| King of Saudi Arabia ملك المملكة العربية السعودية |
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| Monarchy | |
Royal Standard |
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| Incumbent: Abdullah |
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| Style: | The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques |
| Heir apparent: | Nayef |
| First monarch: | Abdul-Aziz |
| Formation: | September 23, 1932 |
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| Saudi Arabia |
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Other countries · Atlas |
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.
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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.
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.
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.[1]
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.
| Image | Name | Date of birth | King From | King Until | Date of death |
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| Abdul-Aziz (Ibn Saud) | 15 January 1876 | 22 September 1932 | 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) |
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| 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 | ||
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