Abdullah with US Vice President Dan Quayle
Abdullah with US President George W. Bush
He received his early education at the royal court.
His years spent living in the desert with Bedouin tribes taught him their values of honor, simplicity, generosity and bravery, and instilled in him the desire to assist in the development of his people.
Since ascending the throne in 2005, King Abdullah has made development a central focus of his reign. He has initiated a range of major economic, social, education, health, and infrastructure projects that have brought about remarkable changes throughout the Kingdom.
King Abdullah has been named as the most influential Muslim among 500 Muslims for the past 4 years. In December 2012, Forbes named him as the seventh most powerful figure in its list of the "World’s Most Powerful People" for 2012, being the sole Arab in the top ten.
He is President of the High Council for Petroleum and Minerals, President of the King Abdulaziz Center For National Dialogue, Chairman of the Council of Civil Service, and head of the Military Service Council.
He launched four mega economic cities.
He created the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and the Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University for Girls
He created projects to expand the Two Holy Mosques and major welfare projects
He approved a historic reorganization of Saudi Arabia’s judicial system and enacted laws to formalize the royal succession.
He donated over $300,000 to furnish a New Orleans high school rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina.
He donated half a billion dollars to the United Nations World Food Programme in 2008
He has donated $50 million in cash and $10 million worth of relief materials for the 2008 Sichuan earthquake in China.
He donated $10 billion to the endowment fund of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in May 2008.
He established the King Abdullah University (Rawalakot) in Jammu and Kashmir region after the 2005 Kashmir earthquake.
On 5 February 2011, he waived $156 million United States dollar of housing loans for nearly 3,300 Saudis who had died.
policies on religious freedom
He vowed to fight terrorist ideologies within the country. He made the protection of Saudi Arabia's critical infrastructure a top security priority.
He has attacked the roots of the extremism that fed Al-Qaida through education and judicial reforms to weaken the influence of the most reactionary elements of Saudi Arabia's religious establishment.
the first monarch of Saudi Arabia
the eighth wife of King Abdul Aziz
the eldest child of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, a member of the Allegiance Council.
the Commander of the Saudi National Guard (SANG) since 2010 and a member of House of Saud.
She is one of few Saudi Princesses who could influence the political development of Saudi Arabia in women-related areas such as education, employment and health.
She leads a very private life.
She married Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, son of Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, on 6 June 2011.
