Salafism has received scrutiny as the main ideological source for violent extremism propagated by jihadi groups. There is a significant corpus of literature discussing transnational jihadi networks, especially after the ‘9/11’ attacks in the United States. These discussions include the radicalisation of Salafi thoughts by jihadi theoreticians and ‘ulama. However, Salafism is not a monolith: it contains numerous streams. An understanding of all such streams is crucial to understanding the socio-political dynamics of Muslim societies that Salafism influences. Besides Salafi jihadis—those who sanction violence—there are two other broad trends of Salafism: quietist and activist. Quietist Salafis endorse an apolitical tradition. Activist Salafis advocate peaceful political change. Each stream is led by ‘ulama, seen as the preservers of Salafi traditions. The quietist and activist ‘ulama are vigorous agents affecting Muslim societies in the Arab world. Until now, the works of scholars on such clerics have been explored within the framework of country-specific studies, focusing on internal clerical dynamics in countries such as Egypt, Kuwait, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Yemen. Some studies explore the development of Salafi movements and the religious institutions that promote Salafi ascendancy in Muslim societies. However, there is very little literature assessing the origins, interactions and dynamics of the transnational networks of Salafi clerics in the region, and how quietist and activist ‘ulama work across borders to preserve and promote what they see as “authentic” Salafism. Similarly, the competition and cooperation between the two streams are often explored within the framework of domestic concerns and not transnational interactions. This paper analyses the transnational networks of Salafi Sunni Muslim ‘ulama, encompassing principally Egypt, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. It examines how these networks of conservative ‘ulama have been developed and sustained, while taking into consideration the contest between their alternative political persuasions: activists versus quietists. The paper evaluates the impacts of local and regional circumstances on the transnational networks of Salafi ‘ulama. It examines how these networks are fostered or destabilised by these interactions, resulting in contestations and negotiations over Salafi religious and political identities.