National Transformation Program

The National Transformation Program is the first executive programme of Saudi Vision 2030, launched in June 2016, about two months after the launch of the Vision, and is the largest of the Vision's realisation programmes in terms of the number of strategic objectives assigned to it [1][3].

The Program works to achieve 34 strategic objectives out of the Vision's 96 objectives, equivalent to more than 35% of them, through a broad and integrated system comprising more than 30 ministries, authorities and related entities [2][3].

Its work falls within the framework of Saudi Vision 2030, as the first of the programmes emanating from it and the largest in terms of the strategic objectives assigned to it [1][2].

The Program aims to develop the necessary infrastructure and prepare the enabling environment for the public, private and non-profit sectors to achieve Saudi Vision 2030 [1].

Its work focuses on excellence in government performance, supporting digital transformation, contributing to the development of the private sector, strengthening community development, and ensuring the sustainability of vital resources [1].

The Program operates through more than 313 initiatives, led by seven ministries and more than 50 participating entities, and measures its progress towards its objectives through 78 strategic indicators [3].

Its annual reports have tracked the evolution of the initiatives system: they numbered more than 253 initiatives in the 2022 report, more than 300 initiatives in the 2023 report, and more than 317 initiatives and 80 indicators in the 2024 report [6][7][5].

The Program launched its annual report for 2022 under the title "A Reality We Live" on 12 March 2023, noting that it had launched 253 initiatives led by seven leading entities in addition to more than 50 participating entities [6].

It then launched its annual report for 2023 under the title "For National Transformation.. An Impact We Touch" on 26 February 2024, and within this framework the Program works on more than 300 initiatives led by seven ministries and more than 50 participating entities [7].

It launched its annual report for 2024 under the title "Our Ambition Goes Further" on 18 May 2025, noting that it achieves 34 strategic objectives out of 96 through more than 317 initiatives and 80 indicators [5].

On 9 June 2026 (23 Dhu al-Hijjah 1447 AH), the Program launched its annual report for 2025 under the title "We Delivered and We Continue", noting that it operates under the leadership of seven ministries: Economy and Planning, Environment, Water and Agriculture, Justice, Commerce, Communications and Information Technology, Human Resources and Social Development, and Investment, with the participation of more than fifty entities implementing its initiatives [4].

The committee of the National Transformation Program is chaired by His Excellency Mr. Mohammed bin Mazyed Al-Tuwaijri, a member of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs and an adviser at the Royal Court [6].

On 26 January 2025 (26 Rajab 1446 AH), the appointment of Eng. Fawaz Al-Rabeah as Chief Executive Officer of the National Transformation Program Centre was announced. He has held multiple administrative and leadership positions in the Program, the most recent of which was CEO of the Achievement Sector, and has more than 19 years of experience in the public and private sectors [8].

Within the framework of private sector empowerment, the Saudi Business Center provided more than 750 services to the business sector through 16 branches in 13 cities, and more than 58 representatives of government entities [9].

Issuing a commercial registration became possible in 180 seconds and starting a business in 30 minutes, and the number of small and medium enterprises has doubled since the announcement of the Vision to exceed 1.1 million enterprises by the end of 2022 [9].

The Small and Medium Enterprises Bank was also launched with 6 financing products and 15 cooperation agreements and partnerships with the financing sector worth 3 billion riyals [9].

The Program achieved a shift in digital government services; the number of digital government services reached more than 6,000 services, representing 97% of the total government services provided [10].

The Kingdom ranked 31st globally in the United Nations E-Government Development Index 2022, and first in the Middle East and North Africa in the availability and development of digital government services in the ESCWA index 2021 [10].

In communications infrastructure, mobile internet speed reached 181.24 Mbps, fixed internet 109.83 Mbps, 4G wireless broadband coverage exceeded 98%, and 5G services were provided in 84 governorates [10].

The Kingdom ranked second among the G20 countries in the Competitiveness and Digital Progress Report 2021, topped the group's countries in the European Centre for Digital Competitiveness report for 2021, and was classified second in the overall index, first in the digital ecosystem index and third in the digital capabilities index [10][11].

The Program strengthened community development; the number of volunteers in the Kingdom exceeded 208,000 volunteers in the first half of 2021, with more than 15 million people benefiting from their activities [11].

The indicators of the annual report for 2025 include the actual value of the number of volunteers at 1,749,197 volunteers against a target of 750,000 volunteers, the area of rehabilitated natural vegetation cover reached 1,000,000 hectares against a target of 86,982 hectares, and the savings resulting from digital government initiatives reached 9.2 billion riyals against a target of 3.24 billion riyals [3].

The Saline Water Conversion Corporation recorded a record in the Guinness World Records for the lowest energy-consuming desalination plant in the world at 2.27 kilowatts per hour/m³ [11].

The Program and the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence (SDAIA) signed on 19 January 2022 (16 Jumada al-Akhirah 1443 AH) a memorandum of understanding to launch new strategic partnerships and smart business solutions that support the strategic objectives of Vision 2030 assigned to the Program, and to involve SDAIA in developing qualitative digital initiatives related to data and artificial intelligence [2].

Q: What is the National Transformation Program? A: It is the first executive programme of Saudi Vision 2030, launched in June 2016, and it works to achieve 34 strategic objectives out of the Vision's 96 objectives, equivalent to more than 35% of them [1][2].

Q: When was the Program launched? A: In June 2016, about two months after the launch of Saudi Vision 2030, as the largest of the Vision's realisation programmes in terms of the strategic objectives assigned to it [1][3].

Q: How many initiatives and indicators does the Program have? A: The Program operates through more than 313 initiatives led by seven ministries and more than 50 participating entities, and measures its progress towards its objectives through 78 strategic indicators [3].

Q: What are the most prominent achievements of the Program in empowering the private sector? A: The Saudi Business Center provided more than 750 services to the business sector, issuing a commercial registration became possible in 180 seconds and starting a business in 30 minutes, and the number of small and medium enterprises exceeded 1.1 million enterprises by the end of 2022 [9].

Q: How did the Program measure its impact on community development? A: The actual value of the number of volunteers reached 1,749,197 volunteers in the annual report for 2025 against a target of 750,000, and the area of rehabilitated natural vegetation cover reached 1,000,000 hectares against a target of 86,982 hectares [3].

The National Transformation Program continues to implement the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 through a system of initiatives, indicators and annual reports, the 2025 edition of which was issued in June 2026 [3][4]. Related topics on the platform include Public Investment Fund and NEOM.