Wednesday, December 4, 2024
Nearly half of Riyadh's population are expats—Mayor
Expatriate residents make up over half of Riyadh's population, which Mayor Prince Dr. Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf highlighted as evidence of the capital's friendliness and prosperous economy. Trending: 60 days grace period for expats with absent from work status to exit or transfer
He said that this demonstrates the diversity, economic strength, and attractiveness of Riyadh. While speaking at Tuesday's Saudi-French Investment Forum, he made the comments.
France and Saudi Arabia have maintained close relations for more than a century, as Prince Faisal pointed out.
He went over important dates that have shaped this connection, such as King Faisal's 1967 trip to France and his historic meeting with President Charles de Gaulle, which strengthened ties between the two countries.
He also mentioned that during Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's 2018 trip to France, Saudi and French enterprises inked 19 agreements totaling more than $18 billion. Industries including petrochemicals, water purification, tourism, and culture were the focus of these deals. Most Viewed: Saudi Arabia bans to promote ads of celebrities on visit visas
The mayor also brought attention to the unique connection between the two cities, noting that it all started in 1997 when King Salman, who was Riyadh's governor at the time, visited the city to sign an agreement of friendship and cooperation.
In honor of the partnership's success on many fronts, he lauded its ongoing expansion.
As part of Saudi Vision 2030, Prince Faisal highlighted Riyadh's ambitious transformation in his speech.
He described the vision as a road map to a better, more sustainable future and stressed that Riyadh is experiencing a developmental and economic boom like no other, making it an investment hotspot. Read: Saudi Arabia to get French fries plant
Riyadh Metro, one of the world's biggest public transit projects, and other cultural and leisure projects, including Diriyah, Qiddiya, and King Salman Park, were among the many projects he listed as having a significant impact on the capital at the moment. A better quality of life and Riyadh's position as a world-class tourist destination are the goals of these projects.
International cooperation and strategic alliances are crucial to the achievement of Riyadh's ambitious future goals, and Prince Faisal extended an invitation to French investors to investigate the many attractive possibilities in the Saudi capital.
He ended by saying, "Riyadh is not just a city of the present but a city of the future." Follow Saudi Expatriates on Linkedin
Nearly half of Riyadh's population are expats—Mayor
