That will be difficult. If the Saudi policy direction is oriented towards military intervention and political success in Riyadh is predicated on military and security achievement, then there is little incentive for accommodating voices of peace. If anything, the current political environment lends itself more towards short-term alliances of convenience and policies designed to block the ambitions of rivals.

Ahmed Obaid Al-Mansoori served as the president of the Dubai Consultancy, Research and Media Center (B’huth), founder of the Crossroads of Civilizations Museum, and is currently head of The Strategists Advisory Group. He has previously held a number of positions advising public and private sector clients in the Gulf.

Image: Flickr/The White House