King of Saudi Arabia

The king of Saudi Arabia, officially the King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Arabic: ملك المملكة العربية السعودية), is the head of state and head of government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia who holds absolute power. He is the head of the Saudi Arabian royal family, the House of Saud.^[1] The king is the commander-in-chief of the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces and the head of the Saudi national honors system. The king is called the "Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques" (خادم الحرمين الشريفين), a title that signifies Saudi Arabia's jurisdiction over the mosques of Masjid al-Haram in Mecca and Al-Masjid an-Nabawi in Medina. The title has been used many times through the history of Islam. The first Saudi king to use the title was Faisal; however, King Khalid did not use the title after him. In 1986, King Fahd replaced "His Majesty" with the title of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and it has been since used by both King Abdullah and King Salman.^[2] The king has been named the most powerful and influential Muslim and Arab leader in the world according to the Muslim 500.^[3]

King of Saudi Arabia
ملك المملكة العربية السعودية
Royal Standard of Saudi Arabia
Incumbent
Salman since 23 January 2015
Details
Style	The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques
Heir presumptive	Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud
First monarch	Saud I
Formation	1720
Residence	Al-Yamamah Palace (Riyadh) Al-Safa Palace (Mecca) Al-Salam Palace (Jeddah) Tayibah Palace (Medina) Al-Aziziya Palace (Dammam)
Website	https://houseofsaud.com/

History

King Abdulaziz Al Saud, known in the West as Ibn Saud, regained his patrimony, which is known as today's Saudi Arabia in 1902. Restoring his family as emirs of Emirate of Riyadh, he then established the Sultanate of Nejd as his headquarters in 1922. Following the establishment of Riyadh as the capital of his state, Ibn Saud then captured Hejaz in 1925.^[4]

Ibn Saud proclaimed his dominions as the Sultanate of Nejd in 1921, shortly before completing the unification of the region. He was proclaimed king (malik) of Hejaz in 1926, and raised Nejd to a kingdom as well in 1927. For the next five years, Ibn Saud administered the two parts of his realm, the Kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd as separate units. On 23 September 1932, he formally united his territories into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.^[5][6]

Succession

Further information: Succession to the Saudi Arabian throne

The kings since Ibn Saud's death have all been his sons, and all likely immediate successors to the reigning King Salman will be from among his progeny.^[7] This makes the Saudi monarchy quite distinct from Western monarchies, which usually feature large, clearly defined royal families and orders of succession, and use the primogeniture system of succession. Muhammad bin Nayef was the first grandson of Ibn Saud to be in the line of succession before being deposed from the position of Crown Prince by a royal decree in 2017.^[8]

Other functions

The king of Saudi Arabia is also considered the head of the House of Saud and, until 2021, the prime minister. The crown prince was also the "deputy prime minister" until 2021 and is currently prime minister. The kings after Faisal have named a "second deputy prime minister" as the subsequent heir after the crown prince.

Opposition

Criticism of the King, religious leaders, or government is not allowed and can generally mean jail time for the critics. It can also result in death.^[9][10]

Kings of Saudi Arabia (present)

Flag of the Al Saud dynasty

This is a list of rulers of Saudi Arabia, a kingdom on the Arabian Peninsula.

Sheikhdom of Diriyah

Main article: Sheikhdom of Diriyah

• 1446–1727 Sheikhdom of Diriyah

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

Main article: Emirate of Diriyah

• 1727-1818 Emirate of Diriyah

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Muhammad bin Saud Muhammad I of Saudi Arabia.jpg محمد بن سعود آل مقرن	1687–1765	1727	1765	Founder of the Saudi State and Son of Saud I	Saud
Abd al-Aziz bin Muhammad عبد العزيز بن محمد آل سعود	1721–1803	1765	1803	Son of Imam Muhammad I	Saud
Saud bin Abd al-Aziz bin Muhammad سعود	1748–1814	1803	1814	Son of Imam Abdulaziz I.	Saud
Abdullah bin Saud عبد الله بن سعود آل سعود	1785–1818	1814	1818	He was the last ruler of the First Saudi State and was executed by the Ottomans. Son of Imam Saud II.	Saud

Second Saudi State

Main article: Emirate of Nejd

• 1823-1891 Emirate of Nejd

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Turki bin Abdullah ترکي بن عبدالله بن محمد	1755 – 1834	1823	1834^‡	Founder of the Second Saudi State and grandson of Muhammad I	Saud
Mishari مشاري الأول	1786 – 1834	1834	1834^‡	Son of Imam Turki I	Saud
Faisal bin Turki فيصل بن تركي بن عبد الله آل سعود	1785 – 1865	1834	1838 (First term.)	Son of Imam Turki	Saud
Khalid I خالد الأول	؟ - 1861	1838	1841	Son of Imam Abdulaziz I	Saud
Abdullah II عبد الله الثاني	؟ – 1843	1841	1843	Son of Imam Saud II	Saud
Faisal bin Turki فيصل بن تركي بن عبد الله آل سعود	1785 – 1865	1843	1865 (Second term.)	son of Imam Turki	Saud
Abdullah III عبد الله الثالث	1831 – 1889	1865	1871 (First term.)	son of Imam Faisal	Saud
Saud III سعود الثالث	؟ – 1874	1871	1871 (First term.)	Son of Imam Abdullah I	Saud
Abdullah III عبد الله الثالث	1831 – 1889	1871	1873 (Second term.)	son of Imam Faisal	Saud
Saud III سعود الثالث	؟ – 1874	1873	1875 (Second term.)	Son of Imam Abdullah I	Saud
Abdul Rahman bin Faisal عبد الرحمن بن فيصل آل سعود	1850–1928	1875	1876 (First term.)	Son of Imam Faisal I	Saud
Abdullah III عبد الله الثالث	1831 – 1889	1876	1889 (Third term.)	son of Imam Faisal	Saud
Abdul Rahman bin Faisal عبد الرحمن بن فيصل آل سعود	1850–1928	1889	1891 (Second term.)	Son of Imam Faisal I	Saud

Third Saudi State (1902–present)

Main article: Third Saudi State

This section is transcluded from King of Saudi Arabia. (edit | history)

• 1902 - 1913: Emirate of Riyadh
• 1913 - 1921: Emirate of Nejd and Hasa
• 1921 - 1926: Sultanate of Nejd
• 1926 - 1932: Kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd
• 1932–present: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia Ibn Saud عبد العزيز بن عبد الرحمن آل سعود	(1875-01-15)15 January 1875 – 9 November 1953(1953-11-09) (aged 78)	13 January 1902	9 November 1953 (death by natural causes)	Reign established by conquest Son of Abdul Rahman bin Faisal and Sara bint Ahmed Al Sudairi	Saud
Saud of Saudi Arabia سعود بن عبد العزيز آل سعود	(1902-01-15)15 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 of Saudi Arabia فيصل بن عبدالعزيز آل سعود	(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 of Saudi Arabia خالد بن عبد العزيز آل سعود	(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 of Saudi Arabia فهد بن عبد العزيز آل سعود	16 March 1920 – 1 August 2005 (aged 85)	13 June 1982 (aged 62)	1 August 2005 (death by natural causes)	Son of King Abdulaziz and Hussa bint Ahmed Al Sudairi	Saud
Abdullah of Saudi Arabia عبد الله بن عبدالعزيز آل سعود	(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 of Saudi Arabia سلمان بن عبد العزیز آل سعود	(1935-12-31) 31 December 1935 (age 89)	23 January 2015 (aged 79)	Incumbent	Son of King Abdulaziz and Hussa bint Ahmed Al Sudairi	Saud

Genealogy

v t e Family tree of Saudi monarchs[11]

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

Standard of the Kingdom

See also: Flag of Saudi Arabia

The Royal Standard 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 of the year 1973.

• 
  Royal Flag of the King
  (Ratio: 2:3)
• 
  Royal Standard of the King
  (Ratio: 1:1)

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-llāh, muhammadun rasūlu-llāh

There is no other god but God, Muhammad is the messenger of God.^[12]

• 
  Royal Flag of the King (1938-1953)
  (Ratio: 2:3)
• 
  Royal Banner of the King (1938-1953)
  (Ratio: 12:25)
• 
  Royal Standard of the King (1938-1953)
  (Ratio: 1:1)
• 
  Royal Flag of the King (1953-1964)
  (Ratio: 2:3)
• 
  Royal Standard of the King (1953-1964)
  (Ratio: 1:1)
• 
  Royal Flag of the King (1964-1973)
  (Ratio: 2:3)
• 
  Royal Standard of the King (1964-1973)
  (Ratio: 1:1)

Current heir-presumptive

• Crown Prince: Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, born (1985-08-31) 31 August 1985 (age 39); son of King Salman and Fahda bint Falah Al Hithlain.^[13]

Royal Standard

See also: Flag of Saudi Arabia

• 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.^[14]

Royal Flag of the King

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-llāh, muhammadun rasūlu-llāh

There is no god but God: Muhammad is the Messenger of God."^[15]

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

See also

• History of Saudi Arabia
• List of rulers of Saudi Arabia
• Saudi Arabia
• Salman of Saudi Arabia

References

1. "Saudi Arabia - Government and society". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
2. "Story behind the king's title". Arab News. 27 January 2015. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
3. "King Salman of Saudi Arabia Ranked as the Most Influential Muslim in 2023". 31 October 2022.
4. "History | The Embassy of The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia". saudiembassy.net. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
5. "About Saudi Arabia". UNDP in Saudi Arabia. Archived from the original on 10 January 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
6. "History of Saudi Arabia. ( The Saudi National Day 23, Sep )". pmu.edu.sa. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
7. "Governance and Politics of Saudi Arabia". Fanack.com. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
8. "Mohammed bin Salman becomes Saudi Crown Prince with 31 out of 34 votes". Al Arabiya English. 21 June 2017. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
9. "Saudi expats launch opposition party on anniversary of Jamal Khashoggi's death". TheGuardian.com. 2 October 2020.
10. Saudi Arabia: Events of 2019. 12 December 2019.
11. James Wynbrandt (2010). A Brief History of Saudi Arabia (berilustrasi ed.). Infobase Publishing. p. 107. ISBN 978-0-8160-7876-9. 9780816078769.
12. "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.
13. "Who is Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed?". BBC News. 22 October 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
14. "Royal Standard (Saudi Arabia)". crwflags.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
15. "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.

^‡ assassinated.