Saud of Saudi Arabia
Who was Saud of Saudi Arabia?
King of Saudi Arabia from 1953-1964, eldest son of founder Ibn Saud, who was deposed due to financial mismanagement.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Saud of Saudi Arabia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud was born on 15 January 1902 in Kuwait City when his father, Abdulaziz ibn Saud, was in exile and trying to reclaim the Arabian Peninsula. He was King of Saudi Arabia from 9 November 1953 until he was forced to step down on 2 November 1964, marking one of the longer reigns early in the kingdom's history. As technically the second son of King Abdulaziz, Saud became the heir after his older brother Prince Turki died in 1919, and he was officially named Crown Prince in 1933. Before becoming king, he served as viceroy of Nejd from 1926 to 1932 and took part directly in the military campaigns that led to the creation of Saudi Arabia. He also represented his father in diplomatic matters with nearby states, gaining experience in governance and international affairs.
When he took the throne after his father's death in 1953, Saud reorganized the Saudi government and set the practice of the king leading the Council of Ministers. He served as Prime Minister twice, from 1953 to 1954 and again from 1960 to 1962. His foreign policy aimed to balance strong ties with the United States with backing for Arab nations in their issues with Israel. During his reign, Saudi Arabia joined the Non-Aligned Movement in 1961, highlighting a move to show the kingdom's independence on the global stage. Saud also built relationships with several Western governments, evidenced by the many foreign honors he received as king.
Despite some early successes, Saud's reign faced problems because of serious financial mismanagement. His spending habits and failure to tackle the increasing national debt led to a long power struggle with his half-brother and Crown Prince, Faisal. This conflict dragged on for years, eventually resulting in senior princes and religious leaders in Saudi Arabia taking away Saud's power. He stepped down on 2 November 1964, and Faisal became king. Saud then went into exile, and efforts by him and some of his sons to regain the throne failed.
Saud spent his last years abroad and died on 23 February 1969 in Athens, Greece, at 67. Even though his reign ended in political failure, his earlier work in shaping the administrative and financial structure of the Saudi state, like helping create the first budget in 1948 and playing a part in founding the Saudi Central Bank in 1952, remain significant. He received numerous international honors during his life, including the Commander of the Legion of Merit from the United States and Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire from the United Kingdom.
Before Fame
Saud bin Abdulaziz was born in Kuwait City in 1902 while his father, Abdulaziz ibn Saud, was living in exile after the Al Saud family was pushed out of Riyadh by the rival Al Rashid dynasty. His early life was influenced by the tough realities of tribal politics and his father's ongoing military campaigns to win back control over the Arabian Peninsula. Saud grew up in a world where political survival, military action, and diplomatic negotiation were everyday issues.
As he grew older, Saud took on real military and administrative duties, serving as a commander in his father's conquests and acting as viceroy of Nejd from 1926 to 1932. With his elder brother Turki's death in 1919, it became clear he was the heir, and his father's official appointment of him as Crown Prince in 1933 set his path. By the time he became king in 1953, he had already spent decades as a key figure in Saudi governance, handling the kingdom's interests both at home and in relations with nearby countries.
Key Achievements
- Reigned as King of Saudi Arabia for over a decade, from 1953 to 1964, overseeing significant government reorganization after his father's death.
- Established the precedent that the King of Saudi Arabia presides over the Council of Ministers, shaping the structure of executive authority in the kingdom.
- Helped prepare Saudi Arabia's first state budget in 1948 and contributed to the founding of the Saudi Central Bank in 1952.
- Guided Saudi Arabia's entry into the Non-Aligned Movement in 1961, asserting the kingdom's independent position during the Cold War.
- Served two separate terms as Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, in 1953 to 1954 and again from 1960 to 1962, while simultaneously holding the monarchy.
Did You Know?
- 01.Saud was born in Kuwait City while his father was in exile, making him the only Saudi king born outside of the Arabian Peninsula during the Al Saud restoration period.
- 02.He helped prepare Saudi Arabia's first formal state budget in 1948, years before he became king, signaling an early interest in modernizing the kingdom's finances.
- 03.Saud received the Imperial Order of the Yoke and Arrows from Spain in 1952 and the Collar of the Spanish Order of the Civil Merit in 1962, reflecting his active cultivation of ties with Franco's Spain.
- 04.Despite his ultimate deposition over financial mismanagement, Saud played a direct role in founding the Saudi Central Bank in 1952, one of the kingdom's most enduring financial institutions.
- 05.After his abdication in 1964, Saud made an active attempt, with support from some of his sons, to reclaim the Saudi throne from his half-brother Faisal, though the effort ultimately failed.
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Commander of the Legion of Merit | — | — |
| Order of the Umayyads | — | — |
| Order of King Abdulaziz al Saud | — | — |
| Legionnaire of Legion of Merit | 1947 | — |
| Imperial Order of the Yoke and Arrows | 1952 | — |
| Collar of the Spanish Order of the Civil Merit | 1962 | — |
| Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire | — | — |