From an article about the status of Saudi Arabia in The Economist:

“There used to be growing income polarization, but lately everyone has gained,” says Abdul Aziz Qasim, a clever Riyadh lawyer who, like many former Islamist radicals, has mellowed towards liberalism. “This has helped keep things quiet and returned legitimacy to the monarchy.”

Mr. Bakheet [a “respected investment advisor”] concurs. “Marx was wrong,” he says. “Money, not religion, is the opiate of the masses.””