Did you know that the royal family of Saudi Arabia is estimated to have more than 15,000 members?

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was founded in 1932 by Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud, after conquering the regions of Al-Hasa, Najd, and Hijaz. He became the first king and named the country after his family name. The laws in Saudi Arabia are based on the strict rules of Islamic law, known as Sharia. Sharia is strictly enforced, which is why women have very few rights in Saudi Arabia. The two most important holy places in Islam, Mecca and Medina, are located in Saudi Arabia, drawing millions of pilgrims each year. As mentioned, the first king of Saudi Arabia, Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud, had 45 sons from his many wives. These sons produced a great deal of descendants, leading to the current dynasty, which is estimated to have between 5,000 and 15,000 members. By comparison, the Dutch royal family consists of 40 members.

The Saudi royal family has ruled the oil-rich country since 1932. Because the royal family is so large, all significant positions of power in the country can be filled by one of the many princes, which helps maintain the family’s strong position in the country. Actual power lies with a relatively small group of about 200 members of the Saud family. Moreover, women in Saudi Arabia are not allowed to hold official positions, which is why the many princesses in the Saud family have no influence.

All revenue from the richly flowing oil, discovered in 1938, goes to the royal family. The Sauds are therefore incredibly wealthy. This is one of the reasons that has caused significant tensions throughout history and continues to do so, particularly among the poorer segments of the population, who are dissatisfied with the distribution of oil wealth.

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