Lords of Mecca: Glimpses of Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Vision

This essay examines the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 development program from an energy and minerals perspective and focuses on the role of the Red Sea. Outlining the history of Saudi five-year development plans since 1970, the author argues that recognizing the nation’s vision of its place within the context of the Red Sea — in historical, strategic, and economic terms — is crucial to understanding its modernization program.