How does religious legitimacy support the monarchy in Saudi Arabia?

In Saudi Arabia, the monarchy derives its political legitimacy through a foundational alliance with the Wahhabi religious establishment and its role as the custodian of Mecca and Medina, the two holiest cities in Islam.12

This legitimacy is supported by several key mechanisms:

• Historical Alliance: The Saud dynasty established its status through a partnership with the Wahhabi movement, which dates back to the 18th century. This relationship remains a pillar of the state's political and social control.134
• Religious Governance: The king is expected to uphold Islamic law, or Sharia, which serves as the primary source of legislation. In return, the crown appoints major religious functionaries, who are almost exclusively selected from the Wahhabi ulama (religious scholars), ensuring the religious establishment supports the state.142
• Symbolic Authority: By positioning itself as the guardian of Islam’s most sacred sites, the royal family reinforces its image as the protector of the faith. While the king is subject to the constraints of Islamic precepts, this religious framework provides the ideological basis for the monarchy's rule.2

Challenges to this legitimacy often arise from groups that criticize the royal family for perceived failures to adhere strictly to Islamic values.25