In 2010, I was living in the United States for my studies, surrounded by people who welcomed me with a kindness I will never forget. I stayed with an American host family the entire time, and the woman who owned the house — Holly — made America feel like my second home. When I brought my wife and children from Riyadh to Denver, she insisted on hosting them for free. She showered my kids with gifts and warmth, and before long, our relationship had grown into a genuine friendship built on respect and simple, everyday goodness. Holly followed the news about Saudi Arabia, and some of the criticism felt fair — we all agreed that women not being allowed to drive at the time was long overdue for change. But whenever the American media pushed exaggerated narratives or painted Saudis with broad, harmful stereotypes, she dismissed them immediately. "That's nonsense," she told me more than once. "I know Saudis. Extremism isn't a nationality. It's a sickness, and sick minds can come from anywhere." Comments like that stay with you. They remind you that humanity is bigger than headlines, and that people often understand each other better than the media suggests they do. Years later, I returned to Saudi Arabia with beautiful memories and friendships from my time in America. And then, in 2016, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced Vision 2030. That night, something in me said it was time to write a new letter to Holly and to the American reader. A letter not of politics, but of connection. Not of defensiveness, but of honesty. A letter that shows the Saudi Arabia we know — not the one reduced to sensational headlines or selective reports. Holly, and my friends across America: If you could see the changes that have happened here in just ten years, you'd repeat your famous line: "This is not madness... this is change." Saudi Arabia is no longer just an oil country. For the first time in our history, more than half of our real GDP — 56 percent — comes from non-oil sectors. Our economy has grown to over four trillion riyals, placing us among the world's top fifteen economies. Foreign investment has surged, reaching 119 billion riyals in 2024. These aren't talking points. They're new cities rising from the desert, mega-projects taking shape, and job opportunities that once felt unimaginable. Tourism tells another remarkable story. Holly, you once said the only images you'd ever seen of Saudi Arabia were from the Hajj. Today, the Kingdom welcomed 109 million visitors in 2023, then 116 million in 2024, and is now targeting 150 million. Saudi Arabia has become one of the world's fastest-growing travel destinations, not by our reports, but by yours. As for "extremism," a label too easily used in Western media, it is now a forgotten page in our national conversation. When the Crown Prince said, "We will destroy them immediately," it wasn't rhetoric, it was a turning point. Through education, awareness, law enforcement, and social reform, the country dramatically reduced extremist incidents—something documented by international indexes and studied in American universities. Extremism was never a Saudi identity; it was a global challenge rooted in mindset, not birthplace. Saudi women have moved from a question mark to a force. They began driving in 2018. Their workforce participation rose from 17 percent in 2017 to 36 percent in 2025, surpassing Vision 2030 goals. A modern Personal Status Law now protects their rights in marriage, divorce, custody, and financial support, offering clarity and fairness in areas that once relied heavily on personal interpretation. And here is a point Americans are often surprised to learn: Saudi law does not differentiate between men and women in pay. Not in government, not in the private sector, not anywhere. Salaries depend on qualification, experience, specialization, and job level, nothing else. In practice, many Saudi women earn more than men in the same fields: executives, physicians, engineers, tech experts, entrepreneurs. A simple search—"Saudi Arabia equal pay law"—confirms it. Children's rights are protected not only by faith, but by a strict Child Protection Law that criminalizes abuse of every kind, supported by dedicated protection units in hospitals, schools, and security agencies. And then there is safety, a topic anyone who has lived in America understands on a personal level. Saudi Arabia is one of the safest countries in the world, ranking fifth globally in the 2025 Gallup Safety Report and leading the G20 in the sense of safety. People walk at night here with ease, something that shapes everyday life in ways visitors instantly notice. Our youth and sports scene is undergoing its own transformation. Saudi Arabia is hosting the 2034 World Cup, Formula 1 races, and the world's largest Esports World Cup with $70 million in prizes. Global stars now call the Kingdom home. Cristiano Ronaldo, captain of Al-Nassr and of Portugal's national team, said: "I consider myself Saudi. I love living here. I came because I believe in the Kingdom's potential—and everyone now knows I was right." And after all of this, Holly — and every fair American reader — I don't ask you to love our leaders simply because we do, nor to adopt our narrative because your media can sometimes be harsh on us. I ask only for fairness — the kind of fairness that good people and good nations uphold. Look at Saudi Arabia as it truly is, not as it appears in a selective headline designed for shock value. Every number in this letter is easily verified: "Saudi Arabia 116 million tourists 2024," "Saudi Arabia Vision 2030 non-oil GDP," "Saudi Arabia female labor force 36 percent," "Saudi Arabia Child Protection Law." You'll find the same data in government sources, the World Bank, Bloomberg, The Washington Post, and Business Insider. We Saudis are proud of our leadership because we see its impact every day—in our cities, our safety, our children's education, our careers, and our future. And so, from Riyadh to the United States, on the occasion of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit to the United States at the invitation of President Trump, I extend my hand—not to debate the past, but to share the future. A future shaped by people, sustained by truth, and guided by conscience. We look forward to seeing you soon as welcomed guests in Saudi Arabia — just as more than 100 million visitors from around the world have already done.
