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By Rob McGreevy
Last weekend, a parade of comedians arrived for a comedy festival: Dave Chappelle, Bill Burr, Louis C.K., Pete Davidson, Whitney Cummings. It was a who’s who of the industry. Yet they weren’t disembarking in Vegas or New York, but Riyadh – the capital of Saudi Arabia.
The irony of hosting a comedy festival in a country where speech is strictly limited wasn’t lost on many comedians. As Marc Maron said, “From the folks that brought you 9/11, Two weeks of laughter in the desert, don’t miss it.” Or Shane Gillis, who turned down what he described as “a significant bag” to perform: “I took a principled stand. You don’t 9/11 your friends.”
Yet criticisms aside, the festival would have been unthinkable just a decade ago. Today, it’s but the latest attempt by the ruling Saudis to get people to accept them, their country, and their government.
So who is in the House of Saud? What have they done and what do they believe? Why are they so focused on improving their image?
In today’s deep-dive, we look at how one family has shaped – and is shaping – the destiny of an entire nation.
Before we get to the gleaming towers of Riyadh, the oil refineries of Dammam, and the 9/11 link, we need to briefly go back to the year 1446, when the Saudi line begins.
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Editor’s Note
What do you all think about the comedians who performed in Saudi Arabia: Do you hold it against them or no? Let us know by replying to this email. We’d also like to hear from readers who have lived in the Kingdom: How have you seen it change?
And find our latest stories below if you haven’t read them yet:
That’s all for today.
—Max and Max
