Going from Saudi Arabia to Qatar is not like boarding a plane and getting off some time later – it is more like getting off decades later. Based on my impressions Qatar is decades ahead of Saudi Arabia in touristic and infrastructural development. Conditions of road infrastructure, 70 km of perfectly clean metro and tram, modern skyline along the Corniche, well ordered car traffic, touristic infrastructure/resorts and the various completely different designed stadiums of the soccer world...

From a touristic travel perspective Saudi Arabia is one of the few countries globally that was not really accessible - except for business and for pilgrims. This changed a lot with the announcement of the agenda 2030, the goal of which is to become more independent of oil and prepare Saudi Arabia for a time after the “petrodollars”. Major construction projects like NEOM, the LINE, and international events like the ASIAN WINTER GAMES and the application for the SOCCER WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP,...