The Ottomans exerted control over the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, known as the Hejaz, through appointed Sharifs. The Unification of a Kingdom The man who answered the question of colonization through action was Abdulaziz Ibn Saud.
Ottoman Control and the British Shadow in the Hejaz
The area that would become Saudi Arabia existed within the sphere of the Ottoman Empire for centuries. The Hashemite Sharifs and British Promises During World War I, the British sought to weaken the Ottomans by supporting Arab revolts.
They promised independence to leaders of the Hashemite family, who ruled the Hejaz, in exchange for fighting against their Ottoman overlords. These agreements placed British protection over local rulers in exchange for defense and foreign policy guidance.
Ottoman Control and the British Shadow in the Hejaz
The relationship between Saudi Arabia and colonialism is complex, often leading to the question: was Saudi Arabia ever colonized? The short answer is no, the region that constitutes the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was never formally colonized by a European power in the way India, Africa, or Indonesia were. The British Empire, seeking to protect its route to India and counter French influence, established protectorates over the coastal regions of what is now Kuwait, Bahrain, and the Trucial States (modern-day UAE).
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