How Saudi Arabia Changed Over Time

Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the Middle East, and the second-largest country in the Arab world. It is known for its Islamic heritage and history. With the rise of King Salman Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud Saudi Arabia is welcoming diversity more and more. Lets take a look at how Saudi changed over time.

In 1979 Saudi Arabia took a conservative turn, prompted by two events: the Iranian Revolution in February, which brought Ayatollah Khomeini to power, and the siege by religious extremists of the Grand Mosque in Makkah. 

Moving forward as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told 2017’s Future Investment Initiative: “We were not like this in the past. We only want to go back to what we were, the moderate Islam that is open to the world, open to all the religions … And quite frankly, we will not waste 30 years of our lives in dealing with extremist ideas … We want to live a normal life, a life that translates our moderate religion, our good customs.”

And that’s what has happened. Under Vision 2030 and a flurry of life-altering developments – movies and concerts, greater freedom for women, fitness in schools, to name just a few – the Kingdom is on a trajectory back to the future.

2016

• Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman unveils Vision 2030, a road map for Saudi Arabia’s future.
• The Saudi Cabinet approves a new law restricting the religious police from questioning, pursuing or arresting violators; they must instead report them to the police or anti-narcotics officers.
• Princess Reema bint Bandar is appointed vice president for women’s affairs at the General Sports Authority.
• Kariman Abuljadayel is the first Saudi woman to compete in the 100-meter event at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil.
• The General Authority for Entertainment and the General Sports Authority are established by royal decree.
• King Salman appoints Mohammed bin Salman as crown prince ofSaudi Arabia.
• The Saudi Stock Exchange appoints a woman, Sarah Al-Suhaimi, as chairperson for the first time.

2018

• Female fans are allowed to attend football matches for the first time in Saudi Arabia; the match was Al-Ahli vs. Al-Batin in Jeddah on Jan. 12. 
• Ending a 35-year ban on cinemas, the first commercial movie theater opens in Riyadh with a screening of “Black Panther” on April 18.
• A ban on Saudi women driving is lifted on June 24.
• An anti-harassment law, approved by the Shoura Council, receives praise from around the world.

2019

• Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launches a mega tourism project in AlUla which will include a resort designed by renowned French architect Jean Nouvel and a nature reserve dubbed Sharaan.
• Lubna Al-Olayan becomes the first Saudi chairwoman to run a Saudi bank, a merger between Alawwal and Saudi British Bank.
• Saudi Arabia’s first female ambassador, Princess Reema bint Bandar (top center), is appointed to Washington.
• The Saudi Cabinet approves a “Privileged Iqama residency permit,” which will allow foreign nationals to work and live in Saudi Arabia without a sponsor, offered to highly skilled expatriates and owners of capital funds.

We have seen through these bullet points how Saudi Arabia became more opening and leaning towards a better future providing women rights.

Image Source: WAM