- Alan learns from Yousef that there's really no development happening at KAEC, despite what Alan has been told.
- Moreover, Yousef doesn't believe that the city will ever really be developed. He doesn't think that women will want to come live in Saudi Arabia because of the restrictions.
- There are supposed to be more freedoms for women at KAEC, but Yousef doesn't believe those promises will be kept.
- It all boils down to economics: globally, too many huge Middle Eastern cities are going bankrupt. Without money, nothing can progress.
- This definitely drags Alan down. However, he puts his faith in King Abdullah and his money.
- Yousef questions the stability of this. What if the old king dies?
- Alan suffers here. He's seen the conceptual drawings for the new city and it looks magnificent. How could it not happen?
- When they arrive at KAEC, Yousef's point of view seems confirmed. There's just nothing happening.
- They see workers on the desolate road into the city futilely sweeping the desert sand off the sad road.