Analyse
As of 2022, Riyadh’s GDP (~$160–190 billion) placed it **~25th globally**, per Brookings and Oxford Economics, far below top-10 cities like Tokyo, New York, or Shanghai (each exceeding $1 trillion). Saudi Arabia’s **Vision 2030** and NEOM projects *aim* to diversify the economy and boost Riyadh’s standing, but projections (e.g., PwC’s 2035 forecast) still rank it **15th–18th** by mid-2030s, contingent on successful reforms. MBS’s statement frames a *goal* as ongoing work, not a current reality, which aligns with Saudi policy rhetoric but lacks concrete evidence of imminent top-10 status.
Achtergrond
Saudi Arabia’s **Vision 2030**, launched in 2016, seeks to reduce oil dependence by growing sectors like tech, tourism, and finance—key to Riyadh’s economic expansion. NEOM, a $500 billion futuristic city project announced in 2017, is part of this strategy, though its long-term viability remains debated. Riyadh’s 2022 GDP growth (~6%) outpaced global averages, but structural challenges (e.g., private-sector job creation, foreign investment) persist.
Samenvatting verdict
While Riyadh has ambitious growth plans under Vision 2030, it currently ranks **outside the top 20** global city economies, making MBS’s claim a forward-looking *aspiration* rather than an achieved fact in 2022.