Saudi Arabia has quietly increased its efforts to release political prisoners in recent weeks, a move that has drawn significant international attention. According to the Financial Times, the kingdom has been gradually freeing dozens of individuals who were detained for political reasons. This development is seen as part of Saudi Arabia’s attempt to enhance its global standing, attract foreign investment and solidify its position in the evolving world order.
The release of political prisoners is being viewed as part of this larger strategy. Saudi Arabia’s ongoing Vision 2030 initiative is focused on diversifying its economy away from oil, modernising its society, and strengthening its position in international markets. However, one of the key barriers to this transformation has been concerns about the country’s human rights record, a factor that has historically deterred some investors. By gradually releasing political detainees, the kingdom appears to be signalling a shift toward greater openness, even if the scale and permanence of these changes remain uncertain.
Among those who have been released is Salma Al-Shehab, a PhD student from Britain who was sentenced in 2022 to 34 years in prison for social media posts advocating for women’s rights. Human rights organisations described her sentencing as an extreme example of Saudi Arabia’s previous crackdowns on political expression. Another individual, Asaad Al-Ghamdi, a 47-year-old teacher, was sentenced to 20 years for similar social media activity. His case was reportedly part of a broader campaign targeting conservative opposition figures.
Since Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman rose to power in 2017, Saudi Arabia has undergone major political and economic changes. Initially, there was a harsh crackdown that led to the arrests of hundreds of people, including members of the royal family, businessmen, activists, academics and bloggers. The government justified these actions as necessary to implement its ambitious reforms without interference from political and religious conservatives. However, these crackdowns also extended to liberal activists, human rights advocates and intellectuals, raising concerns about the kingdom’s political climate.
Many released prisoners remain under travel bans and other restrictions, preventing them from fully reintegrating into public life. Moreover, some of the most high-profile detainees, including prominent religious scholars like Salman Al-Ouda and Nasser Al-Omar, remain in custody. Reports indicate that their release is still under consideration, but there is no clear confirmation yet.
One of the most significant turning points in Saudi Arabia’s international reputation was the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, which led to widespread condemnation and strained relations with Western governments. The recent prisoner releases could be part of a broader effort to rehabilitate the kingdom’s global image, particularly as it seeks deeper economic ties with the US and other international powers.
In a related development, Saudi officials last week held a high-profile meeting in Miami, hosted by the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund and attended by Donald Trump, where top business leaders sought face time with Saudi representatives. Unlike in the past, where Saudi Arabia primarily invested abroad, it is now demanding deeper commitments from foreign investors, requiring them to establish offices in the kingdom and commit capital to its ambitious mega-projects. At an exclusive dinner attended by executives from Citadel, BlackRock and SoftBank, Saudi officials personally discussed investment opportunities, underscoring the kingdom’s growing economic influence and strategic shift toward a more assertive global role.
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