Realizing Saudi Vision 2030: Governance, Institutions and Human Capital Development
By (Author) Mark C. Thompson
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
I.B. Tauris
19th February 2026
United Kingdom
Professional and Scholarly
Non Fiction
Political science and theory
Hardback
272
Width 156mm, Height 234mm
All too often, Saudi Vision 2030 is associated outside the Kingdom solely with mega-projects such as Neom and The Line. But how the Vision is being realized through real life situations and issues is frequently overlooked. This book is a behind-the-scenes investigation into the current transformations taking place in Saudi Arabia. It comprises contributions from academics, researchers, policymakers and practitioners who have access to the decision-makers and relevant institutions in the country. Based on these authors extensive experiences and this unique access, chapters focus on the remodelling of government entities, the creation of institutions, and the new opportunities made available for Saudis through human capital development initiatives, all key issues that are central to the Vision. In assessing the transformations taking place in Saudi Arabia, this book is a much-needed evaluation into how Vision 2030 is being successfully implemented and what factors challenge development.
The ebook editions of this book are available open access under a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence on bloomsburycollections.com. Open access was funded by the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies.
An insightful exploration of Saudi Vision 2030, this manuscript bridges theory and practice, highlighting institutional transformation and human capital development while offering invaluable lessons for global audiences navigating socio-economic reforms. -- Christopher Davidson, Reader in Middle East Politics, Durham University, UK
Vision 2030 promises to fundamentally reshape economics and governance in Saudi Arabia and this timely volume of essays provides important new insight and local perspectives as the process of change reaches its halfway point. -- Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Rice Universitys Baker Institute for Public Policy, US
Mark C. Thompson is Senior Research Fellow at King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies. He is the author of Being Young Male and Saudi: Identity and Politics in a Globalized Kingdom (2019), Saudi Arabia and the Path to Political Change: National Dialogue and Civil Society (2014) and co-editor of Policy-Making in the GCC (2017) Governance and Domestic Policy-Making in Saudi Arabia (2022), and Saudi Youth: Policies and Processes (2024).