Widely criticized over many years for its slow pace of reform and seeming unwillingness to modernize, 2016 will no doubt go a long way in helping to silence Saudi Arabia’s critics.

Since launching its economic transformation plan known as ‘Vision 2030’ in April, Saudi Arabia has quickly set to work in rolling out a raft of reforms and enacting a bullish new investment strategy, helping to lay the foundations for a new economic model. (CONTINUED - 2102 WORDS)