Salman of Saudi Arabia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Salman
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques
Salman in 2020
King of Saudi Arabia
Reign	23 January 2015 – present
Bay'ah	23 January 2015
Predecessor	Abdullah
Crown Princes	Muqrin bin Abdulaziz (2015) Muhammad bin Nayef (2015–2017) Mohammed bin Salman (2017–present)
Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia
In office 23 January 2015 – 27 September 2022
Preceded by	Abdullah bin Abdulaziz
Succeeded by	Mohammed bin Salman
Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Deputy Prime Minister
In office 18 June 2012 – 23 January 2015
Monarch	Abdullah bin Abdulaziz
Prime Minister	Abdullah bin Abdulaziz
Preceded by	Nayef bin Abdulaziz
Succeeded by	Muqrin bin Abdulaziz
Minister of Defense
In office 5 November 2011 – 23 January 2015
Prime Minister	King Abdullah
Preceded by	Sultan bin Abdulaziz
Succeeded by	Mohammed bin Salman
Governor of Riyadh Province
In office 5 February 1963 – 5 November 2011
Appointed by	King Saud
Preceded by	Badr bin Saud
Succeeded by	Sattam bin Abdulaziz
In office 18 April 1955 – 22 September 1960
Appointed by	King Saud
Preceded by	Nayef bin Abdulaziz
Succeeded by	Fawwaz bin Abdulaziz
Deputy Governor of Riyadh Province
In office 16 March 1954 – 18 April 1955
Appointed by	King Saud
Preceded by	Nayef bin Abdulaziz
Succeeded by	Turki II bin Abdulaziz
Born	(1935-12-31) 31 December 1935 (age 89) Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Spouse	Sultana bint Turki Al Sudairi ​ ​ (m. 1954; died 2011)​ Sarah bint Faisal Al Subai'ai (divorced) Fahda bint Falah Al Hithlain
Issue Detail	List Prince Fahd Prince Sultan Prince Ahmed Prince Abdulaziz Prince Faisal Princess Hassa Crown Prince Mohammed Prince Saud Prince Turki Prince Khalid Prince Nayef Prince Bandar Prince Rakan
Full name Salman bin Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman
House	Al Saud
Father	Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia
Mother	Hassa bint Ahmed Al Sudairi
Signature

Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (Arabic: سلمان بن عبد العزيز آل سعود; born 31 December 1935) has been the King of Saudi Arabia since 2015. He was also the Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia from 2015 to 2022. He is the 25th son of King Abdulaziz, who founded Saudi Arabia. Salman became king on 23 January 2015. Before that, he was the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia from 2012 to 2015. He is currently the oldest living king in the world.

King Salman is a son of King Abdulaziz and Hassa bint Ahmed Al Sudairi. This makes him one of the group known as the Sudairi Seven. He served as the deputy governor of Riyadh Province and then as its governor for 48 years, from 1963 to 2011. After that, he became the Minister of Defense. In 2012, he was named crown prince. Salman became king in 2015 after his half-brother, King Abdullah, passed away.

As king, Salman has started several important projects. These include Saudi Arabia's involvement in the Yemeni Civil War and the plan called Saudi Vision 2030. He also issued a rule in 2017 that allowed Saudi women to drive. His son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is now seen as the main leader of Saudi Arabia. This is because of the King's age and his son's active role in government. Mohammed bin Salman took over as prime minister in 2022.

Early Life and Education

Salman was born on 31 December 1935. He is the 25th son of King Abdulaziz, who was the first ruler and founder of Saudi Arabia. Salman and his six full brothers are known as the Sudairi Seven. He grew up in the Murabba Palace.

He went to the Princes' School in Riyadh, the capital city. King Abdulaziz created this school especially to educate his children. Salman studied both religion and modern science there.

Becoming Governor of Riyadh

Salman became the Deputy Governor of Riyadh Province on 17 March 1954, when he was 18 years old. He held this job until 19 April 1955. Later, on 5 February 1963, he was appointed the governor of the same province. He stayed in that position for almost 50 years, until 5 November 2011.

Salman in his youth

As governor, Salman played a big part in changing Riyadh from a medium-sized town into a large, modern city. He helped bring tourism, big building projects, and money from other countries into Saudi Arabia. He also supported good relationships with Western countries. During his time as governor, Salman hired experts from King Saud University to advise him.

During his five decades as Riyadh governor, Salman learned how to balance the different groups in Saudi Arabia, like religious leaders, tribes, and royal family members. He was also the head of several important organizations. These included the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (KAFRA) and the King Abdulaziz Museum. He also led the Prince Salman Center for Disability Research.

Salman also traveled to many countries when he was governor. In 1974, he visited Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar to make Saudi Arabia's relationships with these countries stronger. He opened an art gallery in Montreal, Canada, in 1991. In 1996, he met the French president in Paris. The same year, he visited Bosnia and Herzegovina to give help to the Muslim people there. As part of a trip to Asia in 1998, Salman visited Pakistan, Japan, Brunei, and China.

Under Salman's leadership, Riyadh became one of the richest cities in the Middle East. It also became an important center for trade and business. Many new schools, universities, and sports stadiums were built. He once said about Riyadh:

Every village or town in the Riyadh Region is dear to me, and holds a special place in my heart ... I witnessed every step taken by the city of Riyadh, and for this reason, it is difficult for me to think about being far away from Riyadh.

Becoming Minister of Defense

Prince Salman at the Pentagon in April 2012

On 5 November 2011, Salman was chosen to be the Minister of Defense. He took over from his full brother, Crown Prince Sultan. Sattam bin Abdulaziz became the new governor of Riyadh Province. Salman also joined the National Security Council (NSC) on the same day.

People believed he was chosen for this important role because of his calm and diplomatic personality. He was good at solving problems within the royal family. He also belonged to the "middle generation" of the royal family, which helped him connect with both older and younger members. Because he had been governor for so long, he had also built many relationships with leaders in Arab countries and around the world.

As Minister of Defense, Salman continued Saudi Arabia's policy of helping in the military action in Bahrain. In April 2012, Salman visited the United States and the United Kingdom. There, he met with US President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron. In 2014, Saudi Arabia joined the United States and other Arab countries in carrying out airstrikes against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

Becoming Crown Prince

Crown Prince Salman meeting US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, 23 April 2013

On 18 June 2012, Salman was named Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. This happened shortly after his brother, Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz, passed away. Prince Salman also became the First Deputy Prime Minister. Many saw his appointment as a sign that King Abdullah's careful changes would continue. However, some Saudi reformers felt that while Prince Salman was more open than other royals, he wasn't focused on big political changes. They thought he cared more about improving the economy.

On 27 August 2012, it was announced that Salman would be in charge of state affairs while King Abdullah was out of the country. Prince Salman started a Twitter account on 23 February 2013. In September 2012, he was also named the deputy head of the military service council. He is a strong supporter of helping poor Muslim nations like Somalia, Sudan, and Afghanistan.

King of Saudi Arabia

US President Barack Obama shakes hands with King Salman, Riyadh, 27 January 2015

On 23 January 2015, Salman, at 79 years old, became king after his half-brother Abdullah passed away. The new king announced the sad news and appointed his younger half-brother, Muqrin bin Abdulaziz, as Crown Prince.

Salman at the 2015 G20 Summit in Turkey, 15 September 2015

Soon after becoming king, Salman made changes to the government on 30 January 2015. He appointed new officials to important roles. He also gave a bonus of two months' salary to all Saudi government workers and military personnel, including retired people and students. He asked citizens to remember him in their prayers.

In February 2015, Prince Salman welcomed Charles, Prince of Wales, during his visit to the Middle East. They talked about the relationship between their countries. In April 2021, Prince Mishaal bin Majid Al Saud was appointed as an adviser to King Salman.

Government Changes

One of the first things King Salman and his son, Mohammed bin Salman, did was to make the government simpler. When King Abdullah passed away, there were many government offices. King Salman combined these into two main councils:

• The Council of Political and Security Affairs (CPSA), led by Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef.
• The Council for Economic and Development Affairs (CEDA), led by Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

This change helped to make the government more efficient.

Yemen Conflict

In March 2015, the King ordered military action in Yemen. This was against the Shia Houthis and forces loyal to the former President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Saudi Arabia formed a group of ten Sunni Muslim countries to help. This was the first time the Saudi Air Force had launched airstrikes against another country since the 1990–91 Gulf War.

Human rights groups have raised concerns about the conflict. The UN has estimated that by the end of 2021, the war in Yemen had caused 377,000 deaths.

Changes in Crown Princes

In April 2015, just three months after becoming king, Salman named his nephew, Muhammad bin Nayef, as the new Crown Prince. He also made his son, Mohammed bin Salman, the Deputy Crown Prince. This meant that most of the power under the king was held by these two princes.

On 21 June 2017, King Salman removed Muhammad bin Nayef from his position as Crown Prince. He then named his son, Mohammed bin Salman, as the new Crown Prince. Mohammed bin Salman is now seen as a very powerful figure in Saudi Arabia.

KSRelief: Helping Others

In May 2015, the King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Aid (KSRelief) was created. Its goal is to provide help to people around the world who are affected by wars or natural disasters. KSRelief works with the UN and other organizations.

• By June 2018, KSRelief had completed over 400 projects in 40 countries.
• In 2018, KSRelief helped many Syrian refugees in Zataari camp in Jordan.
• In 2019, KSRelief signed an agreement with UNICEF to work together on humanitarian aid.
• The center has provided prosthetic limbs to Yemeni civilians injured during the war.
• KSRelief has also organized training programs for women in Yemen to help them earn money.
• They have worked on projects to help children affected by the war in Yemen.
• In 2019, KSRelief signed agreements to help Palestinian and Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
• In 2020, KSRelief helped rebuild a Syrian refugee camp that was destroyed.
• In 2021, KSRelief and UNESCO started a project to support teachers in Lebanon.
• In 2022, KSRelief continued to provide food to refugees in Lebanon, Sudan, Bangladesh, and Yemen.
• In 2023, KSRelief provided medical care in Yemen.
• In 2024, KSRelief continued its food aid project in Sudan and carried out humanitarian projects in Lebanon and Indonesia.

Human Rights Initiatives

In April 2020, the Saudi Supreme Court announced a new rule from King Salman. This rule states that young people who commit crimes will no longer face execution. Instead, they will be sent to a special facility for young offenders for a maximum of 10 years.

Foreign Relations: Iran and Syria

Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil and King Salman in October 2019

In 2015, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter met with King Salman. They discussed concerns about lifting economic penalties on Iran. King Salman was worried that this might increase Iran's power in the region, especially in conflicts in Syria and Yemen. In January 2016, Saudi Arabia executed a well-known Saudi Shia cleric. Iran warned that Saudi Arabia would face consequences for this action.

Saudi Arabia has also been a major supporter of rebel groups fighting against the Syrian government.

In May 2019, leaders from Gulf and Arab states met in Mecca. King Salman accused Iran of threatening global oil supplies and shipping. He urged the international community to take action against Iran.

Working with Israel

In recent years, under King Salman, Saudi Arabia has been trying to improve its relationship with Israel. These efforts are aimed at creating a stronger defense against threats from Iran.

Later Government Changes

More government changes happened in June 2018. King Salman replaced the ministers for labor and Islamic affairs. A businessman was appointed as labor minister, showing a greater role for private sector experts in the government. The new minister for Islamic affairs had previously helped control the power of the religious police. At the same time, Salman created a new Ministry of Culture and a Council of Royal Reserves for environmental protection.

In September 2022, the King stepped down from his role as prime minister, giving this job to his son Mohammed.

Influence and Media

Salman, US President Donald Trump, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi touching a glowing globe at the 2017 Riyadh summit.

Salman has often helped solve disagreements among the many princes of the Al Saud family. This family is estimated to have about 4,000 princes. He was an important member of the royal council, which decided which princes would be given different responsibilities in the Kingdom.

Salman and his family own a media group that includes newspapers like Asharq Al-Awsat and Al Eqtisadiah. Even though he only owns a small part of the Saudi Research and Marketing Group (SRMG), he is often seen as its main owner. He is believed to control the organization through his son Prince Faisal.

Salman is also said to have strong connections with important journalists. He is thought to be close to the director of Al Arabiya TV and a journalist from Asharq Al-Awsat. He also has ties to the founder of the online newspaper Elaph.

Personal Life

Prince Salman takes part in the Saudi Arabian traditional dance in the 1960s.

Salman bin Abdulaziz has been married three times and has at least thirteen children, including twelve sons.

His first wife was his cousin Sultana bint Turki Al Sudairi. They married in 1954. She had six children with him, including his only known daughter. Sultana passed away on 30 July 2011. Their children include:

• Prince Fahd (1955–2001). He was a businessman and horse-breeder. He passed away at age 47.
• Prince Sultan (born 1956). He became the first royal, the first Arab, and the first Muslim to fly into space in 1985. He is now the chairman of the Saudi Space Commission.
• Prince Ahmed (1958–2002). He passed away at age 43.
• Prince Abdulaziz (born 1960). He has been the Minister of Energy since 2019.
• Prince Faisal (born 1970). He is the governor of Madinah province.
• Princess Hassa (born 1974). She is Salman's only known daughter.

Salman's second wife was Sarah bint Faisal Al Subai'ai, whom he later divorced. They had one son:

• Prince Saud (born 1986).

Salman's third wife is Fahda bint Falah Al Hithlain. She has six sons with Salman:

• Prince Mohammed (born 1985). He is the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia.
• Prince Turki (born 1987). He became the chairman of the Saudi Research and Marketing Group in 2013.
• Prince Khalid (born 1988). He has been the Minister of Defence of Saudi Arabia since 2022.
• Prince Nayef
• Prince Bandar
• Prince Rakan

Health and Recognition

In August 2010, Salman had spinal surgery in the United States. He has had one stroke, which affects his left arm.

In 2013, Salman received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Al-Turath Charity Foundation for his work in urban heritage. In 2017, Salman promised US$15,000,000 to help Rohingya Muslim refugees in Bangladesh.

In July 2020, King Salman had a successful gallbladder surgery. In May 2024, it was reported that King Salman had a lung infection and was receiving treatment.

Honors and Awards

King Salman has received many honors from different countries around the world. These awards recognize his leadership and contributions.

Country	Collar	Order	Year	Ref.
Bahrain		Collar of the Order of Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa	2017
Brunei		Royal Family Order of the Crown of Brunei (D.K.M.B.)	2017
Djibouti		Grand Cordon of the Order of National Star of Djibouti	2015
Egypt		Collar of the Order of the Nile	2016
Guinea		Grand Cordon of the National Order of Merit	2015
Indonesia		First Class of the Star of the Republic of Indonesia	2017
Japan		Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum	2017
Jordan		Collar of the Order of Al-Hussein bin Ali	2017
Kuwait		Collar of the Order of Mubarak the Great	2016
Kuwait		Collar of the Order of Kuwait	2016
Malaysia		Honorary Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (P.M.N.)	1982
Malaysia		Recipient of the Most Exalted Order of the Crown of the Realm (D.M.N.)	2017
Mexico		Collar of the Order of the Aztec Eagle	2016
Morocco		Collar of the Order of Muhammad	2016
Morocco		Grand Cordon of the Order of Ouissam Alaouite	1987
Niger		Grand Cross of the National Order of Niger [fr]	2015
Pakistan		First Class of the Nishan-e-Pakistan	2015
Oman		Grand Cordon with Collar of the Order of Al-Said	2021
Palestine		Grand Collar of the State of Palestine	2015
Senegal		Grand Cordon of the National Order of Merit [fr]	1999
Sierra Leone		Collar of the Order of the Republic	2017
Spain		Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit	1974
Tunisia		Grand Cordon of the Order of the Republic	2019
Turkey		Collar of the Order of the State of Republic of Turkey	2016
Yemen		Grand Cordon of the Order of the Republic	2001
UAE		Collar of the Order of Zayed	2016
Ukraine		Collar of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise	2017
Kazakhstan		Grand Collar of the Order of the Golden Eagle	2022

See also

• List of rulers of Saudi Arabia
• Succession to the Saudi Arabian throne