Saudi Vision 2030 and the Kingdom’s Research Landscape 

Conceived by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Vision 2030 is Saudi Arabia’s ambitious roadmap for economic diversification, global engagement, and enhanced quality of life. In this long-term plan launched in 2016, Saudi Arabia aims to diversify its economy and reduce its dependence on oil revenues. Vision 2030 encompasses various sectors, including education and research, with the goal of transforming Saudi Arabia into a more dynamic and knowledge-based economy.  

Seven years later, Saudi Arabia has taken several steps to promote research and innovation as key drivers of the country’s development. With increased government funding and support for research, Saudi Arabia has been able to attract both local and international talent to lead important research projects and institutions. Further, Vision 2030 has led to partnerships with leading universities and research institutions worldwide. These partnerships bring in global expertise, knowledge, and best practices, further enhancing the quality and impact of research in Saudi Arabia. Let’s take a look at some of the exciting new initiatives and avenues in different fields that have opened up in the Kingdom, spurred by Vision 2030. 

A key part of Vision 2030 is improving access to healthcare, modernizing facilities and equipment, and ensuring a long, healthy and productive lifespan for Saudi citizens. In August 2023, the Saudi Cabinet approved the establishment of a National Institute for Health Research [i], which will oversee and support translational research and clinical trials in the country. It will also actively engage in research in fields like preventive care, translational medicine, telehealth, and diagnostics.  

A research field that has recently gained momentum in the country is genomics. Saudi Arabia has been considered an ideal country for the exploration of new genetic variants, owing to its high rate of consanguinity (>60% of marriages).[ii] The Saudi Human Genome Program, which involves building a genetic database for Saudi citizens, aims to identify genetic basis of various inherited diseases through next-generation sequencing and to create the first Saudi genetic map. At present, over 7500 pathogenic variants have been identified under this program, the results of which have been reported in over 140 peer-reviewed papers. [iii]

In addition to measures to prevent genetic disease, comprehensive large-scale geriatric care is another emerging requirement in Saudi Arabia. Anticipating an increase in its elderly population by 2035,[iv] Saudi Arabia has begun to pay increasing attention to research on aging and a healthy lifespan (healthspan). Hevolution Foundation, a nonprofit funded by the Saudi government, has recently announced its intentions to invest up to $1 billion annually in aging research and healthspan science.[v] It will also host the Global Healthspan Summit in November 2023, bringing together over 100 researchers, policymakers, and entrepreneurs from not just Saudi Arabia but also the UK, the US, and Europe.[vi] 

On another note, as Saudi Arabia aims to become a Net Zero economy by 2060, sustainability is a key part of Vision 2030. The Saudi Arabian government launched the Sustainable Tourism Global Center, a global hub for research on carbon neutrality in the tourism sector.[vii] Researchers from countries including the US, China, France, and Spain will be involved in this center’s initiatives.[viii] 

Alongside sustainability, energy, especially atomic energy, is likely to be an emerging hot topic among Saudi researchers. One of the aims of Vision 2030 is to diversify the Kingdom’s economy by reducing dependence on oil. Saudi Arabia is constructing a low power research reactor, intended for research, development, and training in the fields of nuclear and related sciences.[ix] In September 2023,[x] Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman announced the country’s decision to switch from light-touch oversight by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA; the UN’s atomic watchdog) and  instead adopt IAEA’s stringent Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement.[xi] This move paves the way for the country to expand its nascent nuclear research plans and become a noteworthy player in the global nuclear research landscape.  

Beyond healthcare and sustainability, the Saudi government has recognized the need to future-proof its workforce, especially the academic workforce. Saudi Arabia aims to become a global leader in innovation, aiming to spend 2.5 percent of the country’s GDP on research and development by 2040. And recognizing the growing importance of artificial intelligence technologies, Saudi Arabia has planned to invest $20 billion in artificial intelligence projects by 2030.[xii] The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, in support of Vision 2030, has announced its aims to “to elevate the Kingdom as a global leader in the elite league of data-driven economies.”[xiii] In 2023, Prime Minister and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved the establishment of the International Center for Artificial Intelligence Research and Ethics [xiv] and also announced plans for a new institute of the Global Cybersecurity Forum in Riyadh.[xv] These measures will boost technical skills and digital literacy not only within academia but also in the general workforce.  

In summary, Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 represents a comprehensive and forward-thinking approach to transforming the country’s research landscape. By diversifying the economy, increasing funding for research and development, and fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, the plan aims to position Saudi Arabia as a hub for knowledge and innovation, reducing its reliance on oil and ensuring long-term economic sustainability.  

Register and join our upcoming event themed “Research Excellence: Saudi Vision 2030 & Beyond” in which we plan to explore the trajectory of research in alignment with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. For this, we have put together an expert panel that will discuss the achievements of Vision 2030 till date, and what we can expect up until 2030, and even beyond that. To see more details of the event and explore the speaker panel, you can visit this link. This will be a gathering of senior researchers from prestigious institutes and hospitals across Saudi Arabia, creating a unique platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and networking.