Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s bold leadership and rapid transformation under Vision 2030 should serve as a model for other nations, former UK prime minister Boris Johnson said today at the Saudi Media Forum in Riyadh.
Comparing the Kingdom’s accelerated economic and infrastructure development to the UK’s sluggish progress, Johnson highlighted Saudi Arabia’s ability to execute large-scale projects efficiently, crediting its decisive leadership for the shift.
“I visited NEOM eight years ago, and there was absolutely nothing there. Now, Saudi Arabia has built world-class resorts, with 12,000 hotel rooms under development,” he said. “Meanwhile, in the UK, we still struggle to complete one railway.”
Johnson praised Vision 2030 as the foundation of Saudi Arabia’s progress, highlighting its role in economic diversification, infrastructure expansion and social reforms. “Fifty percent of the Saudi economy is now non-oil,” he said, citing the Kingdom’s shift toward tourism, technology and renewable energy as key indicators of success.
Women’s empowerment also featured prominently in his remarks. Johnson highlighted that Saudi women’s participation in the technology workforce now surpasses that of Silicon Valley and Europe. “Look at the speed of change,” he said. “We in the UK need to learn from this.”
Beyond economic reforms, Johnson acknowledged Saudi Arabia’s rising diplomatic and geopolitical influence. He referenced its role in global discussions and peace initiatives, calling the Kingdom a key player in shaping the region’s future.
On the crisis in Gaza, Johnson called for strong leadership and reconciliation, urging the need for leaders with the courage to push for peace. “Saudi Arabia is playing a historic role in bringing long-term peace and prosperity to the region,” he said.
Johnson contrasted Saudi Arabia’s ability to execute large-scale projects quickly with the bureaucratic delays plaguing infrastructure development in the UK. “You’ve spent $68 billion on these projects, and we still can’t complete one railway,” he said, referencing the UK’s stalled High Speed 2 rail project.
“Saudi Arabia is a country where things are happening with incredible speed and decisiveness. Frankly, we need to learn that in the UK,” he added.
Shifting focus to media and public perception, Johnson criticized the role of social media algorithms in shaping biased narratives. He said that platforms like YouTube and Twitter often reinforce pre-existing beliefs rather than providing balanced perspectives. “We need to ensure the media presents balanced facts, rather than reinforcing pre-existing biases,” he added.
Reflecting on his own career, Johnson discussed his transition from journalism to politics, and said that he wanted to shift from critiquing policy to actively shaping it. “As a journalist, you throw rocks. As a politician, you build,” he added.
Johnson also pointed to the difficulty of leadership in a social media-driven world, where political figures face instant scrutiny and polarized opinions.
Concluding the session, Johnson praised Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s leadership, quoting Winston Churchill: “Courage is the most important virtue, and this country is fortunate to have a leader with courage.”
The Saudi Media Forum 2025, held in Riyadh from Feb. 19-21, brings together global media figures, policymakers and industry leaders to discuss the future of media, governance and international relations.
