How Saudi Arabia Was Formed: The Untold History
By Daily UpDown
Modern-day Saudi Arabia is made up of several historic regions including Najd, Hijaz, Al-Ahsa, Ha’il, and Asir. For nearly three centuries, these regions remained a battlefield for power, as different tribes and empires fought for control. Among those tribes was the House of Saud, the family after whom Saudi Arabia is named. But how did this family rise to power? Why were they once exiled? And how did they eventually establish the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia? Let’s explore the complete story.
Ottoman Control of the Arabian Peninsula
In 1516–1517, the Ottoman Empire defeated the Mamluks in a decisive war and took control of much of the Arabian Peninsula. During the reign of Sultan Selim I, the Ottomans gained authority over Hijaz, the region that includes the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. After this victory, Selim I declared himself the Caliph of the Muslim world.
Historically, the land that is now Saudi Arabia consisted of five major regions. Hijaz lay along the Red Sea and hosted Islam’s holiest cities. Najd, located in the heart of the peninsula, included Riyadh, which later became the capital. Al-Ahsa, on the eastern side near the Persian Gulf, would later become crucial due to oil discoveries. Ha’il was located in the north, while Asir lay in the southwest.
The Birth of the First Saudi State
The foundation of modern Saudi Arabia traces back to the 18th century. In 1744, a local Najdi leader, Muhammad ibn Saud, formed a historic alliance with a religious reformer, Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab. Together, they established the First Saudi State in Diriyah, near present-day Riyadh.
Under this agreement, the House of Saud handled political and military affairs, while religious matters were guided by the Wahhabi movement. Their shared goal was to expand their influence across Arabia and challenge Ottoman authority, which they viewed as distant and ineffective.
Expansion and Ottoman Retaliation
Over the next few decades, the Saudi-Wahhabi alliance expanded rapidly. By 1806, they had captured Makkah and Madinah, removing the Hashemite rulers who governed on behalf of the Ottomans. This was a direct challenge to Ottoman authority and could not be ignored.
The Ottoman Sultan ordered Muhammad Ali Pasha, the governor of Egypt, to crush the Saudi state. His son, Ibrahim Pasha, led a successful military campaign that recaptured the holy cities by 1812. In 1818, Diriyah was destroyed, and the Saudi ruler Abdullah ibn Saud was captured and executed in Istanbul. This marked the end of the First Saudi State.
The Second Saudi State and Internal Rivalries
Despite defeat, the Saudis were not finished. In 1823, Turki ibn Abdullah re-established Saudi rule in Najd, creating the Second Saudi State with Riyadh as its capital. However, this state faced constant internal family disputes and a powerful rival—the Rashidi dynasty of Ha’il.
Throughout the 19th century, power shifted repeatedly between the Saudis and the Rashidis. By 1891, the Rashidis defeated the Saudis and captured Riyadh. The House of Saud was forced into exile in Kuwait, including Abdul Rahman ibn Faisal and his young son, Abdulaziz ibn Saud.
The Rise of Abdulaziz Ibn Saud
Life in exile deeply affected Abdulaziz. Determined to reclaim his family’s legacy, he launched a daring mission in 1902. With a small group of followers, he captured Riyadh by assassinating the Rashidi governor. This bold move marked the beginning of the Third Saudi State.
Over the next two decades, Abdulaziz gradually expanded his control. He defeated the Rashidis, captured Al-Ahsa, and unified much of Najd with the help of the Ikhwan, a tribal religious militia hardened by desert life.
World War I and British Influence
During World War I, the Ottoman Empire sided with the Central Powers, while Britain sought allies in the Arab world. Britain supported Abdulaziz financially and militarily, on the condition that he would not interfere in British-protected territories such as Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman.
At the same time, the Arab Revolt against the Ottomans was launched—not by the Saudis—but by Sharif Hussein of Makkah, a Hashemite ruler loyal to the Ottomans before switching sides. Britain, through figures like T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia), supported this revolt. Lawrence’s role was limited to coordinating British-Arab cooperation during the war and did not directly contribute to the creation of Saudi Arabia.
Conquest of Hijaz and Formation of Saudi Arabia
After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the Hashemites controlled Hijaz, while Abdulaziz ruled Najd. Tensions were inevitable. By 1925, Abdulaziz successfully conquered Hijaz. In 1926, he declared himself King of Hijaz, ruling both Najd and Hijaz as separate entities.
Finally, in 1932, Abdulaziz unified these territories and officially proclaimed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Initially, the country was poor and resource-limited. Everything changed in 1938, when vast oil reserves were discovered in Al-Ahsa.
That discovery transformed Saudi Arabia into one of the world’s most influential energy producers and reshaped its destiny forever.
FAQs
Q1: When was Saudi Arabia officially founded?
Saudi Arabia was officially founded in 1932 by King Abdulaziz ibn Saud.
Q2: What role did the Ottomans play in Saudi history?
The Ottoman Empire controlled much of Arabia and fought against early Saudi states, eventually destroying the First Saudi State.
Q3: Was Lawrence of Arabia involved in creating Saudi Arabia?
No. Lawrence supported the Arab Revolt led by the Hashemites, not the Saudis. His role in Saudi state formation was indirect.
Q4: Why was the House of Saud exiled?
They were defeated by the Rashidi dynasty in 1891 and forced to flee to Kuwait.
Q5: How did oil change Saudi Arabia?
Oil discovery in 1938 transformed Saudi Arabia from a poor desert kingdom into a global economic and political power.
References (Wikipedia)
Saudi Arabia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabia
House of Saud – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Saud
Abdulaziz ibn Saud – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibn_Saud
Ottoman–Saudi conflicts – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi%E2%80%93Ottoman_conflict
Arab Revolt – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_Revolt