Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman addressed the contentious issue of (un)employment among Saudi nationals in an interview on 22nd  April 2021, marking the fifth anniversary of the launch of Saudi Vision 2030. Highlighting the difference between “good jobs and bad jobs,” the Crown Prince defined a “good job” as one that provides basic needs, the ability to save, and the opportunity to lead a productive, healthy life. A good job, that is, a productive one, also mitigates the deadening impact of underemployment, an understudied phenomenon, especially in Saudi Arabia. Yet, the concept of what constitutes a good job is contested and evolving. For instance,

This publication is available in Arabic only.

This publication is available in Arabic only.    

The expansion of the public sphere in Saudi Arabia in the 1950s and 1960s led eventually to the creation of al-Da’wa, establishing the foundation of Islamic journalism in Saudi Arabia. A newspaper that converted to a weekly magazine in 1976, al-Da’wa used modern media and a traditional salafī approach to Islam as a way to influence Saudi society from its founding on through the 1980s and 1990s. This report examines al-Da’wa’s promotion of the Islamization of social life, its perspectives on intellectuals and Islamists, and its take on the question of the role of women in society. In the 1980s, al-Da’wa served as a forum for the expression of tensi

This publication is available in Arabic only.    

Saudi Arabia has always been a significant diplomatic and trade partner for France in the Middle East. This study investigates why and how these relations were strengthened since the Arab Uprisings. Based on international relations theories and a sociological methodology, the research reveals that Saudi Arabia’s greater place in French foreign policy is driven by both an increased political convergence and economic interdependencies. These observations allow us to draw conclusions in order to reflect on the French strategy in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. Policy recommendations encompass all aspects, such as pleading for a coherent European foreign policy, strengthenin

Iran has built piecemeal influence in Africa through frequent diplomatic, political, security, maritime, commercial and cultural exchanges. Its policy towards the continent was historically driven by expediency and aspirations to export its revolutionary worldview; however, its adoption of an Africa pivot policy was also in response to the need to fight sanctions and isolation – by building partnerships with state, sub-state and non-state actors on the continent. Iran’s Africa policy has led to a host of policies both constructive and divisive; the purpose of this report is to investigate how the continent views its ties with the Islamic republic and identify challen

This publication is available in Arabic only.      

This publication is available in Arabic only.      

This KFCRIS report provides the historical context to the achievements of Saudi Vision 2030, through a five year overview of key decisions and initiatives that have facilitated the delivery of Vision 2030 objectives. This timely report underscores the extent and the significance of Saudi Arabia’s societal and economic reform initiatives, which have been welcomed by the Kingdom’s primarily youthful population, and highlights the speed of their formulation and implementation. This wide ranging list of societal and economic reforms in a single document offers an invaluable resource for academics, researchers, policy-makers and media representatives, among others.