King of Saudi Arabia

King of Saudi Arabia ملك المملكة العربية السعودية
Monarchy
Royal Standard
Incumbent: Abdullah
Style:	The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques
Heir apparent:	Nayef
First monarch:	Abdul-Aziz
Formation:	September 23, 1932
Residence:	Riyadh Qasr Malik Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Saudi Arabia

Constitution Basic Law Human rights Monarchy House of Saud King Abdullah Crown Prince Prince Nayef Allegiance Council Government Cabinet Consultative Assembly Salih bin Abdullah al Humaid National Security Council CPVPV Law Legal system Human rights Women's rights LGBT rights Freedom of religion Capital punishment Elections municipal: 2005 · 2011 · 2015 Divisions Emirates Governorates Foreign policy Foreign relations

Other countries · Atlas Politics portal

The King of Saudi Arabia is Saudi Arabia's head of state and absolute monarch. He serves as the head of the Saudi monarchy — House of Saud. The King is called the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques (خادم الحرمين الشريفين). The title, which signifies Saudi Arabia's jurisdiction over the mosques of Masjid al Haram in Mecca and Masjid al-Nabawi in Medina, replaced His Majesty (صاحب الجلالة) in 1986.

History

Further information: History of Saudi Arabia

King Abdul-Aziz began conquering today's Saudi Arabia in 1902, by restoring his family as emirs of Riyadh. He then proceeded to conquer first the Nejd (1922) and then the Hejaz (1925). He progressed from Sultan of Nejd, to King of Hejaz and Nejd, and finally to King of Saudi Arabia in 1932.

Succession

Further information: Line of succession to the Saudi Arabian throne

The other kings have all been his sons and all likely immediate successors to the reigning King Abdullah will be from his progeny. Sons of Ibn Saud are considered to have primary claim on the Kingship of Saudi Arabia. This makes the Saudi Monarchy quite distinct from Western monarchies, which usually feature large, clearly defined royal families and orders of succession.

Legal position

Saudi Arabia is ruled by Islamic law and purports to be an Islamic state, but many Muslims see a hereditary monarchy as being a discouraged system of government in Islam.

Other functions

The King of Saudi Arabia is also considered the Head of the House of Saud and Prime Minister. The Crown Prince is also the "Deputy Prime Minister." The kings after Faisal have named a "second Deputy Prime Minister" as the subsequent heir after the Crown Prince. Former Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and Abdullah's half-brother, Prince Sultan died on 22 October, 2011.The former Second Deputy Minster, and now Crown Prince from 27 October, 2011 is Prince Nayef.

Kings of Saudi Arabia (1932-Present)

House of Saud

Image	Name	Date of birth	King From	King Until	Date of death
	Abdul-Aziz (Ibn Saud)	15 January 1876	22 September 1932[citation needed]	9 November 1953
	Saud	12 January 1902	9 November 1953	2 November 1964 (abdicated)	23 February 1969
	Faisal	1906	2 November 1964	25 March 1975 (assassinated)
	Khalid	1912	25 March 1975	13 June 1982
	Fahd	16 March 1921	13 June 1982	1 August 2005
	Abdullah	1 August 1924	1 August 2005	current

See also

• Line of succession to the Saudi Arabian throne