The Quality of Life program has released its 2025 annual report, revealing results that exceeded established targets, reflecting its growing role in supporting the national economy and contributing to the achievement of Saudi Vision 2030 goals.

The report indicated that the program’s initiatives contributed 44% to local content by the end of 2025, surpassing the 37% target, while contributions to non-oil revenues reached 20.6 billion riyals, compared to the 9.65 billion riyal target.

The program's contribution to GDP reached 78 billion riyals, exceeding the target of 77.1 billion riyals. Its contribution to non-government investment was 21.8 billion riyals, an increase of more than 10.9 times the amount recorded in 2018. Additionally, the program helped create 387,000 jobs by the end of 2025, an annual increase of 6.35%, reflecting its broad economic and developmental impact.

10 Strategic Objectives of the Program

The Quality of Life program focuses on implementing 10 strategic objectives under Saudi Vision 2030, including preserving Islamic, Arab, and national heritage, upgrading urban services, improving quality of life, enhancing community immunity against drugs, developing arts and culture, achieving athletic excellence, developing the entertainment and tourism sectors, improving the urban landscape, and promoting physical activity within the community.

The Quality of Life program seeks to transform Saudi cities into prosperous and sustainable environments, where advanced infrastructure integrates with comprehensive services, cultural, sports, and entertainment activities, and a lifestyle that enhances social well-being. In the following pages, we review the strategic direction and objectives of the Quality of Life program that are driving this transformation.

Sector Achievements

Municipalities and Housing

The municipal and housing sector witnessed a qualitative shift in 2025 in developing the urban landscape and improving the quality of the built environment. This was led by the launch of the Saudi Architecture Map, under the patronage of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, which includes 19 architectural styles inspired by the Kingdom's geographical and cultural characteristics, divided into three main patterns: traditional, transitional, and contemporary.

In parallel, the development and rehabilitation project for the blessed Wadi Al-Aqiq in Madinah continues. As one of the most prominent geographical landmarks associated with the Prophet's biography, the project spans about 15 kilometers from the Dhu al-Hulayfah Miqat in the south to Al-Jurf in the north. The works included the Urwah Palace, the Peace Road intersection, the Islamic University square, and agricultural areas, aiming to balance the urban environment with natural resources while adding an aesthetic and eco-friendly dimension.

In terms of performance indicators, the sector recorded notable leaps, with citizen satisfaction with municipal services rising to 85% against a target of 74%, based on polls and beneficiary evaluations through digital channels and the unified call center (940). Per capita share of squares and public spaces, such as parks, waterfronts, and walkways, increased to 6.10 square meters against a target of 4.92 square meters, while the target for compliance with Saudi architecture standards in 17 cities was fully achieved at 76% in the first year of implementation.

Culture

The cultural sector continued to achieve rapid and unprecedented growth across all its indicators. The number of cultural event days led by the Ministry of Culture and its ecosystem jumped to 6,314 days, more than double the target of 3,010 days, reflecting the breadth and diversity of the cultural movement.

The total number of permanent cultural facilities—including museums, theaters, cinemas, libraries, and studios—rose to 94, compared to the target of 87. The Kingdom also recorded a significant international presence with 71 cultural participations in major global festivals such as Cannes, Venice, and Edinburgh, surpassing the target of 34.

The sector doubled its tourism and community impact, with the number of visitors to national heritage sites and those registered with UNESCO reaching 14.1 million, against a target of 7.19 million, with the number of sites equipped to receive visitors at primary and mature readiness levels reaching 232.

Regarding talent development and sector sustainability, the number of people working in cultural professions rose to 282,700 (full-time, part-time, flexible, and seasonal). More than 29,000 students graduated in cultural disciplines from higher education and technical training, in addition to training 4,729 beneficiaries through professional development programs, hackathons, art residencies, and apprenticeship programs to build a generation of national talent capable of making a global cultural mark.

Entertainment

The entertainment sector experienced significant expansion in both quantity and quality. The number of operating entertainment venues open to the public, including theme parks, entertainment centers, and event facilities, rose to 954, surpassing the target of 942, in line with the best international standards.

Regarding human investment, about 43,000 people benefited from human capital development programs. These included 40 development courses in 10 cities, the fourth batch of the "Entertainment Leaders" program (which included leadership workshops and international field visits), and the "Entertainment Fellowship" across two tracks, in addition to qualification programs linked to employment in Riyadh and Jeddah, and electronic training platforms via the General Entertainment Authority and "Doroob".

The initiative to support and stimulate investment empowered more than 110 establishments through funding exceeding 399 million riyals and financial guarantees worth 296 million riyals, incubating 33 startups under the accelerator program, with 40 teams participating in "Entertainment Innovations", 530 people benefiting from "Entertainment Tracks", and attracting 11.3 million riyals in investments. This resulted in 8 investment rounds, revenue growth of 250%, the creation of 56 jobs, and attracting the global IAAPA forum for the second consecutive time in the Middle East.

On a public level, the "Your Passport to the World" event was held in Khobar and Jeddah through 13 events that celebrated the cultures of Sudan, India, the Philippines, and Bangladesh, attracting over a million visitors and generating more than 3 million digital interactions. Meanwhile, world-renowned musician Hans Zimmer, one of the world's most prominent film composers, performed a concert in Riyadh attended by more than 6,000 people.

Tourism

The tourism sector continued its upward trajectory, reaching new record figures. The number of hotel rooms and apartments licensed and classified by the Ministry of Tourism jumped to about 597,000, surpassing the target of 374,400 rooms, a growth rate of 59%, while the total number of direct employees in sector-related activities reached over one million.

The Saudi Summer 2025 season reflected the growing appeal of the Kingdom as a diverse tourist destination, with Saudi destinations welcoming more than 32 million tourists from home and abroad, a 26% growth compared to the 2024 season, and total tourism spending rising to 53.2 billion riyals, a 15% increase.

These results strengthened the Kingdom's global presence, as it ranked first globally in international tourist revenue growth during the first quarter compared to 2019, according to the UN Tourism Barometer. It also ranked third globally and second regionally in the growth of international tourist numbers by 102%, significantly exceeding the global growth average of 3% and the Middle East growth average of 44%.