Philippe Pétriat’s forthcoming book Histoire de l’Arabie Saoudite, scheduled for release on October 7, 2026, through Flammarion’s Champs collection, examines the historical foundations of the modern Saudi state across more than three centuries of tribal dynamics, oasis disputes, and oil economics. According to the publisher’s overview, the 352-to-368-page paperback explores the kingdom’s trajectory from its origins in the sixteenth century through the formal proclamation of the state in 1932 up to contemporary economic diversification projects.
Tracing the Unification of the Saudi Realm
The historical narrative challenges the notion that Saudi Arabia is a straightforward product of petroleum rents or a historical inevitability, according to the Flammarion synopsis. Spanning the period from the first emirate to the modern era of futuristic urban planning under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030, the text documents how power was consolidated by and around the ruling family across territories long contested by rival tribes and oasis settlements.
According to publisher details, the work also aims to move past standard Western clichés and official monarchical narratives by examining the daily lives of Saudi citizens. The book forms part of a broader scholarly engagement with the Middle East by Pétriat, whose previous publications include works on regional peace efforts, the history of Middle Eastern oil, and trade in the Red Sea port of Jeddah between 1850 and 1950, as cataloged by bookseller Librest.
Publication and Bibliographic Details
Histoire de l’Arabie Saoudite carries the ISBN 978-2-08-044936-8 (EAN 9782080449368). Published in a standard pocket format measuring approximately 108 by 178 millimeters or as a 352-page softcover edition weighing about 400 grams according to retail listings, the volume is priced at 12.70 euros for release in October 2026 within the Champs history series.
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