Riyadh, July (پاکستان پوائنٹ نیوز 21 يوليو 2026ء) In terms of economic impact, the Quality of Life Program contributed SAR78 billion to the Kingdom's gross domestic product (GDP), exceeding its target of SAR77.1 billion.
Its contribution to non-government investment reached SAR21.8 billion, while the local content rate rose to 44%, surpassing the target of 37%. The program also supported the creation of 387,000 jobs by the end of the year, representing an annual increase of 6.35%.
The program also launched a global Quality of Life Index, which has attracted the participation of more than 90 cities across 35 countries. The index has been incorporated into the strategic plan of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), serving as an international platform to support policymakers and initiatives aimed at improving quality of life in cities worldwide, while reinforcing the Kingdom's presence and leadership in this field.
Across the program's sectors, the urban design sector recorded progress in improving the built environment through the Saudi Architecture Characters Map initiative launched by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
The initiative features 19 architectural styles inspired by the Kingdom's geographical and cultural characteristics, strengthening Saudi Arabia's architectural identity while providing scope for creative design without compromising local character. Citizen satisfaction with municipal services rose to 85%, surpassing the target of 74%.
Meanwhile, the Furas initiative connected 49 government entities with the private sector by offering more than 19,000 investment opportunities, with returns generated from its contracts exceeding SAR9 billion, reflecting the success of public-private partnerships in supporting urban economies.
The tourism sector continued to record growth, with destinations across the Kingdom welcoming more than 32 million domestic and international visitors during the Saudi Summer season, representing a 26% increase compared with the previous season. Tourism expenditure exceeded SAR53.2 billion, marking 15% growth.
Saudi Arabia ranked first globally as the destination recording the highest growth in international tourism receipts during the first quarter of 2025, compared with the corresponding period in 2019, according to the UN Tourism’s World Tourism Barometer.
In terms of visitor numbers, international arrivals to destinations across Saudi Arabia more than doubled, with the Kingdom recording 102% growth in international tourist arrivals during the first quarter of 2025, compared with the same period in 2019. This significantly outpaced the global growth rate of 3% and the middle East's growth rate of 44%.
As a result, Saudi Arabia ranked third globally and second regionally, reinforcing its position as a leading destination in international tourism.
In the entertainment sector, expansion continued through a network of 954 licensed venues and the hosting of 40 unique entertainment events. The sector also delivered a range of training and capacity-building programs that benefited more than 42,000 participants across 10 cities, while incubating 33 startups and supporting 110 enterprises through financing and loan guarantee programs.
In the cultural sector, the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Global Center for Arabic Calligraphy was inaugurated in Madinah, while the Red Sea Museum opened in Historic Jeddah, marking a significant addition to the Kingdom's cultural and knowledge landscape.
The total number of cultural event days reached 6,314, compared with the 2025 target of 3,010 days, while the number of visitable national heritage sites rose to 232, meeting the program's 2025 target.
In the sports sector, the proportion of adults engaging in physical activity rose to 59.1%, exceeding the target of 55%. In addition, more than 230,000 participants benefited from the Sports for All platform, which hosts more than 9,000 sports groups, reflecting the growing culture of sports participation and the promotion of healthy lifestyles.
In the security sector, the Unified Security Operations Center (911) was inaugurated in Madinah, becoming the fourth such center in the Kingdom. It integrates the operations of 28 control rooms into a unified operational system that covers security, government, and service agencies across the region.
The achievements recorded in 2025 reflect continued progress towards fulfilling the Quality of Life Program's objectives and reinforcing the Kingdom's position as a global model for urban development, quality of life enhancement, and sustainable development, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
