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88-541: They conducted training of portions of the Saudi Arabian National Guard as a joint Saudi/American owned company called Vinnell Arabia since the 1970s. Vinnell Arabia was bombed on May 12, 2003 by Saudi terrorists. Eight Americans and two Filipinos were killed. Another employee was stalked from the military hospital to his home in Riyadh and assassinated on the street. Vinnell Corporation was given

176-457: A coup d'état . The Saudi Arabian National Guard has a standing force of 125,000 troops and a tribal militia of some 28,000 Fouj (tribal levies). It serves both as a defence force against external attack and an internal security force. Its duties include protecting the Saudi ruling family , guarding against military coups, safeguarding strategic facilities and resources, and providing security for

264-466: A more centralised control. The SANG acquired its moniker of the "White Army" during this period due to its wearing of traditional Arab dress instead of Western-style military uniforms. In 1954, the office of Jihad and Mujahidin was transformed into the modern National Guard. It was called White Army until 1963 when a British military mission reorganized it. Training of the National Guard became

352-737: A red beret. British three color British Desert pattern DPM used throughout the Middle East , American Desert Camouflage Uniform (DCU), used in Iraq and other desert regions throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions. Some units still wear the American Desert Battle Dress Uniform of which a Saudi grey variant is worn by SANG security guards. These are being replaced by several new digital or pixelated camouflage designs with an embedded Saudi Arabian National Guard crest. National guardsmen often wear

440-659: A significant role in Saudi rule during this period. The Saudis and their allies referred to themselves during this period as the Muwahhidun or Ahl al-Tawhid ("the monotheists"). Later they were referred to as the Wahhabis , a particularly strict, puritanical Islamic sect, named for its founder. Leadership of Al Saud during the time of their first state passed from father to son without incident. The first imam, Muhammad bin Saud,

528-533: A time, divorcing many times. He made sure to marry into many of the noble clans and tribes within his territory, including the chiefs of the Bani Khalid , Ajman , and Shammar tribes, as well as the Al ash-Sheikh (descendants of Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab ). He also arranged for his sons and relatives to enter into similar marriages. He appointed his eldest surviving son, Saud as heir apparent , to be succeeded by

616-399: A variety of armaments, such as 25 mm autocannon, larger-calibre 90 mm guns, 120mm mortars and TOW missile launchers. The Saudi Arabian National Guard's communications and chain of command maintained a separate network from regular Saudi Arabian military channels with a senior member of the royal family as its head. This structure was established by King Saud in 1956. Prior to 1956

704-597: A vested interest in maintaining the status quo." The force was extensively reorganised and retrained by the Vinnell Corporation (using over a thousand US  Vietnam War veterans) in the 1980s. The United States' support for the SANG has been delivered both through private contractors and the U.S. army 's Office of the Program Manager, Saudi Arabian National Guard Modernization Program . The SANG

792-516: Is fighting terrorists in al-Awamiyah. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman kept his own mother away from his father for more than two years, fearing that she would stop the king from giving eventual power to him. Princess Fahda bint Falah Al Hithlain , third wife of King Salman, was said to be in America for medical treatment. However, according to American intelligence, this was refuted, stating that she

880-715: Is located in Jeddah, controlled: The second component of the national guard is the Fowj (Arabic:فَيْج (also fayj) "legman, courier; company"), made up of Bedouin tribal (militia) battalions under the command of local sheikhs . These men, often the sons of local chiefs or of veterans of the original Ikhwan forces, reported for duty about once a month for the purpose of receiving stipends. They were provided with obsolete rifles, although many had individually acquired Kalashnikov assault rifles. Although neither particularly well trained nor well equipped, they could be counted on to be loyal to

968-575: Is one of the three major branches of the military forces of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia . The national guard is under the administrative control of the Ministry of National Guard , instead of the Ministry of Defence . It differs from the regular Saudi Arabian Army in being forged out of tribal elements loyal to the House of Saud and tasked with protecting the royal family from internal dangers such as

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1056-734: Is still called "Abdulaziz" in the Arab world. Abdulaziz spent the next three decades trying to re-establish his family's rule over central Arabia, starting with his native Najd. His chief rivals were the Al Rashid clan in Ha'il, the Sharifs of Mecca in the Hijaz , and the Ottoman Turks in al Hasa . Abdulaziz also had to contend with the descendants of his late uncle Saud ibn Faisal (later known as

1144-548: The Allegiance Council with 31 out of 34 votes. The king-appointed cabinet includes more members of the royal family. House of Saud is a translation of ʾĀl Saud , an Arabic dynastic name formed by adding the word ʾĀl (meaning "family of" or "House of", not to be confused with Al meaning "the") to the personal name of an ancestor. In the case of the Al Saud, the ancestor is Saud ibn Muhammad ibn Muqrin ,

1232-620: The Emirate of Diriyah , known as the First Saudi State (1727–1818), and his brothers, though the ruling faction of the family is primarily led by the descendants of Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman , the modern founder of Saudi Arabia. It forms a subtribe of the larger prominent ancient Banu Hanifa tribe of Arabia, from which well known 7th century Arabian theologist Maslama ibn Ḥabīb originates. The most influential position of

1320-406: The Hijaz or 'Asir , for example) and less religious zeal, although the Saudi leaders continued to go by the title of imam and still employed Salafi religious scholars. The second state was also marked by severe internal conflicts within the Saudi family, eventually leading to the dynasty's downfall. In all but one instance, succession occurred by assassination or civil war, the exception being

1408-756: The Middle East . The family has had conflicts with the Ottoman Empire , the Sharif of Mecca , the Al Rashid family of Ha'il and their vassal houses in Najd along with numerous Islamist groups both inside and outside Saudi Arabia and Shia minority in Saudi Arabia. The succession to the Saudi Arabian throne was designed to pass from one son of the first king, Abdulaziz, to another. The monarchy

1496-480: The National Guard since 1963 (until 2010, when he appointed his son to replace him); former Crown Prince Sultan , minister of defence and aviation from 1962 until his death in 2011; former Crown Prince Nayef who was the minister of interior from 1975 to his death in 2012; Prince Saud who had been minister of foreign affairs since 1975; and King Salman , who was minister of defense and aviation before he

1584-761: The Pan-American Highway , as well as Dodger Stadium and portions of the Grand Coulee Dam . It had also diversified into production of steel and into mining operations. Vinnell also performed construction for the U.S. Military Assistance Command Vietnam and/or similar Federal Government organizations such as the Navy's Officer in Charge of Construction RVN in Vietnam in the 1960s. The company moved into operations, maintenance, and training largely in

1672-658: The Wahhabi War (Ottoman-Saudi War) seeking to retake lost Ottoman Empire territory. The mainly Egyptian force succeeded in defeating Abdullah's forces, taking over the then-Saudi capital of Diriyyah in 1818. Abdullah was taken prisoner and was soon beheaded by the Ottomans in Constantinople, putting an end to the First Saudi State. The Egyptians sent many members of the Al Saud clan and other members of

1760-641: The royal family , whose high-ranking members are always appointed its commander. It has been described as an institution that "ties the tribes to the House of Saud" (by Sandra Mackey ). It also draws recruits from official Wahhabi religious establishment. It differs from the army in that its officers command units (e.g. battalions) "largely made up of their own tribal cousins, which makes the leaders and their followers less susceptible to subversive ideas and outside ideologies." According to journalist John R. Bradley , its leaders and their followers are 'supposed to have

1848-434: The " Free Princes " and calling for liberalization and reform, but were later induced to return by Faisal. They were fully pardoned but were also barred from any future positions in government. Faisal was assassinated in 1975 by a nephew, Faisal ibn Musaid , who was promptly executed. Another brother, Khalid , assumed the throne. The next prince in line had actually been Prince Muhammad , but he had relinquished his claim to

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1936-698: The "Saud Al Kabir" branch of the family), pretenders to the throne. Though for a time acknowledging the sovereignty of the Ottoman Sultans and even taking the title of pasha , Abdulaziz allied himself to the British, in opposition to the Ottoman-backed Al Rashidis. From 1915 to 1927, Abdulaziz's dominions were a protectorate of the British Empire , pursuant to the 1915 Treaty of Darin . Abdulaziz won final victory over

2024-1020: The 1970s. In 1975, the company undertook the Saudi Arabian National Guard Modernization Program . In 1979, it moved into the Job Corps arena with the operation of the Shreveport (LA) center and later operated the Hubert H. Humphrey center in St. Paul, MN ; the Roswell (NM) center; the Laredo (TX) center; the Joliet (IL) center; the Gainesville (FL) center; the North Texas (formerly McKinney) center; and

2112-656: The Al Rashidis in 1921, making him the ruler of most of central Arabia. He consolidated his dominions as the Sultanate of Nejd . He then turned his attention to the Hijaz, finally conquering it in 1926, just months before the British protectorate ended. For the next five and a half years, he administered the two parts of his dual realm, the Kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd , as separate units. By 1932, Abdulaziz had disposed of all his main rivals and consolidated his rule over much of

2200-543: The Arabian Peninsula. He united his dominions into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that year. His father, Abdul Rahman, retained the honorary title of "imam". In 1937, near Dammam , American surveyors discovered what later proved to be Saudi Arabia's vast oil reserves. Before the discovery of oil, many family members were destitute. Abdulaziz sired dozens of children by his many wives. He had at most four wives at

2288-635: The Guard was led by tribal sheikhs. Following the 1956 reorganization the first royal, Khalid bin Saud who was King Saud's son, was assigned to command the Guard in July 1957. In 1959 Saad bin Saud , another son of King Saud, became the commander. King Abdullah commanded SANG for four decades, from 1962 until 17 November 2010 when he appointed his son, Prince Mutaib bin Abdullah , as the new commander. In addition, three of his sons hold high positions within

2376-698: The House of Saud if called for service. Their enrollment in the guard is largely a means to bolster the subsidies paid to local sheikhs and to retain the support of their tribes. The Fowj is currently organized into 27 battalions with approximately 27,000 men. Uniforms worn by personnel of Saudi Arabia's national guard are closely patterned on the British and United States models that influenced them during their early development. The most common uniform colors are khaki or olive drab. Officers had semidress uniforms for various functions and dress uniforms for formal occasions. All personnel wear berets, and officers also have peaked caps . When in modern uniforms personnel wear

2464-533: The Interior and Foreign Affairs are usually held by members of the Saud family, as are all of the thirteen regional governorships. Most portfolios, however, such as Finance, Labour, Information, Planning, Petroleum Affairs and Industry, have traditionally been given to commoners, often with junior Al Saud members serving as their deputies. House of Saud family members also hold many of the kingdom's critical military and governmental departmental posts. Ultimate power in

2552-464: The Middle East and Arabia from the 6th century. Mani' was invited to Diriyah by a relative named Ibn Dir, who was the ruler of a group of villages and estates that make up modern-day Riyadh . Mani's clan had been on a sojourn in east Arabia, near Al-Qatif , from an unknown point in time. Ibn Dir handed Mani two estates, called al-Mulaybeed and Ghusayba. Mani and his family settled and renamed

2640-647: The Mrudah in Diriyah. The name of the clan comes from Sheikh Saud ibn Muhammad ibn Muqrin , who died in 1725. The First Saudi State was founded in 1727. This period was marked by conquest of neighboring areas and by religious zeal. At its height, the First Saudi State included most of the territory of modern-day Saudi Arabia , and raids by Al Saud's allies and followers reached into Yemen , Oman , Syria , and Iraq . Islamic scholars, particularly Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab and his descendants, are believed to have played

2728-508: The National Guard until 2010; Prince Khalid bin Sultan as assistant minister of defence until 2013; and Prince Mansour bin Mutaib as assistant minister for municipal and rural affairs until he replaced his father in 2009. In cases where portfolios have notably substantial budgets, appointments of younger, often full, brothers have been necessary, as deputies or vice ministers, ostensibly to share

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2816-576: The Ottomans and the Egyptians that the Saudis were a threat to regional peace. Abdulaziz was killed in 1803 by an assassin, believed by some to have been a Shi'ite seeking revenge over the sacking of Karbala the year before. Abdul-Aziz was in turn succeeded by his son, Saud , under whose rule the Saudi state reached its greatest extent. By the time Saud died in 1814, his son and successor Abdullah ibn Saud had to contend with an Ottoman-Egyptian invasion in

2904-683: The Program Manager—Saudi Arabian National Guard (OPM-SANG). Extensive military infrastructure facilities have been built to ensure the comfort and well-being of national guard units. Their major cantonments were in Al-Ahsa Oasis near Al-Hufuf and the major oil installations of the Eastern Province and at Al-Qasim in the Nejd , in an area where many of the tribal elements were recruited and most training

2992-497: The Saudi National Guard ordered 68 French Multi-Purpose Combat Vehicle (MPCV) air-defense vehicles. In September 2014, 24 Boeing AH-6i Little Bird light attack and reconnaissance helicopters were ordered from Boeing with deliveries to begin in 2016. The SANG was transformed into a ministerial body on 27 May 2013. Prince Mutaib bin Abdullah , former commander of the SANG, became the minister of national guard on

3080-420: The Saudi government, it is only the king and crown prince who legally constitute the political institutions. The royal family is politically divided by factions based on clan loyalties, personal ambitions and ideological differences. The most powerful clan faction is known as the 'Sudairi Seven', comprising the late King Fahd and his full brothers and their descendants. Ideological divisions include issues over

3168-459: The Saudi leadership. He was also one of the three members of the ruling family to oppose Mohammad bin Salman becoming the crown prince in 2017. In June 2015, Forbes listed businessman Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal , a grandson of Abdulaziz, the first king of Saudi Arabia, as the 34th-richest man in the world, with an estimated net worth of US$ 22.6 billion. As of 2020, the combined net worth of

3256-479: The Saudi monarchy has not had a clearly defined order of succession . Historically, upon becoming king, the monarch has designated an heir apparent to the throne who serves as crown prince of the kingdom. Upon the king's death, the crown prince becomes king, and during the king's incapacitation the crown prince, likewise, assumes power as regent . Although other members of the Al Saudis hold political positions in

3344-716: The Wahhabi Ikhwan militia uprising during the reign of Ibn Saud. Osama Bin Laden , a critic of the US, was also a critic of Saudi Arabia and was denaturalized in the mid 1990s. On 20 November 1979, the Grand Mosque seizure saw the al-Masjid al-Haram in Mecca violently seized by a group of 500 heavily armed and provisioned Saudi dissidents led by Juhayman al-Otaybi and Abdullah al-Qahtani, consisting mostly of members of

3432-583: The Whitney Young center in Shelbyville, KY . In 1992, the company was acquired by BDM International , which was in turn acquired by TRW Inc. in 1997. TRW was acquired by Northrop Grumman in 2002. Saudi Arabian National Guard The Saudi Arabian National Guard ( SANG ) ( Arabic : الحَرَس الوَطنيّ , romanized :  al-Ḥaras al-Waṭanī ), also known as the White Army ,

3520-604: The anti-tank platoons of the line motorized companies; two in each company in the IMBS and six in the KAAB. The two brigades each had a headquarters company, four-line motorized battalions, a field artillery battalion, a support battalion, and air defense, signals, and engineers companies. Riyadh Regional Headquarters controlled: Eastern Regional Headquarters, which is located in Dammam, controlled: Western Regional Headquarters, which

3608-415: The borders of the Kingdom and have the mission to patrol the border areas. Although neither particularly well trained nor well equipped, they could be counted on to be loyal to the House of Saud if called for service. Their enrollment in the guard was largely a means to bolster the subsidies paid to local shaykhs and to retain the support of their tribes. The national guard's King Abdulaziz Mechanized Brigade

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3696-520: The cities of Mecca and Medina . It reports directly to the king through the Minister of the National Guard and, unlike the army, navy and air force, is not under the control of the Ministry of Defense . The Guard's command structure and communication network are entirely separate from those of the Ministries of Defense and the Interior. Its personnel are drawn from tribes loyal to the king and

3784-500: The command of local sheikhs, was organised into four infantry brigades (called the Fowj). These men, often the sons of local chiefs or of veterans of the original Ikhwan forces, reported for duty about once a month for the purpose of receiving stipends. They were provided with Heckler & Koch G3 rifles, although many had individually acquired AK-47s and other automatic weapons. They also have radios and are equipped with Toyota pickup trucks or Land Rovers. Many units are stationed along

3872-501: The entire royal family has been estimated at around US$ 100 billion, which makes them the richest royal family among all monarchs, as well as one of the wealthiest families in the world. Some estimates of the Royal Family's wealth put the figure as high as $ 1.4 trillion, which includes holdings in Saudi Aramco . Due to its authoritarian and quasi- theocratic rule, the House of Saud has attracted much criticism during its rule of Saudi Arabia . There have been numerous incidents, including

3960-469: The father of the dynasty's 18th century founder Muhammad bin Saud (Muhammad, son of Saud). The surname "Al Saud" is carried by any descendant of Muhammad bin Saud or his three brothers Farhan, Thunayyan, and Mishari. Al Saud's other family branches like Saud Al Kabir, the Al Jiluwi, the Al Thunayan, the Al Mishari and the Al Farhan are called cadet branches . Members of the cadet branches hold high and influential positions in government though they are not in

4048-424: The former Ikhwan militia of Otaibah but also of other peninsular Arabs and a few Egyptians enrolled in Islamic studies at the Islamic University of Madinah . The Saudi royal family turned to the Ulema, who duly issued a fatwa permitting the storming of the holy sanctuary by Saudi forces, aided by French special ops units. According to Lawrence Wright , the GIGN commandos did first convert to Islam prior to

4136-421: The founder of Saudi Arabia, Ibn Saud . Amid international outcry over the killing of Jamal Khashoggi , members of the Saudi royal family were allegedly distressed over the prospect of the crown prince becoming the next king. It was reported that dozens of princes and members of the Al Saud family were interested in seeing Prince Ahmed become the next king instead. During his London tour, Prince Ahmed criticized

4224-425: The government, the predominantly Shia town of Al-Awamiyah has been put under full siege by the Saudi military. Residents are not allowed to enter or leave, and the Saudi military indiscriminately shells the neighborhoods with airstrikes , mortar fire along with snipers shooting residents. Dozens of Shia civilians were killed, including a three-year-old and a two-year-old child. The Saudi government claims it

4312-582: The initial contract to recreate the New Iraqi Army in 2003 by the U.S. Department of Defense . The contract was for nine battalions, with an option to extend the training to 27 battalions. Much of the actual training, however, was subcontracted to Military Professional Resources Inc. , Science Applications International Corporation (recruiting stations, with a poster campaign), and smaller firms including Eagle Group International (which appears to have provided medical training), Omega Training Group, and Worldwide Language Resources. There were early indications that

4400-693: The irregular fowj battalions. The SANG was restructured with the help of the Vinnell Corporation into a light mechanized force equipped with over a thousand Cadillac Gage Commando armored fighting vehicles (replaced with LAV-25s in the 1990s). Its mobile force consisted of three mechanized brigades and five motorized infantry brigades. The militia portion consists of around 24 battalions of fowj , tribal warriors on "retainer". The twenty one SANG brigades include: The two original motorized brigades, IMBSMB and KAAMB, had V-150 Commando armored cars, M‑102 howitzers (IMBS) and 155 mm M‑198 howitzers , plus TOW anti-tank guided missile systems in

4488-419: The king and crown prince. Then-United States President Donald Trump expressed support for the arrests. The head of the House of Saud is the King of Saudi Arabia who serves as Head of State and monarch of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The king holds almost absolute political power. The king appoints ministers to his cabinet who supervise their respective ministries in his name. The key ministries of Defence,

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4576-469: The kingdom has always rested upon the Al Saudis, though support from the Ulema , the merchant community, and the population at large has been key to the maintenance of the royal family's political status quo . Long-term political and government appointments have resulted in the creation of "power fiefdoms" for senior princes, such as those of King Faisal, who was foreign minister almost continuously from 1932 to 1975; King Abdullah, who had been commander of

4664-484: The line of succession to the Saudi throne. Many cadet members intermarry within the Al Saud to re-establish their lineage and continue to wield influence in the government. All male members of the royal family have the title of Emir ( Prince ). However, the sons and patrilineal grandsons of Kings are referred to by the style " His Royal Highness " (HRH), differing from patrilineal great-grandsons and members of cadet branches who are called " His Highness " (HH), while

4752-446: The local nobility as prisoners to Egypt and Constantinople , and razed the Saudi capital of Diriyyah. A few years after the fall of Diriyah in 1818, the Saudis were able to re-establish their authority in Najd, establishing the Emirate of Nejd, commonly known as the Second Saudi State, with its capital in Riyadh. Compared to the First Saudi State, the second Saudi period was marked by less territorial expansion (it never reconquered

4840-487: The new heir apparent. On 27 March 2009, Abdullah appointed Prince Nayef Interior Minister as his "second deputy prime minister" and Crown Prince on 27 October. Sultan died in October 2011 while Nayef died in Geneva, Switzerland on 15 June 2012. On 23 January 2015, Abdullah died after a prolonged illness, and his half-brother, Crown Prince Salman, was declared the new king. Many princes and government officials were arrested in 2017 in an alleged anti corruption campaign by

4928-474: The next eldest son, Faisal . The Al Saudi family became known as the "royal family", and each member, male and female, was accorded the title amir ("prince") or amira ("princess"), respectively. Abdulaziz died in 1953, after having cemented an alliance with the United States in 1945. He is still celebrated officially as the "Founder", and only his direct descendants may take on the title of "his or her Royal Highness". The date of his recapture of Riyadh in 1902

5016-442: The next succession from cousin to cousin, as Muhammad bin Salman is the cousin of Crown Prince Muhammad bin Nayef. However, in June 2017, Salman elevated Mohammad bin Salman to crown prince, following his decision to strip Muhammad bin Nayef of all positions, making his son heir apparent to the throne, and making the next succession from father to son, for the first time since 1953, when Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud succeeded his father,

5104-614: The organization. SANG's Deputy Commander was Prince Badr until 2010, who was a senior member of the Al Saud . Prince Mutaib was later arrested because of corruption and was imprisoned for a few months. Its general headquarters, located in Riyadh , directly controlled the three regional sectors and the training facilities and the King Abdulaziz Independent Mechanized Brigade of four battalions. The three regional (eastern, central, and western) sectors each command one or more mechanized or motorized brigades, several independent Security and Military Police and logistical battalions, but also

5192-474: The party include scholar Abdullah al-Aoudh, comedian and vlogger Omar Abdulaziz , and activist Yahya Assiri . The party's launch took place online from London as the Basic Law of Saudi Arabia prohibits the formation of political parties. Forming a political party is considered sedition , punishable with lengthy jail terms. Some members of the royal family have ill-treated their employees, even while visiting other countries. For example, Princess Buni Al Saud,

5280-420: The party was announced in September 2020 and was launched on the 2nd death anniversary of Jamal Khashoggi . The National Assembly Party (NAAS – people in Arabic) was launched with the aim of gathering the support of people, both inside and outside Saudi Arabia, against the ruling royals King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Madawi al-Rasheed, a scholar, is also the co-founder of NAAS. Other members of

5368-460: The passage of authority from Faisal ibn Turki to his son Abdullah ibn Faisal ibn Turki . [REDACTED] Member State of the Arab League After his defeat at Mulayda, Abdul Rahman bin Faisal went with his family into exile in the deserts of eastern Arabia among the Al Murra bedouin . Soon afterward, however, he found refuge in Kuwait as a guest of the Kuwaiti emir , Mubarak Al Sabah . In 1902, Abdul Rahman's son, Abdulaziz, took on

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5456-432: The raid. Most of those responsible, including Al-Otaybi himself, were soon beheaded publicly in four cities of Saudi Arabia. In January 2016, Saudi Arabia executed the prominent Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr , who had called for pro-democracy demonstrations, along with forty-seven other Saudi Shia citizens sentenced by the Specialized Criminal Court on terrorism charges. Since May 2017, in response to protests against

5544-419: The region Al Diriyah after their benefactor Ibn Dir. The Mrudah became rulers of Al Diriyah, which prospered along the banks of Wadi Hanifa and became an important Najdi settlement. As the clan grew larger, power struggles ensued, with one branch leaving for nearby Dhruma , while another branch (the "Al Watban") left for the town of az-Zubayr in southern Iraq . The Al Muqrin became the ruling family among

5632-566: The regular army and the national guard were both small and of roughly equal strength. The guard suffered when the army's expansion was given priority, but in the 1970s the decline was reversed when the guard was converted to a light mechanized force with the help of United States advisers. Initially consisting of four combined arms battalions, the active-duty component had by 1992 been enlarged to two mechanized brigades, each with four infantry battalions, an artillery battalion, and engineering and signals companies. The guard's mobility over desert terrain

5720-405: The reigning king uses the additional title of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques . The earliest recorded ancestor of the Al Saud was Mani' ibn Rabiah Al-Muraydi , who settled in Diriyah in 1446–1447 with his clan, the Mrudah. The Mrudah are believed to be descended from the Banu Hanifa branch of the larger Rabi'ah tribal confederation . The Banu Hanifa played an important role in shaping

5808-411: The responsibility of the US Vinnell corporation in 1975. About 1,000 United States Vietnam veterans were initially recruited to serve in the long-term training program designed to convert the guard into a mobile and hard-hitting counterinsurgency force that could also reinforce the regular army if necessary. These contractors were supervised by a United States military group with the designation Office of

5896-475: The royal family is the King of Saudi Arabia , an absolute monarch . The family in total is estimated to comprise 15,000 members; however, the majority of power, influence and wealth is possessed by a group of about 2,000 of them. Some estimates of the royal family's wealth measure their net worth at $ 1.4 trillion. This figure includes the market capitalization of Saudi Aramco , the state oil and gas company, and its vast assets in fossil fuel reserves, making them

5984-420: The same day. On 4 November 2017, Prince Mutaib was replaced by Prince Khalid bin Abdulaziz bin Eyaf Al Saud  [ ar ] (until December 2018) House of Saud The House of Al Saud ( Arabic : آل سُعُود , romanized :  ʾĀl Suʿūd IPA: [ʔaːl sʊʕuːd] ) is the ruling royal family of Saudi Arabia . It is composed of the descendants of Muhammad bin Saud , founder of

6072-428: The speed and direction of reform, and whether the role of the ulema should be increased or reduced. There were divisions within the family over who should succeed to the throne after the accession or earlier death of Prince Sultan. When Prince Sultan died before ascending to the throne on 21 October 2011, King Abdullah appointed Prince Nayef as crown prince. The following year, Prince Nayef also died before ascending to

6160-500: The task of restoring Saudi rule in Riyadh. Supported by a few dozen followers and accompanied by some of his brothers and relatives, Abdulaziz was able to capture Riyadh's Masmak fort and kill the governor appointed there by Muhammad bin Abdullah Al Rashid . Abdulaziz, reported to have been barely 20 at the time, was immediately proclaimed ruler in Riyadh. As the new leader of the House of Saud, Abdulaziz became commonly known from that time onward as "Ibn Saud" in Western sources, though he

6248-399: The throne in favor of Khalid, his only full brother. Khalid died of a heart attack in 1982, and was succeeded by Fahd , the eldest of the powerful " Sudairi Seven ", so-called because they were all sons of Ibn Saud by his wife Hassa Al Sudairi . Fahd did away with the previous royal title of "his Majesty" and replaced it with the honorific "Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques", in reference to

6336-647: The throne. Succession has been from brother to brother since the death of the founder of modern Saudi Arabia. Abdulaziz was succeeded by his son Saud who was succeeded by his half-brother Faisal. Faisal was succeeded by his brother Khalid who, in turn, was succeeded by his half-brother Fahd. Fahd was succeeded by his half-brother Abdullah, and Abdullah by his half-brother Salman, the current King. Salman appointed his half-brother Muqrin as Crown Prince in January 2015 and removed him in April 2015. Even Abdulaziz's youngest son

6424-631: The traditional red-checkered keffiyeh Arab headdress. Tribal units often wear the thawb with crossed bandoliers . The SANG is not, by tradition, issued equipment not used by the regular military; it does not possess any tanks but has several thousand wheeled armored fighting vehicles and armoured personnel carriers . It possesses its own helicopters and light aircraft and all the remaining types of military hardware including artillery. A$ 2.2 billion foreign military sale contract delivered 724 LAV‑II 8×8 wheeled armored personnel carriers in ten different varieties in 2001. In December 2012,

6512-670: The training was not going well; "too much emphasis on classroom studies of strategy and tactics and not enough on basic combat skills.." and later trainees broke when committed to action in Fallujah . As a result, the second phase was taken over by the United States Army . Vinnell Corporation was founded in 1931 in Alhambra, California , by Allan S. Vinnell, as a hauling and excavating contractor. The company grew into construction of roads and buildings and constructed portions of

6600-550: The two Islamic holy sites in Mecca and Medina , in 1986. A stroke in 1995 left Fahd largely incapacitated. His half-brother, Crown Prince Abdullah , gradually took over most of the king's responsibilities until Fahd's death in August 2005. Abdullah was proclaimed king on the day of Fahd's death and promptly appointed his younger brother, Sultan bin Abdulaziz , the minister of defense and Fahd's "Second Deputy Prime Minister", as

6688-453: The wealth and the burdens of responsibility, of each fiefdom. Examples of these include Prince Abdul Rahman who was vice minister of defence and aviation under Prince Sultan; Prince Badr , deputy to King Abdullah in the National Guard; Prince Sattam , who was deputy governor of Riyadh during King Salman's term; and Prince Ahmed , who held the deputy minister's portfolio under Prince Nayef's interior ministry. Unlike Western royal families ,

6776-492: The wealthiest family in the world and the wealthiest in recorded history. The House of Saud has had four phases: the Sheikhdom of Diriyah (1446–1744); the Emirate of Diriyah (1727–1818), marked by the expansion of Salafism ; the Emirate of Nejd (1824–1891), marked with continuous infighting; and the current state (1902–present), which evolved into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932 and now wields considerable influence in

6864-472: Was hereditary by agnatic seniority until 2006, when a royal decree provided that future Saudi kings are to be elected by a committee of Saudi princes. King Salman , who reigns currently, first replaced the next crown prince, his brother Muqrin, with his nephew Muhammad bin Nayef . In 2017, Muhammad bin Nayef was replaced by Mohammed bin Salman , King Salman's son, as the crown prince after an approval by

6952-453: Was a long-time aide to the former crown prince, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, who was ousted in 2017. Al-Jabri allegedly has access to documents containing information sensitive and pivotal for the crown prince's leadership. A group of intellectuals from Saudi Arabia, exiled in the US, the UK, and elsewhere, launched a political party in opposition to the royal family ruling the kingdom. The launch of

7040-510: Was assured by 1,100 Commando V-150 armoured cars. Firepower came from 105 mm and 155 mm towed howitzers, 106 mm recoilless rifles, 90mm guns and BGM-71 TOW platforms. In the 1990s, the V-150s were replaced in the mechanized battalions with over LAV-25 Family of Vehicles bought from DDGM/GD in Canada. The second component of the national guard, made up of tribal battalions under

7128-560: Was chosen to mark Saudi Arabia's centennial in 1999 (according to the Islamic lunar calendar ). Upon Abdulaziz's death, his son Saud assumed the throne without incident, but his lavish spending led to a power struggle with his brother, Crown Prince Faisal. In 1964, the royal family forced Saud to abdicate in favor of Faisal, aided by an edict from the country's grand mufti . During this period, some of Abdulaziz's younger sons, led by Talal ibn Abdul Aziz , defected to Egypt, calling themselves

7216-507: Was conducted. A large new housing project for guard personnel, with associated schools, shops, and mosques, has been constructed near Riyadh , also the site of the guard's military academy, the King Khalid Military College . Other National Guard military cities were located at At-Ta'if , Dammam , and Jeddah , while a new headquarters complex was built in Riyadh in the early 1980s. During the 1950s and early 1960s,

7304-540: Was crown prince and governor of the Riyadh Province from 1962 to 2011. The current minister of defense is Prince Mohammad bin Salman , the son of King Salman and crown prince. Such terms of service have enabled senior princes to mingle their personal wealth with that of their respective domains. They have often appointed their own sons to senior positions within their own portfolios. Examples of these include Prince Mutaib bin Abdullah as assistant commander in

7392-809: Was founded as the successor to the Ikhwan , the tribal army of King Abdulaziz . The Ikhwan had helped King Abdulaziz conquer the Arabian Peninsula and take it from the Hashimites in World War ;I . However, the Ikhwan committed many excesses and atrocities not just on the Hejazi Army but on other Arabs as well. The various tribal groups of the Ikhwan also had a tendency to go off and do their own things and thus needed to be brought under

7480-728: Was not in the country. Some Royals have been criticised for various human rights violations, including the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi , treatment of workers, the Saudi-led intervention in Bahrain and the Yemen war . The Reuters news agency reported on 23 June 2020 that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had allegedly threatened and intimidated a former intelligence officer, Saad al-Jabri, along with his family of adult children, from returning to Saudi Arabia from exile in Canada . Al-Jabri

7568-593: Was succeeded by his eldest son, Abdulaziz in 1765. In 1802, Abdulaziz's forces led 10,000 Wahhabi soldiers in an attack on the Shi'ite holy city of Karbala , in what is now southern Iraq and where Hussein ibn Ali , the grandson of Muhammad is buried. The Wahhabi soldiers killed more than 2,000 people, including women and children. They plundered the city, demolishing the massive golden dome above Hussein's tomb and loaded hundreds of camels with weapons, jewelry, coins and other valuable goods. The attack on Karbala convinced

7656-506: Was swiftly deployed to the border area after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990 and was actively engaged in the war, notably in the fighting to retake the town of Ra's al Khafji . After the war ended, it was reported that an enlargement of the national guard to eleven or twelve active brigades was contemplated. In addition, the ageing Commandos were to be replaced by more than 1,000 eight-wheeled LAV-25s and LAV variants manufactured by General Motors in Canada. The LAVs were to be mounted with

7744-440: Was to turn 70 in 2015. Abdulaziz, in 1920, had said that the further succession would be from brother to brother, not from father to son. King Salman ended the brother-to-brother succession and appointed his 56-year-old nephew Muhammad bin Nayef as crown prince in April 2015, thus making the next succession from uncle to nephew. At the same time, King Salman appointed his son, Mohammad bin Salman, as deputy crown prince, thus making

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