HM King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud was proclaimed the seventh King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in January 2015, following the death of his half-brother, King Abdullah. Prior to this, he served as Crown Prince from June 2012 and held numerous senior roles, including Governor of Riyadh Province for nearly five decades.
Birth: 31 December 1935 (Age: 91)
Source of Influence: Political
Country: Saudi Arabia
Influence: King with authority over 35 million residents of Saudi Arabia
School of Thought: Moderate Salafi
Status: Featured in current year
HM King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud was proclaimed the seventh King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in January 2015, following the death of his half-brother, King Abdullah. Prior to this, he served as Crown Prince from June 2012 and held numerous senior roles, including Governor of Riyadh Province for nearly five decades.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques: As Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman oversees the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah, which are visited annually by millions of global pilgrims. Each year, between two and three million Muslims perform the Hajj, while millions more undertake the Umrah. Under the auspices of Saudi Vision 2030, multibillion-dollar expansion projects have entered highly comprehensive operational phases across the Masjid al-Haram in Makkah and the Masjid an-Nabawi (Prophet’s ﷺ Mosque) in Madinah.
The Landmark Makkah Joint Defence Agreement: On August 7, 2026, the geopolitical security architecture of the Middle East underwent a historic realignment when Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan officially signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement at Al-Safa Palace. The agreement marks a profound structural shift away from historical reliance on traditional Western security guarantees. It pairs Saudi financial influence and strategic geography with Türkiye’s advanced military technology (as NATO’s second-largest military force) and Pakistan’s strategic operational capacity as the only nuclear-armed power in the Muslim world.
Saudi Arabia has consolidated its position as one of the world’s most aggressive military spenders, dedicating an estimated $83 billion to defense annually. Consistently ranking among the top global spenders, the Kingdom allocates roughly 6.5% of its total GDP to advanced defense hardware, cutting-edge radar networks, and sophisticated missile shields.
Strategic Transition of Oil Reserves and Vision 2030: Saudi Arabia holds 17% of global oil reserves, making petroleum the foundation of its economy. However, through Saudi Vision 2030, the Kingdom is shifting away from oil dependency. This socioeconomic blueprint aims to diversify state income by turning the nation into a global hub for logistics, tourism, renewables, and AI. While financial adjustments have recently scaled back massive gigaprojects, Saudi Arabia is rapidly expanding its international influence by investing heavily in global sports, culture, and golf, notably securing the hosting rights for the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
Global Humanitarian Footprint: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSRelief) delivers rapid aid to victims of natural disasters and civil conflicts globally, having funded over 2,400 distinct projects spanning more than 92 nations, with total expenditures surpassing $6 billion.
Stance on the Gaza and Regional Conflicts: The Kingdom’s official diplomatic position has explicitly stated to international intermediaries that there will be no diplomatic normalization with Israel without the immediate cessation of hostilities, a complete withdrawal of forces from Gaza, and the implementation of an irreversible pathway toward an independent, globally recognized Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
"….we renew the call to cease racist and hate speech regardless of its source and pretext. We call on all to listen to the voice of reason and turn to tolerance and moderation."
55% Non-oil activities of Saudi Arabia’s real GDP
8 UNESCO World Heritages sites
