In the Royal Address before the Shura Council: 93% of Vision 2030 targets achieved, the economy proves its resilience, Gulf security is indivisible, Saudi Arabia is a safety valve for global energy security, and the response will be firm against any threat

Riyadh | BETH

On behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman opened today, Wednesday, the third year of the ninth term of the Shura Council and delivered the annual Royal Address, which reviewed the outcome of ten years of Saudi Vision 2030, the priorities of the economy and development, the security of the Kingdom and the Gulf, energy, and regional issues.

Key Themes of the Address

300 Years of the State:
The address affirmed that the Saudi state will complete 300 years since its establishment on the coming Founding Day, standing on monotheism and justice while preserving its heritage and authentic values.

93% of Vision Targets:
The performance indicators of Vision 2030 programs and strategies achieved 93% of their targets over ten years, while non-oil exports grew by 155% compared with 2016, and the private sector’s contribution to the economy rose to 51%.

Artificial Intelligence as a Priority:
The address affirmed that naming 2026 the “Year of Artificial Intelligence” reflects the Kingdom’s direction toward global leadership in applications and solutions, raising productivity and developing Saudi capabilities.

The Economy Amid Crises:
The address described the current regional events as a test of the national economy’s resilience, its ability to adapt and turn threats into opportunities while continuing development priorities.

Education, Health and Housing:
The address renewed the priority given to education and health, investment in human capital, continued reform of the real estate sector, and raising home ownership rates.

Gulf Security Is Indivisible:
The Crown Prince affirmed that the Kingdom possesses highly capable human and military resources able to deter threats, and that attacks targeting Gulf Cooperation Council states confirm that Gulf security and stability are indivisible.

Makkah Alliance:
The address referred to the establishment of the “Makkah Defense Alliance” between Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan to strengthen regional security and stability.

Saudi Arabia as an Energy Safety Valve:
The address described the Kingdom as “a safety valve for global energy security” amid the current crisis, with its ability to maintain supplies, alongside the establishment of the multinational defensive maritime coalition to protect maritime routes.

Palestine, Yemen and Sudan:
The address renewed the Kingdom’s support for the rights of the Palestinian people and the establishment of their independent state, support for the Yemeni government in restoring stability, and support for Sudan’s unity and legitimate institutions.

De-escalation.. and a Firm Response:
The address concluded by affirming that the Kingdom is working to reduce escalation and support diplomatic solutions, without any compromise in protecting its security, and that it will not hesitate to respond firmly to any threat or attack.

Text of the Royal Address

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Brothers and sisters,
Peace be upon you and Allah’s mercy and blessings.

On behalf of my master, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud — may Allah protect him — we open, with Allah’s help, the third year of the ninth term of the Shura Council, asking Allah Almighty to grant us success.

Our blessed state will complete, on the coming Founding Day, 300 years since its establishment. Throughout all its stages, it has stood upon the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, adhering to monotheism and justice. This is a path from which we will not deviate, while preserving its heritage and authentic values, which grow deeper and stronger with the passing days, and which have made the citizen increasingly attached to his pure faith and firmly rooted national identity.

Allah has honored our state with the service and care of the Two Holy Mosques and those who visit them, as an extension of our inherited commitment in this regard and our pride in this great honor bestowed upon us by Allah.

Brothers and sisters:

Ten eventful years of Vision 2030 have passed, during which the performance indicators of the Vision’s programs and strategies achieved 93% of their targets, by the grace of Allah and then through the performance and efficiency of Saudi men and women, who have been at the heart of every success.

Non-oil exports recorded growth of 155% compared with 2016, reflecting the expanding presence of this sector’s products. The private sector’s contribution to the economy rose to 51%, while the transport and logistics system demonstrated its ability to respond to changes in supply chains and maintain the smooth flow of goods and services.

The Public Investment Fund has begun implementing its strategy for the next five years, focusing on building local economic ecosystems with highly competitive capabilities, in a pivotal partnership with the private sector, and on strengthening local content to achieve economic transformation while at the same time generating sustainable financial returns. The National Development Fund also contributes to the development of numerous sectors, supported by annual financing that ensures the achievement of their targets.

The Kingdom continues to advance globally across many indicators, including first place in the Digital Readiness Index, the ICT Development Index and the Cybersecurity Index, and second place in the Digital Government Maturity Index. It has also entered the list of the ten countries most attractive for mining investment.

We named the year 2026 the “Year of Artificial Intelligence”, affirming our commitment to making the Kingdom a global leader in developing artificial intelligence applications and solutions, using them to increase productivity, improve the quality of services and train Saudi talent.

Brothers and sisters:

The events currently taking place in the region have demonstrated that long-term planning does not mean rigidity or inaction, but rather the ability to adapt to changing circumstances.

Amid the successive transformations taking place around the world, the importance of the reforms that strengthened economic diversification becomes clear. These reforms have increased the Kingdom’s ability to deal with crises and enabled it to turn threats into opportunities to enhance its position, while continuing its development priorities efficiently and sustainably.

The current circumstances are perhaps evidence of the resilience of the national economy, the maturity of its enterprises’ capabilities, the strength of state institutions, and its fiscal sustainability.

The essence of the Kingdom’s economic policies is to develop national capabilities and potential, empower promising sectors, attract local and international investment, and direct resources toward areas with the greatest economic and social impact, in a way that preserves its ability to finance development priorities and ensures the sustainability of achievements for future generations.

The fundamental goal of everything the state does is the advancement and prosperity of the nation and the improvement of quality of life. The education and health sectors remain at the forefront of our continued attention and have priority in the state budget. The decision concerning the General Education Law aims to achieve ambitions that raise the quality of education to an advanced global level, while the healthcare transformation is progressing rapidly so that health services reach the highest standards and are available with comprehensive coverage for citizens.

Alongside success in reducing unemployment rates, we are investing in human capital in a way that maximizes opportunities for citizens to enter the labor market and enables them to compete and excel in all fields, so that they become the driving force of development.

Measures to reform the real estate sector have resulted in providing multiple options for citizens, enhancing the efficiency of the real estate market and raising the rate of home ownership. We will continue working to address the challenges facing this sector and proceed with measures that achieve benefits for citizens in all aspects of their lives, without affecting development or the resources of future generations, while ensuring the state’s financial and economic stability.

Brothers and sisters:

Your country possesses highly capable human and military resources that are able, with the help of Allah Almighty, to fully confront and deter threats, whatever their source.

The attacks that targeted all Gulf Cooperation Council states confirm that Gulf security and stability are indivisible. We are working with our brothers to safeguard Gulf security, pursue strategic cooperation and economic integration, and continue implementing the vision of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to strengthen joint action in a way that achieves the Council’s objectives and meets the aspirations of its citizens.

As part of our contributions to strengthening regional stability, sparing the region the consequences of tension and conflict, and coordinating efforts, the “Makkah Defense Alliance” was established between the Kingdom, the Republic of Türkiye and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, stemming from our shared efforts to carry out our role in strengthening security and stability in the region. In this regard, we appreciate the support of brotherly and friendly countries for the Kingdom and their contributions to enhancing security and stability.

Today, the world faces an energy crisis with open-ended possibilities. In this crisis, the Kingdom has been a safety valve for global energy security, through its ability to provide oil supplies to international markets despite the escalation. It also took the initiative to establish the Multinational Defensive Maritime Coalition to strengthen maritime security, protect shared interests in international waterways, and reject their use as a tool of political or economic pressure.

The Kingdom is making every effort with its partners to strengthen international cooperation, preserve security, reduce escalation and defuse tensions in order to achieve regional and international stability, while emphasizing the need for the international community to act quickly and fulfill its responsibilities to guarantee the safe flow of essential goods and humanitarian assistance.

We strongly condemn the continued brutal attacks by the occupying authority against our brothers in Palestine in the Gaza Strip and its repeated violations of Al-Aqsa Mosque. We call upon the international community, and the Peace Council in particular, to carry out its expected role in reaching a permanent political solution.

The Kingdom’s commitment to the rights of the Palestinian people is a firm position and an ongoing effort that will not cease until the Palestinian people obtain their legitimate rights, including the establishment of their independent state in accordance with international terms of reference.

In brotherly Yemen, the Kingdom reaffirms its comprehensive support, through the Coalition to Support Legitimacy, for the Yemeni government to extend its authority over the entire country, restore stability, and confront the attacks of the terrorist Houthi militias, which have chosen chaos, destruction, and threatening the Yemeni people and the region as their course.

The Kingdom also reaffirms its firm support for Sudan’s unity and stability, the preservation of its legitimate institutions, and sparing its people the tragedies of war and destruction.

Brothers and sisters:

We affirm that we are making every possible effort to reduce escalation and support diplomatic solutions, without the slightest compromise in safeguarding our security, and we will not hesitate to respond firmly to any threat or attack that seeks to undermine it.

In conclusion, we take pride in our brave heroes for confronting all forms of threats, and for their vigilance and constant readiness, so that security remains an umbrella over our country, stability its shield, and prosperity its path.

We also thank the brothers and sisters, members of the Council, for their appreciated efforts.

Peace be upon you and Allah’s mercy and blessings.

The Ceremony

The Crown Prince arrived at the Shura Council headquarters, where he was received by Riyadh Region Governor Prince Faisal bin Bandar, Deputy Governor Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, and Shura Council Speaker Sheikh Dr. Abdullah Al Al-Sheikh. The Royal Anthem was then played, followed by the opening of the ceremony with a recitation from the Holy Quran.

In his speech, the Shura Council Speaker said the Council held 46 sessions and issued 555 decisions during the second year of its ninth term, covering laws, regulations, agreements, memoranda of understanding, and the annual reports of government agencies.

The ceremony concluded with the Royal Anthem, after which the Crown Prince departed the Council headquarters.

BETH Commentary

The address combined the outcome of ten years of internal transformation with a clear message about the Kingdom’s position in a turbulent regional environment.

Economically, the discussion has moved from launching the Vision to measuring results through figures. Politically and in security terms, the address set out three parallel tracks: reducing escalation, building defensive alliances, and maintaining readiness to respond when necessary.

The phrase with the greatest significance internationally was the description of the Kingdom as “a safety valve for global energy security”, because it directly links the strength of the Saudi economy with the Kingdom’s role in stabilizing markets and maritime routes at a time of widening crises.

Overall, the address was one of achievement and continuity, not a change of direction: Vision 2030 continues, development has not stopped despite the war, and security has become a direct component in protecting the development path.