If you look at most modern monarchies, the line of succession is pretty much a straight line. It goes from a king or queen to their eldest child. Simple. But the House of Al Saud family tree doesn’t work like that at all. It’s wide. It’s incredibly dense.
Honestly, it’s a massive web that connects thousands of people, and trying to trace it back to the beginning is like trying to map a desert during a sandstorm. You’ve got the founder, King Abdulaziz—often called Ibn Saud—who had dozens of sons with many different wives. This created a horizontal line of succession rather than a vertical one. For decades, the crown didn't go to the son of the king; it went to the king's brother.
That single quirk of history is why the Saudi royal family is so unique. It’s also why understanding the tree is the only way to understand how the Middle East actually functions today.
The Man Who Started It All
Everything starts with Abdulaziz Al Saud. He didn't just inherit a kingdom; he built it through a series of wars, alliances, and strategic marriages. By the time he passed away in 1953, he had established the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. But he also left behind a demographic explosion within his own house.
He had 45 sons.
Think about that for a second. That is not a typo. While not all of them survived into adulthood or took an interest in politics, those who did formed the "first generation" of princes who would rule the country for the next seventy years. Because Abdulaziz married women from almost every major tribe in the Arabian Peninsula, the House of Al Saud family tree became the literal glue holding the country together. It wasn't just about blood; it was about political insurance.
One of the most powerful factions within this tree is the "Sudairi Seven." These were the seven sons born to Abdulaziz by his favorite wife, Hassa bint Ahmed Al Sudairi. They included King Fahd and the current King Salman. Because they were full brothers, they stuck together, creating a powerhouse bloc that dominated Saudi politics for decades.
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How Succession Actually Moves
For the longest time, the crown moved like a baton in a relay race between brothers. King Saud took over after his father died, then came Faisal, then Khalid, then Fahd, then Abdullah, and finally Salman.
It was a geriatric marathon.
By the time King Salman took the throne in 2015, the surviving sons of the founder were getting very old. The system was reaching a breaking point. You can’t keep passing the crown to 80-year-olds forever. Eventually, the tree had to "drop" to the next generation—the grandsons of Ibn Saud.
This is where things got intense.
The Rise of MBS
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, or MBS, changed the game. He is the son of King Salman, and his rise represented a massive shift in the House of Al Saud family tree. Instead of the crown moving sideways to an uncle, it moved down to a son.
This move wasn't just a family preference; it was a total restructuring of Saudi power. He bypassed older cousins and uncles who had been waiting their turn for years. To many observers, this was a necessary modernization to prevent the monarchy from becoming a stagnant council of elders. To others within the family, it was a shock to the system that broke decades of tradition.
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The Allegiance Council and Family Politics
You might wonder: who decides who is next if the tree is so big?
In 2006, King Abdullah created something called the Allegiance Council (Bayaah). It’s basically a committee made up of the sons and grandsons of the founder. Their job is to vote on the next King and Crown Prince. It’s sort of like the Vatican’s College of Cardinals, but with more oil and high-stakes geopolitics.
The council was meant to ensure that the House of Al Saud family tree didn't fracture into a civil war. With thousands of princes—some estimates say there are over 7,000 members of the family—you need a way to keep everyone in line. Of course, the most senior and wealthy branches (the "royals" within the royals) hold the real cards. The "cadet branches," who might be distant cousins, have the title but rarely the bank account or the influence of the direct descendants of Abdulaziz.
Why the Branches Matter to the World
Saudi Arabia isn't just a country; it’s a family business. When you look at the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Defense, or the National Guard, these aren't just government offices. They have historically been "fiefdoms" for different branches of the family.
- The Nayef branch: Traditionally controlled the interior ministry and domestic security.
- The Abdullah branch: Had deep ties to the National Guard.
- The Sultan branch: Long-term control over the defense ministry.
When one branch gains power, it often means another loses its grip on a specific sector of the economy or the military. This is why the 2017 "anti-corruption" sweep at the Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh was so significant. It wasn't just about money; it was MBS pruning the House of Al Saud family tree to ensure that no other branch could challenge the central authority of the King.
Misconceptions About the "Thousands of Princes"
People often hear there are 15,000 members of the Al Saud family and assume they are all living in palaces with gold Ferraris.
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Not true.
The family tree is tiered. You have the "Inner Circle," which consists of the descendants of King Abdulaziz. These are the people who actually run the country. Then you have the "Al-Saud Al-Kabir" and other branches that date back to the 18th and 19th centuries. They have the name, and they get a monthly stipend, but they aren't making decisions about global oil prices or regional wars.
What Happens Next?
The transition from the "Generation of Brothers" to the "Generation of Grandsons" is almost complete. King Salman is likely the last son of the founder who will ever sit on the throne.
The House of Al Saud family tree is now narrowing. By moving to a more traditional father-to-son succession model, the family is becoming more like a European monarchy in structure, even if the politics remain uniquely Middle Eastern. This centralization of power makes the government more efficient, but it also puts all the eggs in one basket. If the current line fails, there isn't a clear "backup" brother waiting in the wings like there used to be.
Actionable Insights for Following Saudi Royalty
To stay informed about the shifts within the Saudi hierarchy, you should focus on these specific markers rather than just general news:
- Watch the Official Decrees: Saudi succession moves through Royal Orders. Any change in the "Deputy" positions in the Interior or Defense ministries usually signals which branch of the tree is being promoted or sidelined.
- Follow the Allegiance Council: If the council is bypassed or its bylaws are changed, it’s a sign of internal restructuring.
- Differentiate Between Branches: When you see a "Prince" in the news, check if they are a descendant of King Abdulaziz (a "Royal Highness") or a more distant relative (usually just "Highness"). It tells you how much weight their words actually carry.
- Monitor the Sudairi Line: While their dominance has faded slightly as power centralizes in one specific house, the Sudairi cousins still hold significant institutional memory and influence.
- Track the National Guard: This has historically been the "private army" of certain family branches. Any shift in its leadership is a primary indicator of family power dynamics.