Saudi Arabia’s Quality of Life Program achieved several goals in line with Vision 2030, including creating over 925,000 jobs in the tourism sector alone in 2023. As the program continues to achieve its targets and initiatives, it has surpassed some of the targets of Vision 2030 ahead of schedule.
In recent years, Saudi Arabia has witnessed a transformative leap in the cultural and tourism sectors, which had notable economic impacts. The program has played a pivotal role in supporting and empowering both direct and indirect investments, projects, and training programs, benefiting thousands of youth.
Investing in human capital
With over 30 programs that focus on qualification, training and scholarships in various cultural disciplines, the Quality of Life Program has contributed significantly to job creation in this sector. Initiatives such as the SAR181 million Cultural Development Fund and support for cinema projects have further stimulated cultural endeavors. Moreover, infrastructure development, including the rehabilitation of over 100 heritage sites and museum enhancements, underscores the commitment to preserving Saudi Arabia’s rich cultural heritage. In addition, the program achieved listing seven sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List, the latest being the cultural Hima area in Najran.
Media initiatives
The Saudi Arabia Quality of Life Program’s media initiatives, particularly those related to community awareness campaigns and combating drug abuse, have aligned with strategic goals of enhancing community resilience. Additionally, the increase in media outlets and local publications reflects the program’s efforts to promote diverse voices and narratives. Hence, the program registered 165 media outlets, exceeding the target of 150. The number of local publications reached 5,668 books, 196 percent higher than the target for 2023. Economic impacts, especially in tourism, have been substantial, with over 925,460 jobs created in 2023 alone, due to various initiatives spearheaded by the Ministry of Tourism.
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Regional developments and mega projects
The Quality of Life Program highlights the relative advantages characterizing the regions of Saudi Arabia, including the Tabuk region. Moreover, it notes the abundance of historical and tourist sites, and mega projects like NEOM, the Red Sea and Amala, which play a major role in enhancing economic activity and stimulating various quality of life sectors like tourism, entertainment, culture and sports.
The Tabuk region takes center stage in the Quality of Life Program with multiple initiatives such as urban design, public parks, walking paths, and increasing the proportion of public spaces. Regarding sports, the King Khalid Sports City was developed to host sporting events, with the National Cricket Championship in Tabuk region being the program’s initiative. On the cultural side, the program developed and operated the craft center at the Tabuk Regional Museum to raise the quality of life for everyone in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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