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Can Saudi Arabia move beyond oil?

Nearly ten years after Saudi Arabia launched Vision 2030 to reduce its dependence on oil, we assess what's worked, what hasn't, and how the impact of conflict with Iran.

Sameer Hashmi travels to Riyadh to examine the progress of Vision 2030, an ambitious plan launched nearly a decade ago to transform one of the world's biggest oil producers into a more diverse economy. The kingdom has invested hundreds of billions of dollars in tourism, entertainment, sport and mega-projects, while introducing sweeping social reforms that have reshaped everyday life. But oil remains central to the economy, some flagship projects have been scaled back, and now the conflict with Iran is creating fresh uncertainty over the kingdom's plans to diversify its economy.

Presenter/producer: Sameer Hashmi

You can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

(Picture: A Saudi man walks past the logo of Vision 2030 after a news conference in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia June 7, 2016. Credit: REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser)

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18 minutes

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Mon 6 Jul 2026 14:32GMT

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