Promoting Islam
and the national development of the Kingdom have been the
major tasks of the rulers of Saudi Arabia, beginning with
King Abdul Aziz, the founder, followed by his sons who
succeeded him: King Saud (1953-64), King Faisal (1964-75),
King Khalid (1975-82), and the current ruler, the Custodian
of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahad Bin Abdul Aziz.
King Fahad has served his country in a
variety of ways, first as advisor to his father and as a
member of the delegation to the inauguration of the United
Nations, and then as Minister of Education in the 1950s and
Minister of the Interior in the 1960s. Appointed Second
Deputy Prime Minister in 1975.
As Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques,
King Fahad has been instrumental in expanding the facilities
at the holy sites, in addition to furthering the development
of the Kingdom in areas such as education, social services,
agriculture and industry. He has also guided the country's
contributions to the Islamic Development fund and the
Islamic Development Band.
As one of the major figures in the Gulf
cooperation Council, he has helped to channel efforts to
promote peace and stability in the Arabian Gulf region.
During the Gulf Crisis of 1990-91, King Fahad was
instrumental in putting together the coalition of Arab,
Islamic and other friendly states that ultimately secured
Kuwait's liberation.
Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz is
First Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National
Guard. Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz is Second Deputy Prime
Minister and Minister of Defense and Aviation.
RULERS: