Since April 2016 a new generation of Saudi leaders led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has transformed the traditional state–society relationship, specifically with the launch of the National Transformation Programme 2020 and Saudi Vision 2030. In turn, this has resulted in the Kingdom’s predominantly youthful, and often well-educated, population re-examining the existing ‘social contract’ at a time of significant socio-economic change. This is because the economics of the social contract have come under increasing strain as a result oil price fluctuations, thereby impacting on Saudi Arabia’s economy, in particular on the related issues of employment, housing and healthcare. With many young male Saudis struggling to enter the domestic labour market and get on the property ladder, it is imperative to examine societal attitudes towards the changing role of economic structures and policies in shaping citizen–state relations – that is, to evaluate the ways in which the existing Saudi social contract is evolving in light of recent economic realities. Moreover, following the 2014 drop in oil price, the Saudi government started to impose fiscal restraint, presenting a significant challenge since its citizens are accustomed to government largesse.