Salman of Saudi Arabia

ABOUT

Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, born on December 31, 1935, is the current King of Saudi Arabia. He ascended to the throne on January 23, 2015, following the death of his half-brother, King Abdullah. King Salman's tenure has been marked by significant economic reforms and a more assertive foreign policy, particularly in the Middle East.

As a senior member of the House of Saud, King Salman holds substantial influence within the kingdom. Before becoming king, he served as the governor of Riyadh for nearly five decades, during which he played a critical role in transforming the capital into a major urban metropolis. His royal career also includes a stint as the Minister of Defense from 2011 until 2015.

BEFORE FAME

Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud was born in Riyadh, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He is one of the many sons of the kingdom's founder, King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud. Salman began his formal education at the Princes' School in Riyadh, an institution established by his father to educate his sons. In his early years, Salman showed a strong interest in governance and public service, attitudes that would shape his long and distinguished career in Saudi politics.

Salman's first major political role came in 1954 at the young age of 19, when he was appointed as the Deputy Governor of Riyadh Province. The following year, he was promoted to governor, a position he held for nearly 48 years until 2011. As governor, he was instrumental in modernizing the city and improving infrastructure, healthcare, and education.

TRIVIA

• Salman is one of the "Sudairi Seven," a powerful bloc of seven brothers born to King Abdulaziz and his favorite wife, Hassa bint Ahmed Al Sudairi.
• King Salman was awarded the Legion of Honour by France in 1984.
• His reign has seen the introduction of Saudi Vision 2030, an ambitious plan aimed at diversifying the kingdom's economy away from oil dependency.
• He has earned a reputation as an avid reader with a keen interest in history.

FAMILY LIFE

King Salman has had a sizeable and influential family life, consisting of multiple wives and children. His most influential wife was Sultana bint Turki Al Sudairi, who passed away in 2011. Together, they had six sons and one daughter. His son, Mohammad bin Salman, commonly referred to as MBS, is the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and is widely considered the driving force behind many of the kingdom's recent reforms.

Another of his sons, Prince Sultan bin Salman, made history as the first Muslim and Arab astronaut when he flew on the Space Shuttle Discovery in 1985. Salman's family remains a cornerstone of his political and social life, reinforcing the royal lineage's influence in the kingdom.

ASSOCIATED WITH

Throughout his life and reign, King Salman has been associated with numerous international figures and political leaders. He has maintained long-standing relationships with various U.S. Presidents, including Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden, and has engaged in diplomatic efforts with leaders like Vladimir Putin of Russia and Xi Jinping of China. His policies and initiatives, particularly within the scope of Saudi Vision 2030, have also brought him into frequent collaboration with global economic institutions, multinational corporations, and tech leaders such as Elon Musk.

In the context of regional politics, King Salman has been closely associated with other Gulf leaders, such as Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the UAE, often navigating complex geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East.