On Saudi Arabia: Its People, Past, Religion, Fault Lines-and Future

Imagine watching a gymnast dismount a balance beam, twisting slowly in the air, every eye fixed on whether the landing will be graceful or disastrous. This is the image that best captures the state of Saudi Arabia today, a kingdom where the Al Saud family, long the unchallenged rulers, teeter precariously amid shifting social, religious, and economic forces. The monarchy’s survival depends on an intricate dance of power, religion, and patronage, all while managing a population that is young, restless, and increasingly connected to the wider world.

The kingdom supplies one in every four barrels of oil sold on the global market, making its stability a matter of international security and economic health. Yet beneath the surface lies a society riven by poverty affecting 40% of its citizens, youth unemployment hovering near 40%, and growing resentment fueled by corruption and government inefficiency. The old social contract—stability and prosperity in exchange for loyalty—is fraying.

Consider the floods that devastated Jeddah in 2009 and again in 2011, where failures in infrastructure, long neglected due to corruption, led to tragic loss of life and widespread displacement. Young Saudis took to social media to organize aid and express their anger, revealing cracks in the kingdom’s carefully maintained facade. Even King Abdullah, once widely respected, faced unprecedented public criticism.

Meanwhile, the monarchy faces an aging leadership with crown princes in their seventies and eighties passing away in rapid succession, raising fears of succession crises within a family of thousands of princes. The traditional brother-to-brother succession model is unsustainable, threatening internal conflict.

Religion, once the monarchy’s greatest pillar, is now a source of division. The alliance with the Wahhabi religious establishment is strained as many Saudis view religious leaders as puppets of the royal family rather than true servants of Allah. Extremists and reformers alike challenge the status quo, while the government struggles to maintain control.

Yet the Saudi people remain overwhelmingly passive, shaped by centuries of tribal loyalty, religious obedience, and dependence on royal largesse. This passivity is both a strength and a vulnerability for the regime. The question remains: can the monarchy reform in time to preserve itself, or will the house of cards collapse under the weight of its contradictions?

As we move forward, we will explore the survival skills of the Al Saud, their use of religion and wealth to maintain power, and the social labyrinth that confines Saudi citizens. Understanding this delicate balance is key to grasping the kingdom’s future.