In the early 1800s, the Al-Saud family ruled much of the Arabian Peninsula. This rise to power alarmed the Ottoman Empire, which sent forth its armies to contain the influence of the Al-Saud. The Ottomans ultimately captured Diriyah, thus ending the first phase of the Al-Saud reign in 1818. By 1824, the Al-Saud regained political control of central Arabia and once again ruled the region from their new capital of Riyadh, located close to Diriyah. A period of unrest and tribal warfare began in 1865 and resulted in the Al-Rashid family, with Ottoman support, extending its power over the Saudi state. The Al-Saud, under the leadership of Abdul Rahman, were forced into exile in 1891. They lived on the borders of the Empty Quarter before settling in Kuwait.
Twenty-one-year-old Abdul Aziz Bin Abdul Rahman Al-Saud left Kuwait in 1901, determined to recapture all of the territory once held by his forefathers and to extend his protection over the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. In a daring battle he recaptured Riyadh in 1902. This event marks the beginning of the formation of the modern state of Saudi Arabia. After establishing Riyadh as his headquarters, Abdul Aziz proceeded, over the following decades, to unite the different regions into one nation. On September 23, 1932, the country was named the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as an Islamic state, with Arabic designated as the national language and the Holy Qur'an as its constitution.
The stability and prosperity that has reigned in Saudi Arabia for more than 60 years are due in large part to the legacy of its legendary founder. King Abdul Aziz was a remarkable leader of imagination and vision who launched Saudi Arabia on the road to taking its rightful place on the world stage. Although he never left the Arab world, he astounded visitors with his shrewd mastery of world affairs and proved to be a highly-sophisticated statesman. Self-disciplined and moderate. intelligent and courageous, his considerable abilities were reinforced by his deep devotion to God. During his rule, King Abdul Aziz laid the foundations for the modernization of his country. He began to build the country's infrastructure, first establishing roads and basic communications systems and later introducing modern technology and improving education, health care and agriculture.
Saud, the oldest son of Abdul Aziz, acceded to the throne upon his father's death in 1953. He instituted the Council of Ministers and established the Ministries of Health, Education and Commerce. A large number of schools and the Kingdom's first institute of higher education, King Saud University, were opened in Riyadh in 1957. King Saud made the first trip by a Saudi monarch to the United States in 1957. In 1962, Saudi Arabia sponsored an international Islamic conference, which fostered the World Muslim League, headquartered in Makkah. Faisal Bin Abdul Aziz became king in 1964. King Faisal's governance at home was marked by a respect for tradition combined with innovation.
King Khalid Bin Abdul Aziz succeeded King Faisal in 1975. Under his leadership, Saudi Arabia continued its development at a remarkable pace. King Khalid launched the Kingdom's monumental Second and Third Development Plans in 1975 and 1980, under which the country's major infrastructure was established.
The Kingdom's current leader, King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz, succeeded King Khalid in 1982. He has directed Saudi Arabia's continued development and the diversification of its economic base away from reliance on oil. Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz became Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister in 1982, and has been Commander of the National Guard since 1962. Crown Prince Abdullah has participated in shaping the Kingdom's Development Plans and plays an active role in governing the country. Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz has been Second Deputy Prime Minister since 1982 and Minister of Defense and Aviation since 1962.