ABSTRACT
In the early 1930s, King Abdulaziz Al Saud (Ibn Saud) invited American geologists to Saudi Arabia to survey the kingdom’s natural resources, with the immediate concern being water. The search, however, led to the discovery of oil in the eastern part of the country. This was the beginning not only of a long-term relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia, but also of intertwined politics of oil and water in the kingdom. Today, Saudi Arabia, along with the other Gulf countries-Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Yemen, Oman, Iraq, and Iran-are among the top ten oil and natural gas producers in the world, holding 50 percent and 40 percent of proven reserves of crude oil and natural gas, respectively (see Tables 14.1 and 14.2). Yet, with the exception of Iraq and Iran, all remaining Gulf countries are also among the ten most water-stressed countries, with the least available water per capita, according to the most recent estimates of Maplecroft, a British risk consulting firm.
