WI: Saudi Arabia doesn't exist

What if in 1744, Muhammad bin Saud was unable to form the agreement/alliance with Muhammad ibn Abd-al-Wahhab that led to the creation of the Emirate of Dirayah and 188 years later, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia?
 
What if in 1744, Muhammad bin Saud was unable to form the agreement/alliance with Muhammad ibn Abd-al-Wahhab that led to the creation of the Emirate of Dirayah and 188 years later, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia?


Where IOTL is Saudi Arabia a # of small
states would instead exist ITTL.
 
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um, 1900 forum.

That said, it's easy to monkeywrench Ibn Sauds rise to power. Have Ottoman Empire stay neutral, and they spend WWI crushing the Arab revolt that had started in 1913
Arabia stays a patchwork.
 

Archibald

Banned
Still there is all the crapload of oil in the underground. If Saudi Arabia stays a patchwork, I can see all these states infighting for their slice of the oil pie. It might be a powder keg.
 

PhilippeO

Banned
the oil is in Eastern Part; it would become 1) part / vassals of Iran 2 ) small eastern states like Qatar / Abu Dhabi. it not necessarily powder keg. small Emirates is too weak to stand up to Iran or British, so Trucial States outcome is likely.

as for Western Part Hejaz it could be interesting 1) it could be part of Hashemite Empire in Damascus 2) it could be conquered by Egypt 3) it could be small Hejaz states. There many thing that could happen to Hejaz, and its importance for Hajj would make the region attractive.
 
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