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@al-Hasani, I see you're active and I don't know how to PM on this forum, so I'll say this here: for the love of God stop getting banned.

According to The Economist, Pakistan is at 5.4% growth for 2014. Considering the political and security situation, that's actually excellent. Imagine the potential.

Off-topic, but @Arabian Legend @Bubblegum Crisis do you guys know what the breakdown of Saudi Arabia's military spending is like? How much goes where?

Saudi's airforce is very impressive and probably the best in the Middle East, or at least equal to Israel's. So is there anything else planned for it in the medium term? I know there's an option for another 40 Typhoons, but any other procurements or major projects in the works?

Saudi policy towards the military is right: buy influence with cash handouts and have supplies in Saudi hands. That will wean the country off Hezbollah's influence and undermine the group's military primacy in the country. The alternative is fragmentation of the military along sectarian lines...

Back to topic. How does the F-15SA compare relative to the F-15I or F-15SG? Would this purchase/upgrade prevent Saudi from looking at the F-35 later in the decade?

Personally, I'm not into mainstream music. But have an interest in Arabic poetry and don't mind the sound of some traditional oud, Fairuz's 'andalusiyyat' or hearing some patriotic songs, mainly out of political interest.

Never heard Yemeni music before. That first video in your final post (Bilqees) is really cool, mixes between traditional Arab music with some modern touches.

Anyone who is just must acknowledge a few things about Saudi Arabia. Firstly, they are expending enormous resources into their economic capabilities and potential. Saudi Arabia, at this rate, will have the 14th largest economy on the planet on purchasing power parity. They're diversifying...

Interesting that the criticism in this thread hasn't been of the very notion of the Caliphate re-emerging, but rather the form it has taken at the hands of ISIS and al-Baghdadi. Maybe pan-Islamism isn't dead after all.

Just me, or has there been a fair bit of re-shuffling in security posts in the last six months or so?

Those are some beautiful beaches. A lot of potential for 'Islamic Tourism', which is a growing market.

I don't think GCC/Peninsula-Levant relations can thrive until the Iranian-dominated order is overturned. Three years ago, the Levant was in Iran's grip. Today it's in contest and, despite the hubris, Iran's project is slowly falling apart. When the new order emerges, the Gulf States and Turkey...

From a distance, can't help but think that Saudi's ability to project power is in part contingent on greater integration, be it within the GCC or through a pan-Arab or pan-Islamic alliance which it can lead through its economic or historical clout. That might be realised through a GCC union, a...

You mean in terms of personnel and strategic doctrine? Could you give an example of another country in which this was the case?

As documented by organisations such as SIPRI and IISS, Saudi Arabia is now the world's fourth largest military spender, behind only the US, China and Russia. $60 billion dwarfs the spends of other regional countries, including Turkey, Iran, Egypt and Israel and exceeds those of traditional...

Algeria has a gorgeous coast.

They are winning comfortably and their natural progress is towards Damascus. But the Damascus-centric coverage of the conflict has facilitated the narrative of Assad winning based on his progress in Qalamoun Mountains, which by recent developments is not as comprehensive or clean as portrayed.

Saudi Arabia's growth is the quickest of any major economy with the exception of China, India and Indonesia.

For the love of God stop getting banned. Your posts are very beneficial for keeping tabs on the GCC.