🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
Monarchy, absolute monarchy, islamic theocracyClosed autocracy
Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
Monarch · 4,285 days in office
How the political system works in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is governed as a monarchy with a absolute monarchy, islamic theocracy. Its monarch, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, has led the country since Jan 23, 2015. Saudi Arabia has had 7 monarchs since 1932. Under the Regimes of the World classification, it counts as a closed autocracy.
Tenure records
Longest-serving
Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
8,450 days
Shortest-serving
Khalid of Saudi Arabia
2,637 days
Average tenure
5,054 days
Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud: 15% below average
Female leaders
0 of 7
All male to date
Recent monarchs by days in office
Is a leader's tenure getting longer or shorter in Saudi Arabia?
Across 6 completed terms, the average monarch of Saudi Arabia has served 5,054 days (about 13.8 years). That has stayed fairly steady: the last five completed terms averaged 4,471 days.
One completed term Average tenure per decade
All monarchs of Saudi Arabia
| # | Name | Took office | Left office | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 |  Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud | Jan 23, 2015 | Incumbent | 4,285 |
| 6 |  Abdullah of Saudi Arabia | Aug 1, 2005 | Jan 23, 2015 | 3,462 |
| 5 |  Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud | Jun 13, 1982 | Aug 1, 2005 | 8,450 |
| 4 |  Khalid of Saudi Arabia | Mar 25, 1975 | Jun 13, 1982 | 2,637 |
| 3 |  King Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud | Nov 2, 1964 | Mar 25, 1975 | 3,795 |
| 2 |  Saud of Saudi Arabia | Nov 9, 1953 | Nov 2, 1964 | 4,011 |
| 1 |  Ibn Saud | Jan 15, 1932 | Nov 9, 1953 | 7,969 |
Officeholder history via Wikidata. Multiple rows for one person indicate separate terms.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is the Monarch of Saudi Arabia?
- Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has been Monarch of Saudi Arabia since Jan 23, 2015.
- How is the leader of Saudi Arabia chosen?
- Saudi Arabia is governed as a monarchy with a absolute monarchy, islamic theocracy. Its monarch, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, has led the country since Jan 23, 2015. Saudi Arabia has had 7 monarchs since 1932. Under the Regimes of the World classification, it counts as a closed autocracy.
- Who is the longest-serving Monarch of Saudi Arabia?
- Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, with 8,450 days in office.
- Are leaders serving longer or shorter terms in Saudi Arabia?
- Across 6 completed terms, the average monarch of Saudi Arabia has served 5,054 days (about 13.8 years). That has stayed fairly steady: the last five completed terms averaged 4,471 days.
- Has Saudi Arabia ever had a female monarch?
- No. All 7 monarchs of Saudi Arabia to date have been men.