Royalty in Saudi Arabia

Book Categories: Royalty, Saudis & America, Prince Bandar, Saudi Succession, Saudi History, Ibn Saud, Faisal, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, Saudi Women, DVDs, Middle East

Saudi Royalty

Inside the Kingdom: Kings, Clerics, Modernists, Terrorists, and the Struggle for Saudi Arabia by Robert Lacey. How the 1970s oil boom produced a society at war with itself. This is a new book, not a revision of Lacey's 1981 book about Saudi Arabia (see below)

The Kingdom by Robert Lacey. Banned in Saudi Arabia, this is the inside story of the royal family's private scandals and public excesses. Published in 1983. Out of print, but available from Alibris.

The House of Saud: The Rise & Rule of the Most Powerful Dynasty in the Arab World by David Holden and Richard Johns. Out of print, but sometimes available from Alibris.

The Two Faces of Islam: The House of Sa'ud From Tradition to Terror by Stephen Schwartz. Traces the rise of the puritanical variant of Islam known as Wahhabism and its symbiotic bond with the House of Saud. The paperback edition is subtitled "Saudi Fundamentalism and Its Role in Terrorism."

The Battle for Saudi Arabia: Royalty, Fundamentalism, and Global Power by As'ad Abukhalil. Examines Saudi society, history, religion, and ethnic tribalism.

Saudi Arabia: King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz Handbook by International Business Publications USA.

The Saudi File: People, Power, Politics by Anders Jerichow. Comprehensive collection of primary source documents on the elements of state power in Saudi Arabia, including laws, royal decrees, and international reports.

The Rise, Corruption and Coming Fall of the House of Saud by Said K. Aburish. The author says the USA is committed to keeping a king on the Saudi Arabian throne who will ensure that the oil continues to flow. Published in 1995. Out of print, but available from Alibris.

The House of Saud in Commerce by Sharaf Sabri. The first major study that examines entrepreneurship in the Saudi royal family. Out of print, but sometimes available from Alibris.

The Saudi Royal Family by Brenda Lange, Jennifer Bond Reed. Nonfiction for young adult readers.

The Saudi Royal Family, Oil, & America

Intelligence Matters by Senator Bob Graham. Alleges that a funding chain for terrorism led to the Saudi royal family. The author spent 10 years on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and co-chaired the House-Senate Joint Inquiry into the intelligence community's failures prior to 9/11.

Secrets of the Kingdom: The Inside Story of the Secret Saudi-U.S. Connection by Gerald Posner. Reveals the ties that bind the Saudi and U.S. governments, including preferential treatment to prominent Saudis living in the United States after 9/11, and a "likely close connection" between a powerful member of the House of Saud and al-Qaeda.

Why America Slept: The Failure to Prevent 9/11 by Gerald Posner. Includes allegations that members of the Saudi royal family were linked to terrorists.

Plan of Attack: The Road to War by Bob Woodward. Alleges that Saudi Arabia's Prince Bandar bin Sultan knew about top-secret U.S. plans to attack Iraq before Secretary of State Colin Powell did, and that the prince promised to manipulate oil prices to help President Bush get re-elected.

Sleeping With the Devil: How Washington Sold Our Soul for Saudi Crude by Robert Baer. Alleges that the royal family spends staggering amounts of money to influence American politicians and dissuade militant Islamic groups from overthrowing the monarchy.

From Arab Nationalism to OPEC by Nathan J. Citino examines how the relationship of King Sa'ud and President Eisenhower affected U.S.-Saudi relations.

House of Bush, House of Saud: The Secret Relationship Between the World's Two Most Powerful Dynasties by Craig Unger. Investigates the 30-year relationship between the Bush family and the Saudi royal family, and its impact on America.

Princes, Brokers, and Bureaucrats: Oil and the State in Saudi Arabia by Steffen Hertog. How the elite rivalries and whims of the mid-20th century have shaped the modern Saudi state and fragmented it into uncoordinated fiefdoms.

Desert Warrior: A Personal View of the Gulf War by the Joint Forces Commander by Prince Khaled Bin Sultan with Patrick Seale. The author, a nephew of King Fahd, tells the story of his life, from his years growing up in desert kingdom to his role as a leader in the U.S.'s 1990-1991 Persian Gulf War against Iraq. Out of print, but available from Alibris.

Prince Bandar bin Sultan

The King's Messenger: Prince Bandar bin Sultan and America's Tangled Relationship With Saudi Arabia by David B. Ottaway. For decades, the complex relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia centered around Prince Bandar, Saudi ambassador to the U.S.

The Prince: The Secret Story of the World's Most Intriguing Royal, Prince Bandar bin Sultan by William Simpson. Biography of Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, who was ambassador to the United States from 1983-2005. The author is the prince's college friend. Preface by Nelson Mandela; foreword by Margaret Thatcher.

Succession

Succession in Saudi Arabia by Joseph A. Kechichian. Identifies individuals with greatest leadership potential; examines their political, social, and religious perceptions; and evaluates the criteria for the survival of the ruling family. Published in 2001.

After King Fahd by Simon Henderson is about the royal succession in Saudi Arabia. Published in 1994.

Saudi History & Society

A History of Saudi Arabia by Madawi al-Rasheed. Covers Saudi Arabia's history from the age of emirates to the present day.

Saudi Arabia Exposed: Inside a Kingdom in Crisis by John R. Bradley. From the homes of royalty to the slums of the poorest inhabitants, this book reveals Saudi Arabia's regional, religious, and tribal rivalries, offering a startling look at the present predicament and a troubling view of the future.

The Saudis: Inside the Desert Kingdom by Sandra Mackey. Offers a glimpse into Saudi social and public life, revealing a country grappling with modernity and battling to maintain its stance in the world.

Saudi Arabia: From Bedouin Beginnings to Modern Kingdom by Gene Lindsey. Overview of the culture, history, evolution and development of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by David E. Long. Discusses the people, their religion, culture, history, politics, economics, and foreign policy.

Prophets and Princes: Saudi Arabia From Muhammad to the Present by Mark Weston. A balanced history of a complex society where citizens who seek a constitutional monarchy can petition the king without fear of reprisal.

Books About the Middle East
Books About the Caliphate
Books About the Ottoman Empire

Ibn Saud & the Creation of Saudi Arabia

Ibn Saud: King by Conquest by Nestor Sander. Biography of the founder of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Lord of Arabia: Ibn Saud: An Intimate Study of a King by H. C. Armstrong. Another biography of King Ibn Saud.

The Ottoman Gulf: The Creation of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, 1870-1914 by Frederick Fallowfield Anscombe examines the role the Ottoman Empire played in the creation of modern Gulf states.

The Struggle for Power in Arabia: Ibn Saud, Hussein and Great Britain, 1914-1924 by Haifa Alangari.

The Rise and Fall of the Hashimite Kingdom of Arabia by Joshua Teitelbaum. The Hashemite Kingdom of Arabia was forged during the First World War. Its leader, Sharif Husayn ibn 'Ali, proclaimed himself king of the Arab countries, but the Allies recognised him only as king of the Hijaz. His nemesis Ibn Saud defeated him in 1925.

Books About Iraq
Books About Gertrude Bell & Lawrence of Arabia
Books About the Ottoman Empire

King Faisal

Faisal: King of Saudi Arabia by Gerald De Gaury. This biography places King Faisal's life story in context of the Middle East and the world.

Faysal: Saudi Arabia's King for All Seasons by Joseph Kechichian. The first biography of King Faysal to make use of interviews and key documents.

Prince Alwaleed bin Talal

Alwaleed: Businessman, Billionaire, Prince by Riz Khan. Biography of Saudi prince Alwaleed bin Talal, who was ranked by Forbes magazine in 2005 as the fifth richest person in the world.

Women

Princess: A True Story of Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia by Jean P. Sasson. This biography of a member of the Saudi royal family, called Princess Sultana to disguise her identity, exposes the harsh reality of life in a country where even royal women are despised and oppressed. Fascinating.

Princess Sultana's Daughters by Jean Sasson turns the spotlight on Princess Sultana's teenage daughters. (Sometimes titled "Daughters of Arabia.")

Princess Sultana's Circle by Jean P. Sasson. Another book in Sasson's series about the lives of Saudi royal women. (This book is also sometimes titled "Desert Royal.")

Desert Governess by Phyllis Ellis is about an Englishwoman's personal experience with the Saudi royal family. Out of print, but available from Alibris.

DVDs

These DVDs are formatted for North American audiences.

Frontline: Black Money. This 2009 PBS documentary alleges Saudi royal connection to corporate corruption. (See the "Other Websites" list below for a link to watch this show online.)

Charlie Rose With Alwaleed bin Talal. An hour-long interview with Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, one of the richest men in the world and a grandson of the founding king of Saudi Arabia.

An Exposé of the Saudi Arabian Prince: Alwaleed - Billionaire & Businessman. Directed by Riz Khan.

Documentaries and Movies About World Royalty