Saudi Arabia’s long-standing open-door policy

A few years ago, I attended a celebration in Dammam, eastern Saudi Arabia, to mark National Day. I sat listening to a poem recited by a woman from Safwa city. Although her voice was soft, the sincerity of her words and the expressions on her face were evident.
A year later, the poem was released in a video clip produced by young individuals from Qatif. It was broadcast as part of the Kingdom’s National Day celebrations, gaining widespread attention and receiving high acclaim.
Approximately two years later, a young man from the city of Al-Awamiyah reached out to me after reading an article I had published on my personal account on the X platform regarding Saudi Vision 2030. This gesture brought him joy, as he perceived it as a form of moral support from me.
The young woman and the young man in these stories spent several years outside the Kingdom, influenced by the ideas that emerged following the so-called Arab Spring in 2011. The events that unfolded in the Qatif region of eastern Saudi Arabia later escalated into riots and terrorist attacks, resulting in casualties among both civilians and military personnel. These incidents caused significant discontent among citizens due to the damage inflicted on public life.
Some individuals left with enthusiasm, without considering their future or what they truly desired and aimed for. Consequently, after traveling to European or Arab countries, and even the US, many encountered challenges in their daily lives. Others realized the reality of foreign policies that had exploited them for purposes unrelated to human rights. This led several of them to critically reassess their anti-Saudi government rhetoric and to seriously contemplate returning.
This return was neither difficult nor fraught with danger, as some may claim. Instead, when the girl and boy whose stories I have recounted returned, they encountered a positive response from the state. They were neither punished nor incarcerated. Rather, there was a flexible policy aimed at reintegrating these returnees into Saudi society, enabling them to become productive members actively participating in the ongoing process of change and reform.

Today, there exists a concept of a ‘Saudi national identity’ that unites all citizens, transcending regional, tribal and sectarian divisions.

Hassan Al-Mustafa

I witnessed these stories and many others firsthand. The Saudi government has a vision aimed at harnessing the potential of the new generation while preventing external entities from exploiting these young men and women. This is particularly important as many of them lack the political experience that would prevent others from exploiting or pushing them into positions ostensibly in favor of human rights, while actually serving the agendas of other states.
At the same time, Saudi Arabia is pursuing a policy aimed at eliminating both external and internal issues, while fostering an environment conducive to religious and social reform, economic development and diversification of income sources. Consequently, the safe return of Saudis living abroad — who may have engaged in oppositional activities or been exploited by political factions or regional states — along with their integration into Saudi society, will serve as a supportive factor in the effort to eliminate problems, whether small or big, regardless of whether these dissenting voices have a significant impact or limited popularity.
Today, there exists a concept of a “Saudi national identity” that unites all citizens, transcending regional, tribal and sectarian divisions. This identity possesses the capacity to embrace cultural and intellectual diversity, as well as constructive criticism, provided it is scientific and aims to positively develop and improve government performance and address any past or potential shortcomings.
Hence, one can grasp the context in which Abdulaziz Al-Howairini, head of the Presidency of State Security, spoke this month. He emphasized that “the invitation is extended to those who wish to return, particularly those who were misled and exploited by malicious individuals who provided them with money at some point.” He assured that “the state welcomes them and they will not face any punishment if their dissent is limited to ideological differences and they do not have any specific legal issues within the country.”
During his appearance on the program “Hekayat Waad” on MBC, Al-Howairini clarified that the government “has not publicly named any citizen who has requested to return from abroad.” He emphasized that the state “addresses issues rather than punishes,” unless the individual committed an act related to “private rights” or a murder prior to leaving the country.
These remarks by the head of state security hold significant importance, as they come from a highly influential figure who rarely engages in media appearances. Notably, Al-Howairini clarified that his statements are not his own but rather a reflection of the views expressed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This indicates a strong directive to close this matter and prevent any external exploitation, as well as a clear intention to facilitate the safe return of Saudis living abroad to their homeland without the risk of punishment or imprisonment.
There is a long historical context regarding the open-door policies of Saudi kings, beginning with the founding monarch, King Abdulaziz. He welcomed Mohammed Tahir Al-Dabbagh, a staunch critic of the new Saudi regime, and facilitated his return to the Kingdom. Furthermore, King Abdulaziz appointed him to oversee the General Directorate of Education and tasked him with establishing a school for the education of princes in Riyadh at a time when there was no Ministry of Education in place.

• Hassan Al-Mustafa is a Saudi writer and researcher interested in Islamic movements, the development of religious discourse and the relationship between the Gulf Cooperation Council states and Iran. X: @Halmustafa