Saudi Arabia’s volunteer movement is expanding at remarkable speed—and it’s already delivering results at scale. In 2024 alone, the National Volunteer Platform recorded 80,117,736 volunteer hours, 1,237,713 unique volunteers, and 542,622 volunteering opportunities. But as the ecosystem matures, the next step is clear: shifting from more volunteering to better volunteering—where time, skills, and purpose translate into workforce capabilities and long-term national value.

This foresight paper—co-developed by Dunecrest Strategic Development (UK), Ghadan Capacity Building Company (Saudi Arabia), and People Dialogue and Change (UK)—sets out a practical case for elevating professional and Pro Bono volunteerism as a strategic lever for Vision 2030. It explores how skill-based volunteering can simultaneously strengthen civic participation, improve service delivery, and create credible pathways for career development.

Yet scaling impact isn’t just about mobilising volunteers. Without the right design, volunteer programmes can become fragmented—creating mismatches between what volunteers expect and what host organisations can deliver. The result can be low retention, inconsistent quality, and volunteering that costs more energy than it creates.

This paper proposes a shift toward a new system of empowered, accountable volunteering—where volunteers are treated as contributors and stakeholders, not temporary help. Instead of limiting volunteers to tasks, organisations can invite them into roles that build ownership, leadership, and measurable outcomes.

At the heart of the proposed approach are five reinforcing design principles:

• Formal decision-making power: include volunteers meaningfully in planning and delivery

• Role-based autonomy and ownership: define real roles matched to skills—not just activities

• Personal impact data tracks: make contribution visible through real-time feedback and metrics

• Structured leadership pathways: build progression routes from participant to team leader

• Value-based recognition: reward outcomes and capability growth—connecting volunteering to careers

Saudi Arabia already has proof points showing what this can look like in practice. The Pro Bono Volunteerism Project(Ghadan × NCNP) has enabled 1,215 opportunities, engaging 1,000+ volunteers across 191 organisations, generating 629,205 hours of service and an estimated SAR 1.8 million in economic value—with 98% satisfaction reported. Community-based models like Ezwa have activated 20+ municipalities, mobilised 15,000 volunteers, and delivered 1,200+ local initiatives—building local ownership while strengthening civic culture.

To explore the full framework, case studies, and recommendations for elevating volunteering into a national workforce and nation-building engine, download the complete report below.