Corruption in Saudi Arabia, Transparency and Achievement

Saudi Arabia continues to severely combat corruption crimes by announcing corruption cases of top and minor state officials horizontally through the Saudi media.

Corruption is one of the fundamental issues that must be addressed in developing countries, including Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia, led by King Salman, may Allah protests him, and the faithful Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman, have placed a high priority on this issue in our beloved country, because, in short, great countries cannot develop or advance if there is a high percentage of corruption, whether material or moral, affecting political systems at various economic and social culture levels.

Corruption, according to the World Bank, is defined as “the abuse of public office for private gain.” This definition is both simple and comprehensive enough to encompass most kinds of corruption that we encounter today. Bribery, benefiting from, appropriating or squandering public funds, favouritism, nepotism, carelessness in executing the responsibilities of a public position, and putting private interests ahead of the public interest are all examples of corruption.

Q: Is the State anti-corruption effort still ongoing? 

The clear indications and reports show that the State is vigorously fighting corruption with the support of King Salman. His Highness the Crown Prince said in a previous interview “I confirm to you, no one will survive in a corruption case, whoever he is, even if he is a prince or a minister.” On the other hand, transparency is mirrored in the publication of names, centres, and departments, and there is no distinction made between an ordinary citizen, an emir, or a sheikh, as well as military or civil personnel, men and women. The State employs the transparency concept, which entails “making available to all citizens information relating to policies, systems, laws, decisions, and regulations, as well as the process for disclosure and announcement by the State of all its actions in planning and execution.”

Saudi Arabia is a signatory to international and Arab anti-corruption treaties, and has made significant and fundamental changes to anti-corruption measures and processes in recent years, owing to the complexity and pervasiveness of administrative corruption in government bodies. Through the formation of the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority, the State established an integrated strategy focused on comprehensiveness and integration to combat corruption.

Furthermore, community members should take part in combating and preventing corruption and the competent authorities should retain their rights when reporting any suspicious corruption, in order to encourage people to report administrative corruption without fear or reluctance.

The corruption problem exists all across the world, but the degree of corruption and the ability to combat it differs from one society to another.