The Royal Family

The Royal Family - the House of Saud

Saudi Arabia is a monarchy, and uniquely among modern states it carries its ruling family's name: the Al Saud, whose first state was founded at Diriyah in 1744. The family is large - thousands of princes and princesses - but the line of kings runs through one man and his sons.

King Abdulaziz, the founder

Abdulaziz ibn Saud (1875-1953) retook Riyadh in 1902 and unified the peninsula over thirty years, becoming the first King of Saudi Arabia in 1932. Every king since has been one of his sons - a run of succession now reaching its seventh decade.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques

Since 1986 the Saudi king's formal style has been Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques - keeper of the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah. The title says something real about how the monarchy understands itself: guardian of Islam's holiest places first, head of state alongside.

King Salman

King Salman bin Abdulaziz has reigned since January 2015. Before the throne he was Governor of Riyadh for nearly five decades - the man who oversaw the capital's growth from a mud-brick town into a metropolis of seven million.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

The King's son, Mohammed bin Salman - MBS - became Crown Prince in 2017 and Prime Minister in 2022. He is the architect and public face of Saudi Vision 2030, and the driving force behind the Kingdom's social and economic opening, including its welcome to tourists.

How succession works

The King appoints the Crown Prince, advised by the Allegiance Council - a body of senior princes created in 2006 to formalise the process. Day-to-day government runs through the Council of Ministers in Riyadh, with the royal court at Al-Yamamah Palace.

This page is a short factual briefing for travellers. visit-saudi.ae is a private visa service and has no connection to the Royal Court or any government body.