Headline: Father of modern Saudi Arabia Publication: SUM Date of publication: Jul 4, 2004 Page number: 72 Byline / Author: Compiled by NSTP Research & Information Services King Abdul Aziz bin Abdul Rahman Ibn Faisal Al Sa'ud (1880-1953) King Abdul Aziz bin Abdul Ra hman Ibn Faisal Al Sa'ud (known as Ibn Sa'ud) was a tribal and Muslim religious leader who became the founder and the first King of the modern state of Saudi Arabia and initiated the exploration of its oil. Born in Riyadh in 1880, into the Al Sa'ud family, Ibn Sa'ud was brought up under the strict care of his father, Imam Abdul Rahman Ibn Faisal Ibn Turki. His grandfather, Ibn Faisal was the Sultan of Nejd in Central Arabia. His family was the traditional leaders of the Wahabi movement (a strict Muslim puritan revival) in Islam. The Sa'uds ruled much of Arabia from 1780 to 1880. While Ibn Sa'ud was an infant, his family, driven out by the Al Rashid (a powerful family in the Arabian peninsula and implacable enemy of the Sa'uds), became poor and was sent into exile in Kuwait. After his family had gone into exile in Kuwa it in 1891, his thoughts were focused on reclaiming their domains. At 21 years old, Ibn Saud moved to Riyadh in December 1901 and began his campaign. By January 15, 1902, Riyadh was conquered. The governor of the Al Rashid was captured and killed by Ibn Sa'ud. In two years of raids and skirmishes, Ibn Sa'ud reconquered half of Central Arabia. Saddened by the disintegration and the state of anarchy, ignorance, poverty and disease in the peninsula, Ibn Sa'ud resolved to unify his nation. By 1912, he had completed the conquest of the Nejd and organised a well- trained army. After consolidating his power over most of the Arabian Peninsula, in 1932, Ibn Sa'ud changed the name of his kingdom, to Saudi Arabia, declaring its founding on September 22, 1932. In the years before WWI, Ibn Sa'ud revived his d ynasty's support for Wahhabism. He was a devout Muslim and founded a religious tribal organisation known as the Ikhwan (Brethren). He used this brotherhood against his rivals. It helped him to bring many nomadic tribesmen under control, suppressing the robbery and extortion that formerly harassed pilgrims to Mecca and Medina. In 1936 and 1939, he granted all oil concessions to American companies. The oil deposits of Arabia proved to be among the richest in the world and Ibn Sa'ud used some of the income on national improvements, but the greater part of his oil revenues were spent on the royal family. Ibn Sa'ud died in Taif, in the Western Region, in 1953 and was buried with his ancestors in Riyadh.

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Headline: Father of modern Saudi Arabia

Publication: SUM

Date of publication: Jul 4, 2004Page number: 72

Byline / Author: Compiled by NSTP Research & Information Services

King Abdul Aziz bin Abdul Rahman Ibn Faisal Al Sa'ud (1880-1953)

King Abdul Aziz bin Abdul Rahman Ibn Faisal Al Sa'ud (known as Ibn Sa'ud) was a tribal andMuslim religious leader who became the founder and the first King of the modern state of Saudi

Arabia and initiated the exploration of its oil.

Born in Riyadh in 1880, into the Al Sa'ud family, Ibn Sa'ud was brought up under the strict care

of his father, Imam Abdul Rahman Ibn Faisal Ibn Turki. His grandfather, Ibn Faisal was the

Sultan of Nejd in Central Arabia. His family was the traditional leaders of the Wahabi movement(a strict Muslim puritan revival) in Islam.

The Sa'uds ruled much of Arabia from 1780 to 1880. While Ibn Sa'ud was an infant, his family,driven out by the Al Rashid (a powerful family in the Arabian peninsula and implacable enemy

of the Sa'uds), became poor and was sent into exile in Kuwait.

After his family had gone into exile in Kuwait in 1891, his thoughts were focused on reclaimingtheir domains. At 21 years old, Ibn Saud moved to Riyadh in December 1901 and began his

campaign. By January 15, 1902, Riyadh was conquered. The governor of the Al Rashid was

captured and killed by Ibn Sa'ud.

In two years of raids and skirmishes, Ibn Sa'ud reconquered half of Central Arabia. Saddened by

the disintegration and the state of anarchy, ignorance, poverty and disease in the peninsula, IbnSa'ud resolved to unify his nation.

By 1912, he had completed the conquest of the Nejd and organised a well- trained army. After

consolidating his power over most of the Arabian Peninsula, in 1932, Ibn Sa'ud changed thename of his kingdom, to Saudi Arabia, declaring its founding on September 22, 1932.

In the years before WWI, Ibn Sa'ud revived his dynasty's support for Wahhabism. He was adevout Muslim and founded a religious tribal organisation known as the Ikhwan (Brethren).

He used this brotherhood against his rivals. It helped him to bring many nomadic tribesmenunder control, suppressing the robbery and extortion that formerly harassed pilgrims to Mecca

and Medina.

In 1936 and 1939, he granted all oil concessions to American companies. The oil deposits of

Arabia proved to be among the richest in the world and Ibn Sa'ud used some of the income on

national improvements, but the greater part of his oil revenues were spent on the royal family.

Ibn Sa'ud died in Taif, in the Western Region, in 1953 and was buried with his ancestors in

Riyadh.