From war to prosperity: how is Saudi Arabia redrawing the Middle East?

Curiosity immediately arises about Saudi Arabia's role in its regional environment, accompanied by questions that reflect narratives fueled by regimes hostile to the Kingdom, determined to monopolize the narrative and persuade public opinion that Saudi Arabia is the root cause of the conflicts in the Middle East. Nothing could be further from the truth.

With its political, diplomatic, and economic presence, the Kingdom has become a decisive player in regional equations and a key piece on the geopolitical chessboard that defines the future of the region.

The aspirations of the Saudis, widely shared in society, are not limited to internal security. They seek to chart a new course for the entire Middle East. They do not want stability limited to their borders or neighboring countries, but rather a regional order that transcends the logic of conflict and embraces cooperation. 

Hence, the stated Saudi priority is to elevate the value of “peace,” stifling the hotbeds of violence that have devastated the area for decades: from Yemen to Sudan, including the Palestinian question and Syria.

Furthermore, Riyadh has not limited itself to trying to extinguish wars, but has chosen to position itself as a mediator and facilitator of dialogue, convinced that no project for the future can be built on the ruins of the past.

This vision has been evident in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, where Saudi Arabia has reaffirmed its central role by defending the two-state solution as the only viable option and rejecting any attempt at the forced displacement of Palestinians. Its message is clear: there is no peace without justice, nor prosperity without peace.

The Kingdom has taken a decisive step in the field of international alliances, forging strategic links with Europe, Asia, and Latin America. One example has been Saudi Arabia's promotion of the Gulf Cooperation Council as a platform for signing agreements that connect the Gulf with the Mediterranean, the Red Sea, and the Indian Ocean.

The objective is clear: to open up energy, technology, and logistics corridors that diversify the economy beyond oil and share benefits with its surroundings. The Syrian case is the most tangible example of Saudi Arabia's commitment to international cooperation. 

After more than a decade of war, Riyadh has led initiatives to reintegrate Damascus into the regional context, not as a symbolic gesture but as a reconstruction strategy. It has organized international forums and conferences and promoted investments aimed at reviving devastated infrastructure and generating employment. 

The aim is twofold: to stabilize a crucial country in the region and to demonstrate that economic development can be a powerful tool for reconciliation.

The Saudis do not view Syria as an isolated case, but as a model that can be replicated on a regional scale.

Riyadh's vision encompasses multiple fronts.

In Iraq, it is working to strengthen energy and security ties.

In Lebanon, it is giving top priority to supporting institutions in the face of a political vacuum.

In Yemen, it is reinforcing the truce and opening the door to humanitarian reconstruction. In all these scenarios, the Saudi message remains constant: to replace the logic of war with that of shared projects that attract investment, restore dignity to populations, and ensure peace in a region ravaged by decades of violence. 

This perspective connects directly with what Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced years ago: “The Middle East will be the new Europe.” A statement that symbolizes the ambition to transform the region into a space for creativity, culture, tourism, and coexistence. 

Megaprojects such as “Neom” are not conceived as isolated islands of modernity, but as beacons of a renewed regional model that demonstrates the Middle East's capacity to become a global hub that enriches humanity.

In conclusion, what I usually recommend to my Spanish and Spanish-speaking friends is to visit Saudi Arabia and listen directly to its leaders, political centers, and research centers. 

Listening to only one side is tantamount to reinforcing a biased narrative that can unjustly condemn an entire country and its people. The reality is that the Saudis are not seeking to exercise classic hegemony over the region, but rather to offer it the opportunity to build its own dreams, projects, and investments.

And Riyadh emphasizes that any advanced Middle East requires essential elements: ending wars, promoting international cooperation, reviving destroyed economies, and sustaining a political horizon based on a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

The Saudi project is not built on destruction or guardianship, but on the construction of a Middle East that stops exporting crises and starts exporting prosperity to the region and the world.

Dr. Hasan Alnajrani. Journalist and academic