Unholy Kingdom : Religion, Corruption and Violence in Saudi Arabia

Author: Malise Ruthven

Middle East

Published on 24 February 2026 by Verso Books in the United Kingdom.

Paperback | 400 pages
128 x 198 x 27 | 308g

In recent years, the de facto head of the House of Saud, Mohammed bin Salman, has promoted the oil-rich kingdom as an open, liberalizing nation that has invested in culture, tourism, and social innovation to become a beacon for the region. Malise Ruthven, a leading commentator on Islamic affairs, reveals the historical currents beneath these changes: how the royal house co-opted Wahhabism to consolidate its power and enforce authoritarianism in collusion with Western businesses and governments.