All the world leaders are visiting Saudi Arabia recently. No wonder Pakistan is not that important but still! Is there any other reason(s) besides it being an oil rich country?
1. Very ancient civilization with politcio-cultural links spread all over the region dating back to Roman empire.
2. Vast size , wealth, mineral reserve, oil, etc which account to international political weight.
3. The weight of any regional power is defined by its relation with super powers and in this regards KSA has a well defined policy to be in good books of USA and Europe - despite differences and disputes at time. And even total collapse of political trust, Saudi Arabia has been able to maneuver diplomatically.
4. Saudi Arabia has played a major mediating role in various conflicts in and out of Middle East often using their financial and economic power as a leverage which in turn entitles them to favors form foreign powers who are directly impacted by instability in Middle East.
5. An inefficient but stable bureaucracy - there aren't serious enough political disputes going on with in the Royal family to impact the international functioning of the country..
6. A tendency to stay out of polarizing regional situation. Saudi Arabia considers itself the regional power in Middle East and tend to put its own weight before anything else. This is in contrast to Iraq, Syria and Libya who tried to exert their weight in the region by becoming client states of Soviet Union / Russia.
