House of Saud

The House of Saud is the ruling royal family of Saudi Arabia, descended from Muhammad bin Saud, emir of Diriyah in the eighteenth century. Its members have governed the kingdom since its founding in 1932.

Muhammad bin Saud: The emir of Diriyah who founded the first Saudi state in the eighteenth century. His rule established the dynasty’s political base and gave the family its name.
Allegiance Council: A Saudi body of senior princes and descendants of Abdulaziz Ibn Saud that participates in selecting the crown prince. It formalizes family involvement in succession decisions.
Saud of Saudi Arabia: The second king of Saudi Arabia, who ruled from 1953 until his removal in 1964. His reign exposed tensions over governance and succession within the family.
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A sovereign state occupying most of the Arabian Peninsula, established in 1932 under Abdulaziz Ibn Saud. The kingdom is the state the House of Saud founded and continues to rule.
Diriyah: A historic oasis town near Riyadh that served as the capital of the first Saudi state. The House of Saud first ruled from this town.
Saudi Arabian line of succession: The rules and arrangements governing succession to the Saudi throne. The family’s seniority and internal choices shape who inherits the crown.
Faisal of Saudi Arabia: The third king of Saudi Arabia, known for consolidating state administration and shaping the kingdom’s foreign policy. His rule strengthened the monarchy’s institutions and international role.
Saudi Aramco: A Saudi state-owned energy company and one of the world’s largest oil producers. Oil revenue from the company transformed the resources available to the ruling state.
Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab: An eighteenth-century religious reformer whose alliance with Muhammad bin Saud helped shape Saudi political history. Their partnership joined the dynasty’s political authority with a religious reform movement.
Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia: The designated heir to the Saudi throne and a senior figure in the kingdom’s government. The crown prince is the dynasty’s publicly identified next ruler.

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