Saud (1902–1969)

King of Saudi Arabia 1953–64. He initially maintained warm relations with Egypt's new ruler Gamal Abdel Nasser, but became concerned at Nasser's growing power in the region from 1956, and thus developed close ties with the UK and the USA, which he visited in March 1957. His younger half-brother, Faisal, was Crown Prince from 1953 and, after Saud's extravagant spending had produced a financial crisis, was made prime minister in 1958. Saud, as an Arab traditionalist, was uneasy with Faisal's advocacy of gradual Westernization, including the education of women. This led to conflicts and Faisal's resignation in 1960. However, he returned as prime minister in November 1962, after Saud fell ill. Faisal immediately published a ten-point reform and development programme that was designed to take the country into the modern age, through using the country's increasing oil wealth to provide social welfare benefits to Saudi citizens. In early 1964 Faisal became regent and in November 1964, after a meeting of a council of the senior members of the al-Saud family, Saud was persuaded to abdicate. Faisal became king and Saud lived the remainder of his life in exile.

The son of King Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud, the founder of the Saudi dynasty, he was made crown prince in 1933 and became prime minister, three months before his father's death, in November 1953.

Relations with Egypt deteriorated to such a degree that it was alleged, by Nasser, that in 1958 Saud had paid a Syrian politician to attempt to assassinate the Egyptian leader. Four years later, Saudi territory was bombed by Egyptian jets who were attacking Yemeni royalist forces.