Metro301, I don't think what's being said recently on the forum is "hysterical talk"-it is better described as realistic.
The KSA government definitely has financial problems now and going forward. If the expat pilot group just "sits back" and says nothing, well furhter reductions will become a "self fulfilling prophecy". If, on an individual basis, no one makes their disapproval of the reductions in terms & conditions known in writing to both Flight Operations & HR Management, then they will both assume the reductions are acceptable, as "sure as eggs are egg" more reductions will then follow.
As for Iran and their recent aircraft orders.
Their new aircraft will need crewing, for sure, but have you seen what Iran currently pay their pilots? It's certainly less than half of what Saudia pays for the A320 & B777 so Iran has some way to go, in pay terms, before they present any sort of a problem to Saudia's pay.
The bigger market is a China and South East Asia and that's where upward movement in flight crew salaries will occur.
The higher salaries are presently in China, mainly driven by the expansion of the Chinese domestic carriers and have risen in the last two years from about USD 200,000 to nearly USD 280,000 for the best paid airlines amongst them.
The Chinese carriers have not really started to expand internationally yet. Remember, that China currently has four out of ten of the world's largest airlines. When they do start to expand, the pay will continue upwards, certainly the next 5yrs to 7yrs.
When the Chinese market puts upward pressure on pilot salaries the rest of the expat market will follow.
I would expect that both Qatar & Etihad will have to increase salaries to continue to attract flight crew over the next three years. This is because the bulk of both of their large aircraft orders are due to start from next year going forward for next three years-just at the same time as expansion in China and South East Asia will fuel a huge demand for expat flight crew.
As for the Saudia expat pilots. If you want to stop further reductions in expat terms and conditions, then the expats should "put pen to paper" and let their grievances be made known to Saudia management.