WI: Kingdom of Hejaz remains independent

In OTL, the Kingdom of Hejaz was an independent state with a Hashemite royal family that existed for a couple years before it was conquered by the Saudis.
It was this conquest that created the modern state of Saudi Arabia and reduced the number of Hashemite kingdoms from three to two. How would the Kingdom of Hejaz continuing into the present effect the history of the region? Especially given it's oil wealth and holy cities.
 

raharris1973

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It would be like a Jordan, but with a more purely Muslim population (and possibly a Shia minority in the far south) and population that is less educated, at least in secular subjects. On the other hand, it will have pilgrimage revenue Jordan did not have. On yet another hand, it will not have particularly much oil revenue.

Also, only one out of the three Hashemite Kingdoms survived, the the dynasty in Iraqi succumbing to a coup. That might have happened in the Hijazi Kingdom, which would have been very susceptible to the Egyptian example. So, an Arab nationalist republic is a long-term possibility as well.

The Saudis of the Nejd and Persian Gulf Coast (or the Rashidis, if they win out in that area, which is less likely) would have oil revenue but not holy city prestige. Arabia's oil is mainly in the east.
 
The Saudis of the Nejd and Persian Gulf Coast (or the Rashidis, if they win out in that area, which is less likely) would have oil revenue but not holy city prestige. Arabia's oil is mainly in the east.

I guess the Hashmites would need to do the reverse of OTL and conquer the Saudis. It would be interesting if they got control of the oil, British companies would be favored over Americans and it could give the Empire a boost.
 
Also, only one out of the three Hashemite Kingdoms survived, the the dynasty in Iraqi succumbing to a coup. That might have happened in the Hijazi Kingdom, which would have been very susceptible to the Egyptian example. So, an Arab nationalist republic is a long-term possibility as well.

Yes I do know about the coup in Iraq. When I said that two out of three Hashemite kingdoms remained I meant at the time of the conquest of the Hejaz.
Aside from that I agree with everything you said. Thanks for answering.
 

raharris1973

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I guess the Hashmites would need to do the reverse of OTL and conquer the Saudis. It would be interesting if they got control of the oil, British companies would be favored over Americans and it could give the Empire a boost.

It well could be a boon to Britain, for as long as it lasts as a pro-British monarchy at least. But oil revenue didn't save the Iraqi Hashimites from being ousted.

Hashimite Arabia would probably have an Army and a more updated, British-schooled bureaucracy, which could be its downfall.

The extreme institutional primitivism [tribal govt, family govt, just add gobs of cash] might have helped prevent the downfall of the Saudis.
 
I guess the Hashmites would need to do the reverse of OTL and conquer the Saudis. It would be interesting if they got control of the oil, British companies would be favored over Americans and it could give the Empire a boost.
You could have the Saudis flee to Persia for maximum irony.
 
Especially given it's oil wealth and holy cities.
What oil? The Kingdom of Hejaz only stretched roughly a fifth or so of the way across the Arabian peninsula from the Red Sea, with all the major oilfields on the opposite side. Were you thinking of a situation where the Kingdom of Hejaz manages to maintain its independence with it sharing the peninsula with the Sultanate of Nejd ruling the rest of what we know as Saudi Arabia, or one where they resist the Saudi attacks and counter-invade taking over Nejd as you were a bit unclear.


On the other hand, it will have pilgrimage revenue Jordan did not have.
In the long term maybe but not in the immediate future. IIRC those only really took off once large passenger ships and aircraft came into service and people had the money to go, in the 1930s revenues dropped so much that the Saudis had to turn to the British government and ask for a loan.
 
What oil? The Kingdom of Hejaz only stretched roughly a fifth or so of the way across the Arabian peninsula from the Red Sea, with all the major oilfields on the opposite side. Were you thinking of a situation where the Kingdom of Hejaz manages to maintain its independence with it sharing the peninsula with the Sultanate of Nejd ruling the rest of what we know as Saudi Arabia, or one where they resist the Saudi attacks and counter-invade taking over Nejd as you were a bit unclear.
As for your first question take a look at raharris's response and my follow up. For your second question I don't think the Kingdom of Hejaz would still be called that if it expanded into the Najd.
 
It would be like Israel, Turkey, Tunisia or even UK in Society and System like Europe, a Very Secular Nation with a Purely Muslim Population, Women would Have Equal Rights, Abortion would be Legal in All Cases. It would be a lot more Prosperous due to Huge Touristic and Pilgrimage Boom. .
 
My favourite staple for shaking up the ME is to have the Al Saudi raid on Riyadh in 1900 fail spectacularily with Abdul-Aziz dead. With him killed and the Ottoman clients of Al-Rashid stronger in the peninsula, it might well be that the Al Saudi family remains in Kuwait in the long run. They could of course attempt a comeback in 1914 but with the Hashemites clearly the more useful option the India Office's interests wouldn't conflict with the Egypt Office and their comeback could fail with Al Rashid, leaving the Hashemites in power across all of what is now Saudi Arabia.
 
It would be like Israel, Turkey, Tunisia or even UK in Society and System like Europe, a Very Secular Nation with a Purely Muslim Population, Women would Have Equal Rights, Abortion would be Legal in All Cases. It would be a lot more Prosperous due to Huge Touristic and Pilgrimage Boom. .
Um, no.
 
Even the most liberal Muslim countries aren't that liberal with regards to abortion. I can't see it happening. At best you might get better rights for women and limited abortion in some cases.

For Example: Turkey and Tunisia are Liberal Muslim Countries and Abortion is Legal these Nations.
 
Even the most liberal Muslim countries aren't that liberal with regards to abortion. I can't see it happening. At best you might get better rights for women and limited abortion in some cases.
Where did you get that from?
Abortion is allowed in the majority of muslim countries.
 
Where did you get that from?
Abortion is allowed in the majority of muslim countries.

Yes and No, Abortion is Allowed in All Cases in Turkey, Tunisia, Azerbaijan, Albania, Kosovo, Bosnia, Bangladesh and All of Central Asia allows Abortion.

Abortion is Illegal in 95% of Arab World, Iran, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan.
 
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