(Image Source: Press TV)

BY CHRISTIE NICKS

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Celebrations in Saudi Arabia might seem a little out of place as protests ripple through the Middle East.

“It was like a carnival, a party atmosphere, people in cars honking horns.”

So what’s with the fanfare? Two words: free money.

Saudi King Abdullah returned to the nation after being out on medical leave- bringing back $36 billion in gifts for the people. The money will go toward worker pay raises, unemployment benefits, and affordable housing.

But as the world’s top oil producer- why do Saudis need a cash donation from the King?  Here’s CNN.

“One of the main causes of discontent among the local population of Saudi Arabia is that a lot of the oil revenues hasn’t always trickled down to them and if one leaves the main cities of Riyadh, Jiddah, and eastern province and goes to the remoter regions then still there is a lot of poverty.”

Saudi activists say they’d like to see free elections, voting rights for women, and a crackdown on corruption. A commentator for the National Post says the demands have caught the monarch’s attention - at least for now.

“King Abdullah might try to meet some of their demands. He is already due to shuffle his cabinet, since the terms of several ministers expired last Saturday. But that might not be enough to avoid the troubles visited on neighbouring states."

With turmoil surrounding the nation, many in the media wonder if the Saudi monarch will be able to purchase its way into the people’s hearts. NPR suggests - the only thing it’s buying is time.

“Every gulf monarch has tried this strategy- Kuwait and Bahrain simply handed out cash and it hasn’t stopped the political demands. Now it’s always hard to tell what’s going on beneath the Saudi surface but there is a political awakening here that I have never seen before.”

But even with widespread unrest creeping closer to Saudi Arabia- a consultant tells Business Week- the oil-rich nation could actually avoid a revolt.

“‘Odds are the Saudis would hold on because they have much better social control in the form of policing powers, and they are better able to insulate the minority group that might like to see a change from events in the outside world’”

The concern for Saudi Arabia’s stability goes well beyond it’s borders. Because the country holds more than a fifth of the world’s oil reserves, unrest and protests could strike the heart of the global economy.


 
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