# 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. 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. The king has been named the most powerful and influential Muslim and Arab leader in the world according to the Muslim 500.

## 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.
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.

## Succession

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. 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.

## 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.

## Kings of Saudi Arabia (present)

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

### Sheikhdom of Diriyah

* 1446–1727 Sheikhdom of Diriyah
| Name | Lifespan | Reign start | Reign end | Notes | Family | Image |
| Saud Iسعود 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

* 1727-1818 Emirate of Diriyah
| Name | Lifespan | Reign start | Reign end | Notes | Family |
| Muhammad bin SaudMuhammad I of Saudi Arabia.jpgمحمد بن سعود آل مقرن | 1687–1765 | 1727 | 1765 | Founder of the Saudi State and Son of Saud I | Saud |
| Abd al-Aziz bin Muhammadعبد العزيز بن محمد آل سعود | 1721–1803 | 1765 | 1803 | Son of Imam Muhammad I | Saud |
| Saud bin Abd al-Aziz bin Muhammadسعود | 1748–1814 | 1803 | 1814 | Son of Imam Abdulaziz I. | Saud |
| Abdullah bin Saudعبد 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

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

### Third Saudi State (1902–present)

* 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 |
| Abdulaziz of Saudi ArabiaIbn Saudعبد 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 Arabiaسعود 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 Arabiaفيصل 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 Arabiaخالد 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 Arabiaفهد 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 Arabiaعبد 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 Arabiaسلمان 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

vteFamily tree of Saudi monarchs :
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Saud bin Muhammad Al Muqrin 1640–1726 | Saud bin Muhammad Al Muqrin 1640–1726 | Saud bin Muhammad Al Muqrin 1640–1726 | Saud bin Muhammad Al Muqrin 1640–1726 | Saud bin Muhammad Al Muqrin 1640–1726 | Saud bin Muhammad Al Muqrin 1640–1726 |
| Thunayyan | Thunayyan | Thunayyan | Thunayyan | Thunayyan | Thunayyan | | | | | | | Muhammad 1687–1765 Emir of Diriyah r. 1744–1765 | Muhammad 1687–1765 Emir of Diriyah r. 1744–1765 | Muhammad 1687–1765 Emir of Diriyah r. 1744–1765 | Muhammad 1687–1765 Emir of Diriyah r. 1744–1765 | Muhammad 1687–1765 Emir of Diriyah r. 1744–1765 | Muhammad 1687–1765 Emir of Diriyah r. 1744–1765 | Farhan | Farhan | Farhan | Farhan | Farhan | Farhan | Mishari | Mishari | Mishari | Mishari | Mishari | Mishari |
| Ibrahim | Ibrahim | Ibrahim | Ibrahim | Ibrahim | Ibrahim | Abdulaziz 1720–1803 Emir of Diriyah r. 1765–1803 | Abdulaziz 1720–1803 Emir of Diriyah r. 1765–1803 | Abdulaziz 1720–1803 Emir of Diriyah r. 1765–1803 | Abdulaziz 1720–1803 Emir of Diriyah r. 1765–1803 | Abdulaziz 1720–1803 Emir of Diriyah r. 1765–1803 | Abdulaziz 1720–1803 Emir of Diriyah r. 1765–1803 | | | | | | | | | | | | | Abdullah 1725–1812 | Abdullah 1725–1812 | Abdullah 1725–1812 | Abdullah 1725–1812 | Abdullah 1725–1812 | Abdullah 1725–1812 |
| Thunayyan | Thunayyan | Thunayyan | Thunayyan | Thunayyan | Thunayyan | Saud 1748–1814 Emir of Diriyah r. 1803–1814 | Saud 1748–1814 Emir of Diriyah r. 1803–1814 | Saud 1748–1814 Emir of Diriyah r. 1803–1814 | Saud 1748–1814 Emir of Diriyah r. 1803–1814 | Saud 1748–1814 Emir of Diriyah r. 1803–1814 | Saud 1748–1814 Emir of Diriyah r. 1803–1814 | | | | | | | | | | | | | Turki 1755–1834 Emir of Nejd r. 1819–1820, r. 1823–1834 | Turki 1755–1834 Emir of Nejd r. 1819–1820, r. 1823–1834 | Turki 1755–1834 Emir of Nejd r. 1819–1820, r. 1823–1834 | Turki 1755–1834 Emir of Nejd r. 1819–1820, r. 1823–1834 | Turki 1755–1834 Emir of Nejd r. 1819–1820, r. 1823–1834 | Turki 1755–1834 Emir of Nejd r. 1819–1820, r. 1823–1834 | | | | | | |
| Abdullah d. 1843 Emir of Nejd r. 1841–1843 | Abdullah d. 1843 Emir of Nejd r. 1841–1843 | Abdullah d. 1843 Emir of Nejd r. 1841–1843 | Abdullah d. 1843 Emir of Nejd r. 1841–1843 | Abdullah d. 1843 Emir of Nejd r. 1841–1843 | Abdullah d. 1843 Emir of Nejd r. 1841–1843 | Abdullah d. 1819 Emir of Diriyah r. 1814–1818 | Abdullah d. 1819 Emir of Diriyah r. 1814–1818 | Abdullah d. 1819 Emir of Diriyah r. 1814–1818 | Abdullah d. 1819 Emir of Diriyah r. 1814–1818 | Abdullah d. 1819 Emir of Diriyah r. 1814–1818 | Abdullah d. 1819 Emir of Diriyah r. 1814–1818 | Mishari 1786–1834 Emir of Nejd r. 1834 | Mishari 1786–1834 Emir of Nejd r. 1834 | Mishari 1786–1834 Emir of Nejd r. 1834 | Mishari 1786–1834 Emir of Nejd r. 1834 | Mishari 1786–1834 Emir of Nejd r. 1834 | Mishari 1786–1834 Emir of Nejd r. 1834 | Khalid 1811–1865 Emir of Nejd r. 1838–1841 | Khalid 1811–1865 Emir of Nejd r. 1838–1841 | Khalid 1811–1865 Emir of Nejd r. 1838–1841 | Khalid 1811–1865 Emir of Nejd r. 1838–1841 | Khalid 1811–1865 Emir of Nejd r. 1838–1841 | Khalid 1811–1865 Emir of Nejd r. 1838–1841 | Faisal 1785–1865 Emir of Nejd r. 1834–1838, r. 1843–1865 | Faisal 1785–1865 Emir of Nejd r. 1834–1838, r. 1843–1865 | Faisal 1785–1865 Emir of Nejd r. 1834–1838, r. 1843–1865 | Faisal 1785–1865 Emir of Nejd r. 1834–1838, r. 1843–1865 | Faisal 1785–1865 Emir of Nejd r. 1834–1838, r. 1843–1865 | Faisal 1785–1865 Emir of Nejd r. 1834–1838, r. 1843–1865 | Juluwi | Juluwi | Juluwi | Juluwi | Juluwi | Juluwi |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Abdullah 1831–1889 Emir of Nejd r. 1865–1871, r. 1871–1873, r. 1876–1889 | Abdullah 1831–1889 Emir of Nejd r. 1865–1871, r. 1871–1873, r. 1876–1889 | Abdullah 1831–1889 Emir of Nejd r. 1865–1871, r. 1871–1873, r. 1876–1889 | Abdullah 1831–1889 Emir of Nejd r. 1865–1871, r. 1871–1873, r. 1876–1889 | Abdullah 1831–1889 Emir of Nejd r. 1865–1871, r. 1871–1873, r. 1876–1889 | 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 | Saud 1833–1875 Emir of Nejd r. 1871, r. 1873–1875 | Saud 1833–1875 Emir of Nejd r. 1871, r. 1873–1875 | Saud 1833–1875 Emir of Nejd r. 1871, r. 1873–1875 | Saud 1833–1875 Emir of Nejd r. 1871, r. 1873–1875 | Saud 1833–1875 Emir of Nejd r. 1871, r. 1873–1875 | Abdul Rahman 1850–1928 Emir of Nejd r. 1875–1876, r. 1889–1891 | Abdul Rahman 1850–1928 Emir of Nejd r. 1875–1876, r. 1889–1891 | Abdul Rahman 1850–1928 Emir of Nejd r. 1875–1876, r. 1889–1891 | Abdul Rahman 1850–1928 Emir of Nejd r. 1875–1876, r. 1889–1891 | Abdul Rahman 1850–1928 Emir of Nejd r. 1875–1876, r. 1889–1891 | 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 | Abdulaziz (Ibn Saud) 1875–1953 Emir of Nejd r. 1902–1932 King of Saudi Arabia r. 1932–1953 | Abdulaziz (Ibn Saud) 1875–1953 Emir of Nejd r. 1902–1932 King of Saudi Arabia r. 1932–1953 | Abdulaziz (Ibn Saud) 1875–1953 Emir of Nejd r. 1902–1932 King of Saudi Arabia r. 1932–1953 | Abdulaziz (Ibn Saud) 1875–1953 Emir of Nejd r. 1902–1932 King of Saudi Arabia r. 1932–1953 | 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 | Saud 1902–1969 King of Saudi Arabia r. 1953–1964 | Saud 1902–1969 King of Saudi Arabia r. 1953–1964 | Saud 1902–1969 King of Saudi Arabia r. 1953–1964 | Saud 1902–1969 King of Saudi Arabia r. 1953–1964 | Saud 1902–1969 King of Saudi Arabia r. 1953–1964 | Faisal 1906–1975 King of Saudi Arabia r. 1964–1975 | Faisal 1906–1975 King of Saudi Arabia r. 1964–1975 | Faisal 1906–1975 King of Saudi Arabia r. 1964–1975 | Faisal 1906–1975 King of Saudi Arabia r. 1964–1975 | Faisal 1906–1975 King of Saudi Arabia r. 1964–1975 | Faisal 1906–1975 King of Saudi Arabia r. 1964–1975 | Khalid 1913–1982 King of Saudi Arabia r. 1975–1982 | Khalid 1913–1982 King of Saudi Arabia r. 1975–1982 | Khalid 1913–1982 King of Saudi Arabia r. 1975–1982 | Khalid 1913–1982 King of Saudi Arabia r. 1975–1982 | Khalid 1913–1982 King of Saudi Arabia r. 1975–1982 | Khalid 1913–1982 King of Saudi Arabia r. 1975–1982 | Fahd 1920, 1921, or 1923–2005 King of Saudi Arabia r. 1982–2005 | Fahd 1920, 1921, or 1923–2005 King of Saudi Arabia r. 1982–2005 | Fahd 1920, 1921, or 1923–2005 King of Saudi Arabia r. 1982–2005 | Fahd 1920, 1921, or 1923–2005 King of Saudi Arabia r. 1982–2005 | Fahd 1920, 1921, or 1923–2005 King of Saudi Arabia r. 1982–2005 | Fahd 1920, 1921, or 1923–2005 King of Saudi Arabia r. 1982–2005 | Abdullah 1924–2015 King of Saudi Arabia r. 2005–2015 | Abdullah 1924–2015 King of Saudi Arabia r. 2005–2015 | Abdullah 1924–2015 King of Saudi Arabia r. 2005–2015 | Abdullah 1924–2015 King of Saudi Arabia r. 2005–2015 | Abdullah 1924–2015 King of Saudi Arabia r. 2005–2015 | Abdullah 1924–2015 King of Saudi Arabia r. 2005–2015 | Salman b. 1935 King of Saudi Arabia r. 2015–present | Salman b. 1935 King of Saudi Arabia r. 2015–present | Salman b. 1935 King of Saudi Arabia r. 2015–present | Salman b. 1935 King of Saudi Arabia r. 2015–present | Salman b. 1935 King of Saudi Arabia r. 2015–present | Salman b. 1935 King of Saudi Arabia r. 2015–present |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Mohammed bin Salman b. 1985 Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia | Mohammed bin Salman b. 1985 Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia | Mohammed bin Salman b. 1985 Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia | Mohammed bin Salman b. 1985 Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia | | |

## Standard of the Kingdom

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 Allah, Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.
* 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.

## Royal Standard

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