King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, King of Saudi Arabia
Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (born 31 December 1935) has been the King of Saudi Arabia and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques since 23 January 2015. He is the seventh monarch of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and, at 90, the oldest-serving head of state in the world as of April 2026. Day-to-day governance has been increasingly delegated to his son and Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman (commonly known as MBS), who has served as Prime Minister since September 2022.
Background and succession
King Salman is the 25th son of the kingdom’s founder, King Abdulaziz (Ibn Saud), and one of the “Sudairi Seven” — the seven full brothers whose mother was Hassa bint Ahmad al-Sudairi. He served as Governor of Riyadh Province for nearly 50 years (1963–2011), then as Minister of Defence (2011–2015) and Crown Prince (2012–2015) under his half-brother King Abdullah. He ascended the throne upon King Abdullah’s death on 23 January 2015. In June 2017 he reshaped the line of succession, demoting his nephew Mohammed bin Nayef and naming his son Mohammed bin Salman as Crown Prince.
Mohammed bin Salman and Saudi Vision 2030
Under King Salman’s reign the kingdom has pursued Saudi Vision 2030, an economic diversification programme launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in April 2016 to reduce dependence on oil revenues. The programme includes the Red Sea mega-development NEOM, the partial IPO of Saudi Aramco (2019), the opening of Saudi Arabia to tourism, the lifting of the female-driving ban (2018), women’s access to sports stadiums, and the modernisation of the entertainment sector. Critics argue the reforms have been accompanied by a sharp crackdown on dissent.
Foreign policy
Key events during Salman’s reign include the March 2015 intervention of a Saudi-led coalition in Yemen’s civil war, the 2017–2021 blockade of Qatar, the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul (which the US intelligence community concluded was approved by MBS), the 2023 Chinese-brokered restoration of diplomatic relations with Iran, and continuing back-channel talks with Israel on possible normalisation.
Human rights record
Saudi Arabia remains an absolute monarchy with no elected legislature. Freedom House classifies the kingdom as “Not Free”. Human rights groups have documented mass executions (including 81 men on a single day in March 2022), long prison sentences for women’s rights activists, and a sharp increase in death sentences for non-violent offences. Same-sex relations remain criminal; public religious expression outside Islam is prohibited.
At a glance
| Full name | Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud |
|---|---|
| Born | 31 December 1935, Riyadh |
| Office | King & Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques |
| Reign since | 23 January 2015 |
| Crown Prince | Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), his son |
| Prime Minister | Mohammed bin Salman (since Sept 2022) |
| House | House of Saud |
| Predecessor | King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz (2005–2015) |
| Human rights | Freedom House: Not Free |
Frequently asked questions
Click a question to expand the answer.
Who is the King of Saudi Arabia in 2026?
King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has been the reigning monarch and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques since 23 January 2015.
How old is King Salman?
He was born on 31 December 1935, which makes him 90 in April 2026. He is the oldest-serving head of state in the world.
Who is Mohammed bin Salman?
Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) is the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and, since September 2022, the Prime Minister. He is King Salman’s son, born 31 August 1985, and the de facto ruler of the kingdom for most day-to-day decisions.
Is Saudi Arabia a dictatorship?
Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy with no elected parliament and no legal political parties. Freedom House rates it “Not Free”. Power is concentrated in the House of Saud, currently around King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
What happened to Jamal Khashoggi?
Journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered on 2 October 2018 at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. A U.S. intelligence community report declassified in 2021 concluded that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved the operation. Saudi Arabia denies that MBS ordered the killing.
What is Saudi Vision 2030?
Saudi Vision 2030 is a strategic economic framework launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in April 2016. It aims to diversify the kingdom away from oil dependency through sectors such as tourism, entertainment, technology, and the mega-city NEOM.
Will Mohammed bin Salman succeed King Salman?
By Saudi law the Crown Prince is the designated successor. MBS is the current Crown Prince and will accede to the throne on King Salman’s death or abdication, barring a change in the line of succession.