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Saudi
Arabia's Al-Saud family can trace its roots back more than five hundred
years. This powerful and deeply religious tribe originated from an area
near present day Riyadh. Its patriarch, King Abdul Aziz bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud (known as Ibn Saud), declared himself king of Saudi Arabia in 1932. Approximately
seven thousand amir, or princes, make up the most important branch of
the Al-Saud family, but within that group it is the king and some thirty
princes belonging to the Council of Ministers who govern modern day
Saudi Arabia. King Ibn Saud has been succeeded by five of his sons --
Saud, Faisal, Khalid, Fahd, and the current monarch, King Abdullah, who took office
in August, 2005. Who is Abdullah, and who helps him govern Saudi Arabia? Learn
more about some of the key players in the Al-Saud family, by clicking on
the pictures below.
Sources: Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Washington, D.C.; U.S. Department of State; Saudi-U.S. Relations Information Service; Saudi Arabia Information Resource; Library of Congress Country Studies: Saudi Arabia; SLATE -- "Dossier: The Saudi Royal Family"; Middle East Intelligence Bulletin -- "Dossier: Abdullah bin Abdel Aziz"; GlobalSecurity.org -- "Dossier: Abdullah bin Abdel Aziz"
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Photo Essay - Take a look
at the faces and places of Saudi Arabia
Interactive Map - Learn about
the Saudi oil industry and the world's dependence on such.
Info-Graphic -
Examine the numbers of Muslims in the World and in the West.
Debate: Islam and
Democracy Two scholars, Dr. Daniel Pipes and Dr. Muqtedar Khan
discuss the compatibility of Islam and democracy.
Interactive Map: Middle
East- Learn more about the politics, population and history of
Middle East countries.
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