1. Saudi Kings
House of Saud

2. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)
Founded in 1932
Abdul Aziz ibn Saud (aka Ibn Saud)
Government:
Absolute Monarchy
7,000 Princes
200 Princes with the most power in the form on government offices, such as ministries
The Ulema
Religious Leaders & Jurists
Share some powers in government

3. King Abdullah bin Abdul al-Saud
Current King of the KSA
6th King of the country
Came to power in when older brother died.

4. Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud
Was the Former Crown Prince
Died, October, 2011
New Crown Prince is HRH Prince Nayef
Line of Succession very different from most countries
Makes it difficult in future.

5. Sons of Abdul Aziz ibn Sa'ud
Bandar bin Abdul Aziz (1923-)
Musa'id bin Abdul Aziz (1923-)
Mishaal bin Abdul Aziz (1926-)
Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul-Aziz (1926-)
Abd al-Rahman bin Abdul Aziz (1931-)
Mutaib bin Abdul Aziz (1931-)
Talal bin Abdul Aziz (1931-)
Badr bin Abdul Aziz (1933-
Nawwaf bin Abdul Aziz (1933-)
Turki bin Abdul Aziz (1934-) .
Abdulilah bin Abdul Aziz (1935-)
Salman bin Abdul Aziz (1936-)
Ahmed bin Abdul Aziz (1940-)
Mamdouh bin Abdul Aziz (1940-)
Sattam bin Abdul Aziz (1943-)
Muqran bin Abdul Aziz (1945-)

6. Grandsons of Abdul Aziz ibn Sa'ud
Muhammed bin Saud (1934-)
Abdallah al-Khalid(1935-)
Mohammed al Faisal (1937-)
Khalid al Faisal (1941-)
Saud al Faisal (1941-)
Mutaib bin Abdullah (1943-)
Faisal bin Bandar (1943-)
Turki al Faisal (1945-)
Saud bin Abdul Mohsin (1947-)
Khalid bin Sultan (1949-)
Mohammed bin Fahd (1950-)
Bandar bin Sultan (1950-)
Mohammed bin Nawwaf (1953-)
Al-Walid ibn Talal (1955-)
Saud bin Nayef (1956-)
Sultan bin Salman (1956-)
Mohammed bin Nayef (1959-
Faisal bin Salman (1960-)
Abdulaziz bin Fahd (1973-)

7. Democracy in KSA? KSA has only had an absolute monarchy
Most citizens although very educated have never voted
Political Parties not legal until 2005
Makes democracy very difficult

8. Economics Young Population 25% of World Oil Reserves
46% under age 14
Jobs are an increasing issue
Large gap between rich and poor
25% of World Oil Reserves
Largest Exporter of Petroleum
90% of KSA reserves exported
Most businesses are government owned
Trying to privatize
Other industries
Religious items, chemicals, polymers, fertilizers, construction

9. Economics cont.
Riyadh – Capital (Left)
Jeddah – (Above)

10. Economics Cont. Design of King Abdullah Economic City
Projected to create 1.5 million new jobs

11. Economics cont.

12. Human Rights Punishments Public Executions Beheadings Stoning Flogging
Fire Squads
345 executions between

13. Human Rights Women Women Cannot Drive
Read “The Movement for Social Reform in Saudi Arabia”
Men first voted in 2005
Only time anyone in KSA has voted
Women to vote in elections for 1st time
Municipal Elections
Half of municipals (finance, health, education, agriculture) are princes, other half elected.
Women Cannot Drive
Many still do in rural areas
Are allowed to fly planes
Cannot Travel without male guardian
Need written permission from male relative to travel outside the country

14. Human Rights cont. Minorities
Foreigners are allowed to travel, live and work in Saudi Arabia
Not allowed to practice religion openly
Holy sites are off limits to “non-Muslims”
Not allowed to be buried inside Saudi soil

15. Muttawa (Religious Police)
Enforce religious rules in public places
Approx: 3,500 plus thousands of volunteers
In many cases this means:
Order/remind women to keep heads covered
Ban single men from entering malls on weekends to allow women to shop
Force men to evacuate shops to go to the mosque and pray
Inform non-Muslims to stop shopping until prayer times are over.
HOWEVER, many conservative Saudis favor these laws as a way of preserving traditional values.

17. Saudi Arabia & USA Military
Small population = small military = make difference up with big guns
$25-40 Billion Annually, most purchased from USA
Largest purchaser of U.S. weapons
Also receives US weapons and defense training in KSA and abroad in exchange for military bases and unrestricted oil trade
Military has been used to defend against Saddam Hussein, Israeli threats, and terrorism
Congress agreed to sell $60 Billion in arms in 2010 – largest arms sale in US history

18. Saudi Arabia & USA
Every president since FDR has recommitted US ties to Saudi Arabia
Relations important
Economically
Politically
Militarily

19. Strong Connection to USA

20. Reform in KSA? Will Women Vote? Opposition to Royal Family
Claim is 2015
2005 King appointed first female ministers
Opposition to Royal Family
Political parties (liberal, Sunni Islamic, Shia & Hejaz tribes)
Protesting is strictly forbidden
Spurred by Arab revolutions in other Arab countries