Saudi Arabia Vision 2030

Saudi Arabia has been exhibiting tremendous growth in internet users, social media users and e-commerce over the last decade and based on the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, the next ten years seem promising and exciting for Saudi businesses and businesses abroad.

What’s Vision 2030

It is Saudi Arabia’s vision for the future of the Kingdom, aiming to be a global investment powerhouse and the hub connecting 3 continents: Europe, Asia and Africa.

It’s important to realise that 91% of Saudi Arabia’s 32.9m population are internet users. That’s 30 million users! 25 million of those (83% of internet users) are active social media users which crowns the Saudi’s as the most present and active online in the region. These statistics are put into perspective when we consider that 90% of the UK’s population are internet users and 66% of those are active social media users.

What this really shows however, is that there is a significant appetite for digital consumption in Saudi Arabia - it continues to grow and is now being addressed by the Government within Vision 2030.

Without further ado, we visit the points discussed in Vision 2030 which will likely impact the digital marketing landscape in the region in coming years.

Supporting Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)

Saudi Arabia views that supporting small businesses is one of the main contributors for a thriving economy. Vast marketing opportunities already exist and are being utilised by SMEs via social media and other digital platforms. The government promises facilitating further access to these channels as well as support with marketing, exporting businesses’ products and services.

The Kingdom also wishes to collaborate with international stakeholders and leverage e-commerce to not only aid small business owners, but to create new business opportunities, develop specialised training programs, attract venture capital funds and motivate entrepreneurs.

The Goal: Is to increase the SMEs’ GDP contribution from 20% to 35%.

Equal Opportunities: Re-visited

Over 50 percent of graduates in Saudi Arabia are female, yet women’s participation in the workforce only forms 22%. This is why the Kingdom says it will continue to develop and invest in female talent to enable them to contribute to societal and economic development and increase their participation to 30%.