The History of Diriyah and the House of Al-Saud

The origins of Saudi Arabia itself can be traced back to the founding of the Bedouin town of Diriyah (modern day Riyadh) by chief Mani Al Muraidi in the 15th century. Fast forward a few centuries, and Muraidi’s great great great-great grandson Abdulaziz bin Saud founded the First Saudi State, expanding his family’s reign across and beyond the Arabian Peninsula. The ruling family called themselves Al Saud, meaning the House of Saud in Arabic, a name which would stick for years to come. Later, Abdelaziz bin Abdul Rahman bin Faisal Al Saud would declare himself King of the absolute monarchy of Saudi Arabia in 1932. For nearly a century now, Abdelaziz and his many sons have ruled the Kingdom, establishing an empire whose oil, wealth, and pedigree only continue to grow alongside its history.