Government management of public funds plays a major role in a country’s development process. A well-managed financial system supports public-service quality and equity, enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of public programs and government work, and limits corruption. In addition, international donors (e.g., the IMF and World Bank) seek the best use of the financial and nonfinancial aid they provide to countries in need; thus, they support effective management of public funds. A budgeting system is considered a keystone for any public financial system.

The purpose of this analysis is to critically examine the relationship between the al-sahwa al-islamiyya (Islamic Awakening) movement and the Saudi state following the 2011 Arab uprisings. Typically referred to as the “Sahwa,” this organization is a hybrid of Wahhabi Islamic theology and the political ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood. This research argues that the Sahwa and Sahwa-like or Sahwa-linked groups and individuals serve as one of the greatest legitimate threats to the Saudi government’s monopoly over the domestic political and religious spheres.

Since the 2015 ascension of King Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Saudi state has displayed growing discontinuity with trends in its pursuit of national security. Over the past four years, the kingdom has shifted from being a source of comparative stability and continuity in the Persian Gulf security equation to a disposition that is disruptive to that system.

Envisioning a post-oil era leaves an ominous uncertainty hanging over the ruling elites in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), particularly in the oil-exporting countries. What is the proper strategy for a transition to a more reliable and sustainable economy? While the resource curse is widely regarded as having contributed to the underdevelopment of the region, recent studies demonstrate that oil wealth in and of itself provides a less compelling explanation for economic decline.