In the Realm Of King Abdullah

Photographs by Olivia Arthur / Magnum for Newsweek
Is Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah suddenly on reform overdrive? Decades of stiff behavioral control have given way to some surprising changes—more free speech, the legalization of insurance, overtures to tourism, equalization of education for girls and boys. The developments are mundane but revolutionary in a country that is rich in both oil and contradictions, where wealthy Saudis routinely flout religious and moral strictures, but public dissidence can land bloggers and academics in prison. As Abdullah balances competing demands for his country’s future, NEWSWEEK takes a look at some snapshots of daily life in the closed kingdom.