Salman of Saudi Arabia
Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud | |
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| Born | Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud December 31, 1935 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
| Occupation(s) | King of Saudi Arabia, Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia (2015–2022) |
| Years active | 1954–present |
| Known for | King of Saudi Arabia since 2015; former Crown Prince; former Governor of Riyadh; founder of KSRelief |
Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (; born 31 December 1935) has ruled as the King of Saudi Arabia since 2015 and held the position of Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia from 2015 until 2022. He is the 25th son of King Abdulaziz, the founder of Saudi Arabia, ascending to the throne on 23 January 2015. Prior to becoming king, he was the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia from 18 June 2012 to 23 January 2015. Salman is recognized as the third eldest living head of state, the oldest reigning monarch, and the first Saudi ruler born following the country's unification. His personal fortune is estimated at $18 billion, making him the third wealthiest royal globally.
Born to King Abdulaziz and Hassa bint Ahmed Al Sudairi, Salman is a member of the prominent Sudairi Seven. He spent 48 years (1963–2011) serving first as deputy governor and then governor of Riyadh, before his appointment as defense minister. Elevated to crown prince in 2012, he succeeded his half-brother, King Abdullah, upon his passing.
As monarch, Salman's major policies have included leading the Saudi intervention in the ongoing Yemeni conflict, initiating the ambitious Saudi Vision 2030 reform plan, and issuing a landmark 2017 decree that allowed women in Saudi Arabia to drive. Due to the king’s diminishing health and political clout, his seventh son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, effectively manages state affairs. In 2022, Mohammed assumed the role of prime minister, marking a historic moment as it was the first instance since 1964 that a Saudi king did not concurrently serve as head of government.
Early life
Born on 31 December 1935, Salman is reportedly the 25th son of King Abdulaziz, who established modern Saudi Arabia. Alongside his six full brothers, he forms part of the influential Sudairi Seven. Raised within the walls of Murabba Palace, Salman’s early education took place at Riyadh’s Princes' School, founded by King Abdulaziz for his offspring, where he studied both religious teachings and contemporary sciences.
Riyadh
At just 18 years old, Salman was appointed Deputy Governor of Riyadh Province on 17 March 1954, a post he held until 19 April 1955. He was promoted to governor on 5 February 1963 and maintained this role for nearly fifty years until 5 November 2011. Throughout his governorship, he oversaw Riyadh’s transformation from a modest town into a thriving metropolitan center, attracting tourism, large-scale development projects, and international investments. He promoted stronger political and economic relations with Western countries and enlisted advisors from King Saud University.
During this period, Salman adeptly navigated the complex interplay among religious authorities, tribal leaders, and royal family factions that influenced Saudi governance. He also chaired several institutions including the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (KAFRA), King Abdulaziz Museum, the Prince Salman Center for Disability Research, and the Prince Fahd bin Salman Charitable Society for Kidney Patients.
His diplomatic visits as governor included efforts to enhance ties with Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar in 1974; opening an art gallery in Montreal in 1991; meeting French President Jacques Chirac at Élysée Palace in 1996; touring Bosnia and Herzegovina to support its Muslim population; and traveling across Asia in 1998 with stops in Pakistan, Japan, Brunei, and China.
The Washington Post reported that journalist Jamal Khashoggi accused Salman of financing Salafist extremist factions during his involvement supporting Afghan mujahideen against Soviet forces.
Under Salman's stewardship, Riyadh emerged as one of the wealthiest cities in the Middle East and a pivotal commercial center. His administration prioritized infrastructure expansion including educational institutions and sports facilities. Reflecting on his extensive governance period, Salman remarked:
Second in succession
On 5 November 2011, Salman was named Minister of Defense, succeeding his full brother, Crown Prince Sultan. On the same day, Sattam bin Abdulaziz took over as governor of Riyadh Province, and Salman became a member of the National Security Council (NSC).
His elevation to the immediate succession line was largely due to his diplomatic and conciliatory demeanor. He chaired the family council known as The Descendants' Council (Majlis al Uthra), which King Fahd established in 2000 to address family issues and foster unity. Belonging to the royal family's "middle generation" allowed him to maintain strong connections across different age groups. His extensive experience as governor enabled him to cultivate broad networks both within the Arab world and internationally.
Salman upheld Saudi Arabia's military involvement in Bahrain. In April 2012, he traveled to the United States and the United Kingdom, holding meetings with US President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron. By 2013, Saudi Arabia's defense budget had increased to $67 billion, surpassing those of the UK, France, and Japan, ranking it fourth worldwide. As defense minister, Salman directed Saudi Arabia's military collaboration with the US and Arab allies in conducting air campaigns against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria in 2014.
Crown Prince
Following the death of his brother Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz, Salman was appointed Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia on 18 June 2012. He also assumed the role of First Deputy Prime Minister. This appointment reflected a continuation of King Abdullah's cautious reform agenda. While Salman approached reformists with greater diplomacy, he was not viewed as a political reformer, concentrating more on economic development than political transformation.
On 27 August 2012, the Royal Court declared Salman responsible for managing state affairs during King Abdullah's absence. He launched an official Twitter account on 23 February 2013. In September 2012, Salman was named deputy chairman of the military service council. Additionally, he has been a prominent supporter of charitable initiatives in impoverished Muslim nations such as Somalia, Sudan, and Afghanistan.
Reign
Salman ascended to the throne on 23 January 2015 at age 79 following the passing of his half-brother King Abdullah. He appointed his younger half-brother, Muqrin bin Abdulaziz, as Crown Prince.
Shortly after assuming power, Salman conducted a cabinet reshuffle on 30 January 2015. Khalid bin Ali bin Abdullah al-Humaidan was appointed head of intelligence. Prince Bandar bin Sultan was removed from the security council, while former monarch’s sons Turki and Mishaal were replaced as governors of Riyadh and Mecca respectively. Key ministers including Ali al-Naimi (petroleum), Saud al-Faisal (foreign affairs), and Ibrahim Al-Assaf (finance) retained their posts. Additionally, Salman authorized a two-month salary bonus for all government employees, military personnel, pensioners, and students.
In February 2015, Salman welcomed Charles, Prince of Wales, during his visit to the Middle East to discuss bilateral relations.
In April 2021, Prince Mishaal bin Majid Al Saud—who had served as governor of Jeddah since 1997—was appointed as an adviser to King Salman with ministerial rank.
Initial Reforms
Shortly after King Salman ascended the throne, he and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman undertook efforts to reduce governmental complexity. Following King Abdullah's passing, eleven government secretariats were merged into two main councils: the Council of Political and Security Affairs (CPSA), chaired by Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, and the Council for Economic and Development Affairs (CEDA), led by Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This restructuring concentrated authority within the Sudairi faction, strengthening the princes' influence over state affairs.
Military Campaign in Yemen
In March 2015, King Salman launched a military campaign in Yemen targeting the Shia Houthis and loyalists of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh. He assembled a coalition of ten Sunni-majority nations under the banner of Operation Decisive Storm, marking Saudi Arabia’s first air offensive since the 1990–91 Gulf War.
The operation has faced significant criticism from human rights groups. Evidence suggests that Saudi-led airstrikes have struck civilian zones, including camps housing internally displaced persons, prompting concerns over breaches of international humanitarian law. Human Rights Watch reported the coalition’s deployment of cluster munitions. In 2022, an airstrike on a northern Yemeni prison caused at least 70 fatalities and disrupted internet services nationwide. According to UN estimates, by late 2021, the conflict had resulted in approximately 377,000 deaths, with projections indicating potential increases to 1.3 million by 2030.
Succession Adjustments
In April 2015, just three months after becoming king, Salman appointed his nephew Muhammad bin Nayef as Crown Prince, replacing his youngest brother Prince Muqrin, while naming his son Mohammed bin Salman as Deputy Crown Prince. Both individuals were entrusted with critical roles overseeing national security and economic affairs, thus consolidating power within the king’s immediate family circle.
On 21 June 2017, King Salman dismissed Muhammad bin Nayef from all governmental roles and removed him from the line of succession, elevating Mohammed bin Salman to Crown Prince. Since then, Mohammed bin Salman has been widely acknowledged as the principal architect behind Saudi Arabia’s political direction and economic reforms.
KSRelief Initiatives
Founded in May 2015, the King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Aid (KSRelief) provides international assistance to those affected by crises and disasters in collaboration with the UN and other organizations. By mid-2018, KSRelief had implemented over 400 projects spanning 40 countries with total expenditures reaching $1.8 billion. That year alone, it supported 180,555 Syrian refugees residing in Jordan’s Zaatari camp.
In 2019, KSRelief broadened its partnerships by signing a memorandum with UNICEF aimed at improving humanitarian responses through knowledge sharing and capacity development. The center also allocated $2.3 million to supply prosthetic devices to 1,839 Yemeni civilians injured by conflict.
Emphasizing economic self-sufficiency, KSRelief initiated vocational training programs targeted at Yemeni women to bolster household incomes. It spearheaded UN-supported rehabilitation efforts for children impacted by Yemen’s ongoing war and showcased its humanitarian portfolio—comprising 328 projects valued at $2 billion—at the UN Human Rights Council.
In 2018 alone, KSRelief delivered medical aid to more than 2.5 million individuals in Yemen. The following year saw agreements with civil society groups to assist Palestinian and Syrian refugees as well as Lebanese host communities; these included $5 million in funding through UNHCR and $3.8 million via IOM aimed at vulnerable Syrian populations.
By 2020, KSRelief committed to reconstructing a Syrian refugee camp damaged during conflict in Lebanon while addressing broader refugee welfare needs. In 2021, it collaborated with UNESCO on the Kodrat project—a nearly $887,000 initiative designed to train about 1,000 Lebanese educators affected by the Beirut blast through an online platform.
Continuing its humanitarian outreach through 2022 and beyond, KSRelief prioritized food security programs for refugees in Lebanon, Sudan, Bangladesh, and Yemen. In both 2023 and 2024, it maintained medical treatment services in Yemen and expanded food distribution initiatives benefiting over 4,000 individuals in Sudan while implementing additional relief operations across Lebanon and Indonesia.
Human rights
In February 2012, Ali Mohammed Baqir al-Nimr was detained for taking part in pro-democracy demonstrations at the age of 16 or 17. Despite the legal minimum age for execution being 18 when the offense occurred, he was sentenced to death in May 2014. Ali Al-Nimr reported experiencing torture during his incarceration. By September 2015, his death sentence was pending approval from King Salman.
A man from Hafar al-Batin received a death sentence in February 2015 after renouncing Islam. In June 2015, Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court confirmed the punishment of 1,000 lashes and a decade-long imprisonment for Raif Badawi, a blogger jailed since 2012 on charges of 'insulting Islam.'
In April 2020, King Salman issued a royal decree directing the Saudi Supreme Court to eliminate the death penalty for offenders under 18, substituting it with juvenile detention for up to ten years.
Iran and Syria
During a 2015 meeting in Jeddah, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter conferred with King Salman and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman concerning regional security issues linked to the easing of Iranian economic and military sanctions under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. The King voiced concerns that the agreement might enhance Iran’s sway over proxy conflicts in Syria, Yemen, and other areas. In January 2016, Saudi Arabia executed the influential Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr, which provoked stern warnings from Iran about potential repercussions.
Saudi Arabia has played a significant role in funding and arming rebel factions opposing the Syrian regime. It openly backed the Army of Conquest, a coalition comprising groups such as the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front and the Salafi alliance Ahrar al-Sham.
In May 2019, Gulf and Arab leaders gathered for urgent summits in Mecca to demonstrate solidarity against Iran. King Salman accused Iran of endangering global oil supplies and maritime security, urging international actors to confront Tehran following attacks on vessels and rising regional tensions. He condemned Iran’s interventions across the region and its nuclear ambitions as breaches of international agreements, calling for firm actions to deter the regime.
Normalization of ties with Israel
Throughout the late 2010s and early 2020s under King Salman’s leadership, Saudi Arabia moved toward establishing normalized relations with Israel aimed at forming a strategic defense alliance against Iranian threats, including those posed by Iranian-backed groups like Yemen’s Houthis.
Panama Papers revelations
King Salman was named in connection with the Panama Papers leaks involving two companies registered in the British Virgin Islands that secured mortgages exceeding US$34 million to purchase property in London. The exact nature of his involvement remains unclear. The then-Crown Prince Muhammad bin Nayef was also linked to these documents.
Later reforms
In June 2018, King Salman enacted additional governmental reforms by appointing new ministers for labor and Islamic affairs. The selection of businessman Ahmed al-Rajhi as labor minister signaled a growing private sector role within government. Abdullatif al-Alsheikh, who became Islamic affairs minister, had previously limited the authority of the religious police. Simultaneously, King Salman founded the Ministry of Culture to support cultural goals aligned with Saudi Vision 2030 and established the Council of Royal Reserves tasked with environmental stewardship.
In September 2022, King Salman stepped down from his position as prime minister, delegating this responsibility to his son Mohammed bin Salman.
Influence
Salman has been a pivotal figure in mediating disputes within the expansive Al Saud family, which includes approximately 4,000 princes. He wielded considerable influence within the royal council responsible for assigning duties across the Kingdom.
Together with his family, Salman controls a media conglomerate that owns prominent pan-Arab newspapers such as Asharq Al-Awsat and Al Eqtisadiah. Although his direct stake in the Saudi Research and Marketing Group (SRMG) is around ten percent, he is frequently regarded as its principal owner. Control of SRMG is said to be exercised through his son, Prince Faisal, who formerly served as chairman. The group’s subsidiary, Saudi Research and Publishing Company (SRPC), publishes well-known outlets including Arab News, Asharq Al-Awsat, and Al Eqtisadiah.
Salman has cultivated strong relationships with leading journalists like Abdelrahman Al Rashid, director of Al Arabiya TV and contributor to Asharq Al-Awsat, as well as Othman Al Omeir, the founder and proprietor of the liberal digital newspaper Elaph. It is also widely believed that King Salman maintains ties with the Elaph platform.
Views
Salman holds conservative perspectives regarding political reform and societal transformation. In November 2002, when questioned about charitable organizations linked to terrorism allegations, he admitted personal involvement but stressed that support directed toward legitimate charitable causes should not implicate the Kingdom when some entities misuse such aid.
Marriages and children
Salman bin Abdulaziz has been married three times and fathered at least thirteen children, including twelve sons.
His first marriage was to his first cousin Sultana bint Turki Al Sudairi, daughter of his maternal uncle Turki bin Ahmad Al Sudairi, former governor of Asir Province. They wed in 1954 when Salman was 18 and Sultana was approximately 13 or 14 years old. She gave birth to six children, including his only known daughter. Two sons passed away during their lifetimes. Sultana died on 30 July 2011. Their offspring include:
- Prince Fahd (1955–2001), a businessman and horse breeder who died at age 47 from heart failure. Following his passing, a charity was renamed in his honor and is now under the patronage of his brother Abdulaziz.
- Prince Sultan (born 1956), recognized as the first royal, Arab, and Muslim astronaut aboard Space Shuttle Discovery in 1985. He currently leads the Saudi Space Commission and formerly headed the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities.
- Prince Ahmed (1958–2002), who died of a heart attack at age 43.
- Prince Abdulaziz (born 1960), serving as deputy minister of oil since 1995 and appointed minister of Energy in 2019.
- Prince Faisal (born 1970), governor of Madinah province.
- Princess Hassa (born 1974), Salman's sole known daughter, who married Fahd bin Saad Al Saud in May 2021.
His second marriage was to Sarah bint Faisal Al Subai'ai; they divorced after having one son:
- Prince Saud (born 1986).
Salman’s third wife is Fahda bint Falah Al Hithlain, a granddaughter of leaders from the Al Ajman tribe. According to U.S. intelligence reports, she has been separated from Salman under directives from their son Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Together they have six sons:
- Prince Mohammed (born 1985), Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia; previously served as Salman's advisor at both the Ministry of Defense and Crown Prince Court; appointed defense minister following Salman's ascension in 2015.
- Prince Turki (born 1987), chairman of the Saudi Research and Marketing Group since February 2013.
- Prince Khalid (born 1988), appointed Minister of Defence in 2022.
- Prince Nayef
- Prince Bandar
- Prince Rakan
Personality
Salman shared a particularly close bond with Crown Prince Sultan, standing by him throughout his illness and convalescence in New York City and Morocco between 2008 and 2011. In correspondence, Prince Sultan referred to him as "the prince of loyalty." Additionally, Salman was recognized as King Fahd's most reliable adviser during his tenure.
His legal representation in a lawsuit brought by families of the September 11 attack victims from 2002 to 2010 was handled by William Jeffress Jr. of Baker Botts LLP.
In 2013, Salman was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Al-Turath Charity Foundation for his contributions to urban heritage. He also committed US$15 million in 2017 to support Rohingya Muslim refugees residing in Bangladesh.
Health
Salman underwent spinal surgery in the United States in August 2010 and stayed abroad for his recuperation. He has suffered a stroke that has led to diminished mobility in his left arm despite ongoing physiotherapy. Medical reports suggest he experiences mild vascular dementia along with probable Alzheimer's dementia.
In July 2020, King Salman successfully underwent gallbladder surgery. More recently, in May 2024, he was diagnosed with a lung infection and commenced antibiotic therapy.
Honours
See also
External links
- "Shifting Sands and the Gulf" regarding Sulayman's ascension to the throne
- "King Salman Royal Profile" featured by Royal Families of the World
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- 1935 births
- 20th-century Saudi Arabian politicians
- 21st-century kings of Saudi Arabia
- Crown princes of Saudi Arabia
- Defense ministers of Saudi Arabia
- Deputy prime ministers of Saudi Arabia
- Foreign recipients of the Nishan-e-Pakistan
- Governors of Riyadh Province
- Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit
- Honorary commanders of the Order of the Defender of the Realm
- Living people
- People named in the Panama Papers
- Prime ministers of Saudi Arabia
- Recipients of Grand Collar of Palestine
- Recipients of orders, decorations, and medals of Egypt
- Recipients of the Order of Al-Said
- Recipients of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 1st class
- Recipients of the Order of Al-Hussein bin Ali
- Recipients of the Order of the Crown of the Realm
- Saudi Arabian billionaires
- Sudairi Seven