Exactly what you said. I spent most of a military career, to include a stint as Army Attaché in the Embassy in Riyadh, in the Middle East. In my corporate career, I was directly involved in several programs with the RSLF and National Guard (the primary internal security force in Saudi Arabia).
With the exception of Israel, the Royal Saudi Air Force is far and away the best equipped air power in the region. Indeed, from an equipment perspective, with the exception of the Israel's new F-35, they are the best equipped. Their command and control structure is not as robust as Israel, but it is far more effective than any other regional power. Their strike force is made up primarily of British Tornados and they operate over one hundred modernized F-15 SA models specifically configured for RSAF requirements. It should be noted that unlike Israel, the RSAF operates the E3A AWACS and K-3 tankers which gives them regionally unique command and control and deep strike capability (a capability Israel currently actually lacks). By regional standards, they are very professional.
As noted, the RSLF are equipped with current generation M1 tanks, Bradley IFVs, and Paladin 155mm howitzers. They have manning and collective training issues, but the quality of their kit is superb. The National Guard brigades are equipped with LAV armored vehicles and are supported by M198 howitzers. They are a well trained, fully manned and a quiet effective force.
Discounting Yemen for a moment, Saudi Arabia faces two primary threats - internal insurrection centered among the Shia of the Eastern Province or missile and drone attack from Iran. Their two most effective services - the air force and guard are focused on those threats. Should a regional conflict develop with Iran, we can be sure that the US Air Force would be quickly hosted in the Kingdom providing robust land-based strike potential against Iran.
A couple of other observations.
I find the notion amusing that the Crown Prince is a "snake in the grass" as was opined somewhere in this discussion. What he has instead demonstrated is absolute pragmatism.
I suspect more each day, that HAMAS surprised Iran almost as much as they did the Israelis. The clear lack of true coordination between Iran's dependable proxies in Yemen, Lebanon, and Syria with HAMAS argues that this was a largely independent HAMAS action. Iran will endeavor to take advantage of the opportunity, but their bluster is far different from the pin prick actions they have instigated to date.
