Saudi Arabia and the Gulf

Link to syllabus

Link to Chronology

Link to https://ctools.umich.edu/portal

Saudi Arabia map

Focal point of the Pilgrimage to Mecca:the Kaaba is situated at the heart of the Holy Mosque’s central courtyard

The mosque at Medina

The Prophet’s Mosque contains the tomb of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and is therefore one of Islam’smost sacred shrines. (The first two caliphs, Abu Bakr and Umar, are also buried there.) http://www.kingfahdbinabdulaziz.com/main/h200.htm

Grave of the Prophet Muhammad,in the Mosque at Medina

Statement about Islam and the ProphetThe Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, was born around570 C.E. At the age of 40, Muhammad received his call to become a prophet. He received the word of God through theAngel Gabriel and the divine message was recorded in the Holy Qur'an.The God that spoke to Muhammad was the God of Abraham. Islam is thus essentially part of the great monotheistic movementthat emerged and developed in the Near East. In Muhammad, regarded as the "seal of the prophets", the message of God forman was finally comprehended and Islam (submission to thewill of Allah) is seen by Muslims as the apotheosis of the Judaeo-Christian tradition.

From the Saudi Arabian Government’s web site. http://www.saudinf.com/main/b62.htm

Ottoman Empire

King Abdul Aziz Ibn Sa’ud

1879-1953 King 1932-53

Starting in 1902, he re-conqueredRiyadh and eventually unified (most of) the peninsula, using both armed force and marriage alliances. Had > 60 children, andsome 40 sons.It is said that he was not able toaccept the modern world of hislate years.

From Saudi Arabia: Caught in Time 1861-1939, by Badr El Hage

Saudi Expansion and Classical Yemen

From Dresch A History of Modern Yemen

Arabian Family Trees

King Sa’ud

1902-1969

King 1953-1964

Forced out by his more forcefulbrother Faisal; died in exile in Greece

King Faisal I

1906-1975

King 1964-1975

Important “modernizer.” Assassinated by a nephew in a revengekilling. Succeeded by Khalid, whosebad health resulted in power being exercised by Fahd, who eventuallybecame King.

King Abdullah

Born 1923 or 24; father is Abdul Aziz bin Saud.

Succeeded King Fahd, his half-brother, in 2005. Was head of the National Guard.

Had no ‘formal’ education.

Has been projecting a moreassertive role for Saudi foreign policy. Labeled USoccupation in Iraq ‘illegitimate’. Said to be inill health, with maladiestypical of his age.

(Then) Crown Prince Abdullah and V. Putin, Sept. 2003

Salman bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud

Born 1935 in Riyadh; is the Crown Prince (next in line), also Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense. His mother is Hass al-Sudairi – theSudairi brothers are said to be animportant group in family politics.Prince Salman was appointed Governor of Riyadh. He is described as a mediator in problems inside the House of Saud.The prince’s health is rumored tobe not good.

Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz

Born 1945 – youngest son of King Abdulaziz. Recently named second in line to replace theking – an unusual step.Has been head of the Saudi Intelligence Agency.Said to be a close ally of the king, and to bea ‘traditionalist.’

One presumes that after Muqrin, the next king will have to be a grandsonof Abdul Aziz. What will be the process by which that person is chosen?

Prince Bandar

Born 1949His father was once Crown Prince.

Saudi Ambassador to US 1983-2005

Currently is the kingdom’snational security chief. Resignedyesterday April 16, 2014.

Has received education and militarytraining in the U.K. and U.S.

Described as a long-time friendof the Bush family.

Ambassador Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir

Born February 1, 1962 in Majma'ah (Riyadh Province), Saudi Arabia, and attended schools in the Kingdom, Germany, Yemen, Lebanon, and the U.S.  Not from the royal family. He obtained a B.A. summa cum laude in political science and economics from the University of North Texas in 1982, and an M.A. in international relations from Georgetown University in 1984. Appointed Jan., 2007

Sheikh Ahmad Zaki Yamani

Saudi Minister of Oil, 1962-1986.

Born 1839 in Hijaz, not of the royal family.Harvard educated, favorite of King Faisal. Steered OPEC during its hightide. Ultimately dismissed, (they say)over debate about whether to investPetro-dollars abroad in downstream oilcompanies-which he favored, versus inside the country. Was often describedas a “price hawk.” Currently residesin England, leading an oil consultingCompany.“The stone age ended before we ran outof stones; the oil age will end before werun out of oil.”

Saud bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud

Born 1940. Educated at Princeton. Has been Saudi foreign minister since 1975 – the longest serving FM alive. Has some health problems.

Is frequently described as working to reduceU.S. influence in the region.

Strong supporter of Palestinian causes. Hostile to Bashar al-Assad.

After significant lobbying, Saudi Arabia was given a rotating seat onthe United Nations Security Council in October, 2013, which they then rejected. NYT: this decision underscored the depth of Saudi anger over what the monarchy sees as weak and conciliatory Western stances toward Syria and Iran, Saudi Arabia’s regional rival.

Statement about the Saudi Government

It is important to recognize that the Saudi system of government, as defined under the Basic System and the establishment of the Consultative Council, is not a move towards Western-style democracy, much less an imitation of Western-style democratic reform. It is an organic Development of the consultative basis of the relationship between the leader and the people that is inherent in Islamic tradition.

http://www.kingfahdbinabdulaziz.com/main/k100.htm

Statement about Saudi Foreign Aid

In the twenty years from 1973 to 1993, despite considerable variations in national revenues and many competing demands, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia provided 5.5% of its Gross National Product in overseas aid. Given that the United Nations has suggested 0.7% as the lower limit for donor countries, the Kingdom’s contribution has been outstanding.

From the Saudi Government’s web site:http://www.kingfahdbinabdulaziz.com/main/n010.htm

Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal al-Saud

Al Waleed buying an Airbus

Born 1956. Mother is Lebanese. Education:Menlo College, Bachelor of Arts&Science Syracuse University, Master of Science#19 on Forbes list of world’s richest.His Kingdom Holding has major fundsin Citicorp, Disney-Europe, Four Seasons, AOL, Apple, Worldcom…

Said to donate US$100 million/yrto charities, including severalinstitutes in US universities.

Osama bin Laden

Born 1957 in Saudi Arabia. Killed 2011

His father made a fortune in the construction business in S.A.Went to Afghanistan ~1979 to supportanti-Soviet forces, and helped form al-Qaeda in 1988. Objected to US military presence in Saudi Arabia. His citizenship wasrevoked in 1994. Leader in planningthe 9/11 attacks.

Old Jeddah

From Saudi Arabia: Caught in Time 1861-1939, by Badr El Hage

The Great Mosque of

Riyadh, 1920s

Source: Guise, Riyadh AAL DS 248 R7 G85 1988

Riyadh, cloth

market 1937

Source: Saudi Arabia: Caught in Time 1861-1939, by Badr El Hage

Riyadh, Open air market,

1937

From Saudi Arabia: Caught in Time 1861-1939, by Badr El Hage

Saudi Desalination Plant

From “Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques: King Fahd Bid Abdul Aziz

Riyadh Stadium

Saudi National Football Team

University Avenue, Riyadh

King Faisal Charitable

Foundation, Riyadh

Ministry of the Interior, Riyadh

Dam Inauguration, Narjan Saudi Arabia

Source: Tchekof Minosa Najran Desert Garden of Arabia

Irrigated Field in Narjan, Saudi

Arabia

Tchekof Minosa Najran Desert Garden of Arabia, p. 30

Saudi Agriculture, I

Saudi Agriculture, II

Saudi Agriculture,III

Horse races in Riyadh

Guise, Riyadh p. 38

Riyadh: Street corner

market for falcons

Guise, Riyadh AAL DS 248 R7 G85 1988

Riyadh, Passport Office

Source: Guise, Riyadh p. 26

Riyadh: Ministry of

Foreign Affairs

Source: Guise, Riyadh page 26

Riyadh: King Saud University

Source:Guise, Riyadh p. 79

Riyadh: King Khalid Eye Specialist Hospital

Source: Guise, Riyadh AAL DS 248 R7 G85 1988 Page 88

Other Gulf

Gulf physical map

Gulf Oil

Source: Cordesman, Saudi Arabia Enters the Twenty-First Century

Gulf Chronology

Sheik Ahmad 1 of Kuwait

1885-1950Ruled 1921-1950

During his reign Kuwait is transformedfrom a modest fishing country to amajor oil exporter.

Chose to side with Britain during WWIINever was popular with the people.

Emir Sabah IVAhmad al-Jaber

Born 1929Emir since 2006

Was Foreign Minister for 40 years.Has been challenged to reconcilestrong grass-roots movements forfreedom of speech and democracy

Map of Qatar

Qatar’s former Emir Hamad al Thani, and his wife Mozah bint

Nasser.

Emir Hamad turned power to hisson Tamim while apparently still ingood health. He is credited for manyachievements in Qatar’s economy and socio-political arrangements. His wife Mozah has been unusuallyactive in public affairs. She got a BA in Sociology from U Qatar 1986

Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, 1980 -

Fourth son of Emir Hamad, becoming Emir in June, 2013. Educated in U.K.Had been carefully groomed to be Emir, achieving experience in foreign and domestic affairs, including the military. Has also promoted sports inside Qatar, which will host World Cup in 2022.

Qatar National Museum:To be opened in 2014

Link to Global Security map of Qatar

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/al-udeid-imagery2.htm

UAE Topographical map

UAE Map. Main cities

UAE Beach Hotel

Tennis Winner in Abu Dhabi

El Universal, Dec. 28 2013

Map of Yemen

Map of Middle East

Strategic importanceOf Yemen, for the British

Religious Groups in Yemen

Zaydi Islam 14,000,000 73.0%Sunni Islam 5,250,000 27.0%Isma'ili Islam 50,000 0.3%Christianity 5,000 >0.1%Hinduism 2,000 >0,1%

The figures here are rough estimates, as there exist little background material.

Zaydism is the second largest group inside Shi'i Islam. Source: Encyclopaedia of the Orient

Yemen around 1900

Link to Yemen Chronology

Yemen in late 1990s

Divided Yemen

Source: Dresch A History of Modern Yemen

Ahmad Bin Yahya

1895-1962

Ruler of North Yemen 1948-62

Father was killed in a coup, fromwhich he himself escaped. He died a natural death, but his successorwas immediately overthrown byArmy officers, who thenproclaimed the Yemen ArabRepublic. He cooperated with -but ultimately clashed with - Nasserand Egypt.

Ali Abdullah Saleh

President of North Yemen in 1978; of united Yemen in 1990.Re-elected in 2006.Was seriously wounded in 2012, and subsequently agreed to share power with his V.P. Abd Rabbuh Mansur.

Born 1942, near Sana’a.

Map of Bahrain

Sultan Qaboos ibn Said

Born in Oman in 1940, son of the Sultan.Studied in Britain (Sandhurst).Was put in under house arrest by hisfather, but was able to engineer a coup.Sultan since 1970, as well as Ministerof Defense and Foreign Affairs.

Has used oil revenues to improve theinfrastructure of the country. Oman haslimited freedom of speech.The Sultan has no children, but succession is guaranteed.