Salman bin Abdul Aziz
Encyclopedia
Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud (born 1936) is the Minister of Defense of Saudi Arabia
since November 5th, 2011. He was the Governor
of the Riyadh Province from 1962 - 2011, and is a prince
of House of Saud
. He is the fifth of the Sudairi Seven
. He has a reputation for arbitrating disputes within the royal family. He has developed fame for his fairness and competence. He is the father of Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, the first Muslim
, the first Arab
and the first to be of royal blood to go to outer space
.
developed from a mid-sized town into a major urban metropolis. He has attracted tourism, capital projects, and foreign investment inside his country. He favors geopolitical and economic relationships with the West. He is a strong advocate for philanthropy in poor Muslim nations such as Somalia, Sudan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and more recently, Bosnia-Herzegovina.
He is advised by young well-qualified technocrats recruited from King Saud University. His legal counsel is William Jeffress Jr, of Houston-based Baker Botts LLP
.
On November 22, 2010, he returned to Saudi Arabia from overseas treatment. He underwent spine surgery in the United States in August and remained out of the kingdom for recovery.
In January 2011, he ordered action against Riyadh beggars "who try to take advantage of the generosity of people". All foreign beggars were deported and Saudi beggars were placed in a rehabilitation program by the Ministry of Social Affairs.
was named as Governor of Riyadh.
He owns Asharq Al-Awsat. Though he owns only 10% of Saudi Research and Marketing Group, he is often referred by auditors as its owner. He reportedly controls the organization through his son Faisal.
, Ahmed
, Sultan, Abdul-Aziz, Faisal
, Hussa, Saud, Muhammad, Turki, Khalid, Nayif, Bandar, and Rakan.
His oldest son Fahd died in 2001 because of heart failure. Ahmad died after a heart attack in 2002 at age 43. Sultan is the first Muslim in space. Abdul-Aziz is the Assistant Minister of Petroleum. Faisal is Chairman of the Saudi Research and Marketing Group.
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
since November 5th, 2011. He was the Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of the Riyadh Province from 1962 - 2011, and is a prince
Prince
Prince is a general term for a ruler, monarch or member of a monarch's or former monarch's family, and is a hereditary title in the nobility of some European states. The feminine equivalent is a princess...
of House of Saud
House of Saud
The House of Saud , also called the Al Saud, is the ruling royal family of Saudi Arabia and one of the wealthiest and most powerful dynasties in the world. The family holds thousands of members...
. He is the fifth of the Sudairi Seven
Sudairi Seven
The Sudairi Seven, also spelled Sudairy or Sudayri, is the commonly used name for a powerful alliance of seven full brothers and their descendants within the royal family of Saudi Arabia. They are also known as the Al Fahd . They are sometimes referred to as the Sudairi Clan or the Sudairi faction...
. He has a reputation for arbitrating disputes within the royal family. He has developed fame for his fairness and competence. He is the father of Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, the first Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
, the first Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
and the first to be of royal blood to go to outer space
Outer space
Outer space is the void that exists between celestial bodies, including the Earth. It is not completely empty, but consists of a hard vacuum containing a low density of particles: predominantly a plasma of hydrogen and helium, as well as electromagnetic radiation, magnetic fields, and neutrinos....
.
Governor of Riyadh
As Governor, RiyadhRiyadh
Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of Riyadh Province, and belongs to the historical regions of Najd and Al-Yamama. It is situated in the center of the Arabian Peninsula on a large plateau, and is home to 5,254,560 people, and the urban center of a...
developed from a mid-sized town into a major urban metropolis. He has attracted tourism, capital projects, and foreign investment inside his country. He favors geopolitical and economic relationships with the West. He is a strong advocate for philanthropy in poor Muslim nations such as Somalia, Sudan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and more recently, Bosnia-Herzegovina.
He is advised by young well-qualified technocrats recruited from King Saud University. His legal counsel is William Jeffress Jr, of Houston-based Baker Botts LLP
Baker Botts
Baker Botts L.L.P. is a major United States-based international law firm of around 800 attorneys, with a long, prominent history, significant political connections, boasting more than half of the Fortune 100 companies among its clients. Headquartered in One Shell Plaza in Downtown Houston, Texas,...
.
On November 22, 2010, he returned to Saudi Arabia from overseas treatment. He underwent spine surgery in the United States in August and remained out of the kingdom for recovery.
In January 2011, he ordered action against Riyadh beggars "who try to take advantage of the generosity of people". All foreign beggars were deported and Saudi beggars were placed in a rehabilitation program by the Ministry of Social Affairs.
Defence Minister
On November 5, 2011 Prince Salman was appointed Minister of Defense, replacing Crown Prince Sultan.. On the same day Prince Sattam bin Abdul AzizSattam bin Abdul Aziz
Sattam bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud , former Deputy Governor of Riyadh 1968 - 2011. On November 5, 2011, he was appointed Governor of Riyadh Region. He is a senior member of the Saudi royal family.-Lineage:...
was named as Governor of Riyadh.
Influence
Within the Al Saud, he has been viewed as a "kingmaker rather than a potential king". He is well regarded as intelligent and hard-working. He is a trusted mediator in settling royal conflicts amongst the extended Al Saud — estimated at 4,000 princes. His administration is reportedly corruption-free. He is a prominent figure of the royal council— which allows him to select which princes will be delegated which responsibilities of the Kingdom.He owns Asharq Al-Awsat. Though he owns only 10% of Saudi Research and Marketing Group, he is often referred by auditors as its owner. He reportedly controls the organization through his son Faisal.
Personal life
He was married to Princess Sultana until her death in 2011. His children include FahdFahd bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
Prince Fahd bin Salman bin Abdulaziz was a member of the Saudi Arabia royal family, the son of the Governor of Riyadh Province, Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz....
, Ahmed
Ahmed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
Prince Ahmed bin Salman was a member of the royal family of Saudi Arabia and a media executive who also was a major figure in international Thoroughbred horse racing....
, Sultan, Abdul-Aziz, Faisal
Faisal bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
Prince Faisal bin Salman bin Abdulaziz is a member of the Saudi Arabia royal family and a media executive.He is the son of the Governor of Riyadh Province, Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz...
, Hussa, Saud, Muhammad, Turki, Khalid, Nayif, Bandar, and Rakan.
His oldest son Fahd died in 2001 because of heart failure. Ahmad died after a heart attack in 2002 at age 43. Sultan is the first Muslim in space. Abdul-Aziz is the Assistant Minister of Petroleum. Faisal is Chairman of the Saudi Research and Marketing Group.