Christmas in Riyadh Isn't Too Bad After All

Abdullah Al Alami

Dec 28, 2020

Despite hurricane ‘Corona’, there were some cheerful news in Saudi Arabia this year. Riyadh has reduced the huge damage caused by the pandemic that has afflicted the whole world.

Saudi Arabia successfully accomplished the task of presiding over the G20. The Saudi budget was ambitious despite the current financial circumstances, and the state continues to direct the budget to achieve financial balance. In addition, the “Citizen’s Account” is still active covering the increase in the prices of goods and services. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is on track to becoming the world’s first activist and futurist sovereign wealth fund.

State oil company Saudi Aramco has discovered four new oil and gas fields in different locations around the country. Saudi Arabia’s oil exports to China increased by 43 percent month-on-month in November 2020 to reach 8.48 million tons, or 2.06 million barrels per day (BPD).

Despite the increase in the value-added tax, which may have affected the Saudi economy, Saudi Arabia continues to hire Saudis in accounting professions. Riyadh is also launching similar programs to replace tens of thousands of expatriates in medical, pharmacy, and nursing jobs. We also hope to raise the percentage of Saudi lawyers, as this is an internal issue directly related to implementing and maintaining law and order.

Socially, the Kingdom ranked 40th, and second in the Arab world, in the Human Development Index, presented by the United Nations Development Program for Health and Education among 189 countries around the world.

Regionally, Saudi Arabia has succeeded in strengthening its relations with its neighbor, Bahrain. The first meeting of the Saudi-Bahraini Coordination Council is a success, awaiting the implementation of the agreement between the two countries.

Globally, the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) mosque in Riyadh won the International Architecture Prize for the year 2020, awarded by the Atheneum Museum in Chicago, USA, for the best international designs.

What about the movies? The feature film "Lady of the Sea" was officially nominated to represent Saudi Arabia in the next Oscar competition for the best international film category. The Saudi Film Commission is preparing to launch the Digital Filmmaker Program, which will provide learning and training opportunities in film production specialisms for professionals and amateurs.

What about the future? Local and international reports continue to confirm that the weakness in the labor market may continue for a short period of time. However, this will not deter Riyadh from achieving its goals, programs, and vision. The country continues its investment in its people.

In short, Saudi Arabia achieved some successes despite the decline in revenues, an increase in expenditures, and current difficult economic circumstances. Christmas in Saudi Arabia this year feels different in a very remarkable way. Christmas trees, Santa Claus outfits and decorations are for sale in Riyadh.

Christmas this year isn't too bad, at least for the optimists.