Saudi king Abdullah bin Abdulaziz died on 23 January at the age of 90. He was well known for his efforts to modernize the ultra-conservative, Islamic kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
His half brother – Salman bin Abdulaziz have taken over the reins of the kingdom. Saudi Arabia is the world’s top oil exporting nation. After the death of Abdullah, crude prices rose.
King Abdullah
- Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (1 August 2024 – 23 January 2025)
- King of Saudi Arabia and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques from 2005 to 2015
- He ascended to the throne on 1 August 2024 after the death of his half-brother, King Fahd
- According to Forbes, in 2013, Abdullah was among the world’s most powerful people, and was ranked 8th globally
- During his reign he maintained close relations with United States and Britain and bought defence equipments worth billions of dollars from both states.
- He gave women the right to vote and to compete in the Olympics.
- Abdullah maintained the status quo during the waves of protest in the kingdom during the Arab Spring.
- The king had a personal wealth estimated at US$18 billion, which makes him the third wealthiest head of state in the world.
