Ibn Saud
1876 – 1953Founder and first king of the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, unifying the Arabian Peninsula through conquest between 1902-1932.
Famous People from Saudi Arabia
32 notable historical figures from Saudi Arabia, including leaders, artists, scientists, and other influential people.
Saudi Arabia's database of 32 historical figures features the kingdom's political foundations and modern development, with politicians making up nearly half of all entries at 15 individuals. The country's monarchical system is represented by six royal figures, including founding king Ibn Saud (b. 1876), who established the modern Saudi state, and rulers like King Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (b. 1906), Khalid of Saudi Arabia (b. 1911), Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (b. 1923), and Abdullah of Saudi Arabia (b. 1924). Contemporary leadership includes current King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (b. 1935) and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud (b. 1985). The collection also includes controversial figures like Osama bin Laden (b. 1957) and journalist Jamal Khashoggi (b. 1958), along with seven association football players representing the nation's sporting culture. Military personnel and statespeople complete the categories, reflecting the various roles that have shaped Saudi Arabia's national identity and international presence in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
politician (10)association football player (7)monarch (5)military personnel (3)human rights defender (3)businessperson (2)minister (2)activist (2)association football coach (2)Islamic jurist (2)
Khalid of Saudi Arabia
1911 – 1982King of Saudi Arabia from 1975-1982 who maintained stability during regional turmoil including the Iranian Revolution.
Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
1920 – 2005King of Saudi Arabia from 1982 to 2005
King Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
1906 – 1975King of Saudi Arabia from 1964-1975 who modernized the country and led the 1973 oil embargo against supporters of Israel.
Saud of Saudi Arabia
1902 – 1969King of Saudi Arabia from 1953-1964, eldest son of founder Ibn Saud, who was deposed due to financial mismanagement.
Osama bin Laden
1957 – 2011Saudi-born civil engineer who founded the jihadist organization al-Qaeda in 1988 and orchestrated numerous terrorist attacks including September 11, 2001.
Jamal Khashoggi
1958 – 2018Saudi journalist and Washington Post columnist who was murdered at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018.
Muhammad bin Nayef
1959 – PresentFormer Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia from 2015-2017 who previously led the country's counterterrorism efforts as Interior Minister.
Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
1935 – PresentKing of Saudi Arabia since 2015 and father of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, overseeing the Vision 2030 reform program.
Raif Badawi
1984 – PresentBlogger and human rights activist sentenced to 1,000 lashes and 10 years in prison for creating the Free Saudi Liberals website.
Nayef bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud
1934 – 2012Saudi Interior Minister for 37 years who briefly served as Crown Prince from 2011 until his death in 2012.
Manal al-Sharif
1979 – PresentComputer security consultant and women's rights activist who launched the Women2Drive campaign challenging Saudi Arabia's female driving prohibition.
Majed Abdullah
1959 – PresentLegendary Saudi striker who scored 71 goals in 116 international matches and is widely regarded as the greatest player in Saudi Arabian football history.
Abdullah of Saudi Arabia
1924 – 2015King of Saudi Arabia from 2005 to 2015 who implemented gradual modernization reforms and expanded women's participation in society.
Sultan bin Abdulaziz
1926 – 2011Saudi royal who served as Minister of Defense for 48 years and Crown Prince from 2005 until his death in 2011.
Saad Harirị
1970 – PresentLebanese-Saudi businessman and politician who served as Prime Minister of Lebanon multiple times between 2009-2020.
Muqrin bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud
1945 – PresentFormer Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia for four months in 2015 and former intelligence chief who previously served as a military pilot.
Nimr al-Nimr
1959 – 2016Prominent Shia cleric and human rights activist who was executed by Saudi Arabia in 2016 for his criticism of the government.
Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
1955 – PresentSaudi royal and billionaire investor known for his stakes in international companies including former ownership in Twitter.
Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud
1985 – PresentCrown Prince of Saudi Arabia since 2017 and architect of the Vision 2030 economic diversification program.
Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais
1962 – PresentChief imam of the Grand Mosque in Mecca since 1984, known for leading prayers during the annual Hajj pilgrimage.
Abd al-Aziz Ibn Baz
1912 – 1999Influential Islamic scholar who served as Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia from 1993 to 1999 and was one of the most prominent Salafi clerics of the 20th century.
Loujain al-Hathloul
1989 – PresentWomen's rights activist imprisoned from 2018-2021 for campaigning against Saudi Arabia's male guardianship system and driving ban.
Salem Al-Dawsari
1991 – PresentProfessional footballer who scored the winning goal for Saudi Arabia against Argentina in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Sami Al-Jaber
1972 – PresentSaudi Arabian footballer who scored 46 goals in 156 international appearances and later managed the national team from 2017 to 2018.
Sultan bin Salman Al Saud
1956 – PresentSaudi royal who became the first Arab astronaut in space aboard Space Shuttle Discovery in 1985.
Fahad Al-Muwallad
1994 – PresentSaudi Arabian winger who has earned over 80 caps for the national team and played a key role in their 2022 World Cup victory over Argentina.
Yasser Al-Qahtani
1982 – PresentProlific Saudi striker who scored 24 goals in 50 international appearances and was the top scorer at the 2007 AFC Asian Cup.
Ibn al-Khattab
1969 – 2002Saudi-born militant commander who led jihadist forces in the First and Second Chechen Wars before his assassination in 2002.
Muhammad bin Saud
1679 – 1765Founder of the Emirate of Diriyah and the Al Saud dynasty (1687–1765)
Osama Hawsawi
1984 – PresentSaudi Arabian defender who captained the national team and played over 130 international matches, including three World Cup tournaments.
Salman Al-Faraj
1989 – PresentProfessional footballer and captain of the Saudi Arabia national team who plays as a defensive midfielder.
Related Data
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the most famous Saudi Arabian kings?
Notable Saudi kings include Ibn Saud, the founder of modern Saudi Arabia; King Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud; King Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud; King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia; King Khalid of Saudi Arabia; and the current ruler, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. These monarchs have guided the kingdom's development for nearly a century.
What famous politicians come from Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia has several influential political figures, including Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, who leads major reform efforts. The country is also associated with controversial figures like Osama bin Laden and journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who became internationally recognized for different reasons linked to Saudi politics and society.
Are there any famous Saudi Arabian soccer players?
Saudi Arabia has produced notable soccer players who have represented the country in international competitions. The Saudi national team has participated in multiple FIFA World Cups, and these players have gained recognition in both domestic and regional leagues.