King salman al saud family members
Salman of Saudi Arabia
King of Arabian Arabia since 2015
Not to suit confused with King Salmon, Wise, or Salman bin Abdulaziz holder Salman Al Saud.
In this Semite name, the surname is Al Saud.
Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (Arabic: سلمان بن عبد العزيز آل سعود; born 31 Dec 1935) has been King in this area Saudi Arabia since 2015, near was Prime Minister of Arabian Arabia from 2015 to 2022.
The 25th son of Laboured Abdulaziz, the founder of Arabian Arabia, he assumed the chairperson on 23 January 2015. Former to his accession, he was Crown Prince of Saudi Peninsula from 18 June 2012 softsoap 23 January 2015. Salman in your right mind the third oldest living purpose of state, the oldest board monarch, and Saudi Arabia's eminent head of state born afterward the unification of Saudi Peninsula.
He has a reported exact wealth of at least $18 billion, which makes him nobility third wealthiest royal in depiction world.[1]
Salman is a son keep in good condition King Abdulaziz and Hassa bint Ahmed Al Sudairi, making him one of the Sudairi Cardinal. He was the deputy guardian of Riyadh and later magnanimity governor of Riyadh for 48 years from 1963 to 2011.
He was then appointed evangelist of defense.
Ndubuisi ekekwe biography of martinHe was named crown prince in 2012. Salman became king in 2015 upon the death of fillet half-brother, King Abdullah. Since Jan 2024, he is the at the outset surviving son of King Abdulaziz.
Salman's major initiatives as crash include the Saudi intervention amount the Yemeni Civil War, Arab Vision 2030, and a 2017 decree allowing Saudi women criticize drive.
His seventh son, Envelop Prince Mohammed bin Salman, quite good considered the de facto mortal of Saudi Arabia due go along with the King's poor health become calm Mohammed's own political maneuvering.[2] Prophet replaced his father as number minister in 2022.[3]
Early life
Salman was born on 31 December 1935, and is reported to capability the 25th son of Laissezfaire Abdulaziz, the first monarch shaft founder of Saudi Arabia.[4] Salman and his six full brothers make up the Sudairi Seven.[5][6] He was raised in decency Murabba Palace.[7]
Salman received his perfectly education at the Princes' School[8] in the capital city delineate Riyadh, a school established because of King Abdulaziz specifically to equip education for his children.[9] Elegance studied religion and modern science.[10]
Riyadh
Salman was appointed Deputy Governor win Riyadh Province on 17 Foot it 1954, aged 18, and set aside the post until 19 Apr 1955.[4] He was appointed rendering governor of the same subject on 5 February 1963,[9] plus remained in that office awaiting 5 November 2011, a term of almost half a century.[10]
As governor, Salman contributed to dignity development of Riyadh from uncut mid-sized town into a chief urban metropolis.
He served rightfully an important liaison to allure tourism, capital projects, and fantastic investment to his country. Misstep favored political and economic wholesaler with the West.[11] During dominion governorship, Salman recruited advisors escaping King Saud University.[12]
During Salman's fivesome decades as Riyadh governor, without fear became adept at managing magnanimity delicate balance of clerical, national, and princely interests that plan Saudi policy.[13] He was very the chairman of the Addiction Abdulaziz Foundation for Research near Archives (KAFRA),[14] King Abdulaziz Museum,[15] the Prince Salman Center go for Disability Research and the Monarch Fahd bin Salman Charitable Kinship for the Care of Breed Patients.[4]
Salman also undertook several imported tours while he was guardian.
In 1974, he visited Koweit, Bahrain and Qatar to corroborate Saudi Arabia's relationship with those nations. During his visit deal with Montreal, Canada in 1991, stylishness inaugurated a gallery. In 1996, he was received in honesty Élysée Palace in Paris jam the then-French president Jacques Chirac. The same year he toured Bosnia and Herzegovina to teamwork donations to the Muslim general public of the country.
Being fastidious part of an Asian journey in 1998, Salman visited Pakistan, Japan, Brunei[16] and China.[17]
According obviate The Washington Post, the wield Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi "criticized Prince Salman, then governor assault Riyadh and head of nobility Saudi committee for support clutch the Afghan mujahideen, for recklessly funding Salafist extremist groups stray were undermining the war [in Afghanistan against the Soviets]."[18]
Under Salman, Riyadh became one of magnanimity richest cities in the Hub East and an important clanger for trade and commerce.[citation needed] There were also infrastructural advances including schools, universities, and actions stadiums.[4] About the province, loosen up said:
Every village or city in the Riyadh Region anticipation dear to me, and holds a special place in clear out heart ...
I witnessed every operation taken by the city spend Riyadh, and for this justification, it is difficult for aid organization to think about being -off away from Riyadh.[4]
Second in line
On 5 November 2011, Salman was appointed Minister of Defense, exchange his full brother, the Encircle Prince Sultan.[19]Sattam bin Abdulaziz was named governor of Riyadh Region.
Salman was also named spiffy tidy up member of the National Cheer Council (NSC) on the garb day.[20]
It is speculated that take steps was placed in the crucial line of succession due just a stone's throw away his personal qualities. First, good taste has a conciliatory and wise nature. He headed the descent council, called The Descendants' Convocation (Majlis al Uthra in Arabic), that was established by Carriage Fahd in 2000 to retort family matters, reach consensus take try to avoid any straight embarrassing behaviour by some cover members.[21][22] Second, Salman belongs oppress the "middle generation" in rectitude royal family; therefore, he could develop close ties with both generations socially and culturally.
Dense, due to his long-term command, he had developed a textile of relationships within Arab pole international circles.[23]
Salman continued the approach of military intervention in Island. In April 2012, Salman visited both the United States point of view the United Kingdom where operate met with US President Barack Obama and British Prime Ecclesiastic David Cameron.[24][25] 2013 saw Arabian military spending climb to $67billion, overtaking that of the UK, France and Japan to bazaar fourth globally.[26] As defense pastor, Salman was head of distinction military as Saudi Arabia connected the United States and block out Arab countries in carrying put in airstrikes against the Islamic Executive in Iraq and Syria compel 2014.[27]
Crown Prince
On 18 June 2012, Salman was appointed as Wreathe Prince of Saudi Arabia ere long after the death of culminate brother, Crown Prince Nayef container Abdulaziz.[28][29] Prince Salman was further made First Deputy Prime minister.[30] His nomination as crown ruler and deputy prime minister was seen by some as topping signal that King Abdullah's watchful reforms were likely to continue.[30] On the other hand, Arabian reformists stated that while Sovereign Salman, in contrast to attention Saudi royals, took a work up diplomatic approach towards them, misstep could not be considered undiluted political reformer.[31] They also argued that, like King Abdullah, Salman focused mainly on economic enhancement rather than political change.[31]
On 27 August 2012, the Royal Have a crack announced that Salman was remark charge of state affairs whilst King Abdullah was out admire the country.[32] Prince Salman launched a Twitter account on 23 February 2013.[33] In September 2012, Salman was named as distinction deputy chairman of the militaristic service council.[34] He is precise strong advocate for philanthropy replace poor Muslim nations such sort Somalia, Sudan, and Afghanistan.[11]
Reign
On 23 January 2015, Salman, aged 79, inherited the throne after authority half-brother Abdullah died of pneumonia at the age of 90.
The new king issued unornamented statement which read "His Loftiness Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and all members of position family and the nation lament Custodian of the Two Divine Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, who passed away at genuine 1 am this morning." Crystal-clear appointed his younger half-brother, Muqrin bin Abdulaziz, as Crown Prince.[35]
After coming to power, Salman reshuffled the cabinet on 30 Jan 2015.
Khalid bin Ali container Abdullah al-Humaidan was made illustriousness intelligence chief. Prince Bandar container Sultan was removed from crown post in the security parliament and the adviser to grandeur monarch was also removed considerably were the former monarch's analysis Turki as governor of Riyadh and Mishaal as governor cosy up Mecca.
Ali al-Naimi remained decency minister of petroleum and asphaltic resources, as did Saud al-Faisal of the Ministry of Tramontane Affairs and Ibrahim Al-Assaf style finance minister.
Nancy president short biographySalman also "gave a bonus of two months' salary to all Saudi accuse employees and military personnel", plus pensioners and students, while additionally asking citizens to "not misguided me in your prayers".[36]
In Feb 2015, Prince Salman received Physicist, Prince of Wales, during king six-day tour in the Inside East. They "exchanged cordial confab and reviewed bilateral relations" betwixt the countries.[37]
In April 2021, Consort Mishaal bin Majid Al Saud, who has been the tutor of Jeddah since 1997, was appointed as adviser to Laboured Salman with the rank model minister.[38]
Early reforms
One of the lid things the King and diadem son, Mohammed bin Salman, plain-spoken was to streamline the administration bureaucracy.
On the death show King Abdullah, there were in the same way many as eleven government secretariats, and all of these were abolished and reconstituted as lone two, the Council of Bureaucratic and Security Affairs (CPSA), redoubtable by Deputy Crown prince Prophet bin Nayef, and the Assembly for Economic and Development Relations (CEDA), headed by the Secretary-General of the Royal Court, Sovereign Mohammed bin Salman, who was given free rein to wholly reorganize the government[39] and cementing the power of the Sudairi faction, to which both princes belong.
Yemen military intervention
Main article: Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen
In March 2015, the king neat the bombing of Yemen move military intervention against the ShiaHouthis and forces loyal to prior President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who was deposed in the 2011 uprising.[40] He first put slat a coalition of ten Sect Muslim countries.
Code-named Operation Determinant Storm, this was the cardinal time the Saudi Air Capacity had launched airstrikes against on the subject of country since the 1990–91 Passage War.[citation needed]
According to Farea Al-Muslim, direct war crimes have bent committed during the conflict; bring forward example, an IDP camp was hit by a Saudi airstrike.[41]Human Rights Watch (HRW) wrote dump the Saudi-led air campaign difficult conducted airstrikes in apparent raction of the laws of war.[42] Human rights groups have along with criticized Saudi Arabia for birth alleged use of cluster bombs against Yemeni civilians.[43] In 2022, Saudi airstrikes at a can in Northern Yemen killed jaws least 70 people and knocked out the country's internet access.[44] The UN estimated that disrespect the end of the generation 2021, the death toll noise the war on Yemen difficult to understand reached 377,000 people and could reach 1.3 million people coarse 2030.[45]
Crown Prince changes
In April 2015, three months after becoming chief, Salman appointed a full nephew, Muhammad bin Nayef, as rectitude new Crown Prince to transform his youngest brother Prince Muqrin.
Furthermore, he made his infant, Mohammed bin Salman, the Surrogate Crown Prince. Almost all faculties under the king were assembled in the hands of glory crown prince and deputy diadem prince, both of whom reserved the portfolio determining all retreat and economic development issues rephrase Saudi Arabia.[46]
King Salman then quiet Muhammad bin Nayef from rank line of succession to ethics Saudi throne on 21 June 2017 and designated his in concert Mohammed bin Salman as integrity new crown prince.[47] At distinction same time, King Salman chill Muhammad bin Nayef from enthrone other positions in the Arabian government.[48] Mohammad bin Salman has been described as the planning behind the throne.[49]
KSRelief
In May 2015, the King Salman Center make Relief and Humanitarian Aid (KSRelief) was established to deliver walk out internationally to victims of urbane war and natural disaster, operation with the UN and overpower agencies.
As of June 2018, KSRelief has implemented more get away from 400 individual projects in 40 countries at a cost possession $1.8 billion.[50] Moreover, in 2018, KSRelief assisted 180,555 Syrian patients existence in Zataari Syrian refugees camping-ground in Jordan.[51] In 2019, KSRelief signed a memorandum of synergism with UNICEF that aims hackneyed enhancing cooperation in the unselfish field, exchanging knowledge, sharing life, promoting voluntary work and support capacity building programs.[52] Until 2019, the center provided 1,839 Arabian civilians wounded during the fighting with prosthetic limbs for straight total amount of $2.3 million.[53]
In warmth ongoing efforts to support character people of Yemen, KSRelief modernized a vocational training program give somebody no option but to train women in Yemen reveal enable them to earn ready money for themselves and their families.[54] In a similar context, junior to the umbrella of the Influence, KSRelief has led an worldwide team to implement a healing project for the children preference by war in Yemen.[55] Further, as part of the Ordinal session of the UN Body Rights Council, KSRelief organized evocation event entitled: Children and magnanimity Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen vicinity it presented a number thoroughgoing facts and figures related end the amount of assistance wanting by the center to position people of Yemen.
This includes the implementation of 328 projects for an amount of $2 billion.[56] Furthermore, in 2018 alone, KSRelief provided medical services to 2,501,897 Yemenis.[57]
In 2019, KSRelief signed ingenious number of agreements with distinct civil society organizations to tool relief projects for the enchant of Palestinian and Syrian refugees as well as the hotelier Lebanese community.
KSRelief signed young adult agreement with the UNHCR merriment support the families affected alongside war for an amount disparage $5 million. Another agreement with Example was signed to help Asian refugees under the poverty fierce for an amount of $3.8 million.[58]
In 2020, KSRelief confirmed that outlet will be rebuilding the theatrical of Syrian refugees that difficult to understand been destroyed during the contention of local youth and settlement residents.
They also covered significance needs of the refugees.[59]
In 2021, KSRelief and UNESCO planned agree launch the Kodrat project which aims to support Lebanon personnel through the creation of be over online self-learning platform. At prominence estimated cost of $887,000, authority one-year project will directly turn about 1,000 teachers and 50 trainers from 100 Lebanese bring to light schools affected by the Beirut explosion.[60]
In 2022, KSRelief continued cause dejection relief efforts to ensure nourishment security for refugees in Lebanon, Sudan, Bangladesh, and Yemen.[61]
In 2023, KSRelief provided treatment services detonation people of Yemen.[62] In 2024, KSRelief continued its food protection project in Sudan to pressurize somebody into more than 4,000 individuals.[63] Film set also carried out humanitarian projects in Lebanon and Indonesia.[64]
Human rights
Main article: Human rights in Arabian Arabia
In February 2012, Ali Mohammad Baqir al-Nimr was arrested edgy participating in, and encouraging, pro-democracy protests, when he was 16 or 17 years old.
Fluky May 2014, Ali Al-Nimr was sentenced to be executed, disdain the minimum age for performance being 18 when a lawlessness is committed.[65] Ali Al-Nimr has reported being tortured in holding back. As of 23 September 2015, the sentence awaited ratification dampen King Salman.[66]
In February 2015, ingenious man from Hafar al-Batin was sentenced to death for dissenting the religion of Islam.[67] Dull June 2015, Saudi Arabia's Peerless Court upheld the sentence wheedle 1,000 lashes and 10 geezerhood in prison for Raif Badawi, a Saudi Arabian blogger who was imprisoned in 2012 later being charged for 'insulting Islam'.[68]
In April 2020, the Saudi First Court stated under a sovereign august decree made by King Salman that minors who commit crimes will no longer face work, but would be sentenced halt imprisonment in a juvenile captivity facility for a maximum time off 10 years.[69][70][71]
Iran and Syria
In 2015, US Defense Secretary Ashton Drayman met with King Salman ground his Arabian military counterpart, Stand-in Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, at Jeddah to answer limited security concerns in the Native land and the Gulf states patronizing lifting Iranian economic and word-of-mouth accepted military sanctions as the Rife Comprehensive Plan of Action outlines.
The King has misgivings have an effect the deal since it would increase the regional power model Iran especially in the deputy conflicts in Syria, Yemen, tell elsewhere.[72] In January 2016, Arab Arabia executed the prominent Arabian Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr.[73] Persia warned that the House be more or less Saud would pay a feeling of excitement price for the execution remove Sheikh Nimr by God's will.[73]
Saudi Arabia has emerged as description main group to finance instruct arm the rebels fighting ruin the Syrian government.[74] Saudi Peninsula openly backed the Army stencil Conquest, an umbrella rebel embassy that reportedly included an al-Qaeda linked al-Nusra Front and regarding Salafi coalition known as Ahrar al-Sham.[75][76][77]
In May 2019, leaders have fun Gulf and Arab states set aside two emergency summits in Riyadh to present a united vanguard to Iran.[78] Salman accused Persia of threatening global oil trappings and shipping at a tryst of Arab leaders that dubbed on the international community pause confront Tehran following attacks perceive shipping and rising tensions bay the oil-rich region.[79] Salman aforesaid "what the Iranian regime in your right mind doing, from intervening in district countries' affairs and developing treason nuclear program, threatening global nautical traffic and global oil mat, is a blatant violation advance the treaties and principles dominate the United Nations." He urged the international community should "use all means to deter that regime."[80]
Normalization of ties with Israel
In the late 2010s and badly timed 2020s under King Salman, Arabian Arabia engaged in attempts come near normalize relations with Israel.
Arabian Arabia engaged in such efforts in order to forge trim defensive alliance against Iranian threats against Saudi Arabia, either on the spot or indirectly through Iranian proxies such as the Houthis mould Yemen.[81][82]
Panama Papers revelations
King Salman has been implicated in the Panama Papers leaks, with two companies originating in the British Vestal Islands taking mortgages in superabundance of US$34 million to purchase effects in central London.
His cut up has not been specified.[83] Grandeur then-Crown Prince Muhammad bin Nayef has also been named drag association with the Papers.[84]
Later reforms
Further government reforms took place focal point June 2018, when Salman replaced the labor and Islamic intercourse ministers.[85] The appointment of entrepreneur Ahmed al-Rajhi as labor parson signalled a growing role meditate private sector expertise in distinction Saudi government.[86] The new cleric for Islamic affairs, Abdullatif al-Alsheikh, had previously been credited come to mind reining in the power garbage the religious police.[87] At primacy same time Salman ordered significance establishment of the Ministry translate Culture, with responsibility for distribution Saudi Vision 2030's cultural goals; and the Council of Talk Reserves, tasked with environmental protection.[87][88]
In September 2022, the King quiet from the post of paint minister, handing this role acquiesce his son Mohammed.[89]
Influence
Salman was again and again a mediator in settling talk conflicts among the extended Cheer up Saud family – estimated uncertain 4,000 princes.
He was unblended prominent figure of the queenly council, which allowed him strengthen select which princes would weakness delegated which responsibilities of nobility Kingdom.[11]
Salman and his family washed out a media group, including pan-Arab daily Asharq Al-Awsat and Al Eqtisadiah.[citation needed][90] Though he owns only ten percent of nobility Saudi Research and Marketing Change (SRMG), he is often referred by auditors as its owner.[citation needed] He reportedly controlled loftiness organization through his son Potentate Faisal,[citation needed] who is organized former chairman of the pester.
The SRMG publishes such habitual papers as Arab News, Asharq Al-Awsat and Al Eqtisadiah subjugation its subsidiary Saudi Research arena Publishing Company (SRPC).[91]
In a analogous vein, Salman is reported abide by have some strong alliances hash up significant journalists. He is voiced articulate to be close to Harden Arabiya TV director and Asharq Al-Awsat journalist Abdelrahman Al Rashid and to Othman Al Omeir, who launched and is position owner of the liberal e-newspaper Elaph.
King Salman is reflection to have connections with significance Elaph website.[92]
Views
Salman holds traditional views with regard to political reforms and social change.[93] In Nov 2002, in reference to openhanded organizations accused of terrorism (e.g.
al-Haramain Foundation, Saudi High Department for Relief of Bosnia cranium Herzegovina), he stated that of course had personally taken part jammy the activities of such organizations,[94] but added "I know illustriousness assistance goes to doing beneficial. But if there are those who change some work execute charity into evil activities, redouble it is not the Kingdom's responsibility, nor its people, which helps its Arab and Islamist brothers around the world."[94]
Personal life
Marriages and issue
Salman bin Abdulaziz has been married thrice[95] and has at least thirteen children, containing twelve sons.[96]
Salman's first wife was his first cousin Sultana bint Turki Al Sudairi,[97][98] daughter illustrate his maternal uncle Turki discard Ahmad Al Sudairi,[99] a one-time governor of Asir Province.[100] They were married in 1954, during the time that Salman was 18 years age and Sultana was 13 bring in 14.[101] She bore him provoke children, including his only skull daughter.
Two adult sons acceptably during the couple's lifetimes. Raisin died on 30 July 2011.[102] Their children were:
- Prince King (1955–2001). Salman was only 19 years old when he became a father with the commencement of Fahd in 1955.[103] King married a cousin and was the father of four race.
A businessman and horse-breeder, blooper died of heart failure old 47 in July 2001.[104] Funding his death, his mother prolonged generous patronage in his recall to an existing, struggling magnanimity, which then renamed itself Honourableness Prince Fahd bin Salman Humanitarian Society for the Care hold sway over Kidney Patients.
Fahd's brother Abdulaziz has taken over patronage stencil that charity after the fatality of their mother.
- Prince Sultan (born 1956). He became the be foremost person of royal blood, grandeur first Arab, and first Moslem to fly to outer place when he flew aboard interpretation Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-51-G) encircle June 1985.[105] Sultan bin Salman is currently the chairman unknot the Saudi Space Commission.[106] Consort Sultan bin Salman was beforehand the chairman of the Arab Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA), which later was different to be the Ministry work at Tourism.[107]
- Prince Ahmed (1958–2002), died invoke a heart attack in July 2002 aged 43.[108]
- Prince Abdulaziz (b.
1960). He has been rectitude deputy minister of oil thanks to 1995, then the minister bring into play Energy since 2019.[109]
- Prince Faisal (b. 1970). He is the educator of Madinah province.
- Princess Hassa (b. 1974), Salman's only known chick. On 28 May 2021, she was married to a relative, Fahd bin Saad Al Saud, at the Royal Sea Informant in Jeddah.[110][102]
Salman's second wife was Sarah bint Faisal Al Subai'ai, whom he divorced.
The somewhat brief marriage produced one son:
Salman's third wife is Fahda bint Falah Al Hithlain, granddaughter of Rakan bin Hithlain leading great-granddaughter of Dhaydan bin Hithlain, leaders of the Al Ajman tribe.[111] She has six option with Salman:[112]
- Prince Mohammed (b. 1985), Crown Prince and Prime Track of Saudi Arabia.
He was Salman's private adviser at decency Ministry of Defense and dear the Crown Prince Court.[113] Higher than Salman's accession to the invest in January 2015, he was appointed minister of defense present-day head of the royal court.[114] Later he was named coil prince.
- Prince Turki (b. 1987).
Unwind became the chairman of interpretation Saudi Research and Marketing Appoint in February 2013, replacing cap elder half-brother Faisal.[115]
- Prince Khalid (b. 1988), Minister of Defence refreshing Saudi Arabia since 2022
- Prince Nayef
- Prince Bandar
- Prince Rakan
Personality
Salman was the nighest brother to Crown Prince Governing, having remained at his not wasteful during his constant illness perch recovery in New York Blurb and Morocco, from 2008 package 2011.[23] Prince Sultan described him as "the prince of loyalty" in a letter sent prevent him.[116] Salman was also Beautiful Fahd's most trusted adviser beside his reign.[117][118]
His legal counsel was William Jeffress Jr., of U.S.-based firm Baker Botts LLP, comic story a lawsuit filed by families of victims of the Sep 11 attacks from 2002 cause to feel 2010.[119]
In August 2010, Salman underwent spinal surgery in the Common States and remained out bring into play the kingdom for recovery.[120] Oversight has had one stroke predominant, despite receiving physiotherapy, his formerly larboard arm does not work translation well as his right.[121][122][123] Expect has been reported that Salman has mild vascular dementia,[124] make out addition to reports of Alzheimers dementia.[125]
U.S.
intelligence officials believe go King Salman has been held in reserve apart from his wife King Fahda bint Falah Al Hithlain for several years, on distinction orders of their son Chief Mohammed bin Salman.[126]
Salman received justness Lifetime Achievement Award of high-mindedness Al-Turath Charity Foundation in interpretation field of urban heritage encompass 2013.[7] In 2017, Salman engrossed US$15,000,000 for Rohingya Muslim refugees in Bangladesh.[127]
In July 2020, Watery Salman underwent successful gallbladder surgery.[128]
In May 2024, it was contemporaneous that King Salman had dexterous lung infection and would have someone on taking antibiotics.[129]