Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) continues to lavish money on hosting major entertainment, cultural, and sporting events, while the Saudi army struggles as a result of price inflation.
Military sources reported that a state of tension and anger spread among the Saudi army as a result of the inadequate and tardy payments, particularly for forces deployed abroad, such as in Yemen.
Armed forces personnel appeared in videos pleading with the king for money, claiming that while they were fighting, their families were being evicted for failing to pay their debts.
Salary levels in the Saudi army are significantly lower than those in the other Gulf state armies. The monthly pay for a Saudi soldier is up to $1,790, compared to $2,360 for a Kuwaiti soldier and $2,500 for a Qatari soldier.
Top secret sources earlier revealed that MBS ordered the Military Intelligence Service to tighten control over prominent security officials over lack of loyalty.
The sources pointed out that members of the security services declared defection, including Colonels Rabeh Al-Anzi, Tariq Al-Zahrani, and Muhannad Ali Al-Subani.
The dissidents said that their decision came in protest against MBS’s heavy spending of the kingdom’s wealth, the spread of corruption, and the arbitrary arrest of scholars and preachers.
Security sources said that MBS is keen to build a mental image that the state and all its institutions are cohesive and submit under his control, so any defection, no matter how simple it may seem, has a very great impact on Muhammad bin Salman.
Saudi intelligence service recently submitted a report to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), warning him of the growing tension among military leaders over his failed policies in the Yemen war, sources familiar with the matter revealed.
The report pointed out that senior military leaders are disappointed towards MBS’ failed administration after the heavy military losses suffered during the Yemen war, pushing some of them to submit early resignation.
The sources also stated that some military leaders received enormous sums of money and financial privileges in an effort to defuse the situation. The other military officials, however, are now more tense as a result of this.
The Saudi intelligence report also noted that there is growing unease among Saudi social media users regarding the country’s deteriorating economic and human rights conditions. Anger among the public was also reportedly expressed over the enormous sums spent on entertainment events, while poverty and unemployment rates rose in the Kingdom.
The intelligence report suggests stepping up the planning of international sporting and entertainment events in the Kingdom in an effort to quell the outrage of the populace. Additionally, the report suggests strict limitations on social media use.
Earlier, Richard Edelman, the CEO of the $1bn public relations firm Edelman, signed $9.6m in deals with the Saudi government over the past four years to sanitize the kingdom’s image.
The work, which was directed at American audiences and was projected to net Edelman more than $5.6m (£4.6m) in fees, included sending regular press releases that celebrated topics such as “mainstreaming women in business” and “doubling down efforts to empower women and youth”.
Edelman’s foreign agent filings suggest that by the time its work is completed, the firm will have earned more than $3m from the company developing Neom.
