Pan-Arab nationalism suffered a temporary setback after the death of King Faisal in 1933. However, soon King Ibn Sa’ud emerged as a leading leader and began to strive for closer co-operation among Arabs.

In 1934 he waged a successful war with Yemen and soon thereafter signed the Treaty of Islamic Brotherhood and Alliance with the Islam. In 1936 he concluded a treaty with Iraq by which the two countries agreed on comprehensive collective security arrange­ments and more closer co-operation in various fields.

This treaty with Iraq was greatly lauded by the Arab world and was described as providing ‘the foundation for the union of the Arab nations’.