For centuries, the land that birthed Islam sealed its borders to outsiders, open only to Muslim pilgrims journeying to Mecca and Medina for Hajj. However, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, widely known as MBS, is ushering in a new era with bold reforms aimed at redefining Saudi Arabia’s global image and economic future. In 2019, the Kingdom launched its tourist visa program, and by 2024, the kingdom welcomed over 27 million international visitors. I recently traveled over 2,000 miles across Saudi Arabia in two weeks to witness these changes firsthand and to speak with Christians about the potential for religious openness. My findings confirm that the reforms are real, and churches may soon emerge in the kingdom.

Saudi Arabia has long recognized that its oil wealth, the nation’s golden goose, will eventually dwindle. To prepare, the kingdom is strategically investing in tourism, industry, and manufacturing. MBS’s vision extends beyond economic diversification—he aims to position Saudi Arabia as a global leader. Projects like NEOM, futuristic megacities, embody this ambition, inviting the world to live, work, and play in the kingdom’s sandbox. Yet, to attract global interest, Saudi Arabia must shed its rigid, hardline Islamic image, a challenge MBS has tackled with sweeping social and cultural reforms.

Among the most striking changes is the dismissal of 3,500 Muslim clerics deemed radical, effectively curbing extremist influence. The notorious religious police have been largely dismantled. Women now enjoy unprecedented freedoms: they can drive, travel without male chaperones, and increasingly forgo traditional attire. In Riyadh, I saw many women without the niqab (face veil), and some predicted that within a decade, the abaya (black robe) may vanish entirely. In Jeddah, just 30 miles from Mecca, I enjoyed bacon on a cheeseburger and at the restaurant next door, locals were drinking alcohol—a surreal transformation in a land once defined by strict Islamic codes.

These reforms extend to religious tolerance, a topic I explored with local Christians. In 2018, American Jewish journalist Joel Rosenberg, invited to Riyadh by MBS, asked whether churches could be built in the kingdom. Rosenberg suggested that allowing Christian worship would signal openness to the world. MBS responded cautiously, citing security concerns, but left the door open, hinting at future possibilities. My conversations with Christians in Saudi Arabia echoed this cautious optimism, with many believing that formal church openings are on the horizon as reforms deepen.

MBS’s vision also includes geopolitical shifts. Saudi Arabia has signaled interest in joining the Abraham Accords to normalize relations with Israel, a move that could reshape Middle Eastern alliances. I suspect MBS may pursue this during the Trump presidency, likely after Iran’s nuclear ambitions have been neutralized. If Saudi Arabia signs the Accords, it could trigger a domino effect, prompting other Arab nations to follow. This would mark a historic turning point, aligning the kingdom with broader regional integration.

For Christians, these changes present both opportunity and urgency. While our missionaries often take two to three or more years to get to the field, the Cults and Catholics arrive sooner to capture the first fruits. We must act swiftly, praying for the Lord of the Harvest to call missionaries to the Middle East and prepare for an open door in Saudi Arabia.

For over 1,400 years, the land that birthed Islam has barred churches. As that barrier begins to crack, Christians face a critical question: will they seize this moment to bring the Gospel’s light to a region long shrouded in darkness of false religion? If we fail to rise to the occasion, this transformation will only be economic and cultural, when it could be a spiritual conversion.

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