Executive Summary

Over the past two decades, tribal groups from Saudi Arabia and the broader Arabian Peninsula have staged a socio-political comeback, claiming greater influence in the public sphere. They are active in various fields of endeavor such as social media, the legal sector, literary circles, television, and local politics. Here, tribal voices re-emerged from the physical and intellectual periphery and called for a re-evaluation of the tribes’ role in Saudi society.

Tribal values, mostly related to the former nomadic Bedouins, have been held in high esteem and traditionally played a significant role in the Saudi process of national-identity building. However, they were sidelined for generations and eclipsed by other pillars of Saudi society, notably religious and liberal voices.

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