1. Politics of the Middle East
Saudi Arabia and the Gulf

2. Gulf Cooperation Council
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Oman
Founded in Abu Dhabi 1981
Formulating unified policies; religion, finance, trade, customs, tourism, legislation, and administration
Fostering Scientific and technological progress
Joint military presence
Single Currency
Forming a Gulf Union

3. Common Ground
Oil
Similar interests on trade, finance and regulation of oil production
Monarchies
Strict Sharia
Historically militarily weaker than neighbouring states

4. Saudi Arabia
Al Saud were originally minor tribal rulers in central Arabia. From the mid-18th century, allied with the Wahabbi Islamic movement, they became aggressively expansionist.
Between 1902 and 1927, the Al Saud carried out a series of wars of conquest which resulted the creation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932.
Vast oil reserves discovered 1938
Waste and luxurious lifestyles led to governmental deficits and foreign borrowing in the 1950s.

5. Government Absolute Monarchy. King as Head of State and Government
Quran 1992 Basic Law form the Constitution
decisions made on the basis of consultation among the senior princes of the royal family and the religious establishment.
2005 Municipal Elections
No political participation outside of the Royal Family which can be fractured with divergent interests.
7000 Princes
The Ulema (Religious Leaders) play a direct role in government.

6. Rentier State
Along with Islamic credentials the al Saud provide significant social welfare benefits
The land, oil and state are property of the al Saud
Citizens trade their political rights for benefits
Mass immigration
Perform domestic and manual labor.
Technological management of oil production

7. Mutaween (Religious Police)
Committee for the Prevention of Vice and Promotion of Virtue
Ensure Islamic Law and customs are strictly enforced; dress, public behaviour, alcohol, prayer, diet

8. 2009 "Anti-Witchcraft Unit" to "educate the public about the evils of sorcery, investigate alleged witches, neutralize their cursed paraphernalia, and disarm their spells".
No celebration of Valentine's Day.
banning the sale of dogs and cats
launched a website on which un-Islamic behavior can be reported

9. Foreign Affairs
1967 Six-Day (Arab-Israeli) War, Saudi Arabia did not participate in the due to tensions with Egypt over Yemen
1973 Arab-Israeli war, Saudi Arabia participated in the Arab oil boycott of the United States and Netherlands.
The price of oil rose substantially, dramatically increasing Saudi Arabia's wealth and political influence
1979 Iranian Revolution threatened Saudi security and religious legitimacy
1990, Following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait King Fahd, fearing an attack from Iraq, invited American and Coalition soldiers to be stationed in Saudi Arabia

10. Kuwait Parliamentary Constitutional monarchy. Emir Al-Sabah,
The Constitution of Kuwait, 1962,
Kuwait's judiciary system is viewed as the most independent in the Arab world

11. 1937 Oil discovered
Gained Independence 1962 from UK
After independence Iraq claimed Kuwait had been part of the Ottoman province of Basra subject to Iraqi suzerainty.
1983, Kuwait supported Iraq in the Iran–Iraq War. Iran attacked Kuwait's oil tankers forced it to seek protection from the US
2 August Annexed by Iraq. Origins of Gulf War I

12. Qatar absolute monarchy, Sharia is the main source of legislation
Al Thani dynasty in power since 1971.
Flogging for alcohol consumption or illicit sexual relations
adultery is 100 lashes; punishable by death when a Muslim woman and a non-Muslim man are involved.

13. Qatar in International Relations
Oil exports and payments for offshore rights began in 1949
2022 World Cup
Al-Jazeera
Mediator of Regional Crisis

14. United Arab Emirates federal, presidential, absolute monarchy.
federation of seven constituent monarchies:
Major center of banking and trade
You have probably visited the airport

15. Bahrain Constitutional monarchy, Al Khalifa
Chamber of Deputies elected by universal suffrage

16. Since 1999 wide ranging political reforms
Eliminating state security laws, women’s suffrage, freeing political prisoners and holding parliamentary elections
Democratisation has resulted in dominance of religious parties
Major protests occurred in 2011, Saudi Arabia intervened
Sectarian tensions, Iranian influence

17. Yemen . 1962 North Yemen Civil War 1976 British leave South Yemen
1990 Unification

18. suffers from a highly fractured political landscape,
President Ali Abd Al Saleh, 1978
Resigned 2012
Houthi Control in the North
Significant presence of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)