Saudi Arabia has long been a place of wealth and secrecy, but domestic bombings and connections to September 11th have exposed the role of extremists in the kingdom.

Home of Islam and source of a quarter of the world's oil reserves, Saudi Arabia has always had strategic importance. Under the rule of the al-Saud princes Saudi Arabia has been a paradigm of stability, but no more. Their rule is challenged from within and without. How far can the royal family go in reforming its absolute rule?


Senior reporter Michael Goldfarb tells the story behind the documentary.