THE IMPACT OF THE OIL AND GAS FACTOR ON PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION IN SAUDI ARABIA

This article conducts a comprehensive analysis of the impact of the oil and gas factor on the political system and public administration mechanisms of Saudi Arabia. Utilizing the rentier state theory established by Hosseyn Mahdavi, Hazem Beblawi, and Giacomo Luciani as a theoretical framework, the study explores how energy rent functions as a primary instrument for maintaining political stability and internal legitimacy. The research emphasizes that the Saudi political model operates through a unique social contract where the ruling dynasty redistributes resource revenues in the form of extensive social services and subsidies in exchange for restricted political participation. Furthermore, the article incorporates institutional and elite approaches to demonstrate that while Saudi Arabia aligns with the classical allocation state model, its governance is also shaped by monarchical legitimacy and inter-elite balance mechanisms. The study highlights the Kingdom’s strategic role as a swing producer in global energy markets and argues that fluctuations in oil prices necessitate both a centralized decision-making process and active energy diplomacy. Ultimately, the research concludes that energy resources serve as the fundamental structural and legitimizing determinant of the Saudi political system while simultaneously increasing its sensitivity to global economic shifts, thereby compelling the state toward systemic diversification