Non-Oil GDP Share: 76% ▲ -7.7pp vs 2020 | Saudi Unemployment: 3.5% ▲ -0.5pp vs 2023 | PIF AUM: $941.3B ▲ +$345B vs 2022 | Inbound FDI: $21.3B ▼ -6.4% vs 2023 | Female Participation: 33% ▲ -1.1pp vs 2023 | Credit Rating: Aa3/A+ ▲ Moody's / Fitch | GDP Growth: 2.0% ▲ +1.5pp vs 2023 | Umrah Pilgrims: 16.92M ▲ vs 11.3M target | Non-Oil GDP Share: 76% ▲ -7.7pp vs 2020 | Saudi Unemployment: 3.5% ▲ -0.5pp vs 2023 | PIF AUM: $941.3B ▲ +$345B vs 2022 | Inbound FDI: $21.3B ▼ -6.4% vs 2023 | Female Participation: 33% ▲ -1.1pp vs 2023 | Credit Rating: Aa3/A+ ▲ Moody's / Fitch | GDP Growth: 2.0% ▲ +1.5pp vs 2023 | Umrah Pilgrims: 16.92M ▲ vs 11.3M target |

Debt-Bondage

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The Kafala Machine: How Saudi Arabia's Sponsorship System Powers Vision 2030 with Trapped Labour

Workers pay thousands in recruitment fees to reach Saudi Arabia, then can't leave their employer without permission. The kafala system creates the conditions for every abuse documented at NEOM. Here's how the machine works.

Updated Apr 5, 2026
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