As cabinet approves sweeping economic reforms, prince Mohammed bin Salman says they will reduce reliance on hydrocarbons

By Megan Darby

Saudi Arabia’s cabinet approved Vision 2030 on Monday, a package of economic reforms designed to reduce dependence on oil revenues.

Under the proposal, the Middle Eastern kingdom will float part of national oil firm Saudi Aramco on the stock exchange and diversify its investments.

Mohammed bin Salman, the deputy crown prince behind the reforms, said this would make the economy more resilient to commodity fluctuations.

“I think by 2020, if oil stops we can survive,” he said in an interview on national television. “We need it, we need it, but I think in 2020 we can live without oil.”

Historically, oil has accounted for 90% of national revenue. A crash in the oil price since mid 2014 has blown a hole in Riyadh’s budget, forcing it to draw on reserves.

The prince plans to increase the share of the national investment fund holdings overseas from 5% to 50% by 2020, broadening its sources of income.

Generous state welfare provision is also set to be slashed, including consumer fuel subsidies.

In its submission to the UN climate deal signed in New York last Friday, the Gulf state said its economic diversification plans would cut 130 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent a year by 2030.

Middle Eastern analyst Glada Lahn told Climate Home that was a conservative estimate and Saudi Arabia could double the savings by curbing wasteful consumption.

Full details of the plan are expected to be published in four to six weeks.