Abdulaziz ibn Saud or Abdel Aziz II(Arab. عبدالعزيز آل سعود ‎‎) (November 26 - November 9) - founder and first king of Saudi Arabia. He fought for the unification of Arabia. In 1902-1927. emir of the state of Nejd, in 1927-32 king of the state of Hijaz, Najd and annexed areas.

early years

Abdel-Aziz or Ibn Saud was born on November 26 in Riyadh in the family of Emir Nejd Abd ar-Rahman and Sarah, daughter of Ahmad Aal Sudairi, in the Islamic State of the Saudis, whose territory was actually limited to the outskirts of Riyadh. The boy was more interested in games with a saber and a rifle than religious exercises. He was able to read the Koran only at the age of 11. The future king dreamed of restoring family honor, of returning the glory and wealth of the house of Saudis.

Hike to Riyadh

The Rashidi family, who seized power in the city, sent the Saudis to Kuwait, where the young Abdel Aziz spent his childhood. In he began to collect his own detachment to march on Riyadh. On the night of January 16, Abdel Aziz, with a detachment of 60 people, captured Riyadh, cracking down on the governor from Rashidi. The Rashidi asked the Ottoman Empire to help them overthrow Saud. The Turks brought their troops into Arabia, but were defeated and left.

Great war in Arabia

Ikhwans

The beginning of the war for the unification of Arabia

With the outbreak of World War I, he secured a protectorate from the British Empire. In , using the material support of the British, Abdel Aziz finally defeated Rashidi. By the time of the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, five independent states had formed on the peninsula: Hejaz, Nejd, Jebel Shammar, Asir and Yemen. Abdel-Aziz made an attempt to annex Jebel Shammar in April-May 1921, but only in August the capital of the Alrashidids, Hail, was taken by the Muslims. On November 1 of the same year, Jebel Shammar ceased to exist.

Confrontation with the Sheriff of Mecca

After this victory, the Sheriff of Mecca and King Hussein of the Hejaz became the main opponent of Ibn Saud. In 1922, Abdel-Aziz captured Northern Asir without a fight, and in July 1924 he called for a jihad against the heretics of the Hijaz. In early September, detachments of the Ikhwans broke into the resort town of Taif and killed mostly civilians here. The nobility of Hijaz, frightened by the events in Taif, opposed Hussein. He was forced to abdicate in favor of his son Ali. The new king did not have the strength to defend Mecca and took refuge with his supporters in Jeddah. In mid-October, the Ikhwans entered the holy city, and in January 1925 the siege of Jeddah began. On December 6, Medina fell, and on December 22, Ali evacuated Jeddah, after which the troops of Najd entered the city. That same year, Saud captured Mecca, thus ending 700 years of Hashemite rule. On 10 January, Abdulaziz al-Saud was proclaimed king of the Hejaz. A few years later, Abdel Aziz captured almost the entire Arabian Peninsula. On September 23, Najd and Hejaz were merged into one state, called Saudi Arabia. Abdulaziz himself became the king of Saudi Arabia.

Completion of the unification of Arabia

King of Saudi Arabia

On September 22, 1932, Ibn Saud changed the name of his state to a new one - the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This was supposed not only to strengthen the unity of the kingdom and put an end to Hijaz separatism, but also to emphasize the central role of the royal house in the creation of the Arabian centralized state. During the entire subsequent period of Ibn Saud's reign, internal problems did not present any particular difficulties for him.

Ikhwan uprising

Ibn Saud treated European civilization with great understanding. He appreciated the importance of the telephone, radio, car and airplane and began to implement them in life. He also began to gradually limit the influence of the Ikhwans. Feeling changes to themselves on the part of the king of the Ikhwans, in 1929 they raised an uprising. And in the battle of Sibil, Ibn Saud defeated his former supporters. But the vanquished switched to guerrilla warfare. Then the king unleashed all his might on them. They were taken to use some European methods of struggle. At the end of the year, the Ikhwans were driven to Kuwait, where they were disarmed by the British. The Ikhwan leaders, Davish and Ibn Hitlein's cousin Neyif, were later handed over by the British to Ibn Saud and imprisoned in Riyadh. The movement, which played an important role in strengthening the power of Abdel-Aziz and his conquests, was completely defeated and soon disappeared. Ibn Saud assumed the title of King of Hejaz, Najd and the annexed territories.

Foreign policy

The excesses of the Ikhwan led to the alienation of Saudi Arabia from the majority of Muslim governments, who considered the Saudi regime hostile and resented the complete control established by Muslims of pure Islam over the holy cities and the Hajj. Between Ibn Saud and the Hashemite rulers of Iraq and Transjordan - the sons of Hussein, who was overthrown by him - there was mutual hostility. Ibn Saud's relationship with the king of Egypt, whom he suspected of wanting to revive the caliphate and declare himself caliph, could hardly be called warm. In February 1934, Ibn Saud started a war with the Imam of Yemen over the demarcation of the Yemeni-Saudi border. Hostilities were terminated after the signing of an agreement in May 1934. Two years later, the border was de facto defined. Border problems also occurred in the eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula after Ibn Saud in 1933 granted an oil concession to Standard Oil of California. Negotiations with Great Britain over the demarcation of borders with neighboring British protectorates and possessions - Qatar, Trucial Oman, Muscat and Oman and the Eastern Protectorate of Aden ended in failure.

During World War II, he remained neutral. He led the Arab struggle against the establishment of a Jewish state and was one of the leaders of the Arab League.

The Second World War

The outbreak of World War II prevented the full-scale development of the Al-Hasa oil fields, however, part of the loss of Ibn Saud's income was offset by British and then American aid. During the war, Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic relations with Nazi Germany (1941) and Italy (1942), but remained neutral almost until its end.

Ibn Saud speaks with US President Franklin D. Roosevelt (right) aboard the cruiser Quincy. February 14, 1945

(officially declared war on Germany and Japan on February 28, 1945). At the end of the war and especially after it, American influence increased in Saudi Arabia. In 1943, the United States established diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia and extended the lend-lease law to it. In early February 1944, American oil companies began building a trans-Arabian oil pipeline from Dhahran to the Lebanese port of Saida. At the same time, the government of Saudi Arabia allowed the construction of a large American air base in Dhahran, which the United States needed for the war against Japan.

After the Yalta Conference, an American delegation headed by US President Franklin Roosevelt flew to Egypt, where the heavy cruiser Quincy was waiting for her. On board this ship on February 14, President Roosevelt received Ibn Saud. In his memoirs, the son of the American president, Elliot Roosevelt, left a description of his father's negotiations with this Arab monarch, who for the first time left his kingdom specifically to meet with Roosevelt. He arrived in a tent, pitched right on the deck of an American destroyer. On board the cruiser, US President Franklin Roosevelt and Saudi King Ibn Saud signed an agreement known as Quincy pact, about the US monopoly on the development of Saudi deposits. Under the pact, the US was given exclusive rights to explore, develop and acquire Saudi oil, in turn guaranteeing the Saudis protection from any external threat.

Abdul-Aziz ibn Abdu-Rahman ibn Faisal Al Saud, also called simply Ibn Saud or Abdul-Aziz II (November 26, 1880 - November 9, 1953) - the founder and first king of Saudi Arabia (1932-1953). He fought for the unification of Arabia. In 1902-1927 he was the emir of the state of Nejd, later - until 1932 - the king of the state of Hijaz, Nejd and the annexed regions.

Abdul-Aziz ibn Saud was born on November 26, 1880 in Riyadh in the Islamic State of the Saudis, whose territory was actually limited to the outskirts of Riyadh. Son of Emir Nejd Abd al-Rahman and Sarah, daughter of Ahmad al-Sudairi. The boy was more interested in games with a saber and a rifle than religious exercises. He was able to read the Koran only at the age of 11. The future king dreamed of restoring family honor, of returning the glory and wealth of the house of Saudis.

Hike to Riyadh

The Rashidi family, who seized power in the city, sent the Saudis to Kuwait, where the young Abdulaziz spent his childhood. In 1901, he began to collect his own detachment for a campaign against Riyadh. On the night of January 15-16, 1902, Abdul-Aziz, with a detachment of 60 people, captured Riyadh, cracking down on the governor from Rashidi.

Ikhwans (Brothers)

In 1912, Abdul-Aziz took over the entire region of Najd, converting to "pure Islam" the same year. In an effort to achieve the loyalty of the largest tribes, Ibn Saud, on the advice of religious teachers, began to transfer them to settled life. For this purpose, in 1912, the military-religious brotherhood of the Ikhvans (Arabic for “brothers”) was founded. All the Bedouin tribes and oases who refused to join the Ikhwan movement and recognize Ibn Saud as their emir and imam began to be seen as enemies of Nejd. Ikhwans were ordered to move to agricultural colonies (“hijras”), whose members were called to love their homeland, unquestioningly obey the imam-emir and not enter into any contacts with Europeans and residents of the countries they ruled (including Muslims). A mosque was erected in each Ikhwan community, which also served as a military garrison, and the Ikhwans themselves became not only farmers, but also warriors of the Saudi state. By 1915, more than 200 such settlements were organized throughout the country, including at least 60,000 people who, at the first call of Ibn Saud, were ready to go to war with the "infidels."

The beginning of the war for the unification of Arabia

With the outbreak of the First World War, he enlisted the support of the British Empire. In 1920, using the material support of the British, Abdul-Aziz finally defeated Rashidi. By the time of the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, five independent states had formed on the peninsula: Hejaz, Nejd, Jebel Shammar, Asir and Yemen. Abdul-Aziz made an attempt to annex Jebel Shammar in April-May 1921, but only in August the capital of the al-Rashidids, Hail, was taken by the Wahhabis. On November 1 of the same year, Jebel Shammar ceased to exist.

Confrontation with the Sheriff of Mecca

After this victory, Hussein bin Ali, the sheriff of Mecca and the king of Hijaz, became the main opponent of Ibn Saud. In 1922, Abdul-Aziz captured northern Asir without a fight, and in July 1924 he called for a jihad against the heretics of the Hejaz. In early September, Ikhwan detachments broke into the resort town of Et-Taif and killed mostly civilians here. The nobility of Hijaz, frightened by the events in Al-Taif, opposed Hussein. He was forced to abdicate in favor of his son Ali. The new king did not have the strength to defend Mecca and took refuge with his supporters in Jeddah. In mid-October, the Ikhwans entered the Holy City, and in January 1925 the siege of Jeddah began. On December 6, Medina fell, and on December 22, Ali evacuated Jeddah, after which the troops of Najd entered the city. That same year, Ibn Saud captured Mecca, thus ending 700 years of Hashemite rule. On January 10, 1926, Abdul-Aziz al-Saud was proclaimed king of the Hijaz, the kingdom of Najd and Hijaz was formed. A few years later, Abdul-Aziz captured almost the entire Arabian Peninsula.

Ikhwan uprising

Ibn Saud treated European civilization with great understanding. He appreciated the importance of the telephone, radio, car and airplane and began to implement them in life. At the same time, he began to gradually limit the influence of the Ikhwans. Feeling a change on the part of the king, the Ikhwans revolted in 1929, and in the battle of Sibil, Ibn Saud defeated his former supporters. But the vanquished switched to guerrilla warfare. Then the king unleashed all his might on them. They were taken to use some European methods of struggle. At the end of the year, the Ikhwans were driven to Kuwait, where they were disarmed by the British. The Ikhwan leaders, Davish and Ibn Hitlein's cousin Nayif, were subsequently handed over by the British to Ibn Saud and imprisoned in Riyadh. The movement, which played an important role in strengthening the power of Abdul-Aziz and his conquests, was completely defeated and soon disappeared. Ibn Saud assumed the title of King of Hijaz, Najd and the annexed territories.

King of Saudi Arabia

On September 23, 1932, Nejd and Hijaz were merged into one state, called Saudi Arabia. Abdulaziz himself became the king of Saudi Arabia. This was supposed not only to strengthen the unity of the kingdom and put an end to Hijaz separatism, but also to emphasize the central role of the royal house in the creation of the Arabian centralized state. During the entire subsequent period of Ibn Saud's reign, internal problems did not present any particular difficulties for him.

Foreign policy

The excesses of the Ikhwan led to the alienation of Saudi Arabia from the majority of Muslim governments, who considered the Saudi regime hostile and resented the complete control established by Muslims of pure Islam over the holy cities and the Hajj. Between Ibn Saud and the Hashemite rulers of Iraq and Transjordan - the sons of Hussein, who was overthrown by him - there was mutual hostility. Ibn Saud's relationship with the king of Egypt, whom he suspected of wanting to revive the caliphate and declare himself caliph, could hardly be called warm. In February 1934, Ibn Saud started a war with the Imam of Yemen over the demarcation of the Yemeni-Saudi border. Hostilities were terminated after the signing of the agreement in May of that year. Two years later, the border was de facto defined. Border problems also occurred in the eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula after Ibn Saud granted an oil concession to Standard Oil of California in 1933. Negotiations with Great Britain over the demarcation of borders with neighboring British protectorates and possessions - Qatar, Trucial Oman, Muscat and Oman and the Eastern Aden Protectorate - ended in failure.

Saudi-Yemeni War

In 1932, the former Emir Asir al-Idrisi declared the emirate's independence from Saudi Arabia. After the suppression of the Asir rebellion, al-Idrisi fled to Yemen. In March 1933, envoys from King Yahya of Yemen and King Abdulaziz met and discussed the possibility of restoring al-Idrisi's power. The envoys of Abdul-Aziz insisted on the transfer of northern Asir and the extradition of members of the al-Idrisi family. Bilateral negotiations were interrupted, and in May 1933, Yemen captured Nejran, which was considered by the Yemenis as part of Yemen, blocking the transport routes from Asir to Nejd. Members of the Saudi delegation were also captured in Sana'a. During the fighting in February 1934, the Saudis occupied southern Asir and part of Tihama. The Saudi troops had more modern weapons and vehicles. On the second front, the Saudi Arabian forces occupied Nejran and advanced towards the major center of Saada. The Western powers were forced to send warships to Hodeidah and the Saudi coast. The Arab League in Cairo offered negotiating services. Yemen, which found itself in a difficult situation, accepted the offer of negotiations. In May 1934, the Saudi-Yemeni peace treaty was signed in Al-Taif, according to which part of Nejran and Asir remained part of Arabia, and its forces were withdrawn from Yemen. Successful military operations have significantly increased the authority of Saudi Arabia in the international arena.

Discovery of oil fields

In 1933, King Ibn Saud granted American oil companies a concession to explore and extract oil. It turned out that in the depths of Arabia there are huge reserves of "black gold". In 1938, colossal oil fields were discovered in Saudi Arabia. The king transferred the main rights to develop deposits to the Aramco company. Most of the oil produced went to the United States, and almost all of the proceeds from it went directly to the royal family. However, profits were constantly growing, and the money went to the state treasury. Saudi Arabia quickly became the richest state in the Middle East. The sale of oil enabled Abdulaziz to make a huge fortune, which in 1952 was estimated at 200 million US dollars. During the Second World War, he remained neutral. He led the Arab struggle against the creation of a Jewish state and was one of the leaders of the Arab League.

The Second World War

The outbreak of World War II prevented the full-scale development of the Al-Hasa oil fields, however, part of the loss of Ibn Saud's income was offset by British and then American aid. During the war, Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic relations with Germany (1941) and Italy (1942), but remained neutral almost until its end (officially declared war on Germany and Japan on February 28, 1945). At the end of the war and especially after it, American influence increased in Saudi Arabia. On May 1, 1942 in Jeddah (since 1943 Jeddah became known as the diplomatic capital) the American diplomatic mission headed by James S. Moose Jr. was opened. In 1943, an American envoy arrived in Riyadh, thereby raising the level of diplomatic relations with the United States (established in 1933). The United States extended the lend-lease law to Saudi Arabia. In early February 1944, American oil companies began building a trans-Arabian oil pipeline from Dhahran to the Lebanese port of Saida. At the same time, the government of Saudi Arabia allowed the construction of a large American air base in Dhahran, which the United States needed for the war against Japan.

After the Yalta Conference, an American delegation headed by US President Franklin Roosevelt flew to Egypt, where the heavy cruiser Quincy was waiting for her. On board this ship on February 14, President Roosevelt received Ibn Saud. In his memoirs, the son of the American president, Elliot Roosevelt, left a description of his father's negotiations with this Arab monarch, who for the first time left his kingdom specifically to meet with Roosevelt. He arrived in a tent, pitched right on the deck of an American destroyer. On board the cruiser, US President Franklin Roosevelt and King Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia signed an agreement known as the Quincy Pact, giving the US a monopoly on the development of Saudi oil fields. Under the pact, the US was given exclusive rights to explore, develop and acquire Saudi oil, in turn guaranteeing the Saudis protection from any external threat.

Reformer

Armed forces

Until the death of Ibn Saud in 1953, the armed forces retained a patriarchal tribal character. Created in 1944, the Ministry of Defense did not function until 1947 and did not change anything in the tribal structure of the armed forces, forming only a kind of modern facade. Petrodollars allowed Ibn Saud to send significant amounts to military and security needs, which in 1952-1953 amounted to 53% of all income.

A family

Abdulaziz became the founder of the Saudi royal dynasty. He left behind 45 legitimate sons from numerous wives, among them all the kings of Saudi Arabia who reigned after him (the throne usually passes from brother to brother). After the death of Abdul Aziz, his son Saud became king. At present, the Saudi family, the offspring of ibn Saud, is so numerous (from 5 to 7 thousand prince-emirs) that its representatives permeated the entire state and economic life of the country. The ruling group of the Saudis exercises power functions, determines the direction and solves emerging problems in domestic and foreign policy, in the development of the economy, manages the public sector of the national economy, the basis of which is the oil and gas industry. Several sons of King Abdulaziz became billionaires.

FAHD IBN ABD AL-AZIZ AS-SAUD

(born in 1922)

King of Saudi Arabia.

Today, Saudi Arabia has a quarter of the world's oil reserves. It is not only the largest exporter of fuel in the world, but also the most powerful producer of natural gas and petroleum products, which gives the Saudis the right to look to the future with confidence. It's hard to believe that back in the 30s. 20th century kerosene was brought into the country on camels, and the treasury of the kingdom, chosen by Allah as the cradle of Islam, was empty. All the gold of the founder of the dynasty, Abdulaziz, fit in a small wooden chest, which his treasurer hid under the bed at night. The country then did not have a civil administration, people lived in tribal nomad camps and a few settled settlements torn apart by civil strife. Only belonging to a large family and a strong tribe ensured success in a society that was not yet united and recognized only the authority of strength and seniority, interpreting even the religious canons commanded by the ancestors in any way.

In 1932, Abdel Aziz united the country, created a kingdom and became its first king. He died in 1953, leaving a large offspring. 44 of his sons formed the basis of the ruling house of Saudis to this day. The youngest was not seven at the time. In general, there are more than 5 thousand people in the Al Saud family. After the death of the founder of the kingdom, his ninth son Fahd became the patriarch of a powerful family.

Biographers give different dates of Fahd's birth. According to some sources, he was born in 1920, according to others - in 1922. His youth, however, like other children of Abdel Aziz, passed in a roadless country that did not know either literacy or order. Knowledge of religious dogmas and Islamic rites was considered a sufficient level of education. Apart from the wives of the Prophet Mohammed, there are few famous women in Saudi Arabia. The exception was Fahd's mother. She was ranked among the great representatives of Saudi society. Her name was Hussa bint Ahmed al-Sudairi. She gave birth to 7 sons and 4 daughters.

Fahd, a leader by nature, devoted himself early to politics. From childhood, he was distinguished by calmness and poise, eschewed fun, loved to listen and delve into, communicate with elders, was interested in everything that was happening around. Seeing this, his father brought him closer to him, allowed him to attend councils with his eldest sons and statesmen. The young prince was educated at a school created by the king specifically for his sons, then attended a local educational institution - the "Saudi Institute of Science", where the main attention was paid to religion and Arabic (already in adulthood, at the age of 40, he began to take English lessons , preparing himself for a great political future). Fahd read a lot, studied works on international and religious issues, was interested in the biographies of famous people: Churchill, Roosevelt, Adenauer. Independently studied the life of Stalin, got acquainted with his views.

Good preparation made it possible for Prince Fahd to represent the king at meetings of tribal sheikhs in solving internecine problems. He was a member of the Saudi delegation at the founding conference of the United Nations in San Francisco in 1945, was his father's envoy at the coronation ceremony of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain. The first official position entrusted to him was that of Minister of Education. This fully coincided with the interests of the young prince and met the needs of the country. Fahd was subsequently very proud of his activities in this post. He laid the foundations of modern education in a country where there were not enough schools and there was no one to teach children, where the population did not even understand the need for education. Already becoming king, Fahd said: "I am fully convinced that science is the main basis on which nations flourish." For almost 10 years he was the Minister of Education, and during this time the number of schools increased several dozen times, the first university on the Arabian Peninsula was created with the faculties of literature, natural sciences, pharmacology, trade, and engineering. Today there are seven universities in the country. Students are provided with free housing, clothing, books, medical care, a computer and a $300 stipend. Upon graduation, everyone has the right to take an interest-free loan of $85,000 from the state fund.

Fahd's next post in 1962 was that of minister of the interior. And here the new minister began with education. A number of educational institutions for the training of privates and sergeants, a college of internal security forces at the university level, were established. King Faisal, who came to power in 1964, taking into account the merits of Fahd, appointed him as the second deputy prime minister. Fahd chaired most of the cabinet meetings, his word was of great importance in determining foreign and domestic policy. After the death of a fanatic King Faisal from a bullet, Fahd was declared crown prince in 1975, and after 7 years he became king.

Back in the 70s. in a country where 1/2 of the territory is desert, it was decided to adapt the sands of Arabia for wheat fields. Irrigation canals permeated the desert. All subjects were provided free of charge and for long periods of land for grain crops. The peasants were given interest-free loans. Hundreds of millions of dollars were purchased for agricultural machinery, which was sold to farmers at half price. The state has set a very high purchase price for wheat. As a result, in 1984, food self-sufficiency of the country was achieved. Wheat production increased by 1000%. With a yield of 40 centners of grain per hectare, Saudi Arabia supplies wheat not only to neighboring countries, but also to Europe and Latin America.

Upon accession to the throne in 1982, Fahd solemnly declared: “I swear that I will be a young father and an adult brother, because I am one of you and I experience the same pain as you and experience the same joy that you experience! » And he fully justified the hopes of the people. Saudi Arabia has become an exporter not only of oil: manufactured goods are exported to 60 countries of the world, including petrochemicals, fertilizers, carpets, furniture, and electrical goods. Nuclear technology is widely used. The country leads in the use of solar energy. The two types of property coexist peacefully together, although the leading role in industrialization belongs to the public sector. The creation of joint ventures is encouraged. The state provides the private sector with interest-free loans that can reach 50% of the project cost. The Saudis opened their business in New York and Tokyo, while the Americans and the Japanese in Riyadh. If the share of a Saudi is at least 25% in a joint venture, then he is exempt from taxes for a period of 10 years. Industrialists do not pay customs duties for the import of equipment and the necessary raw materials. State funds are directed to the creation of the most modern infrastructure. Highways were laid, artesian wells were drilled.

Meanwhile, the king considers himself responsible, first of all, before Allah, and only then - before the people. “I am one of you. We are all equal before Allah." He believes that his kingdom was created in order to carry the knowledge of Islam. In the fifth year of his reign, Fahd abandoned the title "Your Majesty", replacing it with another: "Servant of the two noble shrines." We are talking about serving the House of Allah - the main Meccan mosque - and the mosque of the Prophet in Medina. Much attention is paid to the third most important Muslim shrine - Jerusalem's al-Aqsa mosque. Hence Fahd's calls for the unification of all Arabs to fight for the return of the shrine and the creation of an independent Palestinian state with its capital in Jerusalem.

The political weight of King Fahd is very high. He is distinguished by calmness and balance. He is always careful when discussing other people's internal affairs and treats with equal respect both the leaders of the neighboring Persian Gulf monarchies and other leaders of the Islamic world, representatives of great powers and small countries. Largely due to his efforts, the plans for the redistribution of the Arabian Peninsula and Saddam Hussein's military adventure against Kuwait, which could have grave consequences for the whole world, were thwarted. Then, in 1991, the combined Arab forces that took part in Operation Desert Storm were commanded by Fahd's grandson, Prince Khaled.

After the end of this crisis, the king began to show a desire to move from absolutism to a form of enlightened monarchy. He introduced fixed regulations that determined the order of government in the country, and announced the creation of a new state body - the Shura Council, which became the beginning of the future parliamentary structure. The rights of citizens were significantly expanded with strict observance of Sharia law. But at the same time, any attempt to criticize the royal family is immediately stopped. The critics themselves disappear, and their fate remains a mystery to those close to them. Even the most minor crimes are punished severely. So, for example, talking on a cell phone on board an aircraft is punishable by 20 blows with a whip. Executions are carried out in shopping centers and squares. A woman has no right to drive a car, appear on the street without a veil and a man accompanying her. For violating these prohibitions, she can be beaten and imprisoned. True, women can get an education, especially since computer training is mandatory in the country. And in March 2002, the whole world learned about a terrible tragedy: in Saudi Arabia, 15 schoolgirls studying in Mecca died in a fire. They could have been saved, but the religious police did not allow them to jump out of the burning building into the street because they were not wearing a veil. For the same reason, the male rescuers were not allowed there either.

As an Islamic state, the kingdom proclaimed the holy book of the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad as its constitution, defining the principles and canons that society should follow. King Fahd, now in his 80s, continues to rule the country with Crown Prince Abdullah.