Saudi Arabia and the Gulf
Link to syllabus
Link to Chronology
Link to https://ctools.umich.edu/portal
Saudi
Arabia
map
Focal point of the
Pilgrimage to Mecca:
the Kaaba is situated
at the heart of the
Holy Mosque’s
central courtyard
The mosque at
Medina
The Prophet’s Mosque contains the tomb of the Prophet
Muhammad, peace be upon him, and is therefore one of Islam’s
most sacred shrines. (The first two caliphs, Abu Bakr and
Umar, are also buried there.)
http://www.kingfahdbinabdulaziz.com/main/h200.htm
Grave of the Prophet Muhammad,
in the Mosque at Medina
Statement about Islam and the Prophet
The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, was born around
570 C.E. At the age of 40, Muhammad received his call to
become a prophet. He received the word of God through the
Angel Gabriel and the divine message was recorded in the
Holy Qur'an.
The God that spoke to Muhammad was the God of Abraham.
Islam is thus essentially part of the great monotheistic movemen
that emerged and developed in the Near East. In Muhammad,
regarded as the "seal of the prophets", the message of God for
man was finally comprehended and Islam (submission to the
will of Allah) is seen by Muslims as the apotheosis of the
Judaeo-Christian tradition.
From the Saudi Arabian Government’s web site.
http://www.saudinf.com/main/b62.htm
Ottoman
Empire
King Abdul Aziz Ibn Sa’ud
1879-1953
King 1932-53
Starting in 1902, he re-conquered
Riyadh and eventually unified
(most of) the peninsula, using
both armed force and marriage
alliances. Had > 60 children, and
some 40 sons.
It is said that he was not able to
accept the modern world of his
late years.
From Saudi Arabia: Caught in Time 1861-1939, by Badr El Hage
Saudi Expansion and Classical Yemen
From Dresch A History of
Modern Yemen
Arabian Family
Trees
King Sa’ud
1902-1969
King 1953-1964
Forced out by his more forceful
brother Faisal; died in exile in Greece
King Faisal I
1906-1975
King 1964-1975
Important “modernizer.”
Assassinated by a nephew in a revenge
killing. Succeeded by Khalid, whose
bad health resulted in power being
exercised by Fahd, who eventually
became King.
King Abdullah
Born 1923 or 24; father is
Abdul Aziz bin Saud.
Succeeded King Fahd, his
half-brother, in 2005. Was
head of the National Guard.
Had no ‘formal’ education.
Has been projecting a more
assertive role for Saudi
foreign policy. Labeled US
occupation in Iraq
‘illegitimate’. Said to be in
ill health, with maladies
typical of his age.
(Then) Crown Prince Abdullah and V. Putin, Sept. 2003
Salman bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud
Born 1935 in Riyadh; is the Crown
Prince (next in line), also Deputy
Prime Minister and Minister of
Defense.
His mother is Hass al-Sudairi – the
Sudairi brothers are said to be an
important group in family politics.
Prince Salman was appointed
Governor of Riyadh.
He is described as a mediator in
problems inside the House of Saud.
The prince’s health is rumored to
be not good.
Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz
Born 1945 – youngest son of King Abdulaziz.
Recently named second in line to replace the
king – an unusual step.
Has been head of the Saudi Intelligence Agency.
Said to be a close ally of the king, and to be
a ‘traditionalist.’
One presumes that after Muqrin, the next king will have to be a grandson
of Abdul Aziz. What will be the process by which that person is chosen?
Prince Bandar
Born 1949
His father was once Crown Prince.
Saudi Ambassador to US 1983-2005
Currently is the kingdom’s
national security chief. Resigned
yesterday April 16, 2014.
Has received education and military
training in the U.K. and U.S.
Described as a long-time friend
of the Bush family.
Ambassador Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir
Born February 1, 1962 in
Majma'ah (Riyadh
Province), Saudi Arabia, and
attended schools in the
Kingdom, Germany, Yemen,
Lebanon, and the U.S.
Not from the royal family.
He obtained a B.A. summa
cum laude in political
science and economics from
the University of North
Texas in 1982, and an M.A.
in international relations
from Georgetown University
in 1984. Appointed Jan.,
2007
Sheikh Ahmad Zaki Yamani
Saudi Minister of Oil, 1962-1986.
Born 1839 in Hijaz, not of the royal family.
Harvard educated, favorite of King
Faisal. Steered OPEC during its high
tide. Ultimately dismissed, (they say)
over debate about whether to invest
Petro-dollars abroad in downstream oil
companies-which he favored, versus
inside the country. Was often described
as a “price hawk.” Currently resides
in England, leading an oil consulting
Company.
“The stone age ended before we ran out
of stones; the oil age will end before we
run out of oil.”
Saud bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz
Al Saud
Born 1940. Educated at Princeton. Has been
Saudi foreign minister since 1975 – the longest
serving FM alive. Has some health problems.
Is frequently described as working to reduce
U.S. influence in the region.
Strong supporter of Palestinian causes. Hostile to Bashar al-Assad.
After significant lobbying, Saudi Arabia was given a rotating seat on
the United Nations Security Council in October, 2013, which they
then rejected. NYT: this decision underscored the depth of Saudi
anger over what the monarchy sees as weak and conciliatory Western
stances toward Syria and Iran, Saudi Arabia’s regional rival.
Statement about the Saudi Government
It is important to recognize that the Saudi system of
government, as defined under the Basic System and the
establishment of the Consultative Council, is not a move
towards Western-style democracy, much less an imitation
of Western-style democratic reform. It is an organic
Development of the consultative basis of the relationship
between the leader and the people that is inherent in
Islamic tradition.
http://www.kingfahdbinabdulaziz.com/main/k100.htm
Statement about Saudi Foreign Aid
In the twenty years from 1973 to 1993, despite considerable
variations in national revenues and many competing demands,
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia provided 5.5% of its Gross
National Product in overseas aid. Given that the United Nations
has suggested 0.7% as the lower limit for donor countries, the
Kingdom’s contribution has been outstanding.
From the Saudi Government’s web site:
http://www.kingfahdbinabdulaziz.com/main/n010.htm
Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal al-Saud
Born 1956. Mother is Lebanese. Educat
Menlo College, Bachelor of Arts&Scienc
Syracuse University, Master of Science
#19 on Forbes list of world’s richest.
His Kingdom Holding has major funds
in Citicorp, Disney-Europe, Four Season
AOL, Apple, Worldcom…
Al Waleed buying an Airbus
Said to donate US$100 million/yr
to charities, including several
institutes in US universities.
Osama bin Laden
Born 1957 in Saudi Arabia. Killed 2011
His father made a fortune in the
construction business in S.A.
Went to Afghanistan ~1979 to support
anti-Soviet forces, and helped form
al-Qaeda in 1988.
Objected to US military presence
in Saudi Arabia. His citizenship was
revoked in 1994. Leader in planning
the 9/11 attacks.
Old Jeddah
From Saudi Arabia: Caught in Time
1861-1939, by Badr El Hage
The Great
Mosque of
Riyadh,
1920s
Source: Guise, Riyadh AAL DS 248 R7 G85 1988
Riyadh,
cloth
market
1937
Source: Saudi Arabia: Caught in Time 1861-1939, by Badr El Hage
Riyadh,
Open air
market,
1937
From Saudi Arabia: Caught in Time 1861-1939, by Badr El Hage
Saudi Desalination
Plant
From “Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques: King Fahd Bid Abdul Aziz
Riyadh Stadium
Saudi National Football Team
University Avenue, Riyadh
King Faisal
Charitable
Foundation,
Riyadh
Ministry of the Interior, Riyadh
Dam Inauguration,
Narjan Saudi Arabia
Source: Tchekof Minosa Najran Desert
Garden of Arabia
Irrigated Field in
Narjan, Saudi
Arabia
Tchekof Minosa Najran
Desert Garden of Arabia, p. 30
Saudi Agriculture, I
Saudi Agriculture, II
Saudi Agriculture,III
Horse races in
Riyadh
Guise, Riyadh p. 38
Riyadh:
Street
corner
market for
falcons
Guise, Riyadh AAL DS 248 R7 G85 1988
Riyadh,
Passport
Office
Source: Guise, Riyadh p. 26
Riyadh:
Ministry of
Foreign
Affairs
Source: Guise, Riyadh page 26
Riyadh: King
Saud University
Source:Guise, Riyadh p. 79
Riyadh: King Khalid Eye Specialist Hospital
Other Gulf
Gulf physical map
Gulf Oil
Source: Cordesman, Saudi Arabia Enters the Twenty-First Century
Gulf Chronology
Sheik Ahmad 1 of Kuwait
1885-1950
Ruled 1921-1950
During his reign Kuwait is transformed
from a modest fishing country to a
major oil exporter.
Chose to side with Britain during WWII
Never was popular with the people.
Emir Sabah IVAhmad al-Jaber
Born 1929
Emir since 2006
Was Foreign Minister for 40 years.
Has been challenged to reconcile
strong grass-roots movements for
freedom of speech and democracy
Map of Qatar
Qatar’s former Emir
Hamad al Thani, and
his wife Mozah bint
Nasser.
Emir Hamad turned power to his
son Tamim while apparently still in
good health. He is credited for many
achievements in Qatar’s economy
and socio-political arrangements.
His wife Mozah has been unusually
active in public affairs. She got a
BA in Sociology from U Qatar 1986
Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, 1980 -
Fourth son of Emir Hamad, becoming Emir in June, 2013. Educated in U.K
Had been carefully groomed to be Emir, achieving experience in foreign an
domestic affairs, including the military. Has also promoted sports inside
Qatar, which will host World Cup in 2022.
Qatar National Museum:
To be opened in 2014
Link to Global Security map of Qatar
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/al-udeid-imagery2.htm
UAE Topographical map
UAE Map. Main cities
UAE Beach Hotel
Tennis Winner in Abu Dhabi
El Universal, Dec. 28 2013
Map of Yemen
Map of Middle East
Strategic importance
Of Yemen, for
the British
Religious Groups in Yemen
Zaydi Islam 14,000,000
Sunni Islam
5,250,000
Isma'ili Islam
50,000
Christianity
5,000
Hinduism
2,000
73.0%
27.0%
0.3%
>0.1%
>0,1%
The figures here are rough estimates, as
there exist little background material.
Zaydism is the second largest group
inside Shi'i Islam.
Source: Encyclopaedia of the Orient
Yemen around 1900
Link to Yemen Chronology
Yemen in late 1990s
Divided Yemen
Source: Dresch A History of
Modern Yemen
Ahmad Bin Yahya
1895-1962
Ruler of North Yemen 1948-62
Father was killed in a coup, from
which he himself escaped. He died
a natural death, but his successor
was immediately overthrown by
Army officers, who then
proclaimed the Yemen Arab
Republic. He cooperated with but ultimately clashed with - Nasser
and Egypt.
Ali Abdullah Saleh
Born 1942, near Sana’a.
President of North Yemen in
1978; of united Yemen in 1990.
Re-elected in 2006.
Was seriously wounded in 2012,
and subsequently agreed to share
power with his V.P. Abd Rabbuh
Mansur.
Map of Bahrain
Sultan Qaboos ibn Said
Born in Oman in 1940, son of the Sultan.
Studied in Britain (Sandhurst).
Was put in under house arrest by his
father, but was able to engineer a coup.
Sultan since 1970, as well as Minister
of Defense and Foreign Affairs.
Has used oil revenues to improve the
infrastructure of the country. Oman has
limited freedom of speech.
The Sultan has no children, but succession
is guaranteed.