Saudi Arabia’s international image has never been as tarnished as it is today. Once considered a heavyweight in regional politics, the kingdom has been reduced to a mere subordinate, following American and Israeli dictates without resistance. Despite spending hundreds of billions on media campaigns, PR firms, and global events to polish his image, Mohammed bin Salman has failed to erase the truth. Day by day, the world sees through his carefully constructed façade, exposing a regime built on repression, deception, and empty promises of reform.
The latest blow to his manufactured image comes from the book The Unholy Kingdom by British author Malise Ruthven, which dissects the Saudi regime and lays bare the reality of bin Salman’s rule—an autocracy upheld by absolute repression and superficial reforms designed to deceive both domestic and international audiences. While Saudi prisons overflow with political prisoners, activists, and journalists—whose fates remain unknown except through the tireless work of human rights organizations—the crown prince continues to sell a false narrative of progress and modernization.
“The Unholy Kingdom”: Autocracy Disguised as Reform
In his book, Malise Ruthven dissects Mohammed bin Salman’s leadership, portraying him as a dictator who maintains his grip on power through fear and oppression. The so-called “reforms” he touts, such as allowing women to drive and reopening cinemas, are nothing more than performative gestures aimed at appeasing Western audiences while leaving the regime’s core structure of repression intact. Those who genuinely fought for these reforms—activists like Loujain al-Hathloul—were imprisoned, tortured, and denied their most basic human rights.
The book also revisits the gruesome murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018—one of the most shocking political crimes in modern history. Ruthven argues that despite international outrage, bin Salman faced no real consequences for the killing. Instead, he has continued leveraging Saudi wealth to buy silence from Western governments, all while the global public remains fully aware of the brutality and lawlessness of his rule.
Bin Salman’s Billions Failed to Hide the Truth
Mohammed bin Salman has spent billions attempting to sanitize his reputation, hiring top-tier Western PR firms, financing lavish events like Riyadh Season, and securing media deals to present himself as a modern leader. Yet, despite this relentless propaganda, his efforts have failed to convince the world. The international community continues to recognize Saudi Arabia for what it has become: a police state that silences dissent, imprisons activists, and operates with impunity.
While bin Salman boasts about futuristic projects like NEOM and The Line, thousands of political prisoners languish in dark cells—without charges, without fair trials, without access to their families, and without hope. Despite the regime’s best attempts at censorship, human rights organizations and legal institutions worldwide continue to expose these abuses, ensuring that the true nature of the Saudi government cannot be hidden behind grandiose marketing campaigns.
Saudi Arabia: A Money Machine Without Political Influence
On the global stage, Saudi Arabia has lost the political clout it once wielded. Previously, its economic power allowed it to shape regional and international discussions. Today, it has been reduced to nothing more than a financial reservoir for Western powers. Former U.S. President Donald Trump once said, “They wouldn’t last two weeks without our protection,” a statement that perfectly encapsulates Saudi Arabia’s humiliating dependence on the United States.
Now, Riyadh is once again offering billions to Trump’s administration—this time $600 billion in investments—mirroring the $450 billion it handed over in 2017. Instead of being regarded as a strategic powerhouse, Saudi Arabia is seen merely as an ATM for Western interests, spending extravagantly on lobbying firms, arms deals, and entertainment spectacles while its economy stagnates and its geopolitical standing erodes.
From Regional Powerhouse to a Submissive State
Under bin Salman’s leadership, Saudi Arabia has not only lost its international influence but has also been sidelined within its own region. Where it once led, it now follows. Countries like Qatar and Turkey have emerged as more decisive actors in shaping Middle Eastern affairs, while Riyadh awaits directives from Washington. Once a key player in discussions on Palestine, Iran, and regional conflicts, Saudi Arabia now finds itself a secondary voice, lacking both vision and agency.
The Truth Will Outlive Saudi Propaganda
Despite bin Salman’s colossal investment in controlling the narrative, there is one thing he cannot buy: reality. The world sees his regime for what it truly is—a dictatorship sustained by oppression, enforced disappearances, and unchecked brutality. The Unholy Kingdom is just the latest addition to a growing body of work that documents and exposes the realities of Saudi rule, peeling away the artificial veneer of progress that bin Salman desperately tries to maintain.
His megaprojects, extravagant festivals, and relentless propaganda efforts cannot erase his image as an autocrat steering Saudi Arabia toward an uncertain future. The voices of those suffering under his rule—echoing from prison cells and exile—will always be louder than any PR campaign. The fate of his regime will ultimately be dictated by a truth he cannot suppress: Saudi Arabia, under Mohammed bin Salman, has lost everything—its influence, its credibility, and its autonomy—becoming a mere appendage to greater powers, without direction, without leadership, and without a clear future.
