360King Abdulaziz Al Saud
King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud was the founder of the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In 1902 he recovered Riyadh, and over three decades he unified the regions of the Arabian Peninsula, proclaiming the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on 23 September 1932. Under his reign, oil was discovered and the young nation began to develop.
King Abdulaziz recovered Riyadh on 15 January 1902 with a small band of companions, beginning the journey of unification that brought together Nejd, Al-Ahsa, the Hejaz and other regions, and established security across a vast land.
In 1938 oil was discovered in commercial quantities at Dammam, providing resources for roads, schools and hospitals. He led the Kingdom until 1953 and is honoured every year on Saudi National Day.