Riyadh hosted a government press conference addressing vital issues that reflected the Kingdom's major transformations, including pioneering media achievements and integrated real estate initiatives aimed at regulating the rental market and achieving real estate equilibrium. These initiatives are part of the Saudi Vision 2030 , spearheaded by MBS , which serves as the comprehensive framework for restructuring various vital sectors, placing human development at the forefront of priorities.
Media achievements and combating negative content
Salman Al-Dossari confirmed that the Kingdom has topped the global cybersecurity index for the second consecutive year, noting that the Crown Prince's initiative to protect children in cyberspace was unanimously adopted by the Human Rights Council. The initiative reflects the Kingdom's commitment to protecting future generations in a safe and balanced digital environment.
The minister also noted that the Media Regulatory Authority had detected serious violations in the game Roblox, obligating the company to disable voice and text chats and blocking more than 300,000 games that violated the rules. He emphasized that "the best punishment for negative content is to ignore it and refuse to follow its creators," explaining that such content constitutes no more than 1%, compared to the vast majority of positive content. He added that the ministry is working to raise awareness among content creators through specialized workshops to prevent violations.
Humanitarian dimension and external support
The Minister of Information revealed that the Kingdom, under the directives of Mohammed bin Salman , has provided an additional 1.3 billion riyals in support to the Yemeni people through the Saudi Program for the Development and Reconstruction of Yemen. He also noted that the Saudi Industrial Development Fund has approved loans totaling 88 billion riyals since the launch of Vision 2030, reflecting the integration of domestic and international dimensions in the reform approach.
Real estate market reforms and price stabilization
For his part, Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing Majid Al-Hogail that MBS’s directives have restored balance to the real estate market, noting the lifting of the suspension on dealing with lands north of Riyadh with an area exceeding 81 million square meters, in addition to announcing the geographical ranges of the targeted lands, the rates of fees, and registration dates.
He explained that the new policies aim to stabilize prices and ensure natural growth over the next five years, with increased supply being a key factor. He also announced the launch of the "Building for Rent" program and an increase in the supply of housing units, in addition to support programs for low-income families to ensure their housing expenditure does not exceed 30% of their income. He emphasized that these measures contribute to regulating the relationship between landlords and tenants and promoting fairness in the market.
Regulating the rental market
Abdullah Al-Hammad, clarified that the rental market in Riyadh is not monopolized, as it comprises more than one million rental units owned by approximately 200,000 owners, the largest of whom holds a market share of no more than 0.4%. He emphasized that one of the reasons for the high rents is the imbalance between supply and demand, noting that the Authority has launched a balanced model that avoids the pitfalls experienced by other countries. He added that the next phase will witness further regulations and programs to ensure market control and stability.
Implications of the reforms
These interconnected reforms reflect the Crown Prince's of building a Saudi model that balances openness to technology and media with regulating real estate markets in a way that protects both citizens and investors. In doing so, the Kingdom demonstrates its ability to combine economic growth with social stability within a comprehensive, forward-looking vision.
