Questions tagged [saudi-arabia]
Questions relating to the government or politics of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)
102
questions
12
votes
2
answers
5k
views
Can Christian Saudi Nationals visit Mecca?
I have read that only Muslims can visit Mecca and that foreigners need to apply for the Hajj visa and provide a receipt from a local Muslim center. Are Saudi citizens who are Christian able to visit ...
- 265
3
votes
1
answer
235
views
Has there been any pressure for investigating the Omar Al-Bayoumi angle of the 9/11 attacks?
Over the past few years, some documents have been declassified in the US regarding a person called Omar Al-Bayoumi. Apparently:
An FBI report declassified in September 2021 lays out evidence that
al-...
- 8,971
3
votes
1
answer
903
views
Why was Saudi Arabia not granted the status of "major non-NATO ally" of the US?
The present list of "major non-NATO ally" (MNNA) of the US:
Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, New Zealand, Pakistan, ...
3
votes
1
answer
220
views
What did Saudi Arabia hope to gain from reintegrating Syria into the Arab League?
A watershed in Syria’s reintegration into the Arab world’s diplomatic
fold came earlier this year when Saudi Arabia began moving towards
reconciliation with Damascus.
Both the February 6 earthquakes ...
user28660
4
votes
8
answers
1k
views
Why does the US view Iran as its principal geopolitical adversary in the Middle East?
The vast majority of Islamist terrorism against the US and Europe is done by Saudi-aligned Salafi jihadist groups. Indeed, this was the case in the worst act of terrorism against the US—indeed, ...
2
votes
0
answers
78
views
Is any country putting pressure against Saudi Arabia for its human rights violations presently?
The United States and other Western allies have all but rubber-stamped
Saudi Arabia’s repression at home and abroad. Repeated U.S. failures
to hold Saudi Arabia to account for a litany of human rights
...
user28660
1
vote
1
answer
158
views
Why wasn't the U.S. keen in having Saudi Arabia develop nuclear power despite being a reliable ally of the U.S. for so long?
Asked whether the question of eroding Israel’s “security” included
Riyadh establishing a civilian nuclear programme on its soil, Hanegbi
said that for that, Israel’s consent was not needed.
“Dozens of ...
user28660
8
votes
1
answer
2k
views
"Some 40 countries... on the sidelines of the (Russia v. Ukraine) war were invited to talks... in Saudi Arabia" Who was/wasn't invited? Who declined?
The New York Times' August 5, 2023 Ukraine Starts New Diplomatic Push to Weaken Russia begins:
Ukraine made a renewed push this weekend at a gathering in Saudi Arabia to win the support of dozens of ...
- 16.9k
5
votes
1
answer
211
views
What did China offer to Saudi Arabia and Iran in the triparty pact?
In April 2023, China mediated and signed a triparty deal with Saudi Arabia and Iran. As a result, Saudi Arabia normalized its relations with Iran after many decades.
What is the thing that China ...
- 16.5k
7
votes
1
answer
171
views
Have those who have been detained from the 2017-2019 Saudi Arabian purge now been released?
Salman bin Abdulaziz Al saud is a famous prince due to his involvement in Dota 2 esports, as he has funded many public tournaments and spent over 30k hours on the game himself as shown his [steam ...
- 3,297
3
votes
1
answer
177
views
Did Saudi Arabia cut in half its oil & gas share of GDP from 2020 to 2022?
I'm seeing vastly different numbers reported for Saudi Arabia's oil & gas share in GDP. One Saudi scholar gives
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia owns 17% proven
reserves of the world and constitutes 50% ...
1
vote
3
answers
387
views
Why is Saudi Arabia primarily buying weapons from the United States?
Background. Saudi Arabia is a key U.S. ally in the Middle East. Saudi
Arabia's security forces have relied on U.S. equipment, training, and
service support for decades, officially as a counterbalance ...
user28660
4
votes
1
answer
262
views
Does China sell more weapons to Iran or to Saudi Arabia?
Interestingly, China is selling some non-trivial weapons like ballistic missiles to the "traditional US ally" Saudi Arabia.
Is it possible to know if China sells more weapons [e.g. in terms ...
10
votes
6
answers
8k
views
Why are most US news programs silent about Iran-Saudi deal announced at Beijing on March 10th?
Saudi Arabia, Iran restore relations in a deal brokered by China on March 10th. Now 3 days have passed, but I only saw MSNBC and BBC briefly reported it on their TV programs once. All the other news ...
- 309
9
votes
3
answers
2k
views
What does China have to gain from renewed ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran?
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/11/us/politics/saudi-arabia-iran-china-biden.html
China has been seeking military bases of its own in the region as it pursues energy resources and influence beyond ...
user28660
4
votes
2
answers
537
views
Objective arguments to support assertions that Saudi Arabia is "siding with Russia" and not simply just exercising sound fiscal policy?
CNN's October 7, 2022 Why Saudi Arabia defied the US over OPEC oil supply cut includes the following quotes:
“What Saudi Arabia did to help Putin continue to wage his despicable, vicious war against ...
- 16.9k
15
votes
5
answers
6k
views
Why is Saudi Arabia "sitting on the fence" on Ukraine?
For the first time in twenty-five years, China, India, and Pakistan
took a similar position on a global issue, choosing to abstain from
voting on Ukraine, like so many others, including Indonesia,
...
user28660
-3
votes
1
answer
290
views
Why do Canadians complain more about cost of living than Saudis? [closed]
I do not get it.
Alberta’s recoverable reserves of oil are, still conservatively, the largest on Earth by far, and are larger than those of Saudi Arabia and Venezuela combined.
Canada is rich in water ...
3
votes
2
answers
256
views
How much influence do the Saudis actually have over the USA, and why?
Several years back, I read somewhere that a Saudi prince was living just beside the home of the Bush family.
Saudis were involved in the 9/11 terrorist attack, and the US government was unable try the ...
- 16.5k
7
votes
1
answer
526
views
Did Saudi Arabia end up paying Egypt for Tiran and Sanafir islands?
Now that its been 5 years since the transfer of Tiran and Sanafir islands to Saudi Arabia, its a bit unclear how much money ended up being transferred between the two countries.
In 2016, it was ...
- 52.7k
2
votes
4
answers
444
views
Why did Saudi Arabia refuse to increase oil production to counter Russia when USA asked them to in February 2022?
I am referring to this: https://responsiblestatecraft.org/2022/02/25/us-backed-middle-east-states-cozy-up-to-russia-during-ukraine-invasion/
What does Saudi Arabia have to lose by increasing their ...
- 1,523
3
votes
1
answer
188
views
Why do KSA and UAE put billions of reserve money into Pakistan's bank but China doesn't?
Recently, the KSA (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) agreed to inject $3 billion into Pakistan's state bank. This is the second time KSA is doing so.
In the past, the UAE (United Arab Emirates) also did the ...
- 16.5k
27
votes
11
answers
8k
views
Why is the media concerned about the sharia and the treatment of women in Afghanistan, but not in Saudi Arabia?
The media and Western leaders are talking a lot about the treatment of the women in Afghanistan [1, 2, 3] and the country's move towards the Sharia law [4]. They are described as issues raising ...
- 8,601
0
votes
1
answer
349
views
Biden's stance on Saudi Arabia's human right issues
In 2021, Saudi Arabia announced that Mustafa al-Darwish had been executed.
He was arrested in 2015, and many of the offenses he was charged with occurred when he was 17 years old; see here and here.
...
- 6,561
12
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Is there a known/stated reason why Saudi Arabia did not declare itself a Caliphate?
Their closest political competitors that the Saud dynasty defeated in the 1924-25 war did claim the title of "Sharifian Caliphate" for themselves. Although Saudi Arabia is an absolute ...
22
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Were there any sanctions for the Khashoggi assassination?
In 2018, opposition journalist Jamal Khashoggi was brutally assassinated by Saudi Arabian agents.
Were there any sanctions for that act?
- 11.8k
1
vote
2
answers
177
views
Why did Saudi-Arabia not launch its own nuclear program in response to Iran’s? [duplicate]
Saudi and Iran have long fought each other through proxy wars throughout the Middle East. However when Iran started its nuclear program, how come Saudi didn’t do it in response?
- 1,301
0
votes
1
answer
181
views
In what way did Trump claim to have saved bin Salman from Congress?
President Trump recently said that he saved Mohamed bin Salman, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, from Congress after the murder of Jamal Khashoggi (a Saudi author, dissident, and reporter) by Saudi ...
- 3,668
0
votes
1
answer
133
views
Are GCC countries dependent on India in any way?
In the past, India was the largest source of revenue in Gulf countries in the form of pilgrimage. When oil was discovered, they turned the table. Millions of Indians migrated to GCC countries, and ...
- 16.5k
-1
votes
1
answer
71
views
Why is Saudi Arabia reluctant to convene an FM-level meeting in OIC?
Saudi reluctant to accept Pakistan's request for immediate OIC meeting on Kashmir
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are at odds with each other as to the convening of an FM-level meeting regarding human ...
- 16.5k
-2
votes
2
answers
177
views
Why are Iran and Pakistan members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)?
Although, OIC's web-site says:
The Organization is the collective voice of the Muslim world and ensuring to safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in
the spirit of promoting ...
- 16.5k
4
votes
2
answers
263
views
What steps has Saudi Arabia taken to diversify its economy?
It is now almost four years since then Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced his "Saudi Vision 2030" plan, a key theme of which was to provide the country with a "thriving economy" by "...
CDJB♦
- 108k
1
vote
0
answers
69
views
What are the details of Saudi Arabia's supposed plans to stop funding foreign mosques?
In January, Middle East Monitor reported that Saudi Arabia was to stop funding mosques in foreign countries. They point to an unspecified article on the Arabi21.com website, which I believe refers to ...
CDJB♦
- 108k
5
votes
2
answers
475
views
Saudis vs Russia on oil: Saudis wanted lower production, but are now doing the opposite. What's going on? [duplicate]
From what I understand the Saudis wanted to reduce oil production and increase price, and Russia did not. So, to punish Russia, they are increasing production and reducing the price.
This strikes me ...
- 59
39
votes
6
answers
12k
views
Why has Russia declined OPEC's request to cut oil production?
On Friday, Russia declined to participate in a plan devised by the Saudi-led Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to cut oil production levels, in order to keep oil prices steady ...
CDJB♦
- 108k
8
votes
2
answers
320
views
How much influence does Saudi Arabia have over Nigeria?
I read this article that says that the country of Saudi Arabia has some influence over Nigeria to the point where Nigeria may be on their side in the current Iran-Saudi Arabia proxy conflict. This ...
- 6,354
3
votes
2
answers
348
views
Does Iran or Saudi Arabia have more regional influence in the Middle East?
I have read about the Iran-Saudi Arabia proxy conflict and I would like to know who has more regional influence in the Middle East in terms of political and cultural influence, Iran or Saudi Arabia?
- 6,354
1
vote
1
answer
187
views
Why don't some Muslim countries need Saudi support while some other Muslim countries do?
Previously, we saw that Egypt supported Saudi Arabia as opposed to Turkey when Saudi Arabia promised to build a bridge over the Red Sea.
In the case of the recent summit in Kuala Lumpur, Indonesia's ...
user25524
3
votes
0
answers
45
views
Is there a more recent estimate on the number of Syrians in Saudi Arabia?
According to Wikipedia
As of September 2016, the number of Syrians in Saudi Arabia is estimated to be 500,000 and consists mainly of temporary foreign workers. According to the United Nations High ...
4
votes
0
answers
116
views
Have there been any prior cases of US social media employees charged with spying for (or interfering on behalf of) a foreign power?
NBC reports that two Twitter employees have been charged in the Northern District of California for spying for the Saudis.
Saudis recruited Twitter workers to spy on critics of Saudi regime, U.S. ...
1
vote
1
answer
197
views
Was there any outcry or diplomatic protest that Turkey bugged the Saudi consulate?
Of course the murder of Khashoggi eclipsed the circumstances how Turkey proved it happened. But were there any protests or concerns expressed at how Turkey treats the foreign missions in its country, ...
1
vote
0
answers
34
views
Did the now closed pro-Saudi think tank Arabia Foundation register as a foreign agent?
The Washington-based pro-Saudi Arabia Foundation think tank closed in the aftermath of the Khashoggi murder. I'm curious however: was the Foundation required to list itself as a foreign agent under ...
1
vote
1
answer
90
views
Does Al Arabiya have a presence in the US? And if so, was there any effort to list them a a foreign agent?
Related to my question on Al Jazeera, does its UAE-based competitor
Al Arabiya have a presence in the US? And if it does, have there been any efforts, e.g. Congressional opinions on having them ...
8
votes
4
answers
389
views
How did Wahhabism come into power as an influential movement in Islam?
Why does it have so many followers, and how does it contrast with other versions of Islam?
How has it influenced the politics of Islamic (and non-Islamic) nations?
- 2,699
3
votes
1
answer
238
views
Does Secretary of State's statement mean anything?
Since the United States is probably not going to take any military action and will at the most impose sanctions on Iran, does Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's statement calling the strike by the ...
- 958
-1
votes
2
answers
386
views
Are Saudi Arabia's air defences actually working? [closed]
Saudi Arabia has one of the biggest military budgets in the world. State purchased huge amount of western weapon systems, including the most advanced of them - US Patriot systems. It is even ...
- 11.8k
3
votes
1
answer
152
views
Saudi nuclear reactor "identified" in satellite images
There is a recent spate of news articles, for example, by CBC.ca:
Saudi Arabia is about a year away from completing the building of its first nuclear reactor, according to Google satellite images ...
- 1,727
0
votes
1
answer
213
views
Is there a correlation between US oil imports and the US-Saudi Arabia arms deal?
What I have read here suggests that the US and Saudi Arabia are linked by trade (oil for arms and vice versa). Here is a quotation from the article.
Oil has also linked the two countries since ...
- 111
4
votes
2
answers
428
views
Why is Lindsey Graham so acerbic against Mohammed bin Salman?
Graham said that MBS (the Crown Prince) "has to go" and and called him "crazy" and "dangerous". It looks like Graham, although a Republican, is strongly against the White House' position on this, ...
3
votes
5
answers
657
views
Can Western countries impose sanctions on Saudi Arabia in a similar way to those imposed to Russia?
A local journalist argued some time after murdering of Jamal Khashoggi something like the following (approximately from the memory, I cannot find the source now):
I do not mind paying more for the ...
- 53.4k