Saudi Arabia has rolled out a sweeping national privatization strategy designed to dramatically scale up public-private partnerships (PPPs), positioning the private sector as a central engine in delivering major projects and modern public services under Vision 2030.
Spearheaded by the National Center for Privatization & PPP (NCP), the strategy signals a clear shift from policy groundwork to full-throttle execution. Its ambition is twofold: upgrade the quality and efficiency of infrastructure and services across the Kingdom, while drawing long-term local and international investment into sectors critical to economic diversification.
At its core, the plan aims to redefine how public services are delivered. By widening private sector participation, the government intends to sharpen its focus on regulation and oversight, strengthen fiscal sustainability, and accelerate sustainable growth driven by market expertise and capital.
The strategy targets 18 priority sectors and sets out bold benchmarks for the decade ahead. These include signing more than 220 PPP contracts by 2030, mobilising over $64 billion in private investment, creating tens of thousands of skilled jobs, and raising satisfaction levels among citizens, residents, and visitors alike.
According to the NCP, the new phase builds on the foundations laid by the 2018 Privatization Program and opens the door to larger, more complex projects. Opportunities will span transport and logistics, water infrastructure, healthcare and education facilities, real estate development, and aviation, with both domestic and international investors invited to take part.
Among the flagship projects expected to seek private partners are the Saudi Landbridge rail project linking the Kingdom’s east and west coasts through Riyadh, major education infrastructure developments, water desalination and treatment facilities with strategic reservoirs, and expansions at international airports.
To support delivery, the strategy introduces five core programs focused on planning, regulation, human capital, awareness, and prioritisation. These are reinforced by 42 executive initiatives aimed at strengthening the overall privatization ecosystem. An additional executive track has already identified more than 145 high-priority opportunities, offering a deep pipeline of investable projects.
The earlier privatization drive delivered significant momentum, including the establishment of the NCP, approval of more than 200 projects with total estimated investments of around $213 billion, and the signing of nearly 90 contracts across asset sales and PPP models. Those efforts helped boost private sector involvement, improve government asset efficiency, and modernise the regulatory framework.
With this new strategy, Saudi Arabia is signalling that privatization is no longer a supporting act—but a central pillar in reshaping its economy and delivering world-class public services at scale.
