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The cultural and economic reforms undergone by Saudi Arabia since 2016 are perhaps most visible in the entertainment sector. For over three decades entertainment and cultural outlets, such as cinemas, art galleries and theatres, were banned. So too were artistic practices including film-making and live music. Since being elevated to a position of executive importance, however, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has lifted restrictions and targeted the creation of a vibrant arts and entertainment scene as a means to propel tourism, improve the quality of life for citizens and raise international awareness of Saudi Arabia’s increasingly open economy. This chapter contains an interview with Turki Alalshikh, Chairman, General Entertainment Authority.

Saudi Arabia is rolling out a broad range of tourism offerings across the country as a central part of its Vision 2030 national transformation strategy. Following the launch of the tourist visa programme in September 2019 and the subsequent downturn from the Covid-19 pandemic, 2021 and 2022 have witnessed an ambitious calendar of events ranging from the Formula 1 Grand Prix to arts and cultural festivals. In October 2021 the Ministry of Tourism announced a $1trn investment over the next 10 years in the sector. This reflects the Kingdom’s ambitions to become one of the top tourist destinations both regionally and worldwide. This chapter contains an interview with John Pagano, Group CEO, The Red Sea Development Company.

The health care sector in Saudi Arabia receives an average of 16.5% of the government’s annual budget, reflecting its importance to socio-economic development. The Covid-19 pandemic placed significant pressure on health care systems worldwide, yet the intensified throughput allowed governments to identify weaknesses in their health services and supply chains. Saudi Arabia’s substantial sovereign reserves have seen it emerge from the worst of the pandemic in a strong position to remedy the vulnerabilities exposed by the unprecedented events of 2020-22. Moving forwards, the government plans to increase efforts to create an integrated, high-quality, value-based health care system. Public-private partnerships are targeted at strengthen specific areas of health care infrastructure, while investment in research and development capacity is set to increase. This chapter contains an interview with Hisham bin Saad Aljadhey, CEO, Saudi Food and Drug Authority; and Fahad Al Shebel, CEO, the National Unified Procurement.

In recent years Saudi Arabia’s education sector has received the highest proportion of government spending of all areas of the economy. In line with the goals of Vision 2030, the country’s overarching development strategy, the government has rolled out multiple reform programmes aimed at raising the quality of teaching and curricula, and improving student attainment levels. The education system is being revamped to better prepare the national workforce to compete in the increasingly technology- and information-driven global economy. Instilling technological proficiency alongside critical thinking, problem solving and analytical capabilities will be key to equipping the population to thrive in a shifting global economic landscape. This chapter contains an interview with Hamad Al Sheikh, Minister of Education.

The Saudi real estate and construction sectors have been experiencing a period of rapid expansion due in part to a string of giga-projects and an economy rebounding from the Covid-19 pandemic. Indeed, the Kingdom is currently engaged in some of the largest construction projects in the world, including NEOM, the $500bn new city in the north-west, and developments on the Red Sea coast and in the capital city, Riyadh. At the same time, population growth and a young demographic are pushing demand for a range of real estate options and supporting infrastructure such as mass transit. All of this is taking place within the framework of Saudi Arabia’s long-term socio-economic development plan, Vision 2030, which seeks sustainable growth and economic diversification. This chapter contains an interview with Gautam Sashittal, CEO, King Abdullah Financial District.

Saudi Arabia’s transport and logistics sector encompasses a broad range of active facilities and routes. Given the Kingdom’s position between Europe and Asia and its central role in the global energy market, as well as the current importance of imported goods for meeting basic consumer demand, transport and logistics are crucial to the economy. Plans for the sector’s future involve a transformative programme aimed at leveraging geographic advantages and providing key services to the global economy. As the country’s leadership works to implement these steps, major projects at home – including an expansive new metro system for Riyadh, one of the most highly anticipated infrastructure projects – promise to transform the options available to residents. This chapter contains interviews with Faisal Saad Albedah, Managing Director and CEO, SAL Saudi Logistics Services; and Omar Hariri, President, Saudi Ports.