Friday, 20 April 2018

Is Saudi Arabia Spreading Itself Too Thin? | Inside Story


Saudi Arabia has embarked on an extensive economic and social transformation. Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman has made it his mission to make the country less dependent on oil and diversify its economy. But that's proving challenging because of several factors, including the war in neighbouring Yemen.

Saudi Arabia and its coalition partners have been fighting Houthi rebels there for nearly three years now. And as the Saudi government announces more mega projects as part of its so-called Vision 2030 strategy, there are concerns it might be over extending its economy. Can it afford these large projects and how likely are they to become a reality?

Presenter: Folly Bah Thibault | Guests: Jamal Khashoggi - Saudi journalist, columnist and author; Anastasia Nesvetailova - Director of the City Political Economy Research Centre at City University of London; Robert Mogielnicki - Senior Analyst specialising in the political economy of the GCC at the consultancy Siwa Group