Saudi arabia: Saudi Arabia's Quality of Life Vision Realization Program has released a new report detailing key insights and progress in transforming the Kingdom's quality of life, based on extensive surveys of residents, citizens, and visitors.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the report, titled "Cities of Possibility: The Evolution of Quality of Life in Saudi Arabia," highlights how advancements across the Kingdom are reshaping economic, social, and cultural life while enhancing urban liveability. The report focuses on five major cities-Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar, Madinah, and Abha-and introduces a new approach to measuring quality of life built around four interconnected pillars: Prosperity and Opportunity, Personal and Social Growth, Lifestyle and Recreation, and Sustainable and Safe Foundations.
The report outlines how improvements in liveability, inclusion, and well-being have translated into measurable economic outcomes as Saudi Arabia develops future-ready cities with higher standards of living for all. It quantifies substantial gains, including a rise in women's workforce participation to 36.4 percent in the first quarter of 2025, surpassing the Vision 2030 target of 30 percent. Additionally, investment licences grew 67 percent year-on-year, placing the Kingdom 13th in the 2025 Kearney FDI Confidence Index.
Life expectancy has increased from 74 to 79 years, and Saudi Arabia ranked second highest among G20 nations on the 2024 ICT Development Index. Significant improvements in lifestyle, recreation, safety, and mobility are driven by strategic national investments, including US$1 trillion in tourism and leisure, expanding access to dining, culture, sports, and entertainment.
Building on these achievements, Saudi Arabia has sponsored the global Quality of Life Initiative (QOLI), providing a unified, internationally recognised, data-driven framework that helps local governments measure and enhance well-being in their communities. The Saudi Quality of Life Program continues to serve as a strategic enabler of Vision 2030, focusing on improving urban liveability and enriching lifestyle offerings across the Kingdom.