Saudi Arabia marks 96th National Day amid Vision 2030 transformation

DHAKA, Sept 23, 2026 — Saudi Arabia is celebrating its 96th National Day, highlighting the Kingdom’s historic unification and its ongoing economic and social transformation under the ambitious Saudi Vision 2030.

The National Day commemorates the unification of the Kingdom by the late King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud. This year’s celebrations are being held under the theme “Our Pride Is in Our Nature” (عزّنا بطبعنا), reflecting Saudi Arabia’s emphasis on its national identity, values and traditions alongside its aspirations for the future.

According to the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Dhaka, the Kingdom has entered the final phase of Vision 2030, covering 2026–2030. The current phase is focused on consolidating gains made in previous years, accelerating economic diversification, strengthening investment, empowering the private sector and promoting sustainable development.

The latest official Vision 2030 Annual Report for 2025 said 93 percent of the programme’s key performance indicators had been achieved or were close to achieving their annual targets.

Of the 1,290 Vision 2030 initiatives, 225 had been completed and another 935 were progressing as planned, meaning 90 percent of the initiatives were either completed or on track, the embassy said.

Saudi Arabia has also reported significant growth in its non-oil economy. Employment in small and medium-sized enterprises reached around 8.88 million in 2025, exceeding the annual target of 7.55 million.

Non-oil exports rose to approximately $166 billion in 2025, compared with $64.6 billion in 2016. The Kingdom also ranked 17th globally in the 2025 World Competitiveness Ranking, well above the Vision 2030 target of 39th place.

The transformation has extended to social development and quality of life. Home ownership among Saudi citizens reached 66.24 percent in 2025, surpassing the Vision 2030 target of 65 percent.

Saudi Arabia also welcomed around 18.03 million pilgrims from outside the country for Umrah during the year, exceeding the annual target of 15 million.

In healthcare, basic services covered 97.5 percent of populated areas by the end of 2025, according to the embassy.

The Kingdom also reported a decline of more than 60 percent in road-traffic fatalities since the launch of Vision 2030. Deaths from chronic diseases fell by around 40 percent, while deaths from infectious diseases declined by 50 percent.

Women’s participation in the Saudi economy has increased significantly, with female economic participation exceeding 36 percent in 2025, compared with 17 percent in 2017. Women’s representation in middle and senior management positions also reached 44.1 percent, up from 28.6 percent in 2017.

Investment remains another key pillar of the transformation. Foreign direct investment inflows increased by 14 percent in 2025 to around SAR 136 billion, while the stock of foreign direct investment reached approximately SAR 1.1 trillion.

The embassy said the transformation is taking place across a wide range of sectors, including tourism, culture, entertainment, sports, technology, transportation, energy and industry.

Major national projects and initiatives, it said, are contributing to the diversification of the Saudi economy while creating new opportunities for citizens, residents, investors and international partners.

The 96th National Day therefore serves not only as a celebration of Saudi Arabia’s history and national identity but also as an occasion to highlight the Kingdom’s continuing transformation and its ambitions for the future.

The embassy said Saudi Arabia remains committed to building a diversified and sustainable economy, a vibrant society and an ambitious nation as it moves forward with the objectives of Vision 2030.