He developed close ties to the royal family, winning the contracts to build some of Saudi Arabia's most prized mosques and palaces.

FORBES: The family business

Under President George W. Bush, the U.S. pledged to provide "training and support to build a civil nuclear program" in Saudi Arabia.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Whereas in the Gulf war America and its allies were able to use modern Saudi ports and airfields for their six-month build-up, the ports, airports and even roads of Albania and Macedonia, the likeliest staging-grounds for such a force, are poor to non-existent.

ECONOMIST: A widening conflict | The

Some people believe that if there is a war against Iraq, it may involve a relatively small force initially - there will not be the long build-up of Operation Desert Storm hosted by Saudi Arabia, which shows every sign of wanting to see out this crisis on the sidelines.

BBC: Analysis: Air attack on Iraq

Some of Shell's brightest longer-term gas prospects are in Saudi Arabia, where Shell has done business since the 1940s and helped build chemical plants.

FORBES: Companies, People, Ideas

Some of Shell's brightest longer-term gas prospects are in Saudi Arabia, where it has done business since the 1940s and helped build chemical plants.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Earlier, aides to Mrs Clinton - who is on a tour of the Gulf to try to build support for more sanctions on Iran - revealed she would press Saudi Arabia to help persuade China to support a tougher stand against Iran's nuclear ambitions.

BBC: Saudi FM al-Faisal doubts Iran sanctions plans

To continue to build widespread support for the plan, Mr Bush is expected to meet leaders from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Qatar and Bahrain, and probably some European statesmen too, at the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheik.

ECONOMIST: Serious about peace