Saudi Arabia: internal cohesion in Saudi Arabia

This file contains a memorandum by the Foreign Office and Commonwealth Relations Office Joint Research Department concerning internal cohesion in Saudi Arabia and threats to the survival of the Saudi regime. It covers:

• The tribal structure of Saudi society
• Clandestine political activity opposed to the regime inside and outside the country, discontent among the elite and the chance of a coup d’état
• Support for the regime among the tribes and in the provinces
• An overview of the Army and National Guard and their reliability
• The structure of the Saudi Government
• The state of the Ruling Family
• The influence of the Ulema
• Saudi foreign policy
• Obstacles to reform in the country
• Prospects for the survival of the Saudi regime.