A New Saudi Arabia Is in a Hurry in Era of Cheap Oil

  • Deputy crown prince, 30-something, pushing big changes
  • State-run oil producer confirms it's considering share sale

Saudi Aramco Controls a Tenth of World Oil Production

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Saudi Arabia, one of the most tradition-bound societies on the planet, where family structure and tribal patriarchy differ little from a century ago, is suddenly in a hurry. It has done more in the past week than in most years.

Over eight days, it has executed dozens of militants, severed ties with Iran and announced numerous steps for a radical rollback of the state that may include privatizing oil giant Saudi Aramco, among the world’s largest companies.