Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
Who was Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud?
King of Saudi Arabia since 2015 and father of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, overseeing the Vision 2030 reform program.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, born on December 31, 1935, in Riyadh, is the 25th son of King Abdulaziz, the founder of Saudi Arabia. His mother, Hassa bint Ahmed Al Sudairi, was among the king's most influential wives, making Salman part of the Sudairi Seven group in the royal family. He got his early education at the Princes' School in Riyadh, set up specifically for the royal family's children.
Salman started his political career in 1963 as the deputy governor of Riyadh at 28. Later that year, he became the full governor of the capital, a role he held for 48 years until 2011. During his long service as governor, Riyadh changed from a small desert city to a major metropolitan center and the political and economic core of Saudi Arabia. His governance skills and knack for balancing different royal family interests gained him respect and made him important in the country's growth.
In 2011, King Abdullah made Salman the Minister of Defense, moving him from regional to national leadership. After Crown Prince Nayef passed away in 2012, Salman was made Crown Prince and heir apparent. When King Abdullah died on January 23, 2015, Salman became king at 79, the oldest person to do so and the first king born after the country's 1932 unification.
As king, Salman has overseen big changes in Saudi Arabia's domestic and foreign policies. He launched the Saudi Vision 2030 program to diversify the oil-dependent economy and modernize society. His reign has seen the rise of his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has become a central figure in many reforms. Salman's main foreign policy moves include military action in Yemen and a tougher stance against Iran. In 2022, he was the first Saudi king since Saud in 1964 not to serve as prime minister, handing that role to Crown Prince Mohammed.
Before Fame
Salman grew up at a key moment in Saudi Arabia's history when the kingdom was solidifying its control over the Arabian Peninsula and starting to develop its vast oil resources. As one of the Sudairi Seven, he was part of an influential group within the royal family that would eventually include three kings. His education at the Princes' School prepared him for administrative work, and his early appointment as deputy governor of Riyadh at age 28 showed the royal family's faith in his abilities.
The road to his eventual kingship was shaped by the complex succession patterns within the Al Saud family. As oil revenues turned Saudi Arabia from a poor desert kingdom into a wealthy nation, members of the second generation of Ibn Saud's sons began to take on leadership roles. Salman's long time governing Riyadh helped him develop administrative skills and build key relationships within the royal family, making him a strong candidate for higher office.
Key Achievements
- Transformed Riyadh from a small city into a major metropolitan center during 48 years as governor
- Launched Saudi Vision 2030, an ambitious economic diversification and social reform program
- Issued decree in 2017 allowing Saudi women to drive, ending the world's only ban on female drivers
- Oversaw major shifts in Saudi foreign policy including intervention in Yemen and confrontation with Iran
- Successfully managed the transition of power to the next generation through Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
Did You Know?
- 01.Served as governor of Riyadh for 48 years, making it one of the longest gubernatorial tenures in modern history
- 02.Is reported to have a personal wealth of at least $18 billion, ranking him as the third wealthiest royal in the world
- 03.Became the first Saudi king born after the unification of Saudi Arabia in 1932
- 04.Is currently the third oldest living head of state and the oldest living monarch in the world
- 05.Transferred the prime minister role to his son in 2022, becoming the first Saudi king since 1964 not to serve as head of government
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit | 1974 | — |
| King Faisal International Prize in Service to Islam | 2017 | — |
| Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 1st class | 2017 | — |
| Order of King Abdulaziz al Saud | — | — |
| National Order of Niger | 2015 | — |
| Collar of the Order of the Aztec Eagle | 2016 | — |
| Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit (Guinea) | 2016 | — |
| Order of the Nile | 2016 | — |
| Order of State of Republic of Turkey | 2016 | — |
| Order of Zayed | 2016 | — |
| Order of Mubarak the Great | 2016 | — |
| Order of the Crown of the Realm | 2017 | — |
| Star of the Republic of Indonesia | 2017 | — |
| Order of the Crown of Brunei | 2017 | — |
| Order of al-Hussein bin Ali | 2017 | — |
| Grand Cross of the National Order of the Lion | 2015 | — |
| honorary doctor of the Peking University | 2017 | — |
| honorary doctor of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations | — | — |
| Order of Good Hope | 2016 | — |
| Collar of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum | 2017 | — |
| Order of Jerusalem | 1998 | — |
| Knight Grand Cordon with Collar of the Order of Palestine | 2015 | — |
| Order of Kuwait | — | — |
| National Order of Merit | — | — |
| Order of the Chrysanthemum | — | — |
| Order of the Republic | — | — |
| Order of Civil Merit | — | — |
| Order of the Aztec Eagle | — | — |
| National Order of the Lion of Senegal | — | — |
| Order of Al Said | — | — |
| Order of the Golden Eagle | — | — |
| Order of Al-Khalifa | — | — |
| Order of the Star of Palestine | — | — |
| Order of the Defender of the Realm | — | — |
| Order of the State of Palestine | — | — |