Why has the Arab Spring phenomenon not affected Saudi Arabia?

Arab Spring did not affect not only Saudi, all the GCC countries were un-affected by Arab spring. Reason is GCC members (Saudi, UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain) are ruled by hereditary monarchies. There were ripple effects in Bahrain but not enough in toppling the regime. read more

This week two things happened in Yemen which may or may not be related: Saleh returned home after a prolonged stay in Saudi Arabia nursing his wounds after an assassination attempt, and a drone dispatched the al-Qaida leader al-Awlaki. Both have consequences for the biggest event unfolding in the Middle East, the Arab spring. read more

Saudi Arabia experts Bernard Haykel and Toby Jones explain the effect of the Arab Spring on Saudi society and government, and what the turmoil across the Middle East and North Africa may mean for the U.S.-Saudi relationship. read more