King Abdullah Biography and Photos

King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, (Arabic: خادم الحرمين الشريفين الملك عبد الله بن عبد العزيز آل سعود‎, born August 1924) is the current King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Head of the House of Saud. He succeeded to the throne and assumed the title of King on the death of his half-brother, King Fahd, August 1, 2005. As Crown Prince since 1987, he had previously acted as de facto regent and thus ruler of Saudi Arabia since January 1, 1996, when Fahd was incapacitated by a major stroke. He was formally enthroned on August 3, 2005. One of his sons, Prince Mutaib, serves as a deputy commander in the Saudi National Guard. He is, after half brother Bandar and Musa'id, the third eldest, among the living sons of Abdul Aziz ibn Saud

Abdullah also serves as Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia and Commander of the Saudi National Guard. He is Chairman of the Supreme Economic Council, President of the High Council for Petroleum and Minerals, President of the King Abdulaziz Centre for National Dialogue, Chairman of the Council of Civil Service and Head of the Military Service Council. Abdullah is the fifth son (out of 37 sons) of King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud, the founder of modern Saudi Arabia, to ascend to the throne. His wealth is estimated at over $21 billion.