The performance of Saudi Arabia's Quality of Life Program saw notable improvement in 2025 compared to the previous year. A recent report released by the program showed that local content initiatives achieved 44 percent by the end of 2025, exceeding the target of 37 percent, while its contribution to non-oil revenues reached 20.596 billion riyals ($5.482 billion), compared to the target of 9.65 billion riyals ($2.57 billion).

The Quality of Life Program released its annual report for 2025 on Monday, revealing results that exceeded set targets, reflecting its growing role in supporting the national economy and contributing to the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

The program's contribution to GDP reached 78 billion riyals ($20.8 billion), exceeding the target, while its contribution to non-government investment reached 21.8 billion riyals ($5.813 billion), a more than 10.9-fold increase from the baseline recorded in 2018.

The Quality of Life Program, launched as one of the programs to achieve Saudi Vision 2030 in May 2018, aims to transform Saudi cities into prosperous and sustainable environments by integrating advanced infrastructure with comprehensive services, and cultural, sports, and entertainment activities with a lifestyle that enhances community well-being. The report reviewed the summary of achieved performance, progress in implementing initiatives, interim indicators, and the scale of economic and social impact, alongside highlighting empowerment efforts, integration of work with partner entities, and institutional alignment with relevant national priorities.

The report stated that these indicators show that quality of life has become an effective element in the national economic landscape, solidifying its presence as a driving force towards a more prosperous and diversified economy capable of attracting investments and generating growth opportunities, thereby consolidating the Kingdom's position as a leading regional and global economy within the framework of Vision 2030.

The Quality of Life Program released its annual report for 2025, revealing results that exceeded targets (SPA)

High confidence in security and increase in tourist numbers

The report results showed the transformation of the Quality of Life Program from a service and living concept into an effective economic driver contributing to economic diversification, attracting investments, generating job opportunities, and enhancing Saudi Arabia's regional and global standing.

In the report's indicators, the level of confidence in security services exceeded 99 percent, and the indicator of the percentage of citizens and residents who have confidence in security authorities and the services provided to them achieved a high rate nearing the target.

In the urban design sector, the indicator of average daily commute time in major cities (Mecca, Medina, Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam metropolis) achieved partial achievement, as the program seeks to stimulate the improvement of service quality in public facilities, public transport, and others, while the per capita share of squares and public spaces reached 6.10 square meters per person, achieving the target fully through improving the urban landscape in Saudi cities.

In the tourism sector, the number of hotel rooms and apartments with a valid license exceeded 596,000, and the indicator achieved full target achievement, while the indicator of the number of direct employees in the tourism sector was partially achieved.

Within the framework of the program's strategic initiatives in the tourism sector, the percentage increase in the number of tourists in Saudi Arabia reached 26 percent, as Saudi destinations received more than 32 million tourists from within and outside the country during the Saudi Summer season, and total tourism spending reached about 53.2 billion riyals ($14.186 billion), a growth of 15 percent.

Saudi Arabia ranked first globally as the highest tourist destination in the growth rate of international tourist revenues during the first quarter, compared to the same period in 2019, according to the World Tourism Barometer report issued by the United Nations World Tourism Organization, confirming the rising competitiveness of the Saudi tourism sector and the direct impact of investments in developing the tourism ecosystem.

The Quality of Life Program was launched as one of the programs to achieve Saudi Vision 2030 in May 2018 (SPA)

Saudi Arabia recorded a 102 percent growth in the number of international tourists during the first quarter compared to 2019, far exceeding the global growth rate of 3 percent and the Middle East growth rate of 44 percent, and ranked third globally and second regionally, enhancing its leading position in the international tourism sector.

In the cultural sector, the number of graduates of higher education and technical and vocational training in cultural specializations exceeded 29,000 graduates, while the number of employees in the Saudi cultural sector exceeded 282,000 employees, and the number of visitable national heritage sites reached 232 sites, and the number of visitors to sites listed as national heritage and UNESCO sites reached 14.10 million visitors.

In the sports sector, the percentage of adults (18 years and above of the total Saudi population) who engage in physical activity for 150 minutes per week reached 59.1 percent.

The report's indicators show that quality of life has become an effective element in the national economic landscape (SPA)

In the entertainment sector, the number of available media outlets (such as radio, television, and newspapers) reached 208 media outlets, and the satisfaction rate with living conditions for expatriates reached 69 percent, which is a survey measuring expatriates' satisfaction with all aspects of living conditions (services, restrictions related to administrative procedures, entry into the country, ease of job mobility, contract, labor rights, exit and return, and final exit).

The report results showed the transformation of the Quality of Life Program from a service and living concept into an effective economic driver (SPA)

The number of entertainment venues, such as amusement parks of various types, entertainment centers (which are smaller than entertainment cities and located in commercial stores or inside shopping malls), in addition to entertainment event facilities (places designated for holding entertainment events such as event halls and circus tents), reached 954 entertainment venues.

According to the report, no Saudi city entered the top 100 most livable cities index in the past year, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) classification, a global ranking based on political and social environment, economic environment, socio-cultural environment, medical and health considerations, schools and education, public services and transport, recreation, consumer goods, housing, and natural environment.

The Quality of Life Program is concerned with improving the quality of life for individuals and families by creating the necessary environment to support and develop new options that enhance the participation of citizens, residents, and visitors in cultural, entertainment, sports, and tourism activities, and other suitable patterns that contribute to enhancing the quality of life for individuals and families, generating jobs, diversifying economic activity, and enhancing the ranking of Saudi cities among the best global cities.