In Saudi Arabia, the first phase of the Digital Transformation is underway. King Faisal bin Abdul-Bakhti made a speech on October 13, 2021 in which he indicated that the new century will be one of “positive change.” He referred to it as a new awakening. Although it may be years away, I believe we are already witnessing the dawn of a new digital millennium in Saudi Digital Transformation.
One day, the Kingdom of Saudi will have no need for oil and will run free. This will usher in an era of total technological and social transformation. There has been a rapid development of the communications technology in Saudi. Some people call it the Saudi Internet Renaissance or the Saudi Information Technology Renaissance. Regardless of what you call it, this is the most dynamic and progressive society in the world.
What is happening now is that the young people of Saudi are going to be the leaders of this new information age. They will be responsible for creating the internet, television and other media of the new millennium. Many foreign companies have already recognized the power of Saudi Arabia as an oil exporter. That’s why there are major investments and negotiations right now in this country.
A few years ago, King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz made a speech about moving ahead with the changes. The change he talked about was the opening of an economic zone for private and government businesses. This was a very significant announcement and is still being implemented. Starting from scratch, the Saudi Investment Corporation has developed over 100 economic zones all over the country. They are all planned to bring in investment capital and hundreds of thousands of jobs.
They are working on a project called the Electronic Technology Park. This will be used to develop the next generation of electronic equipment. The King also spoke about the creation of a national broadband internet. This is actually very interesting because technically the internet in Saudi is not really high speed, but it is getting there. It is expected to be fully operational by the year 2021.
Not only will Saudi Arabia be ushering in this new era of technology, they will also be opening up their whole country to outside influences. One major project they are starting is the Universal City Renaissance Project, which is aimed at creating a mega city, or what we call a financial center with skyscrapers and modern cities. This would replace the old Jeddah with a modern and thriving metropolis.
Another upcoming project is the World Trade Center. This new complex will bring together businesses and trade in an effort to create more jobs. They are building it in Jeddah. This project should create more jobs, because the economy will no doubt grow in this time period.
Saudi Arabia is a very interesting country that shows what the world can become if people get their way. They are people who respect women and follow strict rules of law. They have strong nationalistic tendencies and wish to make their nation an empire. All this and they are willing to do what it takes to make it so.
So, what does a person need to do when planning on traveling to Saudi? The best plan, of course, is to start early. Saudi Arabia plans to welcome you into their country as soon as possible. Early planning is key for securing one’s visa and passport.
There are two different passports available to those going to the Kingdom. A Saudi national ID card and an International passenger Identity Card (IPIC). If one does not have either of these, one will need to get one before arriving. Getting these before stepping onto the airplane will allow one to quickly go and fill out the necessary application forms. These applications are taken by customs once arriving into the country.
Before leaving, a visitor will need to purchase a Saudi Arabia visa. This visa can be done online or at a local office. Once the visa is purchased, one will be able to travel around the country. The process is quite simple. Anyone can do it.
If you are considering visiting Saudi Arabia, there are many things to keep in mind. This is a new country with many new faces. It’s a fast-growing country, but there are some good points about this country too. Traveling to this new land will surely be worth the effort.