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Yes, the researchers are as Saudi Arabian as Messi and Ronaldo. The only innovation happening in Saudi Arabia is labor innovation i.e. indentured workers from South Asia on one side and overpaid Europeans expats on the other. I'm skeptical that Saudi Arabia can buy their way into creating a non oil economy.

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Isn't it better that they at least try?

I did some work for KAUST a few years back, and spoke to many people who relocated from Universities all around Europe. Projects that were having problems getting funded at their previous institutions were happily funded by KAUST.

This is going to sound offensive but KAUST, PIF, Aramco, Neom are full of mediocre talent from mostly Europe - who do you think is interested in a dead end job and moving to Saudi Arabia to work for some idiot royals? The best talent stays put or moves to the US where actual value gets generated. The Saudis are also too racist to actually recruit from Asia/Africa where they stand a chance of attracting better talent.

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