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King AbdullahKing of Saudi Arabia since 2005
Date of Birth: 01.08.1924
Country:  Saudi Arabia |
Content:
Biography of King Abdullah
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia was born on August 1924 in Riyadh, the capital of the Sultanate of Nejd. He was the son of King Abdulaziz Al Saud, the first king of Saudi Arabia, and Fahda bint Asi Al Shuraim, a member of the influential Shammari tribe. Abdullah received a traditional Islamic education under the guidance of his father and spent a lot of time in the desert with his mother, where he became accustomed to the Bedouin way of life.
Early Career
Abdullah's first government position was that of the governor of Mecca. In October 1962, he was appointed by Crown Prince Faisal as the commander of the National Guard, an independent armed force responsible for protecting the royal family, as well as the oil fields and the cities of Mecca and Medina. This appointment was part of a plot organized by Crown Prince Faisal and the ulema (council of Muslim theologians and jurists) against King Saud, who was on medical treatment at the time and was forced to flee the country in 1964.
Abdullah's reforms transformed the National Guard into a well-organized military structure. In 1975, King Khalid appointed Abdullah as the second deputy prime minister, signaling that Abdullah could potentially become the heir to the throne. He remained the commander of the National Guard.
Rise to Power
After the death of King Khalid, the new king, Fahd, appointed Abdullah as his crown prince and first deputy prime minister in June 1982. As the crown prince, Abdullah actively intervened in Middle Eastern politics. He supported the deployment of Syrian troops to Lebanon in 1984 and demanded the withdrawal of American Marines from the conflict zone. In 1988, he played a key role as a mediator in the peace negotiations between Iran and Iraq.
In 1990, after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, Abdullah opposed the presence of American troops on Saudi Arabian soil but later agreed to join the anti-Iraq coalition. In 1992, King Fahd issued a decree asserting his right to appoint the crown prince or change the existing candidate, which was perceived as an attempt to deprive Abdullah of his inheritance rights due to disagreements between the king and his heir during the Gulf War. Abdullah's rival was his full brother, Sultan, who served as the second deputy prime minister and defense minister.
Reign as King
On August 1, 2005, King Fahd passed away, and Abdullah ascended to the throne of Saudi Arabia at the age of 81. After Fahd's death, Prince Sultan was appointed crown prince by Abdullah, despite their past disagreements. Abdullah also remained the commander of the National Guard and announced the creation of a succession council to determine the order of succession to the throne among the children and grandchildren of King Abdulaziz. However, due to the illness of Crown Prince Sultan, it is currently unclear who will be the next king.
During his reign, King Abdullah focused on economic reforms aimed at diversifying the economy and promoting tourism. He also implemented measures to combat corruption and reduce expenses on the royal family. In the field of foreign policy, Abdullah sought to distance Saudi Arabia from the United States but maintained diplomatic relations and met with several American presidents. He also played a significant role in regional peace initiatives, including the Arab-Israeli conflict.
King Abdullah passed away on January 23, 2015, leaving behind a legacy of social and economic reforms and efforts to promote regional stability.
