Saudi Arabia isn't a nation is the traditional sense. It's a bunch of very western kleptocrats paying some ultra hard core religious extremists to keep the population from noticing the largest theft in world history.
Once you understand that model, the whole system makes a lot more sense. That's why irreligious leaders pretend to be religious. That's why western educated, allies of the US etc, export terrorism (it's a cost of doing business). That's why there are such insane punishments for everything including questioning the monarchy. That's why they don't actually give a shit about Islam or Muslims (see also the genocides in the Balkans or the "war on terror"). That's why Saudi finds itself the natural ally of Israel against Iran.
Once you understand that model, the whole system makes a lot more sense. That's why irreligious leaders pretend to be religious. That's why western educated, allies of the US etc, export terrorism (it's a cost of doing business). That's why there are such insane punishments for everything including questioning the monarchy. That's why they don't actually give a shit about Islam or Muslims (see also the genocides in the Balkans or the "war on terror"). That's why Saudi finds itself the natural ally of Israel against Iran.