This book is about Saudi Arabia's efforts to overhaul its economy and the numerous prospects and challenges it faces in doing so. As one of the world's leading oil producers, the outcomes of the most ambitious wave of reforms Saudi Arabia has ever undertaken will provide valuable lessons not only for the kingdom itself but also for other oil-dependent and resource-based economies. Since 2016, Saudi Arabia has embarked on an unparalleled economic - if not social and political - transformation project with an ultimate aim of diversifying away from oil. New sources of growth such as tourism, industry, and entertainment have been identified, but it remains to be seen whether these will be enough to sustain the economy in the post-oil era. Reforms, including lowering energy subsidies, instituting VAT, and introducing indirect taxes on labor and businesses, have already produced notable results. Looking ahead, the economy requires rigorous and continuous processes of severe competition amongst its private sector participants as well as strong institutions. It also requires creative destruction to be allowed to run its course within the wider economy. The economic reform experiment undertaken by Saudi Arabia remains the most sweeping among emerging market economies - and certainly in the entire Middle East. The changes are all encompassing and involve a complex redrawing of the political, economic, religious, and social map.

“The investment climate in Saudi Arabia has become increasingly conducive for local and foreign investors.” Abdulhakim H. Al Khalid, Chairman, Asharqia Chamber of Commerce The Oil & Gas Year Saudi Arabia 2020 charts the transformation of a key oil producer as it pursues wide-reaching plans to diversify the economy away from oil and develop new and varied economic activities. These include increasing non-oil government revenue from USD 43.5 billion to USD 266.6 billion and growing the private sector’s contribution to GDP from 40% to 65%, among other reforms. “The kingdom has seen a tremendous transformation over the last three to four years. We are seeing a positive impact of this transformation on our business.” Tareq Al Nuaim, president and CEO, Luberef As part of its Vision 2030, the government has been establishing partnerships and channelling local and foreign investment into a flurry of domestic projects, from digitisation and automation programmes to research centres, manufacturing hubs and smart cities. This fifth edition of The Oil & Gas Year Saudi Arabia series provides insight to investors and companies looking at strategic opportunities in the country, at a time when Saudi Arabia is experiencing a transformation to a more diverse and technology-driven hydrocarbons industry.

For many years, vertical integration characterized the international oil industry, with the same company controlling the entire process from crude exploration and production to the retailing. This structure was radically transformed in the 1970s and this book, originally published in 1984, examines whether the dis-integration which resulted was a long-term trend or a temporary phase. It examines the attitude of the major international oil companies, discusses the policies adopted by oil producing and oil importing countries, and the limits of ‘government to government’ deals underlined. The political and strategic implications of re-integration are explored, and relations between oil exporters and importers, and between the USA, Europe and the Arab world discussed.