandon your certainty in what God has destined for you and you will forget that what God has written for you no one will seize and what He has written for others you will not touch.

“Life is opportunities”.. True but don’t think that they are all yours, your opportunity is to wait for your destiny only and do the reasons that were written for you and against you.

Article

Real Estate Future Forum

Ahmed bin Abdulrahman Al-Jubeir

The (Real Estate Future Forum 2025) was launched in Riyadh last Monday, under the patronage of the Minister of Municipalities and Housing, His Excellency Mr. Majid Al-Hogail, and in the presence of Their Highnesses the Princes, Their Excellencies the Ministers, and a number of local and international figures during the period (27-29) January 2025, under the slogan “A Future for Humanity.” More than 120 countries and 500 from the public and private sectors are participating in the forum.

The (Real Estate Future Forum 2025) is a real estate platform to meet real estate experts from all countries of the world. This year’s edition of the forum comes as the Kingdom is witnessing a real estate and urban renaissance through its major real estate projects. The (Real Estate Future Forum 2025) represents an opportunity to review success stories, discuss best real estate practices, and the latest global real estate technologies.

The Future of Real Estate Forum 2025 is a global platform that brings together real estate experts from around the world. The forum represents a space for creativity and innovation for the future of real estate, and discusses the latest real estate trends and investment opportunities that contribute to achieving the Kingdom’s 2030 goals, and enhancing the Kingdom’s position as a global center among all parts of the world in the use of real estate technologies and the construction of modern buildings.

The Future of Real Estate Forum 2025 focuses on innovations and new opportunities in the local and international real estate industry over 3 days, discussing financing solutions, the impact of natural factors on the real estate industry, and its role in improving the quality of business, and providing advisory and administrative services in valuable sessions and dialogues, which contributed to achieving growth last year, and issuing 192 licenses for projects with a total value of 147 billion riyals.

It also highlights promising opportunities, enhancing the quality of life, optimal use of natural resources and environmental conservation, reducing carbon emissions, discussing innovative methods of financing, real estate investment, contributing to digital transformation, successful practices in the fields of real estate technology, real estate development, and future methods for the real estate sector.

The impact of the real estate sector on the national economy, and other activities that enhance the real estate industry, and providing more than 17 workshops to introduce legislation, requirements for practicing real estate activities, and introducing the uses of artificial intelligence in real estate, real estate marketing, real estate training, attracting national competencies, and global investments.

There is an accompanying real estate exhibition (the Real Estate Future Forum 2025) to enrich the real estate content, with the participation of major local and international companies and institutions, major investors contributing to the real estate sector in all countries of the world, and the latest in real estate technologies, investment in real estate products, financing solutions, and the Saudi real estate market.

We commend the great success of the (Real Estate Future Forum 2025), and the signing of many real estate agreements and memoranda of understanding, which witnessed discussions and dialogues about the present and future of real estate, the challenges it faces, and many global experiences and practices, and extend our thanks to all speakers and attendees, and to the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing and the General Authority for Real Estate for their active participation in the work of the (Real Estate Future Forum 2025).

Astrolabe

Wine and Grape Juice!

Dr. M. Essam Amanullah Bukhari

If milk spoils, it will turn into yogurt. Yogurt is more expensive than milk. If it gets worse over time, it will turn into cheese, which is more valuable than yogurt and milk. If grape juice turns sour, it turns into wine, which is more expensive than grape juice. You are not a bad person because you made mistakes. Mistakes are experiences that make you more valuable as a person. I have come across these phrases more than once on social media, and many people cite them as an example of the importance of mistakes and failure in the path to success.

However, if you think a little, it is true that when grape juice spoils, it will turn sour and may actually turn into wine. It is true that wine is more expensive than grape juice. But is wine juice halal? Here is the crux of the matter. The evaluation of success in the above example focused only on the material or economic dimension, completely ignoring the moral dimension from the perspective of our values ​​and beliefs in our society. To clarify the picture further, the wealth and luxurious life of a corrupt person or a drug dealer cannot be considered a successful experience that is cited as an example, no matter the difficulties and obstacles they faced and the mistakes they made.

The same applies to milk, which can spoil to the point that it becomes unfit for human consumption, drinking or consumption due to harmful bacteria that will sweep away expired milk or spoiled yogurt. This applies to people who fear failure and do nothing, and organizations when they drown in routine, lack of renewal and distance from development, modernization and improvement, like a stagnant pool of water that becomes a swamp for epidemics and diseases.

Of course, experiences of failure and difficulties are necessary inputs into the equation of life and struggle to reach the outcomes of success and achievement. However, just as chemical reactions differ, the equations of failure and success differ in their cases and circumstances.

There is no doubt that one of the most dangerous scenarios is trying to hide mistakes in illegal ways, which results in bigger mistakes and greater risks at the system level, especially if the culture of fear of error becomes prevalent.

Worse still is the spread of a culture of nitpicking and exchanging accusations between departments or individuals in bearing responsibility for failure, which changes the focus from cooperation and concerted efforts to negligence, wars and internal conflicts that consume time, effort and budgets in matters that have no meaning or value to the organization.

On the other hand, the distinguished leader and distinguished organizations are not afraid of failed experiences and celebrate mistakes as long as they are the result of efforts and striving for achievement and are not deliberate or the result of negligence. Rather, what is more important is spreading the culture of transparency and sharing mistakes to address them as quickly as possible and deal with them and learn from them at the organization level.

In short, just as failure and mistakes should not be feared, but rather learned from and addressed, it is necessary to avoid celebrating imaginary successes and achievements based on violations and falsification of facts. For accomplished and ambitious people, honoring and celebrating deceivers and those who do not deserve praise is more painful and more painful than all the challenges and obstacles that enemies and haters may create in the path of successful people. I conclude with the words of John Rohn: “Failure will not crush me if my determination to succeed is sufficient.”

Anesthesia Arts!

Dr. Malha Abdullah

From here arose what we can call “the arts of courtesy or the arts of anesthesia” that only health barbers who are officially unable to practice artistic medicine can handle. Artistic taste here has declined or relapsed into complications and mysterious, automatic contradictions that are completely difficult to control or the price is high..

It is known and accepted that there is a medical drug that works to anesthetize the consciousness, which is what surgical operations and the like require. There are artistic drugs that must be paid attention to. The matter here is different when we borrow this term and we are not the ones who used it, but the arts of art criticism have been very concerned with this term and how and when is it used? What are its images, fields and circumstances of its spread? They are arts that are more severe than the impact of the drug on Arab art as a whole if art does not wake up and make way for critics specialized in art journalism.

The truth is that art historians and critics have recorded a bitter history of these arts and how they spread? What are the periods of their glory and approval? Anesthesia arts usually spread in times of crises, after wars, revolutions, poor economic conditions, and other political unrest, to work not only on the level of entertainment, but also to drown the community’s awareness in a stagnant lake of these arts in their various forms, whether the arts of singing, music, cinema, or in the art of theater as well.

It is strange and surprising that these arts are very popular, but the history of art will not ignore recording what we throw into the bag of the history of art, which records on its wall everything worthless and valuable, so the pretenders and the cultured fall into the well of history. And here we are reading about the arts of anesthesia, who are its makers, and what was the economic and political reality that led to its spread in the history of theater.

In fact, the audience – with its conscience and its interest in this type of art – is the popular incentive, because it is the first criterion for the popularity of this or that art! The art industry inside its laboratories in the scientific sense (and its backstages) in the common sense constitutes a great burden on the shoulders of its makers from the costs of its production. If this does not achieve public approval and acceptance, the silkworm will die and the spinning mills will stop without a doubt, especially if the official institutions do not assume this role, as the private sector and capital become the sole manufacturer and controller of the industry of shaping the conscience of the street in the end, and thus the private sector and businessmen become the makers of opinion and message, which is a matter of greater danger than its benefits, especially if this industry plays on the sensual and moral instincts of these masses.

The function of art in its lofty meaning is to awaken public awareness in its existing and possible aspects, but in the art of anesthesia, the meaning reflects this function.

We have a lesson in the period of instability in Britain before the era of Queen Elizabeth I and until her appearance – that is, to the theater in England in the period from the middle of the sixteenth century until the beginning of the seventeenth century, as there was the emergence of merchants and owners of capital. They controlled the theatrical movement at that time. In these difficult circumstances at that time, the writers invented stories of love and passion, which is (city theatre), which was classified as a double plot, in contrast to the strict rules of classical theatre. This type of love story was greatly appreciated by the audience who had come out of wars and upheavals, and they also accepted cockfighting and bear fighting; the strict rules of the Mayor of London against gatherings for fear of the spread of the plague did not deter them from crossing the Thames to see those theatres that the merchants had established on the other bank. Among these theatrical groups was the Jewish merchant James Burbage’s group, and Can Burbage Cuthbart established the famous Globe Theatre, which Shakespeare joined at the beginning of his theatrical career, as well as the Red Rose Group, which was established by Philip Henslowe, and many merchants invested their money in the theatre at that time, because these romantic shows tickled the feelings of the audience in a difficult time of plague and political upheavals. However, with the accession of Queen Elizabeth, who hated wars and worked to stabilize the country, these groups ended, and Shakespeare, Bill Johnson and other great writers remained, due to the economic prosperity and political stability that her era brought, in addition to her interest in the theatre, so that this era of theatre was called (Elizabethan theatre). In the book “Artistic Taste” by Dr. Ahmed Al-Maghazi – may God have mercy on him, a historian of art criticism – we find him analyzing theatrical performances during a period of popular pain, wars, colonialism, and other difficult circumstances at that time in Egypt, and he attributed it to what he called the arts of anesthesia, as “if the elite of the people and their intellectuals, from the old men of thought, or from the intellectuals looking forward to renewal, were able to shrink into themselves through these limited cultural and artistic interests in the artistic newspapers, or between the sides of their books and their worlds, then the people or the bourgeoisie who are not concerned with culture and art except for its appearance and luxury, this people continued to search for something to fill their emptiness and loss, and it was natural for them to immerse themselves in anything that would seize their interest and stimulate their thoughts, even through deception and mirage, and convince them that nothing is possible more creative than what was, and that the distant hope is coming soon, but on condition that they do not look down on them, increasing their sense of scientific deficiency and intellectual inability, which they suffer from what is more bitter than it, represented in their daily inability.” Gasping for his daily, unsafe sustenance during that period.

There is no doubt that the decline of artistic criticism and its deterioration to the levels of personal opinions and compliments played a major role in the spread of what was called the arts of anesthesia, which depend on four important factors: 1- The difficulty of economic conditions and political turmoil, 2- The public’s desire to get rid of those conditions, or rather ignore them, 3- And the decline in the level of criticism, 4- Trading in theater.

From here arose what we can call “the arts of compliments or the arts of anesthesia” that only health barbers who are officially unable to practice artistic medicine can do, as artistic taste here has declined or relapsed into complications and mysterious, automatic contradictions that are completely difficult to control.

The Passion of Saying

Craftsmen Authors

Dr. Fahd Ibrahim Al-Bakr

This article comes from the cultural direction that the Ministry of Culture saw this year (2025 AD) to pay attention to handicrafts, and what they represent in terms of embodying our creative heritage, and our diverse cultural details, and consolidating the status of handicrafts locally and globally, as a cultural heritage, and a pillar of the pillars of the Saudi identity; therefore, the Ministry is credited with its efforts to spread craft awareness, preserve it, acquire it, and document its stories, and from here the idea of ​​this article was born; to be a modest contribution to supporting the value of handicrafts, by revealing the titles of some authors who carried this craft character, and were known for it, and became famous through it.

The Arab heritage has known many craftsmen scholars, and we do not mean by that that they excelled in that craft, or practiced it – although some of them did – but here we are trying to reach some of them through those crafts that bore their names. For example, in jurisprudence, we find Abu Muhammad al-Hasan ibn Ali al-Barbahari (329 AH), and al-Barbahari is related to (al-Barbahar), which are medicines that were brought from India in ancient times. The one who brought them was called (al-Barbahari), and perhaps the (spices) known today in preparing food were derived from them. The same applies to Abu Bakr, Muhammad ibn Ahmad, known as Ibn al-Haddad (345 AH), and others. In the hadith, we mention: Khalid bin Mahran Al-Basri Al-Haddaa (d. 142 AH), who was a follower and one of the narrators of the Prophetic hadith, but he was not a craftsman. He stated this when he was asked, saying: “I did not make a shoe, nor did I sell it, but I married a woman from Banu Majasha’, and I stayed with her among the shoemakers there, so I was attributed to them.” Among the linguists – and they are many – we mention Abu Bakr Ibn Al-Sarraj (316 AH), Ahmad Ibn Muhammad Ibn Mansur, known as Abu Bakr Al-Khayyat (320 AH), and among them: Abu Jaafar Al-Nahhas (338 AH), Ibn Al-Dahhan Al-Baghdadi (569 AH), and Abu Mansur Al-Jawaliqi (540 AH), although the name of the linguist may prevail over his title of craftsman, as is the case with (Ibn Yaish the grammarian 643 AH) who was also known as Ibn Al-Sayegh, and some of those scholars may have practiced the same profession, or were attributed to those who practiced it from among their fathers or grandfathers, and their titles of craftsmen may prevail over them without there being a specific profession. As for the writers, critics, and those who followed their path from poets or writers, they are also many. We mention among them: Al-Khubz Arzi, or Al-Khabzrzi, who is Nasr bin Ahmed (317 AH), an Abbasid love poet. It was said that he was illiterate. He baked rice bread in a shop in Marbad Basra, and recited his love poems, and people would crowd around him and marvel at his condition. Perhaps he was like him (Al-Wawaa Al-Dimashqi 613 AH); because he used to trade in fruits. Among them: Abu Al-Hasan Al-Sari bin Ahmed bin Al-Sari Al-Rafa (366 AH), a famous poet. In his youth, he used to sew. Among those we also mention: Al-Khatib Al-Iskafi (420 AH), who was a shoemaker, then a preacher; that is why he was called Al-Khatib Al-Iskafi. Perhaps among the most prominent writers with the title of craftsman is Abu Mansur Al-Tha’alibi (429 AH), the author of many works. It was said that he was given this title; Because his father was a furrier who sewed fox skins.

The craft description may be repeated by more than one person, such as the blacksmith, the shoemaker, the glassmaker, the carpenter, the fox, and others. We may find other notables who carried other craft descriptions, such as Ibn al-Khabbaz, Ibn al-Dabbagh, Ibn al-Tarraz, Ibn al-Dajjaji, Ibn al-Assar, Ibn al-Tahhan, al-Jawhari, al-Dahhan, al-Tarazi, al-Wazzan, and others. These titles did not prevent them from being creative and writing, whether they were described by them or practiced them openly.

Between Culture and Journalism

Four days in Novel Criticism

Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Omari

When we say four working days, this does not mean that the remaining three are without work. Work is one of the social roles through which a person performs various functions according to the nature of each role. The employee, through his job role, performs his duty towards his job, and during his vacation, he performs functions related to his role towards the family and society. Roles through which functions are performed towards various institutions directly or indirectly, contributing to social, cultural, economic, and other movements.

The idea of ​​four working days instead of five came to me while I was with my family on my first experience with the Riyadh train. It may seem that this has nothing to do with this, but this is what actually happened to me. The train proved that it is not just a means of transportation, but it was confirmed that it is a tool for a civilized shift in thought, time management, and stopping at our previous social stations and comparing them to the station we are passing through. The train is a cultural scene. Our social and cultural stations collapse when we enter its courtyards and vast, organized spaces that extend over a wide area of ​​our capital, which is blazing with unprecedented movement.

We are in fact rediscovering ourselves and arranging our lives through this cultural entrance and the new path. Throughout the life of humanity, the road has not been just a place to cross and move between one place and another. The road is a carrier of civilization and a developer of thought. In the case of the Riyadh train, it makes us aspire for time to be wider and more spacious to live these details of a movement that has brought forth its fruits, which are easy to harvest, through a conscious and promising vision, the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

There have become renewed scenes in the life of the Saudi family, and a life that does not rest, worthy of seizing additional time for it, and for our times to be restored according to the vision that came to make our homeland the number that does not rest and does not stop increasing. Even the residents of the rest of our Saudi cities, we have begun to notice their continuous delegations coming to our global capital, and they are in complete amazement and amazement at what they see and live, and every hour means to them a new age and a life in front of which the features of their souls and their children are revealed, and even the elderly, we have begun to see them everywhere, turning and attracting attention with their presence among generations that have begun to stick together and approach the thought of Some of them, and seek to respond as much as possible to the inputs of technology, and we also notice the attachment of today’s generations to their past and heritage and their adherence to their Saudi identity despite their immersion in a technological world whose developments never stop.

This movement and these civilizational leaps need to be stopped by a sociologist, and to draw them in the pages of his speech with all confidence and pride, as the homeland lives in a state of culture and disciplined movement with a level of societal awareness that governs the behavior of its individuals and is linked to its religious and social values ​​and customs that merge with each other to form a facade for our Saudi identity in its roots and authenticity as well as in its growth and development.

Four working days in exchange for three days off that we look forward to to support our life, cultural, social and economic activities makes us more attached to this Saudi leap that has dazzled the world, and dazzled us before the world.

Trump: Venezuela has agreed to take in all illegal Venezuelan migrants caught in the United States and pay for their transportation, US President Donald Trump said Saturday.

“Venezuela has agreed to take in all illegal Venezuelan migrants who have been camped out in the United States, including members of the Tren de Aragua cartel,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

He said Venezuela had also agreed to provide transportation.

The Venezuelan government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

US envoy Richard Grenell met with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela on Friday. Hours after the meeting, six American hostages were released and returned to the United States from Venezuela.

Venezuela’s announcement that it would accept the return of its citizens who were in the United States illegally comes a week after Trump threatened to impose tariffs and sanctions after Colombia refused to accept military flights carrying deportees. Colombia reversed its decision and agreed to accept the migrants following the threats.

“We are removing record numbers of illegal immigrants from every country,” said Trump, who campaigned on a campaign promise to crack down on illegal immigration last year. Trump issued a series of executive orders to combat illegal immigration after taking office on Jan. 20, including measures aimed at deporting record numbers of immigrants in the United States illegally.

By Amjad Izhar
Contact: amjad.izhar@gmail.com
https://amjadizhar.blog

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