Why the Saudi Royal Family Is So Large
The House of Saud rules Saudi Arabia, and the surname "Saudi" denotes direct descent from the dynasty's founder, King Abdulaziz, who ruled from 1902 until 1953. King Abdulaziz married dozens of women and fathered dozens of sons, each of whom founded branches that still carry the family name. The family now includes thousands of direct descendants, with major lines such as the Sudairi Seven and the Al Jiluwi branch holding historical and political weight. The Saudi government does not publish an exact count, but analysts and royal advisors estimate the number of princes in the thousands, with active male members numbering in the hundreds. The size of the family reflects a tribal system where large families reinforced political alliances and control over territory.
Succession has traditionally passed among brothers and then to the next generation, which keeps multiple branches active and visible. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, born in 1985, is the son of King Salman and a grandson of Abdulaziz, and he now leads the Kingdom's modernization agenda. The monarchy uses the title "His Royal Highness" (HRH) for senior princes and "His Highness" (HH) for others, creating a clear hierarchy inside the family. The large number of princes is not accidental but a structural feature of a dynastic system built over a century of state-building.
How Saudi Princes Hold Wealth and Power
Historically, Saudi princes controlled ministries, state agencies, and major contracts, which gave them direct access to government revenue. The government owns the vast majority of Saudi Aramco, the world's most profitable oil company, and the Public Investment Fund (PIF) manages a large share of the kingdom's assets. The PIF, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, had assets estimated above 900 billion dollars by the end of 2023 and is a major shareholder in companies such as Saudi Aramco, which trades on the Tadawul stock exchange. The PIF also controls stakes in global firms like Uber, which went public in 2019, and in gaming and entertainment ventures such as Savvy Games Group.
The Saudi government has moved to centralize spending and reduce the independent power of individual princes by expanding the role of the PIF and other sovereign vehicles. NEOM, the planned megacity project in the northwestern province of Tabuk, is managed through the PIF and backed by public investment rather than by individual family members. The kingdom's Vision 2030 plan, launched in 2016, aims to diversify the economy away from oil and to place major projects under state control, reducing the role of princes in day-to-day business decisions. The General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) and the Saudi sovereign wealth fund are now central to how the state channels capital.
What the Future Holds for the Saudi Royal Family
The current generation of Saudi princes is being reshaped by state-led modernization, with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pushing for professional government institutions and reduced privileges for royals. The kingdom's listed companies, including Saudi Aramco and banks such as Al Rajhi Bank, are increasingly managed by professional boards rather than by family members directly. The Saudi government has also introduced reforms that limit the influence of individual princes in contracts and ministries, focusing power in appointed technocrats and sovereign funds. NEOM, The Line, and other mega-projects are designed to attract global talent and capital, shifting attention away from the traditional family-based power structure.
Despite these changes, the royal family remains the central political institution in Saudi Arabia, and senior princes continue to hold key advisory and ceremonial roles. The monarchy's official channels, including the Royal Court and the Council of Ministers, coordinate policy and maintain the family's unity. The kingdom's public investment strategy