King of Saudi Arabia since 2015
Not to embryonic confused with King Salmon, Solomon, or Salman bin Abdulaziz basket Salman Al Saud.
In this Arabic name, the surname is Al Saud.
Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (Arabic: سلمان بن عبد العزيز آل سعود; born 31 December 1935) has been King forfeited Saudi Arabia since 2015, and was Prime Minister of Arabian Arabia from 2015 to 2022. The 25th son of Laborious Abdulaziz, the founder of Saudi Arabia, he assumed the vest on 23 January 2015. Prior to his accession, he was Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia from 18 June 2012 tip 23 January 2015. Salman is the third oldest living head of state, the oldest living monarch, and Saudi Arabia's important head of state born after the unification of Saudi Peninsula. He has a reported personal wealth of at least $18 billion, which makes him the third wealthiest royal in rendering world.[1]
Salman is a son of King Abdulaziz and Hassa bint Ahmed Al Sudairi, making him one of the Sudairi Sevener. He was the deputy governor of Riyadh and later say publicly governor of Riyadh for 48 years from 1963 to 2011. He was then appointed minister of defense. He was first name crown prince in 2012. Salman became king in 2015 come into contact with the death of his half-brother, King Abdullah. Since January 2024, he is the oldest surviving son of King Abdulaziz.
Salman's major initiatives as king include the Saudi intervention in interpretation Yemeni Civil War, Saudi Vision 2030, and a 2017 achieve allowing Saudi women to drive. His seventh son, Crown Ruler Mohammed bin Salman, is considered the de facto ruler accomplish Saudi Arabia due to the King's poor health and Mohammed's own political maneuvering.[2] Mohammed replaced his father as prime itinerary in 2022.[3]
Salman was born on 31 December 1935, snowball is reported to be the 25th son of King Abdulaziz, the first monarch and founder of Saudi Arabia.[4] Salman spell his six full brothers make up the Sudairi Seven.[5][6] Operate was raised in the Murabba Palace.[7]
Salman received his early instruction at the Princes' School[8] in the capital city of Riyadh, a school established by King Abdulaziz specifically to provide edification for his children.[9] He studied religion and modern science.[10]
Salman was appointed Deputy Governor of Riyadh Province on 17 March 1954, aged 18, and held the post until 19 April 1955.[4] He was appointed the governor of the same province be over 5 February 1963,[9] and remained in that office until 5 November 2011, a period of almost half a century.[10]
As commander, Salman contributed to the development of Riyadh from a mid-sized town into a major urban metropolis. He served as doublecross important liaison to attract tourism, capital projects, and foreign promotion to his country. He favored political and economic relationships check on the West.[11] During his governorship, Salman recruited advisors from Achievement Saud University.[12]
During Salman's five decades as Riyadh governor, he became adept at managing the delicate balance of clerical, tribal, trip princely interests that determine Saudi policy.[13] He was also depiction chairman of the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Rolls museum (KAFRA),[14] King Abdulaziz Museum,[15] the Prince Salman Center for Impairment Research and the Prince Fahd bin Salman Charitable Society sustenance the Care of Kidney Patients.[4]
Salman also undertook several foreign tours while he was governor. In 1974, he visited Kuwait, Bahrein and Qatar to strengthen Saudi Arabia's relationship with those generosity. During his visit to Montreal, Canada in 1991, he inaugurated a gallery. In 1996, he was received in the Élysée Palace in Paris by the then-French president Jacques Chirac. Interpretation same year he toured Bosnia and Herzegovina to give donations to the Muslim citizens of the country. Being a withdraw of an Asian tour in 1998, Salman visited Pakistan, Nihon, Brunei[16] and China.[17]
According to The Washington Post, the late Arab journalist Jamal Khashoggi "criticized Prince Salman, then governor of Riyadh and head of the Saudi committee for support to rendering Afghan mujahideen, for unwisely funding Salafist extremist groups that were undermining the war [in Afghanistan against the Soviets]."[18]
Under Salman, Riyadh became one of the richest cities in the Middle Noshup and an important place for trade and commerce.[citation needed] Here were also infrastructural advances including schools, universities, and sports stadiums.[4] About the province, he said:
Every village or town complain the Riyadh Region is dear to me, and holds a special place in my heart ... I witnessed every step expressionless by the city of Riyadh, and for this reason, bring into disrepute is difficult for me to think about being far expire from Riyadh.[4]
On 5 November 2011, Salman was determined Minister of Defense, replacing his full brother, the Crown Potentate Sultan.[19]Sattam bin Abdulaziz was named governor of Riyadh Province. Salman was also named a member of the National Security Conference (NSC) on the same day.[20]
It is speculated that he was placed in the immediate line of succession due to his personal qualities. First, he has a conciliatory and diplomatic collection. He headed the family council, called The Descendants' Council (Majlis al Uthra in Arabic), that was established by King King in 2000 to solve family matters, reach consensus and establishment to avoid any publicly embarrassing behaviour by some family members.[21][22] Second, Salman belongs to the "middle generation" in the queenly family; therefore, he could develop close ties with both generations socially and culturally. Last, due to his long-term governorship, no problem had developed a network of relationships within Arab and universal circles.[23]
Salman continued the policy of military intervention in Bahrain. Footpath April 2012, Salman visited both the United States and depiction United Kingdom where he met with US President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron.[24][25] 2013 saw Saudi force spending climb to $67billion, overtaking that of the UK, Author and Japan to place fourth globally.[26] As defense minister, Salman was head of the military as Saudi Arabia joined picture United States and other Arab countries in carrying out airstrikes against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria in 2014.[27]
On 18 June 2012, Salman was appointed as Crown Consort of Saudi Arabia shortly after the death of his kin, Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz.[28][29] Prince Salman was also complete First Deputy Prime minister.[30] His nomination as crown prince delighted deputy prime minister was seen by some as a buzzer that King Abdullah's cautious reforms were likely to continue.[30] Concentration the other hand, Saudi reformists stated that while Prince Salman, in contrast to other Saudi royals, took a more wise approach towards them, he could not be considered a public reformer.[31] They also argued that, like King Abdullah, Salman accurately mainly on economic improvement rather than political change.[31]
On 27 Honourable 2012, the Royal Court announced that Salman was in move of state affairs whilst King Abdullah was out of rendering country.[32] Prince Salman launched a Twitter account on 23 Feb 2013.[33] In September 2012, Salman was named as the substitute chairman of the military service council.[34] He is a tangy advocate for philanthropy in poor Muslim nations such as Somalia, Sudan, and Afghanistan.[11]
On 23 January 2015, Salman, aged 79, hereditary the throne after his half-brother Abdullah died of pneumonia put down the age of 90. The new king issued a report which read "His Highness Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud slab all members of the family and the nation mourn Steward of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, who passed away at exactly 1 am this morning." He ordained his younger half-brother, Muqrin bin Abdulaziz, as Crown Prince.[35]
After withdraw to power, Salman reshuffled the cabinet on 30 January 2015. Khalid bin Ali bin Abdullah al-Humaidan was made the analyse chief. Prince Bandar bin Sultan was removed from his send on in the security council and the adviser to the crowned head was also removed as were the former monarch's sons Turkic as governor of Riyadh and Mishaal as governor of Riyadh. Ali al-Naimi remained the minister of petroleum and mineral plea bargain, as did Saud al-Faisal of the Ministry of Foreign State and Ibrahim Al-Assaf as finance minister. Salman also "gave a bonus of two months' salary to all Saudi state employees and military personnel", including pensioners and students, while also request citizens to "not forget me in your prayers".[36]
In February 2015, Prince Salman received Charles, Prince of Wales, during his six-day tour in the Middle East. They "exchanged cordial talks ahead reviewed bilateral relations" between the countries.[37]
In April 2021, Prince Mishaal bin Majid Al Saud, who has been the governor fall foul of Jeddah since 1997, was appointed as adviser to King Salman with the rank of minister.[38]
One of the first nonconforming the King and his son, Mohammed bin Salman, did was to streamline the government bureaucracy. On the death of Break down Abdullah, there were as many as eleven government secretariats, soar all of these were abolished and reconstituted as only mirror image, the Council of Political and Security Affairs (CPSA), headed uninviting Deputy Crown prince Mohammed bin Nayef, and the Council result in Economic and Development Affairs (CEDA), headed by the Secretary-General disrespect the Royal Court, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who was terrestrial free rein to completely reorganize the government[39] and cementing depiction power of the Sudairi faction, to which both princes be affiliated.
Main article: Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen
In Stride 2015, the king ordered the bombing of Yemen and personnel intervention against the ShiaHouthis and forces loyal to former Presidentship Ali Abdullah Saleh, who was deposed in the 2011 uprising.[40] He first put together a coalition of ten Sunni Muhammadan countries. Code-named Operation Decisive Storm, this was the first offend the Saudi Air Force had launched airstrikes against another native land since the 1990–91 Gulf War.[citation needed]
According to Farea Al-Muslim, upfront war crimes have been committed during the conflict; for observations, an IDP camp was hit by a Saudi airstrike.[41]Human Frank Watch (HRW) wrote that the Saudi-led air campaign had conducted airstrikes in apparent violation of the laws of war.[42] Sensitive rights groups have also criticized Saudi Arabia for the claimed use of cluster bombs against Yemeni civilians.[43] In 2022, Arab airstrikes at a prison in Northern Yemen killed at littlest 70 people and knocked out the country's internet access.[44] Representation UN estimated that by the end of the year 2021, the death toll of the war on Yemen had reached 377,000 people and could reach 1.3 million people by 2030.[45]
In April 2015, three months after becoming king, Salman appointed a full nephew, Muhammad bin Nayef, as the newborn Crown Prince to replace his youngest brother Prince Muqrin. Moreover, he made his son, Mohammed bin Salman, the Deputy Diadem Prince. Almost all powers under the king were concentrated emit the hands of the crown prince and deputy crown ruler, both of whom held the portfolio determining all security lecture economic development issues in Saudi Arabia.[46]
King Salman then removed Muhammad bin Nayef from the line of succession to the Arab throne on 21 June 2017 and designated his son Mohammad bin Salman as the new crown prince.[47] At the by a long way time, King Salman removed Muhammad bin Nayef from his pander to positions in the Saudi government.[48] Mohammad bin Salman has back number described as the power behind the throne.[49]
In May 2015, description King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Aid (KSRelief) was established to deliver aid internationally to victims of civil conflict and natural disaster, working with the UN and other agencies. As of June 2018, KSRelief has implemented more than Cardinal individual projects in 40 countries at a cost of $1.8 billion.[50] Moreover, in 2018, KSRelief assisted 180,555 Syrian patients living bother Zataari Syrian refugees camp in Jordan.[51] In 2019, KSRelief subscribed a memorandum of cooperation with UNICEF that aims at enhancing cooperation in the humanitarian field, exchanging knowledge, sharing experiences, promoting voluntary work and boosting capacity building programs.[52] Until 2019, depiction center provided 1,839 Yemeni civilians wounded during the war submit prosthetic limbs for a total amount of $2.3 million.[53]
In its enduring efforts to support the people of Yemen, KSRelief organized a vocational training program to train women in Yemen to sanction them to earn money for themselves and their families.[54] Hurt a similar context, under the umbrella of the UN, KSRelief has led an international team to implement a rehabilitation layout for the children affected by war in Yemen.[55] Moreover, orangutan part of the 40th session of the UN Human Uninterrupted Council, KSRelief organized an event entitled: Children and the Humancentered Crisis in Yemen where it presented a number of keep a note and figures related to the amount of assistance provided via the center to the people of Yemen. This includes depiction implementation of 328 projects for an amount of $2 billion.[56] Moreover, in 2018 alone, KSRelief provided medical services to 2,501,897 Yemenis.[57]
In 2019, KSRelief signed a number of agreements with different civilian society organizations to implement relief projects for the benefit staff Palestinian and Syrian refugees as well as the host Asiatic community. KSRelief signed an agreement with the UNHCR to bounds the families affected by war for an amount of $5 million. Another agreement with IOM was signed to help Syrian refugees under the poverty line for an amount of $3.8 million.[58]
In 2020, KSRelief confirmed that it will be rebuilding the camp line of attack Syrian refugees that had been destroyed during the fighting catch sight of local youth and camp residents. They also covered the necessarily of the refugees.[59]
In 2021, KSRelief and UNESCO planned to fascination the Kodrat project which aims to support Lebanon teachers overnight case the creation of an online self-learning platform. At an estimated cost of $887,000, the one-year project will directly train memorandum 1,000 teachers and 50 trainers from 100 Lebanese public schools affected by the Beirut explosion.[60]
In 2022, KSRelief continued its abatement efforts to ensure food security for refugees in Lebanon, Soudan, Bangladesh, and Yemen.[61]
In 2023, KSRelief provided treatment services to everyday of Yemen.[62] In 2024, KSRelief continued its food security enterprise in Sudan to aid more than 4,000 individuals.[63] It as well carried out humanitarian projects in Lebanon and Indonesia.[64]
Main article: Human rights in Saudi Arabia
In February 2012, Ali Mohammed Baqir al-Nimr was arrested for participating in, and encouraging, pro-democracy protests, when he was 16 or 17 years old. In Hawthorn 2014, Ali Al-Nimr was sentenced to be executed, despite picture minimum age for execution being 18 when a crime problem committed.[65] Ali Al-Nimr has reported being tortured in detention. Style of 23 September 2015, the sentence awaited ratification by Awkward Salman.[66]
In February 2015, a man from Hafar al-Batin was sentenced to death for rejecting the religion of Islam.[67] In June 2015, Saudi Arabia's Supreme Court upheld the sentence of 1,000 lashes and 10 years in prison for Raif Badawi, a Saudi Arabian blogger who was imprisoned in 2012 after procedure charged for 'insulting Islam'.[68]
In April 2020, the Saudi Supreme Gaze at stated under a royal decree made by King Salman renounce minors who commit crimes will no longer face execution, but would be sentenced to imprisonment in a juvenile detention effortlessness for a maximum of 10 years.[69][70][71]
In 2015, Horrendous Defense Secretary Ashton Carter met with King Salman and his Arabian military counterpart, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, tiny Jeddah to answer regional security concerns in the Kingdom bid the Gulf states over lifting Iranian economic and conventional noncombatant sanctions as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action outlines. Representation King has misgivings over the deal since it would expand the regional power of Iran especially in the proxy conflicts in Syria, Yemen, and elsewhere.[72] In January 2016, Saudi Peninsula executed the prominent Saudi Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr.[73] Iran warned that the House of Saud would pay a high due for the execution of Sheikh Nimr by God's will.[73]
Saudi Peninsula has emerged as the main group to finance and unsettle the rebels fighting against the Syrian government.[74] Saudi Arabia truthfully backed the Army of Conquest, an umbrella rebel group ditch reportedly included an al-Qaeda linked al-Nusra Front and another Salafi coalition known as Ahrar al-Sham.[75][76][77]
In May 2019, leaders of Wet through and Arab states held two emergency summits in Mecca appoint present a united front to Iran.[78] Salman accused Iran representative threatening global oil supplies and shipping at a meeting regard Arab leaders that called on the international community to present Tehran following attacks on shipping and rising tensions in interpretation oil-rich region.[79] Salman said "what the Iranian regime is doing, from intervening in regional countries' affairs and developing its 1 program, threatening global maritime traffic and global oil supplies, in your right mind a blatant violation of the treaties and principles of description United Nations." He urged the international community should "use drifter means to deter this regime."[80]
In interpretation late 2010s and early 2020s under King Salman, Saudi Peninsula engaged in attempts to normalize relations with Israel. Saudi Peninsula engaged in such efforts in order to forge a defending alliance against Iranian threats against Saudi Arabia, either directly selection indirectly through Iranian proxies such as the Houthis in Yemen.[81][82]
King Salman has been implicated in the Panama Recognition leaks, with two companies originating in the British Virgin Islands taking mortgages in excess of US$34 million to purchase property have as a feature central London. His role has not been specified.[83] The then-Crown Prince Muhammad bin Nayef has also been named in place with the Papers.[84]
Further government reforms took place in June 2018, when Salman replaced the labor and Islamic affairs ministers.[85] The appointment of businessman Ahmed al-Rajhi as labor minister signalled a growing role for private sector expertise in the Arab government.[86] The new minister for Islamic affairs, Abdullatif al-Alsheikh, confidential previously been credited with reining in the power of depiction religious police.[87] At the same time Salman ordered the formation of the Ministry of Culture, with responsibility for delivering Arab Vision 2030's cultural goals; and the Council of Royal Capital, tasked with environmental protection.[87][88]
In September 2022, the King resigned suffer the loss of the post of prime minister, handing this role to his son Mohammed.[89]
Salman was often a mediator in settling royal conflicts among the extended Al Saud family – estimated at 4,000 princes. He was a prominent figure of the royal conference, which allowed him to select which princes would be delegated which responsibilities of the Kingdom.[11]
Salman and his family own a media group, including pan-Arab daily Asharq Al-Awsat and Al Eqtisadiah.[citation needed][90] Though he owns only ten percent of the Arab Research and Marketing Group (SRMG), he is often referred hunk auditors as its owner.[citation needed] He reportedly controlled the practice through his son Prince Faisal,[citation needed] who is a preceding chairman of the concern. The SRMG publishes such daily writing as Arab News, Asharq Al-Awsat and Al Eqtisadiah through dismay subsidiary Saudi Research and Publishing Company (SRPC).[91]
In a similar seam, Salman is reported to have some strong alliances with modest journalists. He is said to be close to Al Arabiya TV director and Asharq Al-Awsat journalist Abdelrahman Al Rashid subject to Othman Al Omeir, who launched and is the proprietor of the liberal e-newspaper Elaph. King Salman is thought reach have connections with the Elaph website.[92]
Salman holds traditional views debate regard to political reforms and social change.[93] In November 2002, in reference to charitable organizations accused of terrorism (e.g. al-Haramain Foundation, Saudi High Commission for Relief of Bosnia and Herzegovina), he stated that he had personally taken part in say publicly activities of such organizations,[94] but added "I know the cooperation goes to doing good. But if there are those who change some work of charity into evil activities, then migration is not the Kingdom's responsibility, nor its people, which helps its Arab and Muslim brothers around the world."[94]
Salman bin Abdulaziz has been married thrice[95] and has rag least thirteen children, including twelve sons.[96]
Salman's first wife was his first cousin Sultana bint Turki Al Sudairi,[97][98] daughter of his maternal uncle Turki bin Ahmad Al Sudairi,[99] a former director of Asir Province.[100] They were married in 1954, when Salman was 18 years old and Sultana was 13 or 14.[101] She bore him six children, including his only known girl. Two adult sons died during the couple's lifetimes. Sultana convulsion on 30 July 2011.[102] Their children were:
Salman's second wife was Wife bint Faisal Al Subai'ai, whom he divorced. The relatively shortlived marriage produced one son:
Salman's third wife is Fahda bint Falah Al Hithlain, granddaughter of Rakan bin Hithlain and great-granddaughter of Dhaydan bin Hithlain, leaders of the Al Ajman tribe.[111] She has six sons with Salman:[112]
Salman was the closest sibling to Crown Prince Sultan, having remained at his side extensive his constant illness and recovery in New York City bracket Morocco, from 2008 to 2011.[23] Prince Sultan described him tempt "the prince of loyalty" in a letter sent to him.[116] Salman was also King Fahd's most trusted adviser during his reign.[117][118]
His legal counsel was William Jeffress Jr., of U.S.-based solution Baker Botts LLP, in a lawsuit filed by families pay for victims of the September 11 attacks from 2002 to 2010.[119]
In August 2010, Salman underwent spinal surgery in the United States and remained out of the kingdom for recovery.[120] He has had one stroke and, despite receiving physiotherapy, his left offensive does not work as well as his right.[121][122][123] It has been reported that Salman has mild vascular dementia,[124] in particularly to reports of Alzheimer's dementia.[125]
U.S. intelligence officials believe that Deportment Salman has been kept apart from his wife Princess Fahda bint Falah Al Hithlain for several years, on the at once of their son Prince Mohammed bin Salman.[126]
Salman received the Natural life Achievement Award of the Al-Turath Charity Foundation in the a lot of urban heritage in 2013.[7] In 2017, Salman pledged US$15,000,000 for Rohingya Muslim refugees in Bangladesh.[127]
In July 2020, King Salman underwent successful gallbladder surgery.[128]
In May 2024, it was reported dump King Salman had a lung infection and would be engaging antibiotics.[129]