Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud

Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has been King of Saudi Arabia since 2005.  As a son of Ibn Saud showing political promise, he was long regarded as a potential king; this became official when his half-brother Fahd became king in 1982, naming Abdullah crown prince.  When Fahd was incapacitated by a stroke in 1996, Abdullah assumed many of his duties.  At age 87, he is among the world's oldest monarchs.

During his reign, King Abdullah has instituted many economic, judicial, and educational reforms; in 2009, he appointed a woman to direct the department on female education.  More recently, King Abdullah promised to allow women to vote and stand in the next elections; however, no reforms have allowed women to drive.  Then again, Saudi Arabia saw relatively few protests during the Arab Spring; the state is even alleged to have orchestrated the assassination of a key protest leader.

For more information, see http://nyti.ms/aUli6P