New Deal in the Desert

The gay days of free-spending princes and corrupt politicians may be on the way out in Saudi Arabia. The oil-rich royal family, which has always loved its air-conditioned Cadillacs and lavish trips to Paris, got word last week of an austerity drive that will slash its private income by 20%--from $56 million to $45 million--with promises of more cuts to come. "The government's getting honest," said a surprised Saudi businessman. "We used to add 50% to all bids to cover the payoff. Now it's dropped to 10%--or maybe a little more, just to beat the other fellow."

The hero, or villain, of the antispending, anticorruption drive is tall, hawk-nosed Crown Prince Feisal, 57, who was hurriedly called home last October by his brother, King Saud, when revolution in neighboring Yemen threatened Saudi Arabia's feudal regime. "We are discouraging unnecessary luxury and wast," said Prince Feisal last week in his Red Palace in the capital city of Riyadh. "We have stopped playing with money. We are now devoting all our resources to vital and beneficial projects and, thanks to Allah, we have great resources: nearly 50 billion barrels in proven oil reserves and $400 million in yearly revenues."

In announcing his new budget last week, Feisal promised broad reforms to keep revolution away from King Saud's door. He intends to "make the state fully responsible for the support of the aged, the ill, orphans, and women without means. Soon, all the needy will have enough to save them from shame and enable them to live with dignity." Feisal also proposed new laws guaranteeing funds for the unemployed, free education, and the emancipation of women.

Though personally ascetic, Prince Feisal recognizes that one of the deadening aspects of life in Riyadh (pop. 250,000) is sheer boredom. The city boasts not a single place of entertainment; since Moslems generally do not drink, there are no bars or nightclubs. The only excitement occurs on Friday afternoons when crowds gather in the public squares to watch the flogging of convicted thieves. If the thief is a third-time offender, his right hand is amputated at the wrist.

To brighten things up, Feisal last week decreed a little innocent amusement for his people. Said his royal announcement: "We are going to build five cinemas in major cities within six months; we are setting up a television network; we are authorizing clubs of all kinds--cultural, educational, social and business."

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