A country’s window of opportunity in which to implement reforms such as NEOM typically comes around only once or twice in a generation. For this reason, Saudis have a profound interest in ensuring they get these reforms right - as does the United States, which can only benefit from a more open, prosperous, and socially tolerant Saudi partner in the Middle East.

Vision 2030 enumerates a very broad range of economic and social reforms, but is silent on the issue of political reform. If anything, Vision 2030 has become a vehicle for consolidating King Salman and his son Mohammed bin Salman’s political position. The latter’s stewardship of Vision 2030 helped burnish his public image and ease his accession to Crown Prince.

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