Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia, 1932 to today. Draft, not yet reviewed
Saudi Arabia was founded in 1932 by King Abdulaziz, who united Hejaz, Najd, parts of Eastern Arabia and South Arabia into a single state through a series of military and political campaigns beginning in 1902. Since petroleum was discovered in the country in 1938, the kingdom has become the world's second-largest oil producer and leading oil exporter, controlling the world's second-largest oil reserves and sixth-largest gas reserves. The Saudi government has attracted criticism for various policies such as its intervention in the Yemeni Civil War, restrictions on political and civil liberties, and poor human rights record. Since the mid-2010s, Saudi Arabia has instituted limited and gradual reforms to liberalize social, cultural, and religious life.
Seat of power: Riyadh
Rulers
Ibn Saud
King of Saudi Arabia, 1932–1953
Ibn Saud reconquered Riyadh in 1902, starting three decades of conquests that made him the ruler of nearly all of central and north Arabia. As King, he presided over the discovery of petroleum in Saudi Arabia in 1938 and the beginning of large-scale oil production after World War II.
Portrait of Ibn Saud: Saudi Press Agency, Public domain, file
Saud of Saudi Arabia
King of Saudi Arabia, 1953–1964
Upon his father's death in 1953, Saud ascended the throne and reorganized the government. He founded the convention that the king of Saudi Arabia presides over the Council of Ministers. Saud's inability to counter the Saudi national debt brought him into a power struggle with his half-brother and crown prince, Faisal, culminating in the forced abdication of Saud and the proclamation of Faisal as king.
Portrait of Saud of Saudi Arabia: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
King Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
King of Saudi Arabia, 1964–1975
Faisal implemented a policy of modernization and reform. Protesting against support that Israel received from the West, he led the oil embargo which caused the 1973 oil crisis. Following his assassination by his nephew Faisal bin Musaid in 1975, he was succeeded by his half-brother Khalid.
Portrait of King Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud: Louis Fabian Bachrach Jr., Public domain, file
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Khalid of Saudi Arabia
King of Saudi Arabia, 1975–1982
His reign saw both huge developments in the country due to an increase in oil revenues and also significant events in the Middle East. In 1979, a group of civilians seized the Grand Mosque of Mecca and sought but failed to kidnap Khalid. Saudi forces regained control over the mosque, but the seizure resulted in the introduction of stricter religious policies in Saudi Arabia.
Portrait of Khalid of Saudi Arabia: Unknown author, Public domain, file
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Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
King of Saudi Arabia, 1982–2005
He is credited for having introduced the Basic Law of Saudi Arabia in 1992. He suffered a debilitating stroke in 1995, after which he was unable to continue performing his full official duties. With a reign of 23 years, Fahd remains the longest-reigning Saudi king.
Portrait of Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud: Unknown Author, Public domain, file
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Abdullah of Saudi Arabia
King of Saudi Arabia, 2005–2016
During his reign, Abdullah maintained close relations with the United States and the United Kingdom and bought billions of dollars' worth of defense equipment from both states. Abdullah maintained the status quo when there were waves of protest in the kingdom during the Arab Spring. Upon his death in 2015 at age 90, he was succeeded by his half-brother Salman.
Portrait of Abdullah of Saudi Arabia: Cherie A. Thurlby, Public domain, file
Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
King of Saudi Arabia, 2015 to today
Salman's major initiatives as king include the Saudi intervention in the Yemeni Civil War, Saudi Vision 2030, and a 2017 decree allowing Saudi women to drive. Mohammed replaced his father as prime minister in 2022, making Salman the first king since Saud in 1964 not to serve as head of government.
Portrait of Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud: Ron Przysucha / U.S. Department of State, Public domain, file
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Culture
- The country has been governed as an absolute monarchy under the House of Saud.
- In its Basic Law, Saudi Arabia defines itself as a sovereign Arab Islamic state with Islam as its official religion and Arabic as its official language.
- Saudi Arabians are among the world's youngest people, with approximately half being under 25 years old.
Picture
Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia.
Image: B.alotaby, CC BY-SA 4.0, file
Sources
Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.