House of Saud

Royal family of Saudi Arabia

"Saud" redirects here. For other uses, see Saud (disambiguation).

House of Saud

آل سعود

Royal house

Royal Standard of the King

Parent family| Al-Muqrin of house of Al-Muraydi of the Diriyah (1446; 579 years ago (1446)) of Banu Hanifa of Banu Bakr bin Wa'il
Country| Saudi Arabia (current)
Historical:

* Emirate of Diriyah
* Emirate of Nejd
* Emirate of Riyadh
* Emirate of Nejd and Hasa
* Sultanate of Nejd
* Kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd

Founded| 1720; 305 years ago (1720)
Founder| Saud I (died 1725)
Current head| Salman
Titles|

*     * King of Saudi Arabia
* Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques
* The Great King (1932–1986)
* King of Hejaz and Nejd (1926–1932)
* Sultan of Nejd (1921–1926)
* Emir of Nejd and Hasa (1913–1921)
* Emir of Riyadh (1902–1913)
* Emir and Imam of Nejd (1824–1891)
* Emir and Imam of Diriyah (1744–1818)
* Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia
* Prince or Sheikh
with surname
Al Saud for men
* Princess or Sheikha with the surname
Al Saud for women

Traditions| Sunni Islam[1]

The House of Saud (Arabic: آل سُعُود, romanized: ʾĀl Suʿūd IPA: [ʔaːl sʊʕuːd]) is the ruling royal family of Saudi Arabia. It is composed of the descendants of Muhammad bin Saud, founder of the Emirate of Diriyah, known as the First Saudi State, (1727–1818), and his brothers, though the ruling faction of the family is primarily led by the descendants of Ibn Saud, the modern founder of Saudi Arabia.[2] It forms a subtribe of the larger prominent ancient Banu Hanifa tribe of Arabia,[3] from which well known 7th century Arabian theologist Maslama ibn Ḥabīb originates.[4] The most influential position of the royal family is the King of Saudi Arabia, an absolute monarch. The family in total is estimated to comprise 15,000 members; however, the majority of power, influence and wealth is possessed by a group of about 2,000 of them.[5][6] Some estimates of the royal family's wealth measure their net worth at $1.4 trillion.[7] This figure includes the market capitalization of Saudi Aramco, the state oil and gas company, and its vast assets in fossil fuel reserves, making them the wealthiest family in the world and the wealthiest in recorded history.

The House of Saud has had four phases: the Sheikhdom of Diriyah (1446–1744); the Emirate of Diriyah (1727–1818), marked by the expansion of Salafism; the Emirate of Nejd (1824–1891), marked with continuous infighting; and the current state (1902–present), which evolved into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932 and now wields considerable influence in the Middle East. The family has had conflicts with the Ottoman Empire, the Sharif of Mecca, the Al Rashid family of Ha'il and their vassal houses in Najd along with numerous Islamist groups both inside and outside Saudi Arabia and Shia minority in Saudi Arabia.

The succession to the Saudi Arabian throne was designed to pass from one son of the first king, Ibn Saud, to another. The monarchy was hereditary by agnatic seniority until 2006, when a royal decree provided that future Saudi kings are to be elected by a committee of Saudi princes.[8] King Salman, who reigns currently, first replaced the next crown prince, his brother Muqrin, with his nephew Muhammad bin Nayef. In 2017, Muhammad bin Nayef was replaced by Mohammed bin Salman, King Salman's son, as the crown prince after an approval by the Allegiance Council with 31 out of 34 votes. The king-appointed cabinet includes more members of the royal family.

## Title

[edit]

Genealogical table of the leaders of the Āl Saud

House of Saud is a translation of ʾĀl Saud, an Arabic dynastic name formed by adding the word ʾĀl (meaning "family of" or "House of", not to be confused with Al meaning "the")[9] to the personal name of an ancestor. In the case of the Al Saud, the ancestor is Saud bin Muhammad bin Muqrin, the father of the dynasty's 18th century founder Muhammad bin Saud (Muhammad, son of Saud).[10]

The surname "Al Saud" is carried by any descendant of Muhammad bin Saud or his three brothers Farhan, Thunayyan, and Mishari. Al Saud's other family branches like Saud Al Kabir, the Al Jiluwi, the Al Thunayan, the Al Mishari and the Al Farhan are called cadet branches. Members of the cadet branches hold high and influential positions in government though they are not in the line of succession to the Saudi throne. Many cadet members intermarry within the Al Saud to re-establish their lineage and continue to wield influence in the government.[11][12]

All male members of the royal family have the title of Emir (Prince). However, the sons and patrilineal grandsons of Kings are referred to by the style "His Royal Highness" (HRH), differing from patrilineal great-grandsons and members of cadet branches who are called "His Highness" (HH), while the reigning king uses the additional title of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.[11][12]

## History

[edit]

### Origins and early history

[edit]

The earliest recorded ancestor of the Al Saud was Mani' ibn Rabiah Al-Muraydi, who settled in Diriyah in 1446–1447 with his clan, the Mrudah.[13] The Mrudah are believed to be descended from the Banu Hanifa branch of the larger Rabi'ah tribal confederation[13][clarification needed]. The Banu Hanifa played an important role in shaping the Middle East and Arabia from the 6th century.

Mani' was invited to Diriyah by a relative named Ibn Dir, who was the ruler of a group of villages and estates that make up modern-day Riyadh.[14][15][16] Mani's clan had been on a sojourn in east Arabia, near Al-Qatif, from an unknown point in time. Ibn Dir handed Mani two estates, called al-Mulaybeed and Ghusayba. Mani and his family settled and renamed the region Al Diriyah after their benefactor Ibn Dir.[17][18]

The Mrudah became rulers of Al Diriyah, which prospered along the banks of Wadi Hanifa and became an important Najdi settlement. As the clan grew larger, power struggles ensued, with one branch leaving for nearby Dhruma, while another branch (the "Al Watban") left for the town of az-Zubayr in southern Iraq. The Al Muqrin became the ruling family among the Mrudah in Diriyah.

The name of the clan comes from Sheikh Saud ibn Muhammad ibn Muqrin, who died in 1725.[citation needed]

### Emirate of Diriyah

[edit]

Main article: Emirate of Diriyah

The maximum limits reached by the first Saudi state during the reign of Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in the years 1810-1814, including vassalized territories

The First Saudi State was founded in 1727. This period was marked by conquest of neighboring areas and by religious zeal. At its height, the First Saudi State included most of the territory of modern-day Saudi Arabia, and raids by Al Saud's allies and followers reached into Yemen, Oman, Syria, and Iraq. Islamic scholars, particularly Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab and his descendants, are believed to have played a significant role in Saudi rule during this period. The Saudis and their allies referred to themselves during this period as the Muwahhidun or Ahl al-Tawhid ("the monotheists"). Later they were referred to as the Wahhabis, a particularly strict, puritanical Islamic sect, named for its founder.

Leadership of Al Saud during the time of their first state passed from father to son without incident. The first imam, Muhammad bin Saud, was succeeded by his eldest son, Abdulaziz in 1765. In 1802, Abdulaziz's forces led 10,000 Wahhabi soldiers in an attack on the Shi'ite holy city of Karbala, in what is now southern Iraq and where Hussein ibn Ali, the grandson of Muhammad is buried.[19] The Wahhabi soldiers killed more than 2,000 people, including women and children.[19] They plundered the city, demolishing the massive golden dome above Hussein's tomb and loaded hundreds of camels with weapons, jewelry, coins and other valuable goods.[19]

The attack on Karbala convinced the Ottomans and the Egyptians that the Saudis were a threat to regional peace.[20] Abdulaziz was killed in 1803 by an assassin, believed by some to have been a Shi'ite seeking revenge over the sacking of Karbala the year before. Abdul-Aziz was in turn succeeded by his son, Saud, under whose rule the Saudi state reached its greatest extent. By the time Saud died in 1814, his son and successor Abdullah bin Saud had to contend with an Ottoman-Egyptian invasion in the Wahhabi war seeking to retake lost Ottoman Empire territory. The mainly Egyptian force succeeded in defeating Abdullah's forces, taking over the then-Saudi capital of Diriyyah in 1818. Abdullah was taken prisoner and was soon beheaded by the Ottomans in Constantinople, putting an end to the First Saudi State. The Egyptians sent many members of the Al Saud clan and other members of the local nobility as prisoners to Egypt and Constantinople, and razed the Saudi capital of Diriyyah.

### Emirate of Nejd

[edit]

Main article: Emirate of Nejd

Flag of the First and Second Saudi State

A few years after the fall of Diriyah in 1818, the Saudis were able to re-establish their authority in Najd, establishing the Emirate of Nejd, commonly known as the Second Saudi State, with its capital in Riyadh.

Compared to the First Saudi State, the second Saudi period was marked by less territorial expansion (it never reconquered the Hijaz or 'Asir, for example) and less religious zeal, although the Saudi leaders continued to go by the title of imam and still employed Salafi religious scholars. The second state was also marked by severe internal conflicts within the Saudi family, eventually leading to the dynasty's downfall. In all but one instance, succession occurred by assassination or civil war, the exception being the passage of authority from Faisal ibn Turki to his son Abdullah ibn Faisal ibn Turki.

### Present form

[edit]

Main articles: Unification of Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia

Politics of Saudi Arabia

Member State of the Arab League

* * *

Basic Law

Monarchy

* King and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques

Salman
* Crown Prince

Mohammed bin Salman

* Deputy crown prince

Vacant

* Allegiance Council
* Succession

Government

* Prime Minister

Mohammed bin Salman
* Council of Ministers
* Consultative Assembly

President: Abdullah ibn Muhammad Al ash-Sheikh

* National Security Council

Legal system

* The Quran
* The Hadith
* Judiciary
* Capital punishment
* Freedom of religion
* Human rights
* Women's rights
* LGBT rights
* Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice

Recent elections

*     * Municipal: 2005
* 2011
* 2015

Administrative divisions

* Regions
* Governorates

Foreign relations

* Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Minister of Foreign Affairs: Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs: Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs: Adel al-Jubeir

* * *

* Diplomatic missions of / in Saudi Arabia

* * *

* Nationality law
* Passport
* Visa requirements
* Visa policy

Saudi Arabia portal

* Other countries

* v
* t
* e

King Abdulaziz and US President Franklin D. Roosevelt in February 1945 U.S. President Barack Obama offers condolences on death of Saudi King Abdullah, Riyadh, 27 January 2015. Prince Turki bin Mohammed Al Saud with Britain's King Charles III at Buckingham Palace in London

After his defeat at Mulayda, Abdul Rahman bin Faisal went with his family into exile in the deserts of eastern Arabia among the Al Murra bedouin. Soon afterward, however, he found refuge in Kuwait as a guest of the Kuwaiti emir, Mubarak Al Sabah. In 1902, Abdul Rahman's son, Abdulaziz, took on the task of restoring Saudi rule in Riyadh. Supported by a few dozen followers and accompanied by some of his brothers and relatives, Abdulaziz was able to capture Riyadh's Masmak fort and kill the governor appointed there by Muhammad bin Abdullah Al Rashid. Abdulaziz, reported to have been barely 20 at the time, was immediately proclaimed ruler in Riyadh. As the new leader of the House of Saud, Abdulaziz became commonly known from that time onward as "Ibn Saud" in Western sources, though he is still called "Abdulaziz" in the Arab world.

Ibn Saud spent the next three decades trying to re-establish his family's rule over central Arabia, starting with his native Najd. His chief rivals were the Al Rashid clan in Ha'il, the Sharifs of Mecca in the Hijaz, and the Ottoman Turks in al Hasa. Abdulaziz also had to contend with the descendants of his late uncle Saud ibn Faisal (later known as the "Saud Al Kabir" branch of the family), pretenders to the throne. Though for a time acknowledging the sovereignty of the Ottoman Sultans and even taking the title of pasha, Ibn Saud allied himself to the British, in opposition to the Ottoman-backed Al Rashidis. From 1915 to 1927, Abdulaziz's dominions were a protectorate of the British Empire, pursuant to the 1915 Treaty of Darin.

Ibn Saud won final victory over the Al Rashidis in 1921, making him the ruler of most of central Arabia. He consolidated his dominions as the Sultanate of Nejd. He then turned his attention to the Hijaz, finally conquering it in 1926, just months before the British protectorate ended. For the next five and a half years, he administered the two parts of his dual realm, the Kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd, as separate units.

By 1932, Ibn Saud had disposed of all his main rivals and consolidated his rule over much of the Arabian Peninsula. He united his dominions into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that year. His father, Abdul Rahman, retained the honorary title of "imam". In 1937, near Dammam, American surveyors discovered what later proved to be Saudi Arabia's vast oil reserves. Before the discovery of oil, many family members were destitute.[21]

Ibn Saud sired dozens of children by his many wives. He had at most four wives at a time, divorcing many times. He made sure to marry into many of the noble clans and tribes within his territory, including the chiefs of the Bani Khalid, Ajman, and Shammar tribes, as well as the Al ash-Sheikh (descendants of Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab). He also arranged for his sons and relatives to enter into similar marriages. He appointed his eldest surviving son, Saud as heir apparent, to be succeeded by the next eldest son, Faisal. The Al Saudi family became known as the "royal family", and each member, male and female, was accorded the title amir ("prince") or amira ("princess"), respectively.

Ibn Saud died in 1953, after having cemented an alliance with the United States in 1945. He is still celebrated officially as the "Founder", and only his direct descendants may take on the title of "his or her Royal Highness". The date of his recapture of Riyadh in 1902 was chosen to mark Saudi Arabia's centennial in 1999 (according to the Islamic lunar calendar).

Upon Ibn Saud's death, his son Saud assumed the throne without incident, but his lavish spending led to a power struggle with his brother, Crown Prince Faisal. In 1964, the royal family forced Saud to abdicate in favor of Faisal, aided by an edict from the country's grand mufti. During this period, some of Ibn Saud's younger sons, led by Talal ibn Abdul Aziz, defected to Egypt, calling themselves the "Free Princes" and calling for liberalization and reform, but were later induced to return by Faisal. They were fully pardoned but were also barred from any future positions in government.

Faisal was assassinated in 1975 by a nephew, Faisal bin Musaid, who was promptly executed. Another brother, Khalid, assumed the throne. The next prince in line had actually been Prince Muhammad, but he had relinquished his claim to the throne in favor of Khalid, his only full brother.

Khalid died of a heart attack in 1982, and was succeeded by Fahd, the eldest of the powerful "Sudairi Seven", so-called because they were all sons of Ibn Saud by his wife Hassa Al Sudairi. Fahd did away with the previous royal title of "his Majesty" and replaced it with the honorific "Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques", in reference to the two Islamic holy sites in Mecca and Medina, in 1986.

A stroke in 1995 left Fahd largely incapacitated. His half-brother, Crown Prince Abdullah, gradually took over most of the king's responsibilities until Fahd's death in August 2005. Abdullah was proclaimed king on the day of Fahd's death and promptly appointed his younger brother, Sultan bin Abdulaziz, the minister of defense and Fahd's "Second Deputy Prime Minister", as the new heir apparent. On 27 March 2009, Abdullah appointed Prince Nayef Interior Minister as his "second deputy prime minister" and Crown Prince on 27 October.[22] Sultan died in October 2011 while Nayef died in Geneva, Switzerland on 15 June 2012. On 23 January 2015, Abdullah died after a prolonged illness, and his half-brother, Crown Prince Salman, was declared the new king.

Many princes and government officials were arrested in 2017 in an alleged anti corruption campaign by the king and crown prince. Then-United States President Donald Trump expressed support for the arrests.[23]

## Political power

[edit]

Crown Prince and Defence Minister "MbS" with U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter, Pentagon, 13 May 2015 US President Donald Trump with the First Lady of the United States Melania Trump, King Salman, and Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi at the 2017 Riyadh summit

The head of the House of Saud is the King of Saudi Arabia who serves as Head of State and monarch of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The king holds almost absolute political power. The king appoints ministers to his cabinet who supervise their respective ministries in his name. The key ministries of Defence, the Interior and Foreign Affairs are usually held by members of the Saud family, as are all of the thirteen regional governorships.[24] Most portfolios, however, such as Finance, Labour, Information, Planning, Petroleum Affairs and Industry, have traditionally been given to commoners, often with junior Al Saud members serving as their deputies. House of Saud family members also hold many of the kingdom's critical military and governmental departmental posts. Ultimate power in the kingdom has always rested upon the Al Saudis, though support from the Ulema, the merchant community, and the population at large has been key to the maintenance of the royal family's political status quo.[25]

Long-term political and government appointments have resulted in the creation of "power fiefdoms" for senior princes,[26] such as those of King Faisal, who was foreign minister almost continuously from 1932 to 1975; King Abdullah, who had been commander of the National Guard since 1963 (until 2010, when he appointed his son to replace him);[27] former Crown Prince Sultan, minister of defence and aviation from 1962 until his death in 2011; former Crown Prince Nayef who was the minister of interior from 1975 to his death in 2012; Prince Saud who had been minister of foreign affairs since 1975;[28] and King Salman, who was minister of defense and aviation before he was crown prince and governor of the Riyadh Province from 1962 to 2011.[29] The current minister of defense is Prince Mohammad bin Salman, the son of King Salman and crown prince.[30]

Such terms of service have enabled senior princes to mingle their personal wealth with that of their respective domains.[citation needed] They have often appointed their own sons to senior positions within their own portfolios. Examples of these include Prince Mutaib bin Abdullah as assistant commander in the National Guard until 2010; Prince Khalid bin Sultan as assistant minister of defence until 2013; and Prince Mansour bin Mutaib as assistant minister for municipal and rural affairs until he replaced his father in 2009. In cases where portfolios have notably substantial budgets, appointments of younger, often full, brothers have been necessary, as deputies or vice ministers, ostensibly to share the wealth and the burdens of responsibility, of each fiefdom. Examples of these include Prince Abdul Rahman who was vice minister of defence and aviation under Prince Sultan; Prince Badr, deputy to King Abdullah in the National Guard; Prince Sattam, who was deputy governor of Riyadh during King Salman's term; and Prince Ahmed, who held the deputy minister's portfolio under Prince Nayef's interior ministry.

Unlike Western royal families, the Saudi monarchy has not had a clearly defined order of succession. Historically, upon becoming king, the monarch has designated an heir apparent to the throne who serves as crown prince of the kingdom. Upon the king's death, the crown prince becomes king, and during the king's incapacitation the crown prince, likewise, assumes power as regent. Although other members of the Al Saudis hold political positions in the Saudi government, it is only the king and crown prince who legally constitute the political institutions.[citation needed]

The royal family is politically divided by factions based on clan loyalties, personal ambitions and ideological differences.[31] The most powerful clan faction is known as the 'Sudairi Seven', comprising the late King Fahd and his full brothers and their descendants.[32] Ideological divisions include issues over the speed and direction of reform,[33] and whether the role of the ulema should be increased or reduced. There were divisions within the family over who should succeed to the throne after the accession or earlier death of Prince Sultan.[32][34] When Prince Sultan died before ascending to the throne on 21 October 2011, King Abdullah appointed Prince Nayef as crown prince.[35] The following year, Prince Nayef also died before ascending to the throne.[36]

## Succession

[edit]

Main article: Succession to the Saudi Arabian throne

U.S. President Jimmy Carter meets with King Khalid and Crown Prince Fahd in January 1978.

Succession has been from brother to brother since the death of the founder of modern Saudi Arabia. Abdulaziz was succeeded by his son Saud who was succeeded by his half-brother Faisal. Faisal was succeeded by his brother Khalid who, in turn, was succeeded by his half-brother Fahd. Fahd was succeeded by his half-brother Abdullah, and Abdullah by his half-brother Salman, the current King. Salman appointed his half-brother Muqrin as Crown Prince in January 2015 and removed him in April 2015. Even Abdulaziz's youngest son was to turn 70 in 2015. Abdulaziz, in 1920, had said that the further succession would be from brother to brother, not from father to son.[citation needed]

Crown Prince Muhammad bin Nayef, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and Melania Trump, Riyadh, 20 May 2017

King Salman ended the brother-to-brother succession and appointed his 56-year-old nephew Muhammad bin Nayef as crown prince in April 2015, thus making the next succession from uncle to nephew. At the same time, King Salman appointed his son, Mohammad bin Salman, as deputy crown prince, thus making the next succession from cousin to cousin, as Muhammad bin Salman is the cousin of Crown Prince Muhammad bin Nayef. However, in June 2017, Salman elevated Mohammad bin Salman to crown prince, following his decision to strip Muhammad bin Nayef of all positions, making his son heir apparent to the throne, and making the next succession from father to son, for the first time since 1953, when Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud succeeded his father, the founder of Saudi Arabia, Ibn Saud.[37][38]

Amid international outcry over the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, members of the Saudi royal family were allegedly distressed over the prospect of the crown prince becoming the next king. It was reported that dozens of princes and members of the Al Saud family were interested in seeing Prince Ahmed become the next king instead. During his London tour, Prince Ahmed criticized the Saudi leadership. He was also one of the three members of the ruling family to oppose Mohammad bin Salman becoming the crown prince in 2017.[39]

## Wealth

[edit]

Luxury yacht Kingdom 5KR owned by Saudi royal family, docked in Antibes, French Riviera

In June 2015, Forbes listed businessman Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, a grandson of Abdulaziz, the first king of Saudi Arabia, as the 34th-richest man in the world, with an estimated net worth of US$22.6 billion.[40]

As of 2020, the combined net worth of the entire royal family has been estimated at around US$100 billion, which makes them the richest royal family among all monarchs, as well as one of the wealthiest families in the world. Some estimates of the Royal Family's wealth put the figure as high as $1.4 trillion, which includes holdings in Saudi Aramco.[41]

## Opposition and controversy

[edit]

See also: Human rights in Saudi Arabia and Censorship in Saudi Arabia

Demonstrators in Eastern Province during the 1979 Qatif Uprising Journalist Jamal Khashoggi, murdered at Saud embassy in Turkey because of his opposition to the government Loujain al-Hathloul, a Saudi citizen who was jailed after she drove a car in the country using her UAE license

Due to its authoritarian and quasi-theocratic rule, the House of Saud has attracted much criticism during its rule of Saudi Arabia. There have been numerous incidents, including the Wahhabi Ikhwan militia uprising during the reign of Ibn Saud. Osama Bin Laden, a critic of the US, was also a critic of Saudi Arabia and was denaturalized in the mid 1990s.[42]

On 20 November 1979, the Grand Mosque seizure saw the al-Masjid al-Haram in Mecca violently seized by a group of 500 heavily armed and provisioned Saudi dissidents led by Juhayman al-Otaybi and Abdullah al-Qahtani,[43] consisting mostly of members of the former Ikhwan militia of Otaibah[44] but also of other peninsular Arabs and a few Egyptians enrolled in Islamic studies at the Islamic University of Madinah. The Saudi royal family turned to the Ulema, who duly issued a fatwa permitting the storming of the holy sanctuary by Saudi forces, aided by French special ops units.[45] According to Lawrence Wright, the GIGN commandos did first convert to Islam prior to the raid.[46] Most of those responsible, including Al-Otaybi himself, were soon beheaded publicly in four cities of Saudi Arabia.[citation needed]

In January 2016, Saudi Arabia executed the prominent Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr, who had called for pro-democracy demonstrations, along with forty-seven other Saudi Shia citizens sentenced by the Specialized Criminal Court on terrorism charges.[47]

Since May 2017, in response to protests against the government,[disputed – discuss] the predominantly Shia town of Al-Awamiyah has been put under full siege by the Saudi military. Residents are not allowed to enter or leave, and the Saudi military indiscriminately shells the neighborhoods with airstrikes, mortar[48] fire along with snipers[49] shooting residents.[50] Dozens of Shia civilians were killed, including a three-year-old.[51] The Saudi government claims it is fighting terrorists in al-Awamiyah.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman kept his own mother away from his father for more than two years, fearing that she would stop the king from giving eventual power to him. Princess Fahda bint Falah Al Hithlain, third wife of King Salman, was said to be in America for medical treatment. However, according to American intelligence, this was refuted, stating that she was not in the country.[52]

Some Royals have been criticised for various human rights violations, including the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi, treatment of workers,[53] the Saudi-led intervention in Bahrain and the Yemen war.[54]

The Reuters news agency reported on 23 June 2020 that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had allegedly threatened and intimidated a former intelligence officer, Saad al-Jabri, along with his family of adult children, from returning to Saudi Arabia from exile in Canada. Al-Jabri was a long-time aide to the former crown prince, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, who was ousted in 2017. Al-Jabri allegedly has access to documents containing information sensitive and pivotal for the crown prince's leadership.[55]

A group of intellectuals from Saudi Arabia, exiled in the US, the UK, and elsewhere, launched a political party in opposition to the royal family ruling the kingdom. The launch of the party was announced in September 2020 and was launched on the 2nd death anniversary of Jamal Khashoggi. The National Assembly Party (NAAS – people in Arabic) was launched with the aim of gathering the support of people, both inside and outside Saudi Arabia, against the ruling royals King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Madawi al-Rasheed, a scholar, is also the co-founder of NAAS. Other members of the party include scholar Abdullah al-Aoudh, comedian and vlogger Omar Abdulaziz, and activist Yahya Assiri. The party's launch took place online from London as the Basic Law of Saudi Arabia prohibits the formation of political parties. Forming a political party is considered sedition, punishable with lengthy jail terms.[56]

Some members of the royal family have ill-treated their employees, even while visiting other countries. For example, Princess Buni Al Saud, a niece of King Fahd, pushed the staff down the stairs. Another princess attacked her worker with the help of a bodyguard.[57] A Saudi prince and his children abused their maids when they were in France.[58]

## Heads

[edit]

### Emirate of Diriyah

[edit]

Name| Lifespan| Reign start| Reign end| Notes| Family| Image

|
|
|
|
|
|

Saud I

* سعود الأول

| 1640

1725| 1720| 1725
(death by natural causes)| Was the eponymous ancestor of the House of Saud
Son of Emir Muhammad bin Muqrin| Muqrin|

### First Saudi state

[edit]

Name| Lifespan| Reign start| Reign end| Notes| Family| Image

|
|
|
|
|
|

Muhammad I

* محمد الأول

| 1687

1765| 1744| 1765
(death by natural causes)| Reign established by conquest
Son of Emir Saud I| Saud|
Abdul-Aziz I

* عبد العزيز الأول

| 1720

1803| 1765| 12 November 1803
(assassinated)| Son of Imam Muhammad I and Mody bint Sultan Al Kathiri| Saud|
Saud II

* سعود الثاني

| 1748

1814| 1803| April 1814
(death by natural causes)| Son of Imam Abdul-Aziz I and Al-Jawhara bint Othman Al Muammar| Saud|
Abdullah I

* عبد الله الأول

| 1785

1818| 1814| Died May 1819
(Execution by the Ottoman Empire)| Son of Imam Saud II
The last rulers of the first Saudi state| Saud|

### Second Saudi state

[edit]

Name| Lifespan| Reign start| Reign end| Notes| Family| Image

|
|
|
|
|
|

1 Turki

* تركي

| 1755

1834| 1824| 1834
(assassinated)| Founder of the second Saudi state
Son of Prince Abdullah bin Muhammad Al Saud| Saud|
2 Mishari

* مشاري

| 1786

1834| 1824 (40 day rule)| 1834
(executed)| Son of Prince Abdul Rahman bin Hassan bin Mishari Al Saud| Saud|
3 and 6 Faisal I

* فيصل الاول

| 1785

1865| 1834–1838 (first time)
1843–1865 (second time)| 1865
(death by natural causes)| Son of Imam Turki and Haya bint Hamad bin Ali Al-Anqari Al-Tamimi| Saud|
4 Khalid I

* خالد الاول

| 1811

1865| 1838| 1841
(dismissal)| Distant cousin Son of Imam Saud II| Saud|
5 Abdullah II

* عبد الله الثاني

| ?

July 1843| 1841| 1843
(dismissal)| Distant cousin Son of Prince Thunayan bin Ibrahim bin Thunayan bin Saud| Saud|
7 and 9 and 12 Abdullah III

* عبد الله الثالث

| 1831

2 December 1889| 1865–1871 (first time)
1871–1873 (second time)
1876–1889 (third time)| 1889
(death by natural causes)| Son of Imam Faisal I and Haya bint Hamad bin Ali Al-Anqari Al-Tamimi| Saud|
8 and 10 Saud III

* سعود الثالث

| 1833

1875| 1871 (first time)
1873–1875 (second time)| 1889
(death by natural causes)| Son of Imam Faisal I and Dashisha bint Didan bin Mandeel Al-Omari Al-Khalidi| Saud|
11 and 13 Abdul-Rahman

* عبد الرحمن

| 1850

1925| 1875–1876 (first time)
1889–1891 (second time)| 1891
(His rule is over)| Son of Imam Faisal I and Sarah bint Mashari bin Abdulrahman Al Saud
The last rulers of the second Saudi state| Saud|

### Third Saudi state

[edit]

Name| Lifespan| Reign start| Reign end| Notes| Family| Image

|
|
|
|
|
|

Abdul-Aziz II

* عبد العزيز الثاني

| (1875-01-15)15 January 1875 –
9 November 1953(1953-11-09) (aged 78)| 13 January 1902 (aged 27)| 9 November 1953
(death by natural causes)| Reign established by conquest
Son of Imam Abdul Rahman and Sara bint Ahmed Al Sudairi| Saud|
Saud IV

* سعود الرابع

| (1902-01-12)12 January 1902 –
23 February 1969(1969-02-23) (aged 67)| 9 November 1953 (aged 51)| 2 November 1964
(abdicated)| Son of King Abdulaziz and Wadha bint Muhammad Al Orair| Saud|
Faisal II

* فيصل الثاني

| (1906-04-14)14 April 1906 –
25 March 1975(1975-03-25) (aged 68)| 2 November 1964 (aged 58)| 25 March 1975
(assassinated)| Son of King Abdulaziz and Tarfa bint Abdullah Al Sheikh| Saud|
Khalid II

* خالد الثاني

| (1913-02-13)13 February 1913 –
13 June 1982(1982-06-13) (aged 69)| 25 March 1975 (aged 62)| 13 June 1982 (death by natural causes)| Son of King Abdulaziz and Al Jawhara bint Musaed bin Jiluwi Al Saud| Saud|
Fahd

* فهد

| 16 March 1921 – 1 August 2005 (aged 84)| 13 June 1982 (aged 61)| 1 August 2005 (death by natural causes)| Son of King Abdulaziz and Hussa bint Ahmed Al Sudairi| Saud|
Abdullah IV

* عبد الله الرابع

| (1924-08-01)1 August 1924 –
23 January 2015(2015-01-23) (aged 90)| 1 August 2005 (aged 81)| 23 January 2015 (death by natural causes)| Son of King Abdulaziz and Fahda bint Asi Al Shuraim| Saud|
Salman

* سلمان

|  (1935-12-31) 31 December 1935 (age 89)| 23 January 2015 (aged 79)| Incumbent| Son of King Abdulaziz and Hussa bint Ahmed Al Sudairi The last rulers of the third Saudi state| Saud|

## Most notable current members

[edit]

Main article: Descendants of Ibn Saud

This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2009) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

### Sons of King Abdulaziz

[edit]

The list of King Abdulaziz's surviving sons, except for current Saudi monarch Salman, are as follows:

1. Abdul llah bin Abdulaziz (born 1939) – Former governor of Al Jawf Province. He was special advisor to King Abdullah from 2008 to 2015.
2. Ahmed bin Abdulaziz (born 1942) – Deputy minister of interior from 1975 to 2012; minister of interior from June 2012 to 5 November 2012.
3. Mashhur bin Abdulaziz (born 1942)
4. Muqrin bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (born 1945) – Director general of the General Intelligence Directorate from 2005 to 2012; former governor of Ha'il and Madinah provinces. He was appointed second deputy prime minister on 1 February 2013 and he was made crown prince on 23 January 2015 when his half-brother Salman became king. On 28 April 2015 Muqrin was granted resignation based on his request to start the next generation of the royals.

## Genealogy

[edit]

* v
* t
* e

Family tree of Saudi monarchs[59]

| | | | | | | | | Saud bin Muhammad Al Muqrin
1640–1726|

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Thunayyan| | | | | | Muhammad
1687–1765
Emir of Diriyah
r. 1744–1765| | Farhan| | Mishari
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ibrahim| | Abdulaziz
1720–1803
Emir of Diriyah
r. 1765–1803| | | | | | | | | | Abdullah
1725–1812

| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Thunayyan| | Saud
1748–1814
Emir of Diriyah
r. 1803–1814| | | | | | | | | | Turki
1755–1834
Emir of Nejd
r. 1819–1820, r. 1823–1834
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Abdullah
d. 1843
Emir of Nejd
r. 1841–1843| | Abdullah
d. 1819
Emir of Diriyah
r. 1814–1818| | Mishari
1786–1834
Emir of Nejd
r. 1834| | Khalid
1811–1865
Emir of Nejd
r. 1838–1841| | Faisal
1785–1865
Emir of Nejd
r. 1834–1838, r. 1843–1865| | Juluwi
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Abdullah
1831–1889
Emir of Nejd
r. 1865–1871, r. 1871–1873, r. 1876–1889| | Saud
1833–1875
Emir of Nejd
r. 1871, r. 1873–1875| | Abdul Rahman
1850–1928
Emir of Nejd
r. 1875–1876, r. 1889–1891
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Abdulaziz (Ibn Saud)
1875–1953
Emir of Nejd
r. 1902–1932
King of Saudi Arabia
r. 1932–1953
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Saud
1902–1969
King of Saudi Arabia
r. 1953–1964| | Faisal
1906–1975
King of Saudi Arabia
r. 1964–1975| | Khalid
1913–1982
King of Saudi Arabia
r. 1975–1982| | Fahd
1920, 1921, or 1923–2005
King of Saudi Arabia
r. 1982–2005| | Abdullah
1924–2015
King of Saudi Arabia
r. 2005–2015| | Salman
b. 1935
King of Saudi Arabia
r. 2015–present
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Mohammed bin Salman
b. 1985
Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia

## Timeline

[edit]

## Royal Standard

[edit]

See also: Flag of Saudi Arabia

Royal Flag of the King

* The Royal Flag consists of a green flag, with an Arabic inscription and a sword featured in white, and with the national emblem embroidered in gold in the lower right canton.[60]

The script on the flag is written in the Thuluth script. It is the shahada or Islamic declaration of faith:

لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا الله مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ الله
lā ʾilāha ʾillā-allāh, muhammadun rasūlu-allāh
There is no other god but Allah, Muhammad is the messenger of God.[61]

* The Royal Standard consists of a green flag, in the center of the national emblem embroidered with gold.

## See also

[edit]

* Biography portal
* Royalty portal
* Saudi Arabia portal

* Al ash-Sheikh
* Bani Hareth
* Bani Yas
* Banu Thaqif
* Banu Yam
* Bedouin
* Death of a Princess
* King of Saudi Arabia
* Saudi Royal Guard Regiment

## References

[edit]

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3. ^ Al-Rasheed, Madawi (2021). The son king : reform and repression in Saudi Arabia. New York, NY. ISBN 978-0-19-755814-0. OCLC 1192311816.`{{cite book}}`: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
4. ^ Fattah, Hala Mundhir (2009). A brief history of Iraq. Frank Caso. New York: Facts On File. ISBN 978-0-8160-5767-2. OCLC 212023483.
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26. ^ Owen, Roger (2000). State, power and politics in the making of the modern Middle East. Routledge. p. 56\. ISBN 978-0-415-19674-1.
27. ^ "Saudi King Abdullah to go to US for medical treatment". BBC News. 21 November 2010.
28. ^ "Biographies of Ministers". Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Washington, DC. Archived from the original on 16 June 2011.
29. ^ "Prince Salman resumes duties at governorate". Arab News. 23 November 2010. Archived from the original on 24 November 2010.
30. ^ "Mohammed bin Nayef kingpin in new Saudi Arabia: country experts". Middle East Eye. 1 February 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
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32. ^ a b "When kings and princes grow old". The Economist. 15 July 2010.
33. ^ Kostiner, Joseph (2009). Conflict and cooperation in the Persian Gulf region. VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften. p. 236\. ISBN 978-3-531-16205-8.
34. ^ David, Steven R. (2008). Catastrophic consequences: civil wars and American interests. Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 33–34\. ISBN 978-0-8018-8989-9.
35. ^ MacFarquhar, Neil (22 October 2011). "Prince Sultan bin Abdel Aziz of Saudi Arabia Dies". The New York Times.
36. ^ "Obituary: Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud". BBC. 16 June 2012.
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38. ^ Sudarsan Raghavan; Kareem Fahim (21 June 2017). "Saudi king names son as new crown prince, upending the royal succession line". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 21 June 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
39. ^ "After Khashoggi murder, some Saudi royals turn against crown prince". CNBC. 19 November 2018. Archived from the original on 20 November 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
40. ^ "The World's Billionaires". Forbes. Archived from the original on 29 June 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
41. ^ "The 10 Richest Royal Families In The World Ranked By Their Net Worth 2022". thefamilynation.com. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
42. ^ "From Millionaire's Son To Most-Wanted". NPR.org. Archived from the original on 8 November 2017. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
43. ^ J.A. Kechichican (1990). "Islamic Revivalism and Change in Saudi Arabia: Juhayman al-'Utaybi's 'Letters to the Saudi People'". The Muslim World. 50: 1–16\. doi:10.1111/j.1478-1913.1990.tb03478.x.
44. ^ Joseph Kostiner (8 July 1997). "State, Islam and Opposition in Saudi Arabia: The Post Desert-Storm Phase". The Middle East Review of International Affairs. 1 (2). Archived from the original on 21 June 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2012.
45. ^ Yaroslav Trofimov (22 September 2007). "Did 'Siege of Mecca' Give Birth to Al-Qaida?" (Interview). Interviewed by Jacki Lyden. NPR (National Public Radio). Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
46. ^ Wright Lawrence (2006). The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 (1st ed.). Alfred A. Knopf (US). p. 110\. ISBN 978-0141029351. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
47. ^ "Saudi execution of Shia cleric sparks outrage in Middle East". The Guardian. 2 January 2016. Archived from the original on 8 January 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
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50. ^ "Saudi Shia-Muslim town under 'siege' for sixth day". 15 May 2017. Archived from the original on 7 September 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
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52. ^ "Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman 'has hidden away his own mother'". The Telegraph. 15 March 2018. Archived from the original on 15 March 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
53. ^ "Sister of Saudi crown prince faces Paris trial over attack on workman". France 24. 13 June 2019. Archived from the original on 21 June 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
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55. ^ "Saudi leadership pressures former intelligence official's family, seeks access to documents". Reuters. 23 June 2020. Archived from the original on 23 June 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
56. ^ "Saudi expats launch opposition party on anniversary of Jamal Khashoggi's death". The Guardian. 2 October 2020. Archived from the original on 2 October 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
57. ^ "Maid Accuses Saudi Princess of Abuse". ABC News. Archived from the original on 30 September 2020. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
58. ^ "French prosecutors investigate claims that Saudi prince held maids in 'slavery'". Rfi.fr. 6 July 2021. Archived from the original on 5 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
59. ^ James Wynbrandt (2010). A Brief History of Saudi Arabia (berilustrasi ed.). Infobase Publishing. p. 107\. ISBN 978-0-8160-7876-9. 9780816078769.
60. ^ "Royal Standard (Saudi Arabia)". crwflags.com. Archived from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
61. ^ "About Saudi Arabia: Facts and figures". The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Washington D.C. Archived from the original on 17 April 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2012.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Madawi Al-Rasheed, A History of Saudi Arabia, Cambridge University Press, 2002, ISBN 0521644127
* David Fromkin, A Peace to End All Peace, Holt, 1989, ISBN 978-0805088090.
* David Holden and Richard Johns, The House of Saud, Pan, 1982, ISBN 0-330-26834-1 (reprint of the Sidgwick and Jackson edition, 1981, ISBN 0283984368)
* Robert Lacey, Inside the Kingdom, Hutchinson, 2009, ISBN 978-0-09193-124-7
* Robert Lacey, The Kingdom, Hutchinson, 1981, ISBN 978-0-09145-790-7
* Craig Unger, House of Bush, House of Saud: The Secret Relationship Between the World's Two Most Powerful Dynasties, Scribner, 2004, ISBN 074325337X

## External links

[edit]

Wikiquote has quotations related to House of Saud.

* A Chronology: The House of Saud, Frontline, PBS (Public Broadcasting Service), 1 August 2005
* The House of Saud: A View of the Modern Saudi Dynasty, Frontline, PBS (Public Broadcasting Service), 1 August 2005

* v
* t
* e

Muslim dynasties in the Arabian Peninsula

* Umayyads (661–750)
* Abbasids (750–946)
* Ziyadids (819–1018)
* Yu'firids (847–997)
* Banu Ukhaidhir (865–1066)
* Rassids (893–1970)
* Qarmatians (900–1073)
* Fatimids (970–1171)
* Wajihids (926–965)
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* Nabhani (1154–1624)
* Mahdids (1159–1174)
* Rasulids (1229–1454)
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* Kathiri (1395–1967)
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* Tahirids (1454–1526)
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* Al Qasimi of Ras Al Khaimah (1727–present)
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* Mahra Sultanate (18th century–1967)
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* Rashidis (1836–1921)
* Al Afifi (19th century–1967)
* Harharah (19th century–1967)
* Al Sharqi (1876–present)
* Qu'aiti (1902–1967)
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* v
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Saudi Arabia articles

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*[v]: View this template
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*[r.]: reigned
*[d.]: died
*[b.]: born