Saudi Arabia is redefining its religious identity by moving away from strict Wahhabi traditions

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: As the birthplace of Islam and home to its two holiest cities, Saudi Arabia has long been defined by a puritanical interpretation of the faith. However, under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom is undergoing a dramatic social and legal transformation, challenging decades of religious influence and established norms.

The modern Saudi state was forged in 1744 through a pact between the Al Saud dynasty and the preacher Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab. This alliance established a strict, puritanical form of Sunni Islam known as Wahhabism, which became the ideological foundation for the kingdom's expansion and governance. For centuries, this partnership granted the religious establishment, or ulema, significant control over education, social morals, and culture, while the monarchy retained authority over foreign policy and state security.

Following the 1979 seizure of the Grand Mosque in Mecca by extremists, the government responded by enforcing even more rigid social norms, including gender segregation and the empowerment of the religious police. This era saw the state export its interpretation of Islam globally, spending tens of billions of dollars on mosques and religious organizations. Yet, by the early 21st century, the rise of Islamist terrorism and internal pressure led to a shift in policy. Successive monarchs began curbing the ulema's power, transferring control of institutions like girls' education to the state.

Since becoming Crown Prince in 2017, Mohammed bin Salman has accelerated these changes, effectively dismantling the religious police's authority and lifting bans on cinemas, concerts, and women driving. In a significant departure from his predecessors, the Crown Prince has publicly criticized the rigid devotion to 18th-century Wahhabi doctrines, arguing that no individual is infallible. By asserting that the ruler is the ultimate head of the Islamic establishment, the leadership is actively reshaping the kingdom's social ethos, moving away from the traditional, ultra-conservative constraints that defined Saudi life for generations.

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