Saudi Arabia purchases new weapons from abroad, increases the size of its own armed forces, and awards financial subsidies to a number of foreign governments.

Total costs in 1990-91 run as high as $64 billion.

Increased Saudi oil production and substantially higher prices in the world oil market provide some compensation for the Saudi economy.

King Fahd, while promising future reforms, makes relatively few changes in the political structure of the country.

On January 16-17, 1991, the US-led coalition, after securing advance approval from Saudi Arabia, attacks Iraq by air with some 800,000 troops (more than 540,000 from the United States).

Saudis fly more than 7,000 sorties and are prominent in the battles around the Saudi town of Ra's Al-Khafji.

In the four-day ground war that begins on February 24, Saudi troops, including the National Guard, help defeat the Iraqis and drive them out of Kuwait.