A Golden Retirement: How Did Saudi Arabia Transform Into a Haven for British Diplomats?

Under the governance and dominion of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, it seems that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has transformed into a destination reminiscent of a "retirement haven" for British diplomats in their twilight years. This metaphorical notion portrays a place where senior elephants retreat to meet their demise in solitude.

This metaphor extends to encompass social establishments and gatherings, serving as a refuge for the elderly who seek solace after a lifetime of arduous labor. They congregate there, biding their time as they anticipate the inevitable arrival of their final days.

However, these individuals do not resign themselves to a passive wait for the end. Rather, they embark on fresh endeavors, undertaking defined tasks and forging political and commercial connections under the auspices of the Saudi government.

So why did Riyadh seek to employ these individuals? What is the mutual benefit between the two parties? And who are some of the prominent retired British diplomats currently working in the kingdom?

 

Simon Collis

On June 28, 2023, Intelligence Online published a report that touched on several British companies operating in Saudi Arabia.

The report mentioned that these companies rely on a particular type of individual who acts as a go-between, connecting them with the government and Saudi princes.

That individual was Simon Collis, the former British ambassador to Riyadh for a period of five years (2015 to 2020).

Following in the footsteps of his predecessors, the former ambassador took on various commercial, diplomatic positions within the kingdom after his retirement.

The French magazine stated that Collis was the one who cleared all obstacles for the British public affairs company Sovereign Strategy and assisted its CEO, Alan Donnelly, in arranging a private meeting with Saudi Health Minister Fahad al-Jalajel to facilitate the company's operations in the kingdom.

Collis is also a close advisor to the British governance consulting firm FMAP (FMA Partners), founded by Baron Francis Maude, the former British Minister of Trade and Investment and former Secretary of State for the Conservative Party.

Due to Collis's activities within the ruling circles in Riyadh, the Saudi Ministry of Finance was included in the company's client list.

However, Intelligence Online pointed out that despite Collis's new professional career in the private sector in Saudi Arabia, he has not been subject to scrutiny by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA), which examines the activities of former British employees after retirement.

The activity displayed by the former British ambassador was multifaceted, given his involvement in many sensitive areas within the kingdom. He also had strong connections with senior princes and ministers.

For instance, Collis worked with the Australian–British company Dragoman in defense diplomacy, led by former Australian Senator and Defense Minister Robert Hill.

In 2020, Collis successfully developed a partnership between Dragoman and the Saudi Geological Survey under the economic development strategy of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Due to the strong relationship between Simon Collis and Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih, the company secured additional contracts in Riyadh.

It became involved in projects such as NEOM and also worked for the Saudi Public Investment Fund.

Collis is a member of the board of the Turquoise Mountain Trust, an organization that promotes cultural heritage and craftsmanship and operates in Saudi Arabia.

Collis is among the prominent and significant British diplomats who have permanently resided in the kingdom since the end of his term in 2020. He embraced Islam and now resides in Riyadh with his wife, Huda.

 

William Paty

Among the British diplomats working in Riyadh, William Paty preceded Collis in the position of British ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

Paty, who served from 2006 to 2010, worked as a special advisor to several Saudi institutions and companies.

He also had a connection to Prince Sultan bin Saud's network through Turquoise Mountain, which defines itself on its official website as working to revive traditional crafts, rehabilitate communities rich in cultural heritage, support job creation, and develop new skills.

Paty is also the Chairman of the Saudi British Society, led by Khaled bin Bandar and patronized by Prince Charles.

Through his consultancy firm WCP, Paty serves as an advisor to Saudi groups such as Control Risks Group and The Ambassador Partnership, a diplomatic business company. He is also a board member of HSBC Bank in the Middle East.

Paty has a strong partnership with Khaled, the son of Wafic Said, a Saudi–British businessman of Syrian origin, who managed Saudi defense procurements in the UK in the 1980s, and their communication network remains active in both countries.

The significance of the partnership between Paty and Said lies in the latter's position on the board of Dayim Holdings, a company that brought many British security and defense companies, including Securitas, QinetiQ, and Punj Lloyd, to Riyadh.

Dayim was founded by the current Saudi ambassador to London, Khaled bin Bandar, the grandson of the late Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, former Minister of Defense and Crown Prince.

Therefore, Paty benefited from the influence and reach of this company in defense contracts between London and Riyadh.

 

Sherard Cowper-Coles

Sherard Cowper-Coles follows in the footsteps of his predecessor, Patrick Paty, as the British ambassador in Riyadh (2006-2010), joining the ranks of British diplomats who have reaped the benefits of their roles in Saudi Arabia.

On September 8, 2015, King Salman bin Abdulaziz bestowed upon him the prestigious Order of King Abdulaziz, First Class, an honor not extended to his fellow diplomats.

While Cowper-Coles now serves as an advisor to HSBC Bank, with a growing focus on consultancy in Asia, his involvement in Saudi affairs remains active. He assumes the role of British Chairman for the Saudi British Joint Business Council (SBJBC UK) alongside esteemed Saudi businessman Emad Dakhil, with whom he shares partnerships across various sectors.

The question that arises regarding Cowper-Coles' career in Saudi Arabia is the rationale behind his receipt of the Order of King Abdulaziz, First Class, from King Salman.

A possible answer lies in Cowper-Coles' pivotal role in 2006 when, as ambassador, he vehemently opposed the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) investigation into corruption allegations related to the renowned al-Yamamah arms deal, which implicated high-ranking British and Saudi politicians.

To fully comprehend Cowper-Coles' involvement in this crisis, the al-Yamamah deal entailed a series of unparalleled arms purchases by the Saudi government from the United Kingdom.

Payment for these arms was made through crude oil, with a daily diversion of 600,000 barrels to the British government.

The deal gained infamy due to the exorbitant bribes and commissions involved, with the primary contracting party being British company BAE Systems, which maintains a subsidiary in Saudi Arabia.

Spanning from 1985 to 2006, the agreement resulted in a reported profit of £43 billion for the British company over the course of two decades, making it the largest export contract in British history and providing employment for no fewer than 5,000 individuals.

In 2006, the Serious Fraud Office initiated an investigation into the deal, accusing BAE Systems and certain Saudi officials of financial irregularities and misleading statements regarding sales.

Amid mounting Saudi pressures to halt the investigation, the kingdom sought the mediation of then-British ambassador Sherard Cowper-Coles.

Consequently, the investigations were brought to a standstill in order to preserve the crucial bilateral relations between the two nations.

Interestingly, after retiring from diplomatic service, Cowper-Coles assumed an advisory position for BAE Systems, the very company implicated in the al-Yamamah deal. His involvement in private endeavors pertaining to Saudi Arabia endures to this day.

 

Phillips and Jenkins

On the other hand, Tom Phillips, the British ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 2010 to 2012, maintained a lower profile and did not take on an official role in any bilateral entity.

However, he did not leave empty-handed as he joined the advisory board of the corporate intelligence company GPW, which is currently a subsidiary of J.S. Held. The latter has extensive ties with Saudi intelligence.

He also joined the board of Africa Matters, a company recently acquired by J.S. Held.

Phillips also provides advice on Saudi Arabia and decision-makers within it to the UK government's multidisciplinary Stabilization Unit, which manages the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund.

Among all the British diplomats who served as ambassadors in Saudi Arabia over the past twenty years, John Jenkins, who served in Riyadh from 2012 to 2015, opted for relative tranquility in academic circles rather than the business world.

Although he engages in some public activities, he heads the Middle East office in Bahrain for the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).

Jenkins also regularly lectures at universities in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Taif.