Saudi Arabia  
 

22 Sep 1932 - 1934   1934 - 30 Mar 1938   30 Mar 1938 - 15 Mar 1973   Adopted 15 Mar 1973   Map of Saudi Arabia Hear National Anthem "Aash al-Malik" (Long Live Our Beloved King) Text of National Anthem Adopted 1947 (lyrics 29 Jun 1984) Constitution (Basic Law) (1993) Capital: Riyadh (ar-Riyad) Currency: Saudi Riyal (SAR); 1935-1952 Saudi Sovereign Riyal (SAS); 1921-1935 Saudi Arabian Riyal (SAA) National Holiday: From 2022: 22 Feb (1727) Al-Yawm Al-Taasis (Founding Day) -------------------------------- From 1965: 23 Sep (1932) Al-Yawm Al-Watani (National Day) Population: 36,544,431 (2024) note: expatriates make up 30% of the total population GDP: $1.83 trillion (2023) Exports: $370.9 billion (2023) Imports: $291.6 billion (2023) Ethnic groups: Saudi Arab 74%, expatriates 26% (of which Indian 5%, Bangladeshi 3.5%, Pakistani 3.5%, Filipino 3%, Egyptian 3%, Palestinian 1%, other 7%) (2005) Total Active Armed Forces: 281,500 (2023) U.S. Forces: 287 (2023) Merchant marine: 433 ships (2023) Religions: Muslim 94% (official) (of which Sunni 84%, Shi'a 10%), Christian 3.5% (of which Roman Catholic 3%), Hindu 1%, none/other 1.5% (2000) note: despite having a large expatriate community of various faiths, non-Muslims are not allowed to have Saudi citizenship and non-Muslim places of worship are not permitted. International Organizations/Treaties: ABEDA, ACS (observer), AfDB (nonregional), AFESD, AIIB, AL, AMF, ANT, AOAD, APA, Arabsat, BIS, BRICS, BTWC, CAEU, CICA (observer), CP, CWC, FAO, FATF, G-20, G-24 (observer), G-77, GAFTA, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, ICSID, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, IRENA, ISA, ISESCO, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, NPT, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, OST, PA (observer), PAM (associate), PCA, SCO (dialogue partner), UN, UNCLOS, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFCC, UNFCC-KP, UNFCC-PA, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Saudi Arabia Index Chronology 22 Aug 1921                Sultanate of Nejd and Dependencies  8 Jan 1926                Hejaz annexed (de facto) by Nejd. 29 Jan 1927                Kingdom of Nejd and Dependencies 22 Sep 1932                Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (al-Mamlaka al-`Arabiyya                              al-Su`udiyya)(formal unification of the kingdoms                              of Hejaz and Nejd).  2 Dec 1922 - 25 Jan 1970  Kuwaiti-Saudi Arabian neutral zone in the                              northeastern border area.  2 Dec 1922 - 26 Dec 1981  Iraqi-Saudi Arabian neutral zone in northwestern                              border area.  Saudi Arabia (since 1932) Hejaz (1455-1932) Nejd (1744-1932) al-Hasa (1551-1914) Jebel Shammar (1836-1921) Other Arabian polities Historical Map of Arabia 1905-23

Hejaz (Hijaz)
 

De facto to 10 Jun 1916	1819 - 1840 Local Flag	10 Jun 1916 - 30 May 1917 Provisional
30 May 1917 - 1920	1920 - 18 Jan 1926	18 Jan 1926 - 22 Sep 1932

Map of Hejaz	Hear National Anthem (None adopted)	Text of Anthem	Constitution (31 Aug 1926)
Capital: Mecca (Jeddah 1924-1926)	Currency: 1916-1925 Hejazi Riyal (SAA)	National Holiday: N/A	Hejaz Population: 850,000 (1920 est.)   900,000 (1925 est.) 1,500,000 (1937)
GDP: N/A	Exports: 1 million British Pounds (1924) Imports: 2 million British  Pounds (1924)	Ethnic groups: Arab, others
Total Armed Forces: 1,300 (1924 est.) Merchant marine: N/A		Religions: Muslim
International Organizations/Treaties: League of Nations (signatory)

c.1201                     Hashemite dynasty beings rule in Mecca as Sharifs (from 1629,
                             Grand Sharif).
1258 - 1517                Part of Mameluke Sultanate of Egypt.
Aug 1517                   Part of the Ottoman Empire (part of 1554-1802 and 1813-1872
                             Eyalet of Jeddah and Habesh [Eyālet-i Habeş]).
Mar 1803 - 23 Jan 1813     Diriyah Emirate, the Wahabbi state, occupies the Hejaz (Mar 1803
                             Taif, Mecca 30 Apr - Jul 1803 and re-occupied Feb 1806, Medina
                             1804, and Jeddah 1806).
Nov 1812                   Egypt under Muhammad Ali, on behalf of the Ottomans, invades the
                             Hejaz (Medina taken Nov 1812, Jeddah Jan 1813, and Mecca on
                             23 Jan 1813).
14 May 1833 - Jan 1841     Egypt annexes the Hejaz (Hedjaz/Hijaz)(nominally under Ottoman
                             suzerainty).
1872 - 1916                Ottoman Vilayet of the Hejaz; the Eyalet of Jeddah and Habesh
                             is incorporated into Vilayet of the Hejaz.
1910                       Sanjak of Medine-i Münevvere (Medina) made an independent sanjak.
10 Jun 1916                Hejaz declares independence from Ottoman Empire. Arab revolt
                             against Ottoman rule is declared by the Grand Sharif Hussein
                             Pasha bin Ali (Jeddah occupied 16 Jun 1916, Mecca 4 Jul 1916,
                             Yanbu 27 Jul 1916, Taif on 22 Sep 1916, Wejh 24 Jan 1917, and
                             Aqaba 6 Jul 1917). 
29 Oct 1916                Hussein bin Ali Al-Hashimi proclaims the independence of all 
                             the Arab lands from the Ottoman Empire.
10 Jan 1919                Ottoman garrison in Medina surrenders.
10 Aug 1920                Turkey formally recognizes independence of Hejaz by the Treaty of
                             Sèvres (not ratified), confirmed by the Treaty of Lausanne of
                             24 Jul 1923.
 5 Sep 1924                Ta'if occupied by Nejd.
13 Oct 1924                Mecca occupied by Nejd.
21 Dec 1924                Yanbu occupied by Nejd.
 5 Dec 1925                Medina occupied by Nejd.
17 Dec 1925                Jeddah occupied by Nejd.
19 Dec 1925                Hejaz occupied by Nejd, Sharif Ali abdicate his throne.
 8 Jan 1926                Hejaz annexed (de facto) by Nejd.
20 May 1927                U.K. recognizes the independence of Ibn Sa`ud and his
                             sovereignty over Hejaz (ratified 17 Sep 1927).
20 Nov 1930                `Asir incorporated into Hejaz by Nejd.
22 Sep 1932                Unification of Hejaz with Nejd as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
                             (in accordance with a royal decree of 18 Sep 1932).
20 Nov 1979 –  4 Dec 1979  Grand Mosque seizure by militants led by Islamist Juhayman
                             al-Otaybi (b. 1936 - d. 1980). 

Ottoman Walis (governors of the Hejaz)
1517 - 1746                ....
c.1735                     Bakr Pasha
1746 - 1750                Uthman Pasha al Halabi
                             (= Halapli Osman Pasha)
1750 - 1759                ....
1759                       Sa'd al din Pasha al Azm
1759 - 1813                ....
1813 - 1840/41             Ibrahim Pasha -Egyptian governor
Jan 1841 - 25 Jun 1845     Tatar Osman Pasha                  (d. 1845)
                            (wali of Jeddah and Habesh)
1845 - Sep 1848            Mehmet Sherif Pasha                (b. c.1771 - d. 1851)
                            (wali of Jeddah and Habesh)
Nov 1848 - 1850            Mehmed Hasib Pasha                 (d. 1870)
                            (wali of Jeddah and Habesh)
Sep 1848 - May 1850        Mehmed Hasib Pasha                 (d. 1870)
May 1850 - Jul 1852        Agha Abdulaziz Pasha               (d. 1855) 
Jul 1852 - Jan 1855        Ahmed Izzet Pasha
Jan 1855 - May 1856        Mühendis Mehmed Kamil Pasha
May 1856 - Jul 1857        Kürt Mahmud Pasha
Jul 1857 - Nov 1858        Konyali Mehemd Namik Pasha         (b. 1804 - d. 1892)
Dec 1858 - Oct 1861        Haci Kutuhyali Ali Pasha
Oct 1861 - Sep 1864        Ahmed Izzet Pasha
Sep 1864 - Aug 1867        Yozgatli Mehmed Vecihi Pasha       (b. 1797 - d. 1867)
Aug 1867 - Aug 1870        Mehmed Muammer Pasha
Aug 1870 - Aug 1872        Mehmed Hurschid Pasha
Aug 1872 - Jul 1874        Mehmed Reshid Pasha                (d. 1876)
Jul 1874 - Oct 1874        Mehmed Rüshdü Pasha                (b. 1824 - d. 1874)
Oct 1874 - Oct 1877        Mehmed Takiyeddin Pasha
Oct 1877 - Jun 1879        Mehmed Halet Pasha                 (d. 1879)
Jun 1879 - Mar 1880        Rashid Nashid Pasha
Mar 1880 - Mar 1881        Safvet Pasha (1st time)            (d. 1895)
Aug 1882 - Jul 1886        Topal Osman Nuri Pasha (1st time)
Dec 1886 - Apr 1887        Huseyin Cemil Pasha
Apr 1887 - Mar 1890        Safvet Pasha (2nd time)            (s.a.)
Mar 1890 - Jun 1892        Ismail Hakki Pasha
Jun 1892 - Nov 1892        Topal Osman Nuri Pasha (2nd time)
Dec 1892 - Jun 1894        Ahmed Ratip Pasha (1st time)
Jun 1894 - Jun 1895        Hasan Hilmi Pasha
Jun 1895 - Aug 1908        Ahmed Ratip Pasha (2nd time)
Sep 1908 - May 1909        Alpan Kazim Pasha
May 1909 - Feb 1911        Mehemd Emin Pasha
Feb 1911 - Nov 1911        Ebubekir Azim Bey
Nov 1911 - Jan 1912        Halil Bey
Jan 1912 - Sep 1912        Mustafa Zihni Pasha
Sep 1912 - May 1913        Ahmed Reshid Pasha
May 1913 - Jan 1914        Ahmed Nedim Pasha
Jan 1914 - Feb 1915        Vehib (Wehib) Bey                  (b. 1877 - d. 1940)
28 Feb 1915 - 22 Sep 1916  Ali Galib Pasiner Pasha            (b. 1868 - d. 1939)
                             (Allied prisoner from 22 Sep 1916)
17 Jul 1916 -  9 Jan 1919  Fakhri Pasha (Fahreddin Pasha)     (b. 1868 - d. 1948)
                             (commander of Hejaz Expeditionary Force, in Medina)
Sharifs of Mecca
Aug 1455 - Aug 1497        Malik ul-Adil Muhammad (III) bin   (d. 1497)
                             Barakat                    
Sep 1497 - Sep 1525        Barakat (II) bin Muhammad          (b. 1456 - d. 1525)
Sep 1525 - Feb 1583        Muhammad Abu Numay (II) Nazim      (b. 1505 - d. 1583)
                             ud-din bin Barakat
Feb 1583 - Dec 1601        Al-Hasan (III) bin Muhammad Abu    (b. 1524 - d. 1601)
                             Numay  
Dec 1601 - 1610            Idris (II) Abu Aun bin Hasan       (b. 1566 - d. 1624)
1610 - May 1628            Muhsin (I) bin Hussein             (b. 1557 - d. 1692)
May 1628 - Oct 1629        Ahmad bin Abu Talib al-Hasan
Grand Sharifs of Mecca
Oct 1629 - Nov 1630        Masud (I) bin Idris                (d. 1630)
Nov 1630 - Mar 1631        Abdullah (I) bin Hasan (1st time) 
Mar 1631 - Jul 1631        Aun bin Idris Abdul Karim
Jul 1631 - Sep 1631        Abdullah (I) bin Hasan (2nd time) 
1631 - Jul 1666            Zeid bin Muhsin                    (b. 1607 - d. 1666)
Jul 1666 - 1671            Saad bin Zeid (1st time)           (b. 1647 - d. 1709)
1667 - 1668                Muhsin bin Ahmad (1st time) -co-ruler
1669 - 1671                Ahmad bin Zeid (1st time) -co-ruler(d. 1688)
Jun 1670 - Nov 1670        Hamud bin Abdullah bin Hasan       (d. 1674)
Apr 1672 - Apr 1682        Barakat (III) bin Muhammad         (d. 1687)
1682 - 1684                Ibrahim bin Muhammad
1682 - 1683                Said (I) bin Barakat
Oct 1684 - 1688            Ahmad bin Zeid (2nd time)          (s.a.)
 4 Jan 1688 - Apr 1690     Ahmad bin Ghalib                   (d. 1701)
1689 - Apr 1690            Muhsin bin Ahmad (2nd time)
Apr 1690 - Oct 1691        Muhsin (II) bin Hussein            (d. 1695)
Oct 1691 - 1694            Said (II) bin Saad (1st time)      (b. 1674 - d. 1717)
13 Mar 1693 - Aug 1694     Saad bin Zeid (2nd time)           (s.a.)
Aug 1694 - Dec 1694        Abdullah (II) bin Hashim           (d. 1701)
Dec 1694 - Mar 1702        Saad bin Zeid (3rd time)           (s.a.)
Mar 1702 - Jul 1704        Said (II) bin Saad (2nd time)      (s.a.)
Jul 1704                   Abdul Muhsin bin Ahmad             (b. 16.. - d. 1718)
Jul 1704 - Feb 1705        Abdul Karim bin Muhammad           (b. 16.. - d. 1719)
                             (1st time) 
Mar 1705 - Nov 1705        Said (II) bin Saad (3rd time)      (s.a.)
Nov 1705 - Dec 1711        Abdul Karim bin Muhammad           (s.a.)
                             (2nd time)
Dec 1711 - Jan 1717        Said (II) bin Saad (4th time)      (s.a.)
Jan 1717 - Apr 1718        Abdullah (III) bin Said (1st time) (d. 1775)
Apr 1718 - Nov 1718        Ali bin Said
1718 - 1719                Yahya (I) bin Barakat
May 1720 - Sep 1722        Mubarak bin Ahmad (1st time)       (d. 1727)
Sep 1722 - Oct 1723        Barakat bin Yahya
Oct 1723 - Mar 1724        Mubarak bin Ahmad (2nd time)       (s.a.)
Mar 1724 - May 1731        Abdullah (III) bin Said (2nd time) (s.a.)
May 1731 - Nov 1732        Muhammad bin Abdullah (1st time)   (b. 1715 - d. 1756)
Nov 1732 - Jan 1733        Masud bin Said (1st time)          (d. 1752)
Feb 1733 - 1734            Muhammad bin Abdullah (2nd time)   (s.a.)
Feb 1734 - 18 Feb 1752     Masud bin Said (2nd time)          (s.a.) 
18 Feb 1752 - 24 Aug 1759  Masaad bin Said (II)(1st time)     (d. 1770)
24 Aug 1759 - Jan 1760     Jaafar bin Said                    (d. 1764)
Jan 1760 - 23 May 1770     Masaad bin Said (II)(2nd time)     (s.a.)
23 May 1770 - 12 Jul 1770  Ahmad bin Said                     (d. 1781)
12 Jul 1770 -  5 Feb 1773  Abdullah (IV) bin Hussein          (d. 1788)
Oct 1770 - Oct 1770        Ahmad bin Said (in rebellion)      (s.a.)            
 5 Feb 1773 - 21 Jan 1788  Surur bin Masaad                   (b. 1744 - d. 1788)
21 Jan 1788 - 31 Jan 1788  Abdul Muin bin Masaad              (b. 1747 - d. 1803)
31 Jan 1788 -  2 Nov 1813  Ghalib bin Masaad                  (b. 1750 - d. 1817)
                             (in exile 30 Apr - Jul 1803, Feb 1806 - 23 Jan 1813)
Emirs and Grand Sharifs of Mecca
 2 Nov 1813 - Aug 1827     Yahya (II) bin Surur               (d. 1838)
                             (stipendiary of Muhammad Ali)
Aug 1827 - Sep 1827        Abdul Mutalib bin Ghalib           (b. 1790 - d. 1886)
                             (1st time) 
Sep 1827 - 1836            Muhammad (III) bin Abdul Muin      (b. 1767 - d. 1858)
                             (1st time) 
c.1833                     Ahmad Pasha
                             (representative of Muhammad Ali in Hejaz)
1836 - 1840                Muhammad bin Abdul Muin            (s.a.)
                             (commander of the Egyptian Army)
1840 - Jul 1851            Muhammad (III) bin Abdul Muin      (s.a.)
                             (2nd time)
Jul 1851 -  6 Jan 1856     Abdul Mutalib bin Ghalib           (s.a.)
                             (2nd time) 
 6 Jan 1856 - 28 Mar 1858  Muhammad (III) bin Abdul Muin      (s.a.)
                             (3rd time)
 1 May 1858 - 26 Jun 1877  Abdullah Pasha bin Muhammad        (b. 1823 - d. 1877)
11 Jul 1877 - 15 Mar 1880  Hussein bin Muhammad               (b. 1838 - d. 1880)
Jun 1880 - 31 Aug 1881     Abdul Mutalib bin Ghalib           (s.a.)
                             (3rd time) 
31 Aug 1881 - 30 Aug 1882  Abdullah Pasha bin Muhammad        (b. 1845 - d. 1908)
                             (1st time)
30 Aug 1882 - 17 Jul 1905  Aun ar-Rafiq Pasha bin Muhammad    (b. 1841 - d. 1905)
14 Oct 1905 - 26 Oct 1908  Ali Pasha bin Abdullah             (b. 1859 - d. 1941)
26 Oct 1908 - 29 Oct 1908  Abdullah Pasha bin Muhammad        (s.a.)
                             (2nd time)(did not arrive in Mecca)
29 Oct 1908 - 29 Oct 1916  Hussein Pasha bin Ali              (b. 1856 - d. 1931)
                             (formally dismissed by Ottoman Sultan 2 Jul 1916) 
 1 Aug 1916 - 21 Mar 1917  Ali Haidar Pasha (in Medina)       (b. 1866 - d. 1935) 
                             (Ottoman designee in opposition to Hussein)
Kings¹
29 Oct 1916 -  3 Oct 1924  Hussein bin Ali al-Hashimi         (s.a.)
                             (= Hussein Pasha bin Ali)
                             (assumed Caliph title on 11 Mar 1924)
 3 Oct 1924 - 19 Dec 1925  Ali bin Hussein al-Hashimi         (b. 1879 - d. 1935)
 8 Jan 1926 - 22 Sep 1932  Abdul Aziz                         (b. 1880 - d. 1953)

Grand Viziers 
10 Jun 1916 -  3 Oct 1924  Ali bin Hussein al-Hashimi         (s.a.)
Oct 1924 - Nov 1925        Abdullah as-Sarraj (acting)        (b.c.1876 - d. 1949) HNP
Nov 1925 - Dec 1925        Sheikh Muhammad al-Tawil (acting)                       HNP
Dec 1925 – Jan 1926        Abdullah Alireza (interim)         (b. 1853 - d. 1932)
                             (head of interim government)
Agent-General (and from 31 Dec 1931, Chairman of the Council of ministers)
17 Aug 1926 - 22 Sep 1932  Faysal bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud      (b. 1906 - d. 1975)  Non-party

  ¹Full styles of the ruler:
(a) from 29 Oct 1916: the Grand Sharif assumed the title Malik al'umat Alearabia wa Amir al-Mumenin ("King of the Arab Nation and Commander of the Faithful"). From 6 Nov 1916, recognized by the Allied powers only as "King of the Hejaz, Commander of the Faithful, Grand Sharif and Emir of Mecca"; on 11 Mar 1924, he assumed title Caliph al-Islam ("Caliph of Islam"). From 3 Oct 1924, "King of the Hejaz and Grand Sharif of Mecca";
(b) 29 Jan 1927 - 22 Sep 1932: Malik al-Hijaz wa Najd wa Mulhaqatahu ("King of the Hejaz and Nejd and Dependencies").

Former parties: HNP = Hizb al-Hijaz al-Watani (Hejaz National Party, Hijazi nationalist, moderate, urban elites, 1924-1926)

16th cent.                 Ottoman Empire claims suzerainty over interior of Arabia.
Feb 1727                   A member of the Al Sa`ud clan, Muhammad bin Sa`ud, local ruler
                             of the small settlement of Diriyah (Dariya), enjoying relative
                             freedom outside of rule by Ottomans, Sharif of Mecca, or al-Hasa.
1744                       Ruler of Diriyah adopts the teachings of Muhammad bin Abdul
                             al-Wahhab founder of Wahhabism (Diriyah Emirate [Al-Imarat al-
                             Dir'iyyah]) (also called the "first Saudi state").
1801                       Wahhabis raid and plunder Karbala.
by 1802                    Diriyah dominates almost all of central Arabia.
30 Apr 1803 - 23 Jan 1813  Diriyah annexes the Hejaz.
1817 - Jul 1819            Egyptian occupation (on behalf of the Ottoman Empire), taking 
                             Mawiyah Nov 1817, then Al-Rass, Al-Khabra, Unaizah and
                             Buraidah in Dec 1817, reaching Diriyah Apr 1818).
11 Sep 1818                Diriyah surrenders to Egyptian forces (end of first Saudi state).
1824                       Egyptian forces withdraw from the Nejd.
1824                       Riyadh re-occupied by Turki bin Abdullah, son of deposed ruler of
                             Diriyah, establishing Emirate of Nejd (Al-Imarat al-Negid)(which
                             is called the "second Saudi state").
May 1837 - Jan 1841        Egyptian administration (nominally under Ottoman suzerainty).
1887                       Conquest by Jebel Shammar.
1891 - 15 Jan 1902         Direct rule by Jebel Shammar.
15 Jan 1902                Abdul Aziz ibn Sa`ud re-takes Riyadh; Emirate of Nejd (Al-Imarat
                             al-Negid)(restored), also called Emirate of Riyadh (Al-Imarat
                             ar-Riysd').
29 Jul 1913                Anglo-Ottoman Convention establishes the 'Blue Line' separating
                             the Ottoman sanjak of Nejd from Qatar and the British protected
                             areas (Blue Line was drawn from the coast west of Qatar to the
                             Rub' al Khali)(not ratified).
 9 Mar 1914                Anglo-Ottoman Convention signed defining the limits of Ottoman
                             jurisdiction in north-western Arabia (which contained express
                             reference to the 'Blue Line' of 1913), established the 'Violet
                             Line' which started from the end of the Blue Line to the border
                             between Ottoman Yemen and the British Aden Protectorates at
                             Bab el-Mandeb (ratified 5 Jun 1914).
29 May 1914                Secret Ottoman-Saudi Convention recognizes Ottoman suzerainty
                             over Nejd, with Ibn Saud as hereditary Wali of vilyet of Nejd. 
26 Dec 1915                British recognize that Nejd, Hasa, Qatif, Jubayl and their
                             dependencies are countries of Ibn Sa`ud in the Anglo-Saudi Treaty
                             (Treaty of Darin).
22 Aug 1921                Sultanate of Nejd and Its Dependencies (As-Saltana al-Najd wa
                             Mulhaqatahu).
 2 Nov 1921                Jebel Shammar incorporated into Nejd.
13 Oct 1924                Mecca occupied by Nejd.
 5 Dec 1925                Medina occupied by Nejd.
 8 Jan 1926                Hejaz annexed (de facto).
29 Jan 1927                Kingdom of the Nejd and Its Dependencies (Al-Mamlaka al-Najd wa
                             Mulhaqatahu); informally as the Kingdom of the Hejaz, Nejd and
                             Its Dependencies (Al-Mamlaka al-Hijaz wa Najd wa Mulhaqatahu).
20 May 1927                U.K. recognizes the independence of Ibn Sa`ud and his sovereignty
                             over Hejaz, Nejd and Dependencies (ratified 17 Sep 1927).
22 Sep 1932                Unification of Nejd with Hejaz as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (in
                             accordance with a royal decree of 18 Sep 1932). 

Emirs (also Imams and Protectors of the Wahhabis)
1744 - 1765                Muhammad I bin Sa`ud                  (b. 17.. - d. 1765)
1765 -  2 Oct 1803         Abdul Aziz I bin Muhammad             (b. 1721 - d. 1803)
                             al-Sa`ud
 2 Oct 1803 -  1 May 1814  Sa`ud I bin Abdul Aziz                (b. 1748 - d. 1814)
 1 May 1814 - 11 Sep 1818  Abdullah I bin Sa`ud                  (d. 1818)
Mar 1820 - Dec 1820        Misrahi bin Sa`ud                     (d. 1820?)
                             (occupied Dariyah in Mar 1820, but captured by Egyptians)
1823 -  9 May 1834         Turki bin Abdullah                    (b. 1755 - d. 1834)
May 1834 - Jun 1834        Mishari bin Abdul Rahman              (d. 1834)
18 Jun 1834 - May 1837     Faysal I bin Turki (1st time)         (b. 1785 - d. 1865)
                             (continues in rebellion to Dec 1838)
May 1837 - 1841            Khalid I bin Sa`ud                    (d. 1861)
1841 - 13 Jul 1843         Abdullah II bin Thunayan              (d. 1843)
13 Jul 1843 -  2 Dec 1865  Faysal I bin Turki (2nd time)         (s.a.)
 2 Dec 1865 -  9 Apr 1871  Abdullah III bin Faysal (1st time)    (b. c.1820 - d. 1889)
10 Apr 1871 - Jan 1875     Sa`ud II bin Faysal                   (d. 1875)
Jan 1875 - Aug 1875        Abdul Rahman bin Faysal               (b. 1845 - d. 1928)
1875 - 1887                Abdullah III bin Faisal (2nd time)    (s.a.)
1887                       Muhammad II bin Faysal                (d. 1887) 
Jebel Shammar Governors 
1887 - 1888                Salim bin Subhan
1888 - 1889                Fahhad bin Uwaid bin Rukhaiyis
1889 - 27 Nov 1889         Abdullah (III) bin Faisal             (s.a.)
1889 - Jan 1891            Abdul Rahman bin Faisal               (s.a.)
                             (in rebellion Jul - Aug 1890)
1891                       Muhammad (III) bin Sa`ud bin Faysal   (d. 1894)
1891 - 15 Jan 1902         `Ajlan bin Muhammad                   (b. 18.. - d. 1902)
Emir
15 Jan 1902 - 22 Aug 1921  Abdul Aziz                            (b. 1880 - d. 1953)
                             (= Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman Al Saud)
                             (called Ibn Sa`ud outside Saudi Arabia) 
Sultan
22 Aug 1921 - 29 Jan 1927  Abdul Aziz                            (s.a.)
King¹
29 Jan 1927 - 22 Sep 1932  Abdul Aziz                            (s.a.)

 ¹Style 29 Jan 1927 - 22 Sep 1932: Malik al-Hijaz wa Najd wa Mulhaqatahu ("King of the Hejaz and Nejd and Dependencies"). 

c.650 BC - c.300 AD        Part of the Gerrha kingdom.
899 - 1077                 Al-Ahsa comes under control of the Qarmatian leader, Abu-Sa'id
                             Jannabi, and is declared independent from the Abbasids in
                             Baghdad.
1077                       Qarmatian state of Al-Ahsa is overthrown by the Uyunids.
1238 - 1383                Usfurid dynasty takes over the region of Al-Ahsa and Al-Qatif.
1383                       Usfurids are overthrown by the Jarwanids.
1440                       Jabrids (Banu Jabr) take over Al-Ahsa, Qatif, Bahrain, and Kish
                             Island, and extend their influence to eastern Nejd.
1521                       Jabrid kingdom falls to the Muntafiq tribe of southern
                             Mesopotamia, who rule Al-Ahsa on behalf of the Ottoman Empire.
                             The Ottomans station their garrisons in the region.
1521 - 1529?               Al Qatif occupied by the Portuguese (Catifa) and briefly in 1551.
1552 - 1670                Part of Ottoman Empire (as Lahsa Beylerbeylik 1552-1560; from 1560
                             Eyalet-i Lahsa). 
1670                       Ottomans are expelled by the tribe of Banu Khalid, who make their
                             capital in Al-Mubarraz.
1670 - 1796                Bani Khalid emirate, also called Sheikhdom of al-Hasa` (Ahsa),
                             under the Banu Khalid dynasty.
1780 – 1795                Vassal of Diriyah.
1795 - 1818                Annexed to Diriyah.
1818 – 1819                Occupied by Egypt (nominally under Ottoman suzerainty).
1830 - 1838                Occupied by Emirate of Nejd.
1838 - 1841                Egyptian administration (nominally under Ottoman suzerainty).
1843 - Jun 1871            Under Jebel Shamar Emirate rule.
Jun 1871                   Ottoman rule restored (as Necid [Najd] sanjak of Baghdad
                             [from 1875 Basra] vilayet [see Iraq]).
 9 May 1913                Annexed by Nejd (remains nominally Ottoman to 1914).

Ottoman Beylerbeys
1552 - Sep/Oct 1559        Bilal Mehmet Pasha
Sep/Oct 1559               Mustafa Pasha                         (d. 1559)
Sep/Oct 1559 - 1560        Murat Pasha
Ottoman Governors-general
1560 - Jan/Feb 1566        Mehmet Pasha
Feb 1566 - 1572            Ali Pasha
1572 - Oct/Nov 1573        Osman Pasha
Oct/Nov 1573-May/Jun 1575  Sinan Pasha
May/Jun 1575-Jun/Jul 1576  Ilyas Pasha
Jun/Jul 1576 - 1579        Ahmet Pasha (1st time)
1579                       Gazanfer Pasha
1579 - 1582                Ahmet Pasha (2nd time)
1582 - 1584                Mehmet Pasha
1584 - 1589                Ahmet Pasha (3rd time)
1589 - May/Jun 1590        Hüseyin Pasha
May/Jun 1590-Mar/Apr 1595  Ahmet Pasha (4th time)
1595                       Abdülbaki Pasha
1595 - Oct/Nov 1602        Ahmet Pasha (5th time)
Oct/Nov 1609-Sep/Oct 1609  Behram Pasha
Sep/Oct 1609-Apr/May 1610  Ali Pasha
Apr/May 1610 - 16..        Ibrahim Pasha
1631? - 1635?              Afrasyab-oglu Ali Pasha
16.. - 1643                Mehmet Pasha
.... - ....                Fati-eh Pasha
.... - ....                Muhammad Pasha
16.. - 1670                Umar Pasha
Emirs of Bani Khalid
1670 - 1682                Barak I Ghurair bin Masoud Al Humaid
1682 – 1691                Muhammad I bin Ghurair                (d. 1691)
1691 - 1722                Sa'dun bin Muhammad
1722 - 1736                `Ali  bin Muhammad                    (d. 1736)
1736 – 1752                Sulayman bin Muhammad Al Khalidi      (d. 1752)
                             (pretender 1723–1726)
1752 – 1774                `Urayar bin Dudjayn bin Sa`dun        (d. 1774) 
1752                       Hamada (pretenter)
1774 - 1775                Butaiyin bin `Urayar                  (d. 1775) 
1775                       Dudjayn bin `Urayar                   (d. 1775) 
1775 – 1786                Sa`dun II bin `Urayar
1786 - 1793                Duwaihis bin `Urayar
1789 – 1791                `Abd al-Muhsin bin `Abd Allah         (d. 1791) 
                             (in the North)(regent 1787-1789) 
1789 – 1793                Zayid bin `Urayar (1st time) (in South) 
1791 – 1793                Barrak II Abdul Mohsen Al-Sadah
                             (1st time) (in North) 
1793 - 1794                Zayid bin `Urayar (2nd time)
1794 - 1795                Barak II Abdul Mohsen Al-Sadah
                             (2nd time)
Diriyah governors
1795 – 179.                Nadjim bin Duhaynim 
1798 – 1804                Sulayman bin Muhammad bin Madjid 
1804 - 1809                Ibrahim bin `Ufaysan
1809 - 1810                `Abd Allah bin `Ufaysan, Bahrayn 
1810 – 1812                Fahd bin Sulayman bin `Ufaysan
1813 - 1818                ....
1818                       Madjid (1st time)                     (d. 1830) 
                           + Muhammad III (1st time)
Egyptian governors
1819 – 182.                Mehmed Agha (in Hufuf)
1819 - 1819                Halil Agha (in Qatif)
1819 – 182.                Musrif (in Qatif)
Sheiks
1823 - 1830                Madjid (2nd time)                     (s.a.)
                           + Muhammad III (2nd time)
1830 - 1838                `Umar bin Muhammad (1st time)
1830 - 1839                `Abd Allah bin Ghanim (in Qatif)
1839                       Mehmed Efendi I (in Hufuf)            (d. 1839)
1839 – 1840                Mehmed Efendi II (in Hufuf)
1840 – 1841                Hamad bin Mubarak
1841                       Musa al-Hamli
1842                       `Umarbin Muhammad (2nd time)
1842                       Fahd bin `Abd Allah (acting)
1842                       Bilal bin Salim al-Harq
1843                       `Abd Allah bin Battal al-Mutayri
1844 - 1853                Ahmad bin Muhammad as-Sudayri 
                             (1st time) 
1853 – 1857                Muhammad bin Ahmad (1st time)
1857 – 1861                Ahmad bin Muhammad as-Sudayri 
                             (2nd time)
1861 – 1870                Muhammad bin Ahmad (2nd time)
1870 – 1871                Nasir bin Djabir al-Khalidi
1871 – 1872                Fariq Pasha
Ottoman Mutassarrifs (Lieutenant-governors)
1871 - 1872                Nafiz Pasha
1872 - 1873                Mehmet Pasha
1873 - 1874                Faiz Pasha
1874 - 1875                Baz`i al-Khalidi Pasha
1875 - 1876                Mazyad Pasha
1876 - 1877                Said Bey (1st time)
1877                       Husyein Bey
1877 - 1879                Said Pasha (1st time)
1879 - 1880                Said Bey (2nd time)
1880 - 1881                Abdulgani Pasha
1881 - 1885                Said Pasha (2nd time)
1885 - 1886                Nazih Pasha
1886 - 1887                Mehmet Salih Pasha
1887 - 1890                Rifaat Pasha
1890 - 1891                Akif Bey                           (d. 1890)
1891 - 1894                Said Pasha (3rd time)
1894 – 1896                Ibrahim Pasha
1896                       Abdallah Pasha
1896 - 1900                Said Pasha (4th time)
1900 - 1901                Musa Kazim Efendi
1901 - 1902                Tevfik Bey 
1902 - 1904                Sayyid Talib Pasha
1904 - 1905                Faik Pasha
1905 – 1907                Necib Pasha
1907                       Reshid Pasha
1908                       Mumtaz Efendi
1908 - 1909                Mahmud Mahir Bey
1909                       Arif Bey
1909 - 1911                Ail Suad Bey
1911 - 1912                Nedim Bey
1912 -  9 May 1913         Abbas Hilmi Bey
 9 May 1913 - 1914         Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman Al Saud   (b. 1880 - d. 1953)
                             Pasha (called Ibn Sa`ud outside Arabia)

1792 - 1818                Annexed to Diriyah.
1836 - 1841                Egyptian suzerainty (nominally under Ottoman suzerainty).
1836                       Emirate of Jebel Shammar (Al-Imarat ash-Shammar)(also referred
                             to as the Emirate of Hail [Ha'il] after its capital).
 2 Nov 1921                Jebel Shammar incorporated into Nejd.

Emirs
1836 - Apr 1847            Abdullah (I) bin Ali al Rashid    (b. 1788 - d. 1847)
Apr 1847 - 11 Mar 1868     Talal bin Abdullah al Rashid      (b. 1823 - d. 1868)
Mar 1868 - Jan 1869        Mutaib (I) bin Abdullah al Rashid (d. 1869)
1869 - 1872                Bandar bin Talal al Rashid        (d. 1872)
1872 - 28 Nov 1897         Muhammad (I) bin Abdullah al      (d. 1897)
                             Rashid
 1 Dec 1897 - 13 Apr 1906  Abdul Aziz bin Mutaib al Rashid   (b. 1868 - d. 1906)
13 Apr 1906 - 27 Dec 1906  Mutaib (II) bin Abdul Aziz al     (b. 1888 - d. 1906)
                             Rashid 
Jan 1907 - Jan 1908        Sultan bin Hammud al Rashid       (b. 1870 - d. 1908)
Jan 1908 - Sep 1908        Sa`ud (I) bin Hammud al Rashid    (b. 1875 - d. 1909)
14 Sep 1908 - Mar 1920     Sa`ud (II) bin Abdul Aziz al      (b. 1885 - d. 1920)
                             Rashid 
Mar 1920 - 1920            Abduallah (II) bin Mutaib al      (b. 1906 - d. 1946)
                             Rashid 
1920 -  2 Nov 1921         Muhammad (II) bin Talal al Rashid (b. c.1904 - d. 1954)

22 Sep 1932                Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (al-Mamlaka al-`Arabiyya al-Su`udiyya).    

Kings¹
22 Sep 1932 -  9 Nov 1953  Abdul Aziz (also known Abu Turki)  (b. 1880 - d. 1953)
                             (called Ibn Sa`ud outside Saudi Arabia)
 9 Nov 1953 -  2 Nov 1964  Sa`ud                              (b. 1902 - d. 1969)
30 Mar 1964 -  2 Nov 1964  Faysal -Regent                     (b. 1906 - d. 1975)
 2 Nov 1964 - 25 Mar 1975  Faysal                             (s.a.)
25 Mar 1975 - 13 Jun 1982  Khalid                             (b. 1913 - d. 1982)
13 Jun 1982 -  1 Aug 2005  Fahd                               (b. 1923? - d. 2005)
 1 Jan 1996 - 21 Feb 1996  Abdullah -Regent                   (b. 1924 - d. 2015)
21 Feb 1996 -  1 Aug 2005  Abdullah (de facto regent)         (s.a.)
 1 Aug 2005 - 23 Jan 2015  Abdullah                           (s.a.)
22 Nov 2010 - 23 Feb 2011  Sultan (de facto regent)           (b. 1928 - d. 2011)
23 Jan 2015 -              Salman                             (b. 1935)

Chairman of the Council of Ministers
22 Sep 1932 -  9 Oct 1953  Faysal bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud      (s.a.)               Non-party
Prime ministers
 9 Oct 1953 - 16 Aug 1954  Sa`ud (1st time)                   (s.a.)               Non-party
16 Aug 1954 - 21 Dec 1960  Faysal (1st time)                  (s.a.)               Non-party
21 Dec 1960 - 31 Oct 1962  Sa`ud (2nd time)                   (s.a.)               Non-party
31 Oct 1962 - 25 Mar 1975  Faysal (2nd time)                  (s.a.)               Non-party
29 Mar 1975 - 13 Jun 1982  Khalid                             (s.a.)               Non-party
13 Jun 1982 -  1 Aug 2005  Fahd                               (s.a.)               Non-party
 1 Aug 2005 - 23 Jan 2015  Abdullah                           (s.a.)               Non-party
23 Jan 2015 - 27 Sep 2022  Salman                             (s.a.)               Non-party
27 Sep 2022 -              Muhammad bin Salman                (b. 1985)            Non-party

 ¹Full style: Malik al-Mamlaka al-`Arabiyya al-Su`udiyya ("King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia" [short form "King of Saudi Arabia"]); from 17 Oct 1986, the ruler's name is prefixed with: Khadim al-Haramayn al-Sharifayn ("Servant of the Two Noble Sanctuaries [Mecca and Medina]"). 

Territorial Disputes: Saudi Arabia has been building a fence along its border with Iraq to keep out militants and smugglers; Jordan and Saudi Arabia signed an agreement to demarcate their maritime borders in 2007; Saudi Arabia and UAE have disputed the Shaybah oilfield, which Saudi Arabia controls; Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue discussions on a maritime boundary with Iran; in December 2019, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait signed an agreement to demarcate land in a neutral zone and to restart oil production in shared fields, which had been suspended since 2014 because of disagreements; Yemen and Saudi Arabia signed the Treaty of Jeddah in 2000, which specified the coordinates of their land and maritime border and made provisions for grazing, the placement of armed forces, and future resource exploitation; in 2010, Saudi Arabia reinforced its concrete-filled security barrier along sections of the now fully demarcated border with Yemen to stem illegal cross-border activities; Egyptian-administered islands of Tiran and Sanafir, administered by Egypt since 1950 (based on 1906 Egyptian-Ottoman border delineation) were ceded to Saudi Arabia on 24 Jun 2017.

Political parties: (political parties are illegal).