In a statement that many saw as both ironic and detached from reality, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman recently declared that “Vision 2030 has made our country a global model for transformation.” This assertion, made while the Kingdom faces mounting economic, political, and social crises, highlights the growing disconnect between the ruling elite and the everyday struggles of ordinary Saudis who are burdened by rising taxes, soaring unemployment, and wasted national wealth on vanity projects.
Through Vision 2030, King Salman and his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), continue to market a false image of national progress, while the actual situation in the country deteriorates. Their statements mask a painful reality of policy failures, authoritarianism, and growing public disillusionment.
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Vision 2030: A Glossy Illusion Crumbling Under Pressure
Launched nearly a decade ago, Vision 2030 promised to reduce the Kingdom’s dependence on oil and diversify its economy. But today, over 70% of Saudi government revenue still comes from oil, and sectors like manufacturing, tourism, and technology remain underdeveloped. Reports from the World Bank and IMF confirm that real economic growth is stagnating, national debt is rising, and foreign reserves have been declining steadily since 2020.
This is not the “global model of transformation” the King claims—it is a model of unsustainable spending and missed opportunities.
A King in the Shadows, a Crown Prince Unleashed
King Salman has largely disappeared from public life, while MBS runs the country with unchecked authority. His reign has been marked by erratic economic decisions, disastrous foreign policy ventures like the Yemen war, and billions spent on global PR through sports and entertainment deals.
The Crown Prince’s impulsive and authoritarian leadership has turned Saudi Arabia into a personal project, not a nation governed by accountability or consensus.
Mega Projects with Mega Failures: NEOM, The Line, and the Mirage
Projects like NEOM and The Line were promoted as futuristic cities that would define the 21st century. But in reality, they have become black holes of public funds. Reports by the Financial Times and Wall Street Journal have exposed repeated delays, internal mismanagement, and foreign investor withdrawals.
While the government builds flashy structures in the desert, the average Saudi struggles with rising living costs, cuts in public subsidies, and stagnant wages.
State Media: Propaganda Over Reality
Rather than acknowledge failure, Saudi state media continues to paint a fictional picture of progress. Minor contracts are treated as historic breakthroughs, and seasonal festivals are inflated into signs of national growth. But citizens know better—they see the rising debt, shrinking job markets, and deteriorating services.
Even the much-hyped tourism sector has failed to deliver substantial returns, relying more on entertainment spectacles than sustainable development.
Repression Instead of Reform
Anyone who dares criticize Vision 2030 or the regime’s failures is met with imprisonment or exile. International rights groups like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have documented dozens of cases of forced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, and long prison sentences for peaceful dissent.
While Vision 2030 speaks of “empowering women” and “expanding freedoms,” the Kingdom today suffers from one of its worst human rights records in decades.
A Hollow Economy Fueled by Image, Not Industry
Even during periods of high oil prices, Saudi Arabia has failed to invest wisely. Funds are squandered on buying European football clubs, hosting Formula 1 races, and importing entertainment—acts that mimic failing regimes of the past, rather than secure long-term prosperity.
A 2024 Bloomberg report warned that Saudi Arabia faces a looming fiscal crisis if it continues this trajectory, especially in the absence of meaningful economic diversification or political reform.
Vision 2030: A Mirage Built on Slogans, Not Substance
In the end, Vision 2030 has become a smokescreen to hide the regime’s authoritarianism and economic mismanagement. It is not a plan to empower citizens, but a tool to legitimize a reckless monarchy.
Slogans don’t build economies. Light shows don’t create jobs. And desert mega-projects won’t solve the real problems faced by millions of Saudis.
From Fantasy to Fallout What was once marketed as a dream for a new Saudi Arabia now looks increasingly like a nightmare. With the King absent and the Crown Prince isolated in his bubble of power, the country faces a precarious future. If the current path continues unchecked, Vision 2030 won’t just fail—it will bring down much more than a slogan. It will jeopardize the Kingdom’s stability itself.
