History of Saudi Arabia in Timeline
Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in West Asia occupying most of the Arabian Peninsula. It's the largest Middle Eastern country with a land area of about 2,150,000 km2. It's bordered by the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, and several countries including Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, UAE, Oman, and Yemen. Its terrain is primarily arid desert, lowland, steppe, and mountains. Riyadh is the capital and largest city, while Jeddah, Mecca, and Medina are also major cities. Mecca and Medina are Islam's holiest cities. Saudi Arabia's population is almost 32.2 million, making it the fourth most populous country in the Arab world.
1902: Capture of Riyadh
In 1902, Abdulaziz (Ibn Saud) captured Riyadh, marking the beginning of the conquests that led to the formation of Saudi Arabia.
1902: Recapture of Riyadh by Ibn Saud
In 1902, Abdulaziz (Ibn Saud) recaptured control of Riyadh, re-establishing Al Saud's presence in Nejd.
1912: Foundation of the Ikhwan
In 1912, the Ikhwan, a tribal army inspired by Wahhabism, was founded, later supporting Ibn Saud's conquests.
1913: Capture of Al-Ahsa
In 1913, Ibn Saud, with the aid of the Ikhwan, captured Al-Ahsa from the Ottomans.
1916: Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire
In 1916, the Sharif of Mecca, Hussein bin Ali, with British support, led the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire.
1920: Launch of Al Fallah newspaper
In 1920, Al Fallah, the first newspaper in Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf area, was launched.
1921: Ibn Saud becomes Sultan of Nejd
In 1921, following the final defeat of the Al Rashid, Ibn Saud took the title Sultan of Nejd.
1924: Conquest of the Kingdom of Hejaz
In 1924, Ibn Saud started the conquest of the Kingdom of Hejaz with the help of the Ikhwan.
1925: Establishment of regional health departments
In 1925, several regional health departments were established in Saudi Arabia, with the first in Makkah.
January 1926: Ibn Saud Declares Himself King of Hejaz
On January 10, 1926, Ibn Saud declared himself king of Hejaz.
1929: Defeat of the Ikhwan
In 1929, Ibn Saud defeated the Ikhwan at the Battle of Sabilla, suppressing their rebellion.
September 1932: Royal Decree naming Saudi Arabia
In September 1932, Abdulaziz issued a royal decree naming the new state al-Mamlaka al-ʿArabiyya as-Suʿūdiyya, translated as "the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia".
September 1932: Unification as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
On September 23, 1932, Prince Faisal declared the unification of the two kingdoms of Hejaz and Nejd, forming the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
1932: Founding of Saudi Arabia
In 1932, King Abdulaziz (Ibn Saud) united Hejaz, Najd, parts of Eastern and Southern Arabia into the single state of Saudi Arabia.
1938: Discovery of Petroleum
In 1938, petroleum was discovered in Saudi Arabia, transforming the kingdom into a major oil producer and exporter.
1938: Discovery of Oil in Al-Ahsa
In 1938, vast oil reserves were discovered in the Al-Ahsa region of Saudi Arabia.
1941: Development of Oil Fields Begins
In 1941, full-scale development of Saudi Arabian oil fields began under the US-controlled Aramco.
1950: Saudi population
In 1950, the population of Saudi Arabia was estimated at 3 million.
1950: Establishment of the Ministry of Health
In 1950, various healthcare institutions were merged to become the Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia.
1951: UN Refugee Convention
Saudi Arabia is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention.
1953: Saud succeeds as King of Saudi Arabia
In 1953, Saud of Saudi Arabia succeeded as the king of Saudi Arabia.
1954: Introduction of television
Television was introduced in Saudi Arabia in 1954.
1960: Founding Member of OPEC
Since 1960, Saudi Arabia has been a founding member of OPEC.
1962: Abolition of slavery
Slavery was officially abolished in Saudi Arabia in 1962.
1964: Faisal Deposes Saud
In 1964, Faisal of Saudi Arabia deposed Saud, becoming the new king.
1966: Discovery of Dilmunite Statue
In 1966, an earthwork in Tarout exposed an ancient burial field that yielded a large statue dating to the Dilmunite period (mid 3rd millennium BC).
1970: Rural life
As late as 1970, most Saudis lived a subsistence life in the rural provinces.
1970: Saudi Arabia Launches Development Plans
Saudi Arabia has had five-year "Development Plans" since 1970.
1972: Saudi Arabia gains control in Aramco
In 1972, Saudi Arabia gained a 20% control in Aramco.
October 1973: Oil Embargo
In October 1973, Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations imposed an oil embargo against the United States, United Kingdom, Japan and other Western nations.
1973: Saudi Arabia leads oil boycott
In 1973, Saudi Arabia led an oil boycott against Western countries.
1973: Oil Embargo Imposition
In 1973, the ulema were a key influence in the imposition of the oil embargo.
1975: Launch of Arab News newspaper
In 1975, Arab News, the first English-language newspaper in Saudi Arabia, was launched.
1975: Assassination of Faisal
In 1975, Faisal was assassinated by his nephew, Prince Faisal bin Musaid and was succeeded by his half-brother King Khalid.
1976: Saudi Arabia becomes largest oil producer
By 1976, Saudi Arabia had become the largest oil producer in the world.
1979: Seizure of the Grand Mosque
During the Islamic revival movement in the 1980s, and as a political response to an increase in Islamist activism including the 1979 seizure of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the government closed all cinemas and theatres.
1979: Events influencing Saudi Policy
In 1979, the Iranian Islamic Revolution and the Grand Mosque Seizure in Mecca greatly concerned the Saudi government, influencing its foreign and domestic policy.
1979: Promise to return to "moderate Islam" and establishment of new center
In 2017, Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman promised to return Saudi Arabia to the "moderate Islam" of the era before the 1979 Iranian revolution and a new center, the King Salman Complex for the Prophet's Hadith, was established that year.
1980: Saudi Arabia buys American Interests in Aramco
In 1980, Saudi Arabia bought out the American interests in Aramco.
1980: Support for Saddam Hussein
In 1980, Saudi Arabia supported Saddam Hussein.
1980: Little Change in Saudi Oil Reserves
Saudi Arabia's published reserves have shown little change since 1980.
June 1982: King Khalid dies, Fahd succeeds
In June 1982, King Khalid died of a heart attack and was succeeded by his brother, King Fahd.
1986: Fahd adds title
In 1986, Fahd added the title "Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques" to his name.
1987: Increase in Oil Reserves
Between 1987 and 1988, Saudi Arabia experienced an increase of about 100 billion barrels in oil reserves.
1988: Increase in Oil Reserves
Between 1987 and 1988, Saudi Arabia experienced an increase of about 100 billion barrels in oil reserves.
1988: Support for Saddam Hussein
In 1988, Saudi Arabia supported Saddam Hussein.
1990: Saudi Arabia condemns invasion of Kuwait
In 1990, Saudi Arabia condemned the invasion of Kuwait and requested the United States to intervene.
1990: Expulsion of Yemenis
In 1990, Saudi Arabia expelled 800,000 Yemenis.
1990: Invitation to Foreign Troops
In 1990, the ulema were a key influence in the invitation to foreign troops to Saudi Arabia.
1991: Expulsion of Yemenis
In 1991, Saudi Arabia expelled 800,000 Yemenis.
March 1992: Introduction of the "Basic Law"
In March 1992, King Fahd introduced the "Basic Law", which emphasized the duties and responsibilities of a ruler.
1992: Basic Law of Saudi Arabia Adopted
In 1992, the Basic Law of Saudi Arabia was adopted by royal decree, stating the king must comply with Sharia and the Quran.
December 1993: Inauguration of the Consultative Council
In December 1993, the Consultative Council, composed of a chairman and 60 members chosen by the King, was inaugurated.
1994: Osama bin Laden Citizenship Revoked
In 1994, Osama bin Laden, a Saudi citizen, was stripped of his citizenship.
1995: Fahd Suffers Debilitating Stroke
In 1995, King Fahd suffered a debilitating stroke, leading Crown Prince Abdullah to assume the role of de facto regent.
1998: U.S. embassy bombings in East Africa
In 1998, U.S. embassy bombings in East Africa was carried out by Saudi national, Osama bin Laden.
1999: Asian Championship
The Saudi Arabian national basketball team won bronze at the 1999 Asian Championship.
2000: Expansion of higher education
Higher education in Saudi Arabia has expanded rapidly, with large numbers of universities and colleges being founded particularly since 2000.
2000: USS Cole bombing
In 2000, the USS Cole bombing near the port of Aden, Yemen, was perpetrated by Saudi national, Osama bin Laden.
2000: Coral Reef Extends Along Coastline
In 2000, the coral reef extended along the coastline.
2000: Establishment of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority
In 2000, the government established the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority to encourage foreign direct investment in the kingdom.
2001: Prince Bandar bin Sultan Acknowledges Corruption
In 2001, Prince Bandar bin Sultan acknowledged and defended the existence of corruption within the Saudi government.
2001: Saudi Arabia Engages in Widespread Internet Censorship
Since 2001, Saudi Arabia has engaged in widespread internet censorship.
2003: Privatization of Key Services
From 2003 to 2013, "several key services" were privatized—municipal water supply, electricity, telecommunications.
2003: Series of Bombings and Armed Violence
In 2003, Saudi Arabia experienced a series of bombings and armed violence in Riyadh, Jeddah, Yanbu and Khobar.
2003: Refusal to Support US Invasion of Iraq
In 2003, Saudi Arabia refused to support or to participate in the US-led invasion of Iraq.
2003: National Dialogue Forum
In 2003, the National Dialogue Forum was founded.
2003: Alarm Over Iran's Influence
The consequences of the 2003 invasion and the Arab Spring led to increasing alarm within the Saudi monarchy over the rise of Iran's influence in the region.
2004: Water and Sanitation Access
According to the 2004 census, 97% of Saudi Arabia's population had access to an improved source of drinking water, and 99% had access to improved sanitation.
2004: Series of Bombings and Armed Violence
In 2004, Saudi Arabia experienced a series of bombings and armed violence in Riyadh, Jeddah, Yanbu and Khobar.
April 2005: Nationwide Municipal Elections Held
In February-April 2005, the first-ever nationwide municipal elections were held in Saudi Arabia, with women not allowed to participate.
November 2005: Saudi Arabia Becomes a Member of the WTO
In November 2005, Saudi Arabia was approved as a member of the World Trade Organization.
2005: King Abdullah Reduces Powers of the Ulema
After his accession to the throne in 2005, King Abdullah took steps to reduce the powers of the ulema.
2005: King Fahd Dies, Succeeded by Abdullah
In 2005, King Fahd died and was succeeded by Abdullah, who continued the policy of minimum reform and clamping down on protests.
2005: Joins the World Trade Organization
In 2005, Saudi Arabia joined the World Trade Organization.
2005: First Municipal Elections Held
In 2005, the first municipal elections were held.
2005: Ratification of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
Saudi Arabia ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2005.
2006: Statement by Wajeha al-Huwaider
In 2006, Wajeha al-Huwaider, a leading Saudi feminist and journalist, stated that Saudi women are weak due to the lack of laws protecting them.
2007: Allegiance Council Created
In 2007, the Allegiance Council was created to regulate the succession.
February 2009: Governmental Changes Announced
In February 2009, King Abdullah announced a series of governmental changes to the judiciary, armed forces, and various ministries.
2009: Government Personnel Changes
In 2009, the king made significant personnel changes to the government by appointing reformers to key positions and the first woman to a ministerial post.
2009: Smoking Rates
In 2009, the lowest median percentage of smokers was university students (~13.5%) while the highest was elderly people (~25%).
December 2010: Hillary Clinton on Saudi Terrorist Funding
In December 2010, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated that Saudi Arabia remains a critical financial support base for al-Qaida, the Taliban, LeT and other terrorist groups.
2010: No policies banning or restricting smoking
Before 2010, Saudi Arabia had no policies banning or restricting smoking.
2010: Transparency International Corruption Perception Index
In 2010, Transparency International gave Saudi Arabia a score of 4.7 on its Corruption Perceptions Index.
January 2011: Protest in Jeddah Over Poor Infrastructure
On 29 January 2011, hundreds of protesters gathered in Jeddah to criticize the city's poor infrastructure following flooding that killed 11 people; police stopped the demonstration and made arrests.
February 2011: King Abdullah Announces Benefits for Citizens
On 22 February 2011, in response to Arab Spring protests, King Abdullah announced a series of benefits for citizens amounting to $36 billion.
September 2011: Male-Only Municipal Elections Held
On 29 September 2011, male-only municipal elections were held in Saudi Arabia.
December 2011: Reporters Arrested for YouTube Video on Poverty
In December 2011, the Saudi interior ministry arrested three reporters and held them for almost two weeks for questioning after they uploaded a video on the topic to YouTube.
2011: Study on Human Migration
A 2011 study found that the first modern humans to spread east across Asia left Africa about 75000 years ago across the Bab-el-Mandeb connecting the Horn of Africa and Arabia.
2012: Saudi Arabia Tourism
According to the World Bank, approximately 14.3 million people visited Saudi Arabia in 2012, making it the world's 19th-most-visited country.
2012: Loss of groundwater reserves
By 2012, consuming non-renewable groundwater resulted in the loss of an estimated four-fifths of the total groundwater reserves in Saudi Arabia.
November 2013: Expulsion of Ethiopian residents
In November 2013, Saudi Arabia expelled thousands of illegal Ethiopian residents from the kingdom, drawing criticism from various human rights entities.
2013: Foreign-born domestic workers
According to The Guardian, as of 2013 there were more than half a million foreign-born domestic workers in Saudi Arabia.
2013: Privatization of Key Services
From 2003 to 2013, "several key services" were privatized—municipal water supply, electricity, telecommunications.
2013: Foreign nationals
The CIA Factbook estimated that as of 2013 foreign nationals living in Saudi Arabia made up about 21% of the population.
June 2014: Approval of law to protect relics and historic sites
In June 2014, the Council of Ministers approved a law that gives the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage the means to protect Saudi Arabia's ancient relics and historic sites.
2014: Implementation of anti-domestic violence law
In 2014, Saudi Arabia implemented the anti-domestic violence law.
2014: Grand Mufti Issues Fatwa Against Terrorism
In 2014, Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Sheikh, the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, issued a fatwa explicitly prohibiting joining or supporting terrorist organizations such as ISIS and al-Qaeda.
2014: Foreign population
The Central Department of Statistics & Information estimated the foreign population at the end of 2014 at 33% (10.1 million).
March 2015: Saudi Arabia Intervenes in Yemen Civil War
In March 2015, Saudi Arabia mobilized 150,000 troops and 100 fighter jets to support its intervention in the civil war in neighbouring Yemen.
December 2015: Saudi Arabia Announces Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition
In December 2015, Saudi Arabia announced the formation of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition, an alliance of Muslim-majority countries aimed at combating terrorism and extremism.
2015: Assad Accuses Saudi Arabia of Supporting Extremism
In 2015, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad stated that the Wahhabism supported by the Saudi royal family is the source of the extreme ideology of ISIS and other Salafist extremist groups.
2015: UNESCO recognition requests
In 2015, ten cultural sites in Saudi Arabia submitted requests for recognition to UNESCO.
2015: Increased access to sanitation
In 2015, the Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) estimated that access to sanitation in Saudi Arabia increased to 100%.
2015: Women Allowed to Vote and Be Elected
In 2015, women were allowed to vote and be elected in municipal elections, and also to be nominated to the Shura Council.
September 2016: U.S. Congress Passes Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act
In September 2016, the U.S. Congress passed the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, allowing relatives of victims of the 11 September attacks to sue Saudi Arabia for its alleged role in the attacks.
2016: Saudi Forces Capture Parts of Yemen
By early 2016, Saudi ground forces and their coalition allies captured Aden and parts of southwest Yemen.
2016: End of domestic wheat production
In 2016, Saudi Arabia ended domestic production of wheat, which it used to export, in the interest of preserving precious water resources.
2016: Launch of "Ada'a" project
In 2016, Saudi Arabia's Health Ministry launched the "Ada'a" project, a nationwide performance indicator for services and hospitals, to create friendly competition and improve waiting times.
2016: Formation of the General Entertainment Authority
In 2016, the General Entertainment Authority (GEA) was formed to oversee the expansion of the Saudi entertainment sector.
2016: Mass Executions in Saudi Arabia
Mass executions, such as the ones carried out in 2016, have been condemned by international rights groups.
2016: Saudi Arabia Natural Resources Valued
Saudi Arabia has the second highest total estimated value of natural resources, valued at US$34.4 trillion in 2016.
2016: Kingdom Backs Away From Islamist Ideologies
Since 2016, the kingdom began backing away from Islamist ideologies, including curbing the powers of religious police and stopping funding mosques in foreign countries.
2016: Curbing of religious police powers
Since 2016, the power of Saudi Arabia's religious police was curbed, barring them from pursuing, questioning, requesting identification or arresting suspects.
2016: Allocation for preservation of historical and cultural heritage
Within the framework of the 2016 National Transformation Programme, also known as Saudi Vision 2030, the kingdom allocated 900 million euros to preserve its historical and cultural heritage.
March 2017: Participation in heritage protection alliance
In March 2017, Saudi Arabia participated in the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas, with a contribution of 18.5 million euros.
May 2017: Arms Deal with the United States
On 20 May 2017, President Donald Trump and King Salman signed a series of letters of intent for Saudi Arabia to purchase arms from the United States totaling $350 billion over 10 years.
November 2017: Anti-Corruption Campaign Arrests
In November 2017, an anti-corruption campaign led to the arrest of as many as 500 people, including prominent Saudi Arabian princes, government ministers, and businesspeople.
November 2017: Discovery of Ancient Rock Engravings of Dogs
In November 2017, rock engravings dating back more than 8000 years were discovered in Shuwaymis, Saudi Arabia, depicting scenes of possibly domesticated dogs with leashes, making them the earliest known depictions of dogs in the world.
2017: Addressing issues of mobility, sexual harassment, pensions, and employment-discrimination protections
Between 2017 and 2020, the country addressed issues of mobility, sexual harassment, pensions, and employment-discrimination protections.
2017: Promise to return to "moderate Islam" and establishment of new center
In 2017, Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman promised to return Saudi Arabia to the "moderate Islam" of the era before the 1979 Iranian revolution and a new center, the King Salman Complex for the Prophet's Hadith, was established that year.
2017: Tax implementation and opening of women-only gyms
In 2017, a tax was implemented on unhealthy food, drink, and cigarettes. Additionally, women-only gyms were allowed to open.
2017: Nuclear Power Programme
In 2017, as part of its nuclear power programme, Saudi Arabia planned to extract uranium domestically.
2017: U.S. State Department Report
In its 2017 religious freedom report, the U.S. State Department named Saudi Arabia a Country of Particular Concern, denoting systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.
2017: Appointment of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
Since Mohammed bin Salman was appointed Crown Prince in 2017, a series of social reforms have been witnessed regarding women's rights.
March 2018: Crown Prince meets Archbishop of Canterbury
In March 2018, the Crown Prince met the Archbishop of Canterbury during a visit to the UK, pledging to promote interfaith dialogue.
June 24, 2018: Saudi Arabia Allows Women to Drive
On June 24, 2018, the Saudi government issued a law officially allowing women to drive.
August 2018: Dispute with Canada over Activist Arrest
In August 2018, Saudi Arabia halted new trade and investment dealings with Canada and suspended diplomatic ties over the kingdom's arrest of women's rights activist Samar Badawi.
2018: Expatriate languages
According to 2018 data, the most numerous expatriate languages spoken in Saudi Arabia are Bengali, Tagalog, Punjabi, Urdu, Egyptian Arabic, Rohingya and North Levantine Arabic and Malayalam.
2018: Tourism potential report
According to a report conducted by BMI Research in 2018, both religious and non-religious tourism have significant potential for expansion.
2018: Saudi Arabia's debut appearances
In 2018, Saudi Arabia made its debut appearances at the Cannes Film Festival and the Venice Biennale.
2018: High-quality research output
In 2018, Saudi Arabia ranked 28th worldwide in terms of high-quality research output according to the scientific journal Nature.
2018: Opening of first public cinema after 35-year ban
In 2018, the first public cinema opened in Saudi Arabia after a ban of 35 years.
2018: Criticism for sportswashing
In August 2019, Saudi Arabia's strategy of introducing international sporting events received criticism for appearing as a method of sportswashing soon after Saudi's US-based 2018 lobbying campaign foreign registration documentations got published online.
2018: Women permitted in stadiums
Until 2018 women were not permitted in sport stadiums. Segregated seating, allowing women to enter, has been developed in three stadiums across major cities.
May 2019: Global award
In May 2019, the then Saudi Minister of Health Tawfiq bin Fawzan AlRabiah received a global award on behalf of the Kingdom for combatting smoking through social awareness, treatment, and application of regulations.
July 2019: Saudi Arabia contributes to UNESCO
In July 2019, Saudi Arabia contributed US$25 million to UNESCO for the preservation of heritage.
August 2019: Criticism for sportswashing
In August 2019, Saudi Arabia's strategy of introducing international sporting events received criticism for appearing as a method of sportswashing.
2019: Saudi Arabia's Defense and Security Spending
As of 2019, spending on defence and security was about US$78.4 billion.
2019: Adoption of general tourism travel visa
In 2019, Saudi Arabia adopted a general tourism travel visa to allow non-Muslims to visit.
2019: Visa applications for visitors
In 2019, Saudi Arabia announced its plans to open visa applications for visitors, where people from about 50 countries would be able to get tourist visas.
2019: Amendment to male guardianship law
In 2019, Saudi Arabia partially amended the male guardianship law to exclude women over 21 years old from the requirement of a male guardian and granted women rights in relation to the guardianship of minor children, also Saudi Arabia allowed women to travel abroad, register for divorce or marriage, and apply for official documents without the permission of a male guardian.
2019: Premium Residency visa availability
In 2019, a specialized Premium Residency visa became available for foreigners in Saudi Arabia.
2019: Calorie labels
In 2019, calorie labels were added to some food and drink products as part of a strategy to reduce obesity and inform citizens with health issues.
2019: Mass Executions in Saudi Arabia
Mass executions, such as the ones carried out in 2019, have been condemned by international rights groups.
2019: Global Innovation Index ranking
Saudi Arabia was ranked 68th in the Global Innovation Index in 2019.
April 2020: Saudi Arabia Eliminates Flogging
In April 2020, Saudi Supreme Court issued a directive to eliminate the punishment of flogging from the Saudi court system, replaced by imprisonment or fines.
May 2020: Saudi Arabia Faces Severe Economic Crisis
In May 2020, the Finance Minister of Saudi Arabia admitted that the country's economy was facing a severe economical crisis for the first time in decades, because of the pandemic as well as declining global oil markets.
November 2020: Launch of first nationwide Saudi women's premier league
In November 2020, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation announced the launch of the first nationwide Saudi women's premier league.
2020: Percentage of internet users
According to World Bank, as of 2020, 98% of the population of Saudi Arabia are internet users.
2020: Addressing issues of mobility, sexual harassment, pensions, and employment-discrimination protections
Between 2017 and 2020, the country addressed issues of mobility, sexual harassment, pensions, and employment-discrimination protections.
2020: Eligibility for Saudi electronic visa
In 2020, Saudi Arabia announced that holders of a US, UK, or Schengen visa are eligible for a Saudi electronic visa upon arrival.
2020: Literacy rate
In 2020, the literacy rate in Saudi Arabia is 99% among males and 96% among females.
May 2021: Discovery of Oldest Human Habitation Site
In May 2021, archaeologists announced the discovery of An Nasim, a 350000-year-old Acheulean site in the Hail region, potentially the oldest human habitation site in northern Saudi Arabia.
2021: Judicial Reforms Announced
In 2021, Saudi Arabia announced judicial reforms which will lead to an entirely codified law that eliminates discrepancies.
2021: Textbook revisions
In 2021, the Washington Post reported on the measures taken by Saudi Arabia to clean textbooks from paragraphs considered antisemitic and sexist.
2021: E-commerce revenue
The kingdom is the 27th largest market for e-commerce with a revenue of US$8 billion in 2021.
2022: Life expectancy
According to the latest data for the year 2022 from the World Bank, Saudi Arabia has a life expectancy of 78 years.
2022: Reporters Without Borders rates press
As of 2022, Reporters Without Borders rates the kingdom's press a "very serious" situation.
2022: Saudi Arabia population
As of 2022, Saudi Arabia's reported population is 32,175,224.
2022: Mohammed Bin Salman Becomes Prime Minister
Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman became prime minister in 2022.
2022: New Personal Status Law granting women the right to divorce
In 2022, Saudi Arabia granted women the right to divorce without the approval of a legal guardian under the new Personal Status Law.
2022: Democracy Index Ranking
In 2022, The Economist ranked the Saudi government 150th out of 167 in its Democracy Index.
2022: University rankings
In 2022, the Academic Ranking of World Universities ranked five Saudi institutions among its list of the 500 top universities in the world.
2022: Capital Punishments to Be Removed
In 2022, the Saudi Crown Prince stated that capital punishments will be removed "except for one category mentioned in the Quran", namely homicide, under which certain conditions must be applied.
2022: Mass Executions in Saudi Arabia
Mass executions, such as the ones carried out in 2022, have been condemned by international rights groups.
June 2023: Kingdom Reverses Ban on Women
As of June 2023, the kingdom has reportedly reversed its ban on women "becoming lawyers, engineers, or geologists" and established "aggressive affirmative action programmes", doubling the female labour force participation rate.
2023: Saudi Arabia Military Forces Personnel Numbers
As of 2023 there are 127,000 active personnel in the Armed Forces, 130,000 in the National Guard, and 24,500 in the paramilitary security forces.
2023: Urbanization
As of 2023, about 85% of Saudis live in urban metropolitan areas—specifically Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam.
2023: Freedom House Rating
In 2023, Freedom House gave Saudi Arabia its lowest "Not Free" rating, with a score of 8 out of 100.
July 2024: Joint Ventures Formed to Advance Clean Energy Infrastructure
In July 2024 Saudi Arabia's Renewable Energy Localisation Company (RELC) has formed three joint ventures with Chinese companies to advance the kingdom's clean energy infrastructure.
November 5, 2024: Discovery of ancient city al-Natah
On November 5, 2024, archeologists announced the discovery of the ancient city of al-Natah, dating back 4,000 years, within the Saudi oasis of Khaybar.
December 2024: Confirmation as host of 2034 World Cup
On December 2024, Saudi Arabia was confirmed as host of the 2034 World Cup.
2024: Saudi Arabia Progress in Global Climate Goals
In 2024, Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning, Faisal Al Ibrahim, emphasized Saudi Arabia's progress in global climate goals at the High-Level Political Forum for Sustainable Development in New York, citing over 80 initiatives and investments exceeding $180 billion for the country's green economy.
2024: Global Innovation Index ranking
Saudi Arabia was ranked 44th in the Global Innovation Index in 2024.
2030: Saudi Arabia's 2030 Targets
As part of Saudi Arabia's 2030 targets, the Public Investment Fund is actively promoting the localization of renewable energy components. RELC, a division of the sovereign fund, facilitates partnerships between global manufacturers and Saudi private sector firms to strengthen local supply chains.
2030: Plans to have more than 2000 screens running
In 2018 the first public cinema opened after a ban of 35 years, with plans to have more than 2000 screens running by 2030.
2030: Saudi Efforts with Vision 2030 Objectives
In 2024, Minister Faisal Al Ibrahim highlighted the alignment of these efforts with Vision 2030 objectives, focusing on local sustainability, sector integration, and societal advancement.
2030: Planned reduction in tobacco use
Saudi Arabia plans to reduce tobacco use from 12.7% in 2017, to 5% in 2030.
2030: Vision 2030 Affected by COVID-19
The unexpected impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy, along with Saudi Arabia's poor human rights records, laid unforeseen challenges before the development plans of the kingdom, where some of the programmes under 'Vision 2030' were also expected to be affected.
2030: Saudi Vision 2030
Tourism is an important component of the Saudi Vision 2030.
2030: Allocation for preservation of historical and cultural heritage
Within the framework of the 2016 National Transformation Programme, also known as Saudi Vision 2030, the kingdom allocated 900 million euros to preserve its historical and cultural heritage.
2034: Saudi Arabia makes a bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup
Saudi has made a bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup and developments of stadiums to be used for the event are ongoing.
