So many of these articles, and none address the realities of Saudi/Gulf family power structures. For the king/MBS to remain in power they need to keep the powe

So many of these articles, and none address the realities of Saudi/Gulf family power structures. For the king/MBS to remain in power they need to keep the powerful families on side. That means giving them money, enough money that they don't get too jealous of the king's money and decide they should be king. But handing them money without directing how they spend it will lead to ruin. They will set themselves up as new powers, to the point that they will one day be buying weapons and influence to overthrow you. You have to keep them busy doing other things than plotting your doom. You give them jobs. Rich Saudi families own and run the construction firms building these silly projects. The up-and-coming sons of these families are called "investors" and "developers" of mega projects. They go to nice schools and spend their working lives consulting with architects and engineers. They hire famous westerners (Beckham) to promote their pet projects (soccer/golf tournaments). That is way way better than them consulting with militants, extremists and mercenaries. It is better than them running around the world building their own power bases. Call these projects wasteful and inefficient all you want. They are doing exactly what they are designed to do: keep the king from being overthrown. They are the Saudi version of Louise XIV's Versailles.