Saudi Arabia…The Invincible Giant!

In 2014 I relocated to UAE, and my life started revolving around recruitment in UAE. I couldn't foresee the next year of my life, let alone the next 10 years; the only intention I had was to learn about the UAE market. Saudi Arabia wasn't on my agenda; however, as years passed, it appeared as if destiny had others plans for me. I was given a challenge by a multinational client who was restructuring their entire team in the Kingdom with a key focus on hiring local talent. This challenge marked the beginning of my enchanting journey of acquiring talent for Saudi Arabia, both locals and expats!

Back then, I could have never thought that Saudi Arabia would undergo all these radical changes. I thought everything there was carved in stone; however, gradually, I learned the only thing constant is change!

Saudi Arabia has emerged as a top global player, going from strength to strength at a speed you can only admire. Saudi Aramco pegged the title of the world's most valuable company dethroning Apple with the help of the surging oil prices and the slumping tech stocks!

The visions such as NEOM, The Red Sea Development, Qiddiya, and a few others have significantly boosted the tourism industry. In addition, entertainment has become the burgeoning new sector that has been generating income and jobs, and the events happening have resulted in Saudi becoming an attractive global hub.?

Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud has taken over, a young crown prince, someone with a massive vision with all the tools to succeed in making KSA a global powerhouse. The values that govern Saudi Arabia are much more business and economy-related now. Vision 2030 is, in large part, an economic plan and all the social and cultural changes that we see today are there to support it. Female empowerment is at the heart of the Kingdom's vision 2030 reform program, and society is also embracing and encouraging female liberation. This is no longer the Saudi Arabia that you are led to believe.

A new authority and state-owned enterprise is created almost every quarter. Once they come to light, they start hiring in the market with a key focus on talent who are outstanding in strategy with excellent presentation skills. The PIF is the charter member of this, which is creating more companies than any other entity in the economy.

The lifestyle is inching closer to the lifestyle of Dubai and the other modern Gulf capitals. However, let's be cognizant of the fact that the speed of change taking place in big cities such as Riyadh, Jeddah or Alkhobar cannot be the same as in smaller towns! There is a long way to go for the smaller states, but with the current vision and changes that are happening, it will not be long until those states follow suit.

?Saudi Arabia is the most promising country and is well determined with a set goal. This is a pragmatic approach as when a country plans to invest trillions of dollars over a decade, it must ensure that the environment it operates in is supportive and is able to attract the right resources and talents.?The result is that the number of small and medium-sized businesses is growing exponentially, and a large expat population is seeking opportunities in the Kingdom.

Saudi Arabia, by most counts, is the leading contender for the most evolved country in the Middle East. It is the country which has embraced all the right reforms to date and is one of the most sought-after nations.

So, what other changes do you expect in the Kingdom in the next 5 years?