Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Link to syllabus

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’s most sacred shrines. (The first two caliphs, Abu Bakr and Umar, are also buried there. ) http: //www. kingfahdbinabdulaziz. com/main/h 200. htm

Grave of the Prophet Muhammad, in the Mosque at Medina

Statement about Islam and the Prophet The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, was born around 570 C. E. At the age of 40, Muhammad received his call to become a prophet. He received the word of God through the Angel 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 movemen that emerged and developed in the Near East. In Muhammad, regarded as the "seal of the prophets", the message of God for man was finally comprehended and Islam (submission to the will 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/b 62. htm

Ottoman Empire

King Abdul Aziz Ibn Sa’ud 1879 -1953 King 1932 -53 Starting in 1902, he re-conquered Riyadh and eventually unified (most of) the peninsula, using both armed force and marriage alliances. Had > 60 children, and some 40 sons. It is said that he was not able to accept the modern world of his late 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 forceful brother Faisal; died in exile in Greece

King Faisal I 1906 -1975 King 1964 -1975 Important “modernizer. ” Assassinated by a nephew in a revenge killing. Succeeded by Khalid, whose bad health resulted in power being exercised by Fahd, who eventually became 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 more assertive role for Saudi foreign policy. Labeled US occupation in Iraq ‘illegitimate’. Said to be in ill health, with maladies typical 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 – the Sudairi brothers are said to be an important 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 to be not good.

Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz Born 1945 – youngest son of King Abdulaziz. Recently named second in line to replace the king – an unusual step. Has been head of the Saudi Intelligence Agency. Said to be a close ally of the king, and to be a ‘traditionalist. ’ One presumes that after Muqrin, the next king will have to be a grandson of Abdul Aziz. What will be the process by which that person is chosen?

Prince Bandar Born 1949 His father was once Crown Prince. Saudi Ambassador to US 1983 -2005 Currently is the kingdom’s national security chief. Resigned yesterday April 16, 2014. Has received education and military training in the U. K. and U. S. Described as a long-time friend of 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 high tide. Ultimately dismissed, (they say) over debate about whether to invest Petro-dollars abroad in downstream oil companies-which he favored, versus inside the country. Was often described as a “price hawk. ” Currently resides in England, leading an oil consulting Company. “The stone age ended before we ran out of stones; the oil age will end before we run 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 reduce U. 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 on the 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/k 100. 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/n 010. htm

Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal al-Saud Born 1956. Mother is Lebanese. Educat Menlo College, Bachelor of Arts&Scienc Syracuse University, Master of Science #19 on Forbes list of world’s richest. His Kingdom Holding has major funds in Citicorp, Disney-Europe, Four Season AOL, Apple, Worldcom… Al Waleed buying an Airbus Said to donate US$100 million/yr to charities, including several institutes 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 support anti-Soviet forces, and helped form al-Qaeda in 1988. Objected to US military presence in Saudi Arabia. His citizenship was revoked in 1994. Leader in planning the 9/11 attacks.

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

The Great Mosque of Riyadh, 1920 s Source: Guise, Riyadh AAL DS 248 R 7 G 85 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 R 7 G 85 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

Other Gulf

Gulf physical map

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

Gulf Chronology

Sheik Ahmad 1 of Kuwait 1885 -1950 Ruled 1921 -1950 During his reign Kuwait is transformed from a modest fishing country to a major oil exporter. Chose to side with Britain during WWII Never was popular with the people.

Emir Sabah IVAhmad al-Jaber Born 1929 Emir since 2006 Was Foreign Minister for 40 years. Has been challenged to reconcile strong grass-roots movements for freedom 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 his son Tamim while apparently still in good health. He is credited for many achievements in Qatar’s economy and socio-political arrangements. His wife Mozah has been unusually active 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 an 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-imagery 2. 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 importance Of Yemen, for the British

Religious Groups in Yemen Zaydi Islam 14, 000 Sunni Islam 5, 250, 000 Isma'ili Islam 50, 000 Christianity 5, 000 Hinduism 2, 000 73. 0% 27. 0% 0. 3% >0. 1% >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 1990 s

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, from which he himself escaped. He died a natural death, but his successor was immediately overthrown by Army officers, who then proclaimed the Yemen Arab Republic. He cooperated with but ultimately clashed with - Nasser and Egypt.

Ali Abdullah Saleh Born 1942, near Sana’a. 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.

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 his father, but was able to engineer a coup. Sultan since 1970, as well as Minister of Defense and Foreign Affairs. Has used oil revenues to improve the infrastructure of the country. Oman has limited freedom of speech. The Sultan has no children, but succession is guaranteed.