MUSCAT – The celebrations come at a time of unprecedented achievements across economic, social, cultural, and technological fields, driven by the ambitious Saudi Vision 2030.

The historical and fraternal ties between the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continue to grow, with increasing cooperation across diverse sectors. These strong ties reflect the shared vision and determination of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to deepen bilateral relations for the benefit of both brotherly peoples.
In a statement to the Oman News Agency, His Excellency Ibrahim bin Saad bin Bishan, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Sultanate of Oman, described the National Day as a celebration of a legacy built by King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Faisal Al Saud, the Kingdom’s founder. He pointed out that under the leadership of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia has made significant strides in line with Vision 2030, which was launched nine years ago. The vision aims to build a prosperous future, empower Saudi citizens, and drive sustainable and inclusive development.
According to the Ambassador, 93 percent of national strategies and programs were fully or partially achieved in 2024, while 85 percent of initiatives were either completed or progressing as planned. Landmark projects and various special economic zones position the Kingdom as a global model for long-term economic transformation.

He added that Saudi Arabia’s selection to host Expo 2030 in Riyadh and the 2034 FIFA World Cup is a testament to its rising international profile and role as a global partner and ambassador of stability and prosperity.

The Ambassador highlighted the Kingdom’s economic diversification, noting that non-oil sectors now contribute 56 percent of GDP, which has exceeded 4 trillion Saudi riyals. Assets managed by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) reached 3.4 trillion riyals.

Data from the Gulf Statistics Center show that Saudi Arabia’s GDP at current prices surged to USD 1.2 trillion in 2024, up from USD 768 billion in 2020, a 61.4 percent growth.
In the area of income and economic diversification, the added value of manufacturing activities at current prices reached approximately USD 194.9 billion in 2024, compared to USD 102.8 billion in 2020, an increase of 89.6 percent. Gross capital formation at current prices reached approximately USD 374.9 billion in 2024, compared to USD 179.1 billion in 2020, an increase of 109.4 percent.

The Saudi stock market also witnessed remarkable growth, with market capitalization rising to $2.7 trillion in 2024 compared to $2.4 trillion in 2020, a growth rate of 12.5 percent. Commercial banks in the Kingdom also continued to strengthen their financial assets, with total assets reaching $1.2 trillion in 2024, compared to $794.6 billion in 2020, a growth rate of 50.8 percent.
His Excellency praised the growing economic cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Oman. Trade between the two countries reached USD 8.234 billion in 2024. Saudi investment in Oman totalled RO 82.7 million, while Omani investment in the Kingdom reached RO 115.9 million.

He emphasised the vital role of the private sector and SMEs in driving bilateral investment, adding that the embassy is fully prepared to facilitate coordination between relevant government entities and businesses to enhance cooperation.

He further noted that Vision 2030 places tourism at the heart of national transformation. Tourist arrivals surged from 4.1 million in 2020 to 29.7 million in 2024, as the Kingdom leveraged its natural, cultural, and historical heritage to become a global tourism destination.

In education, student enrolment rose to 6.4 million in the 2024/2025 academic year, up from 5.9 million in 2020/2021. 100 percent of schools now receive essential services and facilities.
On the global stage, the Kingdom has advanced its competitiveness, ranking 1st globally in Cybersecurity Index (Global Competitiveness Report 2025) as well as in ICT Development Index (ITU 2025).

Highlighting the strong social and cultural ties between Omanis and Saudis, rooted in shared religion, language, and heritage, His Excellency noted that since the opening of the Rub’ al-Khali border crossing, over 133,559 Saudi citizens and 616,377 Omani citizens have crossed the border from October 2021 to August 2025, reinforcing bonds between the two nations.