Saudi Arabia has a growing middle class, and I can tell you that the people's ability to buy things is so great that the US just gave Saudi citizens 10-year visas. These days, you can get a visa almost anywhere, and the application takes only a few minutes.
Many European countries may soon permit Saudis to enter with a visa upon arrival.
Why would it be easy to make rules about immigration? The short answer is that these people have more money to spend.
Saudi Arabia is in the process of becoming a green energy superpower and is working on a variety of initiatives. They are taking their time since they want to reduce their reliance on oil. If you study economics and numbers, you'll find that the West's debt-to-GDP ratio is scary. Saudi Arabia's GDP/debt is less than 20%, which is a drop in the bucket compared to the western countries, which would be bankrupt without massive ZIRP and QE since the GFC of 2008. Saudi Arabia has an advantage because its religious traffic can easily reach 100 million people per year, while we don't have the facilities to handle that many people.
Wizz Air has been given permission to expand with 20 additional routes in 2023, and the company is aware of the lucrative market in Saudi Arabia. Over two hundred aircraft are on order for Flynas, and SAUDIA plans to have 250 aircraft in service by 2030.
Don't hold Saudi Arabia up to the same standards as other regional players until its tourism and transit sectors are developed.
Onwards and upwards with exciting times for KSA. Haters will always hate.