The first episode examines the new leader's dramatic commitment to end extremism and to return to moderate Islam. Travelling from eastern Europe to India, and across the bloody battlefields of Syria and Yemen, the programme traces the impact that huge amounts of Saudi cash and weapons have had around the world. In recent years, Saudi Arabia has worked closely on counter-terrorism with the west and revolutionary change is now promised inside the Kingdom. But growing regional conflict with Iran has now placed the country at the heart of the crisis in the Middle East. The programme asks whether this most powerful and secretive country can now be a force for stability or a force for chaos in the world.
This episode tells the inside story of how some of the most prominent and richest Saudi royals were caught up in the purge. The detentions opened the door on a highly secret world of kickbacks and bribes on a monumental scale, which have also embroiled many foreign governments and some of the world's leading companies.
This episode looks at how the family stays in power. The film features some of those who have worked for Saudi princes. They describe how the wealth allowed lives of privilege and pleasure out of the spotlight, but the growth of social media has meant Saudis are getting increasing insight into the behaviour of their rulers, including their transgressions. With this crucially important country facing a historic crossroads, the programme asks what the future holds for Saudi Arabia and the rest of the world.
