Saudi Arabia

 

Saudi Arabia and Yemen Sign Border Agreement

June 30, 2000
Saudi Arabia and Yemen Sign Border Agreement

Saudi Arabia and Yemen sign an agreement to end years of border disputes.

GCC Defense Efforts

December 30, 2000
GCC Defense Efforts

Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE sign a regional defense pact

Saudi Arabia Condemns Terror

December 30, 2001
Saudi Arabia Condemns Terror

King Fahd proclaims that terrorism is forbidden according to Islamic Law. Saudi Arabia extends women’s rights by granting female citizens ID cards.

Saudi Arabia Struggles with Unemployment

January 1, 2002
Saudi Arabia Struggles with Unemployment

Unemployment rate remains around 15%-20%.

Qaddafi Points Fingers

March 30, 2003
Qaddafi Points Fingers

President Gaddafi blames Saudi Arabia and Kuwait for U.S. intervention in the Middle East.

Legislative Reform in Saudi Arabia

November 1, 2003
Legislative Reform in Saudi Arabia

King Fahd grants the national Consultative Council the ability to propose legislation without his permission.

Hajj Stampede

February 8, 2004
Hajj Stampede

A stampede during the Hajj Pilgrimage in Mecca leaves 251 dead.

Al-Qaeda Attacks in Saudi Arabia

April 8, 2004
Al-Qaeda Attacks in Saudi Arabia

Waves of terrorist attacks are launched by Saudi-based affiliates of Al Qaeda against Riyadh police, foreign journalists, and a U.S. consulate.

Abdel Aziz al-Muqrin Killed

June 8, 2004
Abdel Aziz al-Muqrin Killed

Security forces kill leader of Al-Qaeda leader in Saudi Arabia, Abdel Aziz al-Muqrin, as well as make attempts to curb Al Qaeda recruitment.

Municipal Elections Held in Saudi Arabia

February 11, 2005
Municipal Elections Held in Saudi Arabia

First-time municipal elections are held, but women are barred from voting.

Abdullah Comes to Power

August 11, 2005
Abdullah Comes to Power

King Fahd passes away, succeeded by Crown Prince Abdullah, his half brother, who had been the de facto ruler for the previous ten years, after Fahd suffered an incapacitating stroke.

Saudi Arabia Joins WTO

November 11, 2005
Saudi Arabia Joins WTO

Saudi Arabia joins the World Trade Organization, after 12 years of deliberations

January 30, 2006

363 Hajj pilgrims are killed in a stampede.

Rules for Succession Established

October 30, 2006
Rules for Succession Established

Monarchy sets sturdier guidelines to royal succession to prevent possible rivalries among next generation of princes.

Saudi Arabia Limits Religious Police

July 26, 2007
Saudi Arabia Limits Religious Police

Religious police are banned from detaining suspects due to compounding criticism for overzealous behavior after recent deaths in custody.

Government Official Changes in Saudi Arabia

February 28, 2009
Government Official Changes in Saudi Arabia

King Abdullah fires head of religious police, the highest senior judge, and the central bank head and replaces with newly selected officials. First woman minister appointed.

Al-Qaeda Arrests in Saudi Arabia

November 30, 2010
Al-Qaeda Arrests in Saudi Arabia

In an 8 month sting, 149 suspected al-Qaeda members are arrested. Also, the first metro system in Mecca opens.

Arab Spring in Saudi Arabia

February 28, 2011
Arab Spring in Saudi Arabia

King Abdullah announces increased welfare spending to quell calls for reform from citizens.

Arab Spring in Bahrain

February 28, 2011
Arab Spring in Bahrain

Bahraini security forces are aided by Saudi Arabian soldiers to successfully suppress Arab Spring protesters. Shia Muslims blamed for the protests and many are detained; reports of torture surface.      

Women Gain Limited Suffrage in Saudi Arabia

September 30, 2011
Women Gain Limited Suffrage in Saudi Arabia

Women granted the right to vote in municipal elections and are now eligible for the consultative Shura Council.

Women Appointed to Saudi Shura

February 28, 2013
Women Appointed to Saudi Shura

King Abdullah appoints 30 women into the Shura Council, the first time women hold any political office. Amnesty International accuses Saudi Arabia of failing to meet human rights standards and of increasing repression.

A New King

January 31, 2015
A New King

King Abdullah passes away and his brother, Crown Prince Salman, ascends the throne.

Airstrikes on Houthis

March 31, 2015
Airstrikes on Houthis

The UAE and four other GCC states coordinate Saudi-led air strikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Iranians Burn Down Saudi Embassy

January 31, 2016
Iranians Burn Down Saudi Embassy

The government breaks off diplomatic relations with Iran after its embassy in Tehran is set on fire to protest the execution of Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr. Al-Nimr was a supporter of Shia protests in primarily Sunni Saudi Arabia.

Casualties of War

March 30, 2016
Casualties of War

Fighter jets from the Saudi-led military coalition kill at least 41 civilians in Yemen; Houthi rebels agree to a prisoner exchange and report they are open to negotiation.

Austerity in Saudi Arabia

March 30, 2016
Austerity in Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Arabian government introduces austerity measures in response to falling oil prices and its military expenditures in Syria and Yemen.

Saudi Arabia Fights Terror

July 31, 2016
Saudi Arabia Fights Terror

Saudi Arabia bans funding for known terrorist groups and conducts airstrikes against Islamic State in Syria.