No fundamental threat to the rule of the Al Saud family is expected over the outlook period. Although the king, Abdullah bin Abdel-Aziz al-Saud, is relatively reform-minded, his primary concern will be to maintain the rule and unity of the royal family, as well as accommodating the concerns of clerics, which will constrain the extent of change. Some dissatisfaction with the rule of the Al Saud family will persist, centring on perceived corruption, the country's relations with the US and youth unemployment. Within the region, Saudi Arabia's increasing wealth will continue to bolster its position as a diplomatic heavyweight. Economic growth will remain robust in 2008-09, driven by strong government spending and foreign investment and an expected pick-up in oil output. Continued high oil prices will also generate large current-account and fiscal surpluses. Inflation will remain low by regional standards, mitigating pressure for a revaluation of the Saudi riyal's peg to the US dollar.