Saudi Arabia

The Islamic prophet Muhammad was born in Mecca around 570 CE.

Following the death of the Islamic prophet Muhammad in 632, his followers expanded the territory under Muslim rule beyond Arabia, conquering territory in the Iberian Peninsula in the west to parts of Central and South Asia in the east in a matter of decades.

The emergence of what was to become the Saudi royal family, known as the Al Saud, began at the town of Diriyah in Nejd in central Arabia with the accession as emir of Muhammad bin Saud on 22 February 1727.

Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab arrives in Najd and preaches an austere form of Islam, seeking protection from the local emir, Muhammad ibn Saud. They form a religious-political alliance that endures to this day in Saudi Arabia.

Abdulaziz Ibn Saud successfully leads a small group of 40 men to conquer Riyadh, marking the inception of the Third Saudi State.

In 1913, Abdulaziz took control of Al-Hasa from the Ottomans, gaining control of the Persian Gulf coast and Saudi Arabia's vast oil reserves.

In 1916, the Sharif of Mecca, Hussein bin Ali, led a pan-Arab revolt against the Ottoman Empire with the support of Britain and France. The aim was to secure Arab independence and create a unified Arab state, but the revolt faced challenges and ultimately failed to achieve its objective.

Abd al-Aziz ibn Saud proclaims himself as the king and renames the country as Saudi Arabia. To maintain unity, he marries daughters from various tribes and influential clerical families, resulting in numerous offspring. He then consolidates power to his sons, shaping the future Saudi monarchy.

Oil was discovered in commercial quantities in Saudi Arabia in 1932, leading to the development of the country's oil industry. This discovery transformed the economy and geopolitics of the region.

Saudi Arabia was unified and declared its independence on September 21, 1932.

In 1932, Abdulaziz Ibn Saud merged the Kingdom of Nejd and Hejaz into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, establishing it as an Islamic state with Arabic as its national language and the Holy Qur'an as its constitution.

Saudi Arabia and the U.S. establish diplomatic relations, leading to the arrival of the first foreign oil prospectors in the kingdom. This event marks the beginning of a significant partnership between the two nations in the oil industry.

In 1938, an American oil company discovered the world's largest oil reserve in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. This discovery transformed the newly formed Saudi Arabia into one of the world's richest countries.

A significant agreement is reached between FDR and King Abd al-Aziz, which has a profound impact on the security and stability of the region. This deal solidifies the relationship between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, particularly in the context of oil resources and security.

King Faisal ascended to the throne on November 2, 1964, following the death of King Saud, and played a significant role in modernizing Saudi Arabia.

Tensions with Yemen subsided in 1967 after Egypt withdrew its troops from the country, marking a significant development in the regional dynamics.

Terrorists associated with 'Black September' occupy the Saudi Embassy in Khartoum, Sudan, leading to a tense diplomatic situation and security concerns.

Saudi Arabia, Libya, and other Arab states proclaim an embargo on oil exports to the United States, leading to a significant impact on the global oil supply and geopolitical relations.

On March 25, 1975, King Faisal of Saudi Arabia was assassinated by his nephew, Faisal ibn Musaid, who was seeking revenge for his brother's death during a protest in 1965. This event was a shocking and violent act, especially since the perpetrator was a member of the royal family.

On November 20, 1979, several hundred Saudi fundamentalists led by Juhayman al-Utaybi take over the Great Mosque at Mecca, calling for a return to pure Islam and accusing the royal family of corruption. The standoff lasts for several weeks before the Saudi military can remove the insurgents, resulting in over 200 casualties.

On August 2, 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait, leading to a major international crisis. King Fahd played a key role in assembling the international coalition that drove Iraqi forces out of Kuwait.

Following the arrest of two Wahhabi clerics for anti-government preaching, several thousand protestors stage demonstrations in Buraida. The protestors accuse the monarchy of corruption and betraying Islam by allowing U.S. troops on the Arabian Peninsula. The incident leads to the government ceding more control to the Wahhabi clerics.

Saudi Arabian Flight 763 and Kazakhstan Airlines Flight 1907 collided in midair over Charkhi Dadri in India, resulting in the tragic deaths of 349 individuals. This incident is recognized as the third-deadliest aviation disaster in history.

15 of the 19 hijackers involved in the September 11 attacks were Saudi nationals. The U.S. expressed frustration with Saudi Arabia's lack of cooperation in providing access to the hijackers' background files and families for interviews.

A stampede at the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia results in the tragic trampling to death of 251 people and injuries to 244 others.

On August 1, 2005, King Fahd of Saudi Arabia passed away at the age of 82, leading to the official naming of his half-brother Abdullah as the new monarch. This event marked a significant transition in the Saudi royal family.

American politicians and media accused the Saudi government of supporting terrorism and tolerating a jihadist culture following the 9/11 terror attacks.

Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud becomes the King of Saudi Arabia following the death of his half-brother King Abdullah.

A stampede during the Hajj pilgrimage near Mecca, Saudi Arabia, results in the deaths of 717 people during the symbolic stoning of the devil at Mina.

Saudi Arabia executes 47 alleged terrorists, including Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, sparking international controversy and condemnation.

Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, also known as MbS, was appointed as the crown prince of Saudi Arabia on June 21, 2017, and has been leading various reforms and initiatives in the country.

Saudi Arabia announces the overturning of its ban on women driving, making it the last country in the world to do so.

Saudi Arabia arrests 11 princes and other ministers on corruption charges, including billionaire investor Prince Alwaleed bin Talal.

The CIA concludes that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Saudi Aramco, the Saudi Arabian oil company, disclosed its earnings, revealing a record-breaking $111.1 billion in profits for the last year, solidifying its position as the world's most profitable company.

Saudi Arabia announced new regulations for women, granting them the right to travel independently abroad without requiring permission from a male guardian, marking a significant step towards gender equality in the country.

A drone attack on the Abqaiq oil plant in Saudi Arabia caused a significant disruption, impacting half of the country's oil production and 5% of the world's total output. Yemen Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for the attack, raising concerns about regional stability and energy security.

Houthi rebels from Yemen claimed to have killed 500 Saudi soldiers, captured 2,000, and seized a military convoy in the Najran region of Saudi Arabia.

Saudi state-owned oil company Saudi Aramco raised a record $25.6 billion in its first public share offering, making it the world's most valuable company at $1.7 trillion.

Saudi Arabia executed 81 convicted criminals, marking the country's largest known mass execution in modern times. This event sparked international concern and raised questions about human rights in Saudi Arabia.

A strategic framework to reduce Saudi Arabia's dependence on oil, diversify its economy, and develop public service sectors.