H.M. King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques

The king has significant influence in the global Muslim community through his custodianship of the two holy cities of Mecca and Medina. Mecca is the main pilgrimage site for 1.5 billion Muslims. Each year approximately 4 million pilgrims perform the Hajj. In addition to this approximately 10 million pilgrims (including Saudi residents and GCC citizens) perform the umrah,‘the lesser Hajj’, throughout the year.

Controller of World’s Largest Oil Reserves

He reigns over a land of massive crude oil reserves—Saudi Arabia has approximately 20 percent of the world’s proven oil reserves— making him a key player in the global petroleum industry.

Head of World’s Largest Da’wa Network

King Abdullah is also head of the most extensive da’wa network of missionary Muslims in the world, promoting the Salafi brand of Islam. Salafism is historically rooted in Saudi Arabia, and owes its global spread to the financial backing of Saudi Arabia.

Reformer & Philanthropist

The king has proven his domestic influence in Saudi Arabia by continuing landmark reforms to fight fundamentalism, corruption, balance the Saudi budget, tailor the education system, address women’s and minority rights, engage in interreligious diplomacy as well as tackle problems in the justice system. He has:

• Given scholarships to over 130,000 Saudi students who are currently studying overseas [30% are female]
• Established the  King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue in Vienna, Austria
• Granted women the right to vote in the 2015 municipal elections
• Spent over $60 billion in benefits to Saudi citizens—including housing and jobs, while introducing a minimum wage of $800 per month
• Opened the largest women-only university in the world, with a capacity of 12,000 students
• Presented a $10 billion endowment to the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
• Issued a royal decree allowing only the Council of Senior Islamic Scholars to issues fatwas (religious edicts)
• Increased the representation of minorities in Saudi governance including increased Shi’a representation in the Shura Council
• Transferred authority of educational administration to the education establishment instead of religious leaders
• Convened a global interfaith summit in 2008 and subsequently issued the Madrid Declaration, which calls for tolerance between religions and a culture of peace
• Been the first Saudi monarch in 51 years to address the UN General Assembly and the first reigning Saudi monarch to have met with a pope, Pope Benedict XVI in November 2007
• Donated hundreds of millions in cash and relief materials for many devastated areas worldwide and pledged a $1 billion donation towards the reconstruction of the Palestinian coastal territory during the Israeli war on Gaza .

-The Saudi monarchy is using the Arab Spring to spread its Salafi influence across the Arab world (e.g. Egypt, Syria, Tunisia, Libya)

-Although there have been small demonstrations in Saudi Arabia, they have been rejected by the Salafi majority and by the perception that the King is already reforming at a pace compatible with Saudi society.

-Hosted Ben Ali, called for revolt against Gaddafi and Asad

-Supports the Kingdom of Bahrain, and is actively supporting the Free Syrian Army