Saudi Arabia Political System & Government Explained
Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy governed by the Al Saud royal family. King Salman bin Abdulaziz has been the head of state since 2015, but Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) is widely recognized as the de facto ruler and drives the kingdom's domestic and foreign policy. There are no political parties, no elected national legislature, and no competitive elections for national office.
What stands out
- 8 parties compete for just 1 tracked governing office.
- Capital
- Riyadh
- Government
- islamic theocracy
- Population
- 33.0 million
The Read
Saudi Arabia — islamic theocracy, in Asia, ~33.0 million people — is a sovereign state run from Riyadh.
Religious authority is not adjacent to politics in Saudi Arabia — it sits inside it, with direct purchase on law and government.
Saudi Arabia's political landscape includes 8 political parties and 1 office.
ByNorth
Verdict: Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy where political power is concentrated in the king and, increasingly, the crown prince.
Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy governed by the Al Saud royal family. King Salman bin Abdulaziz has been the head of state since 2015, but Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) is widely recognized as the de facto ruler and drives the kingdom's domestic and foreign policy. There are no political parties, no elected national legislature, and no competitive elections for national office.
This page covers Saudi Arabia's monarchical system, the role of MBS, the absence of democratic institutions, and the kingdom's power within the region.
Saudi Arabia is one of the world's top defense spenders, leveraging oil wealth to acquire advanced military technology from Western suppliers.
Saudi Arabia
- Military Strength
