Riyadh: In a joint government press conference held on Wednesday, Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary and Minister of Education Yousef Al-Benyan highlighted the Kingdom's progress and future ambitions.
According to Saudi Press Agency, Al-Dossary emphasized that Saudi Vision 2030 is a powerful driver of significant regional and global change, noting the ongoing transformations across various sectors. Meanwhile, Al-Benyan outlined key advancements for the 1447 AH academic year, emphasizing the ongoing transformation of the education system and the commitment to empowering schools, fostering a flexible and values-based learning environment, and improving the digital experience and services for all students and staff.
Al-Dossary underscored the significant growth of Saudi Arabia's non-profit sector, describing it as a vital engine for social and economic development. The sector has witnessed a remarkable 252% increase, with the number of non-profit organizations surpassing 6,400 as of July 2025.
Al-Dossary also emphasized Saudi Arabia's position as a premier destination for startups and investment, driven by its diversified economy and ambitious national vision. He cited several key achievements that reflect this momentum, including a 13% annual increase in commercial registrations to over 1.7 million by mid-2025, the Kingdom's jump of 60 places to 23rd globally in the Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2025, the selection of five Saudi companies to become unicorns, and the successful completion of over 10 million services by the Saudi Business Center and the e-business platform.
The minister of media stated that Saudi Arabia's regional headquarters (RHQ) program has exceeded its 2030 target of 500 companies by attracting 616 international firms in the first quarter of 2025, an increase from 571 in the previous quarter.
Al-Dossary highlighted the industrial sector as a fundamental pillar of the national economy, emphasizing its role in generating investment and creating jobs. By the end of the first half of 2025, the number of factories grew from 7,200 to 12,480, and industrial investments surged from SAR955 billion to SAR1.2 trillion. Non-oil exports expanded from SAR178 billion to SAR607 billion, with Saudi products now reaching more than 180 countries worldwide.
Al-Dossary pointed to the "Made in Saudi" program's success, which has facilitated over 3,000 export opportunities by connecting Saudi exporters with buyers in 74 countries.
By mid-2025, the Saudi Industrial Development Fund approved loans totaling SAR4.5 billion, and the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (MODON) established 2,200 ready-made factories.
Al-Dossary stated that the mining sector has made significant progress, moving the Kingdom from 104th to 23rd on the Investment Attractiveness Index by Fraser Institute's 2024 Annual Survey of Mining Companies. The estimated value of Saudi Arabia's mineral wealth has also doubled from SAR4.9 trillion to SAR9.4 trillion. By mid-2025, the number of valid mining licenses exceeded 2,400.
Al-Dossary highlighted the health sector's vital role in Vision 2030, emphasizing its investments in both current and future generations. He noted that Jeddah has been recognized as the first healthy city in the Middle East by the World Health Organization. Further solidifying the Kingdom's position as a medical leader, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre had a research paper on robotic liver transplantation recognized by the American Society of Transplantation, and seven Saudi hospitals were included in the Brand Finance list of the top 250 hospitals worldwide for 2025.
The minister of media highlighted the Kingdom's cultural movement, which has seen nearly 1,000 non-profit cultural organizations established. He also noted that by the end of 2024, the Ministry of Culture's Abde'a platform issued over 9,200 cultural licenses and permits, reflecting the ministry's initiatives to strengthen Saudi Arabia's standing in the global creative arena.
In response to a question about Thmanyah, Al-Dossary affirmed his confidence in the company's ability to professionally broadcast Saudi sports championships for six years, aligning with the aspirations of local and international audiences.
Al-Dossary highlighted the keen interest of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, in the housing sector, especially in addressing significant price increases. He stated that HRH the Crown Prince has issued clear directives that will be strictly implemented, and has approved an additional 90-day extension to facilitate coordination, protect the rights of all parties, and achieve balance in the real estate market.
Al-Dossary highlighted the strategic changes in the education sector to address global competition, including the Media Scholarship initiative-a collaboration between the ministries of media and education. This program offers training and scholarships at leading international universities and companies to prepare students for the media job market.
He also emphasized that the Kingdom's goal is not to compete with others, but to leave a unique mark in every field, viewing excellence as a sustainable approach and a core element of its ambitious vision.
Meanwhile, Minister of Education Yousef Al-Benyan expressed gratitude to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and HRH the Crown Prince for their continuous support of the education sector, which has been instrumental in achieving Vision 2030 goals. He highlighted the Cabinet's approval of a two-semester system for the 1447/1448 AH academic year as a sign of balanced, gradual development.
Al-Benyan noted that the ministry has achieved over 19 strategic objectives to build a globally competitive generation, including introducing new curricula in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity and updating over 6,700 pieces of digital content. For teachers, more than 520,000 training opportunities have been provided, along with international partnerships for professional development.
To improve infrastructure, the ministry has invested over SAR920 million in new construction projects and SAR2 billion on maintenance for over 15,000 schools. Additionally, the number of educational administrations has been reduced to 16 to empower schools and streamline operations.
Enrollment for children aged three to six has risen to over 36%, and the number of identified gifted students has increased by 10% to over 28,000. New specialized technical, sports, and arts schools for gifted students have also been launched.
Al-Benyan highlighted significant progress in higher education, with Saudi universities improving their global standing. The number of universities in the Shanghai Ranking has risen to 12, and to 32 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. Since 2022, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program has sent 3,388 students to the world's top 30 universities. The ministry has also launched a national unified admissions platform, which has provided over 339,000 admission opportunities, and a unified support portal to enhance services for students, parents, and staff.
Al-Benyan emphasized the ministry's focus on private and non-profit sectors. An integrated package of incentives has been launched to attract private investment, with over 500 opportunities provided this year. The Madares platform was created to streamline services for private schools. The ministry has also launched 120 new schools under the public-private partnership model.
In the non-profit sector, the national target for volunteer work was surpassed with 1.4 million volunteers, and the ministry won the 2024 National Award for Voluntary Work. Over 3,000 scouts participated in serving pilgrims during Hajj, and the Kingdom has provided over $50 million in support to the global Messengers of Peace initiative.
Al-Benyan affirmed the ministry's commitment to creating a world-class educational system that promotes excellence, preserves national values, and aligns with labor market needs and university quality for its scholarship programs.