---
title: "King Faisal of Saudi Arabia | Middle East History"
description: "King Faisal of Saudi Arabia led modernization, expanded oil power, and used the 1973 embargo to shape Middle East politics in History of the Middle East."
canonical: "https://fiveable.me/history-middle-east-since-1800/key-terms/king-faisal-of-saudi-arabia"
type: "key-term"
subject: "History of the Middle East – 1800 to Present"
unit: "Unit 8"
---

# King Faisal of Saudi Arabia | Middle East History

## Definition

King Faisal of Saudi Arabia was the Saudi king from 1964 to 1975, known for modernization and for using oil during the 1973 embargo to influence Middle East politics.

## What It Is

King Faisal of Saudi Arabia was the ruler who turned Saudi Arabia into one of the most important players in 20th century Middle East politics. He reigned from 1964 until his assassination in 1975, and his name comes up most often when the course shifts to oil politics, Arab unity, and the growing power of Gulf states.

In this subject, Faisal matters because he helped move Saudi Arabia from a state with limited infrastructure and a more traditional economy into a country shaped by oil revenue, state planning, and rapid development. That does not mean he abandoned religion or tradition. A big part of his rule was trying to balance modernization with Islamic identity, which is a pattern you see again and again in Middle Eastern history.

His most famous moment came during the 1973 Arab Israeli war, when Arab oil producers cut back exports to countries supporting Israel. Faisal backed the use of oil as political pressure, turning petroleum into a diplomatic weapon rather than just an export. That move showed that oil was no longer only an economic resource. It had become a tool of foreign policy.

That is why he is tied so closely to OPEC and the oil embargoes. Saudi Arabia was one of the most influential members in the oil-producing world, and Faisal helped show that a producer state could affect prices, fuel supplies, and international decision making. When oil prices rose and shortages spread, countries outside the Middle East had to pay attention to Saudi politics in a new way.

He also invested heavily in education and health care, which changed daily life inside Saudi Arabia. Better schools, more public services, and larger state projects helped build the modern Saudi state. So when you see Faisal in a timeline, think beyond one event. He represents the connection between oil wealth, state modernization, and the wider Arab politics of the 1970s.

## Why It Matters

King Faisal is a shortcut to some of the biggest themes in History of the Middle East 1800 to Present. He links together oil wealth, state building, Arab nationalism, and the international impact of Middle Eastern politics. If you understand Faisal, you can explain why Saudi Arabia grew from a regional kingdom into a global power center during the oil era.

He also helps you see how oil changed the meaning of power. Before the 1970s, countries with oil were often treated mainly as resource suppliers. Under Faisal, Saudi Arabia showed that oil producers could shape diplomacy, pressure foreign governments, and influence the global economy. That shift is central to any discussion of OPEC and the 1973 oil embargo.

Faisal is useful for comparing modernization in the Middle East too. His reforms were not simply westernization. They were state-led changes made within an Islamic framework, which makes him a good example of how leaders tried to modernize without completely breaking with tradition.

When you use him in an essay or discussion, you can connect one ruler to several course ideas at once: economic change, the Arab Israeli conflict, global energy politics, and the rise of Saudi Arabia as a regional heavyweight.

## Connections

### OPEC

Faisal is closely tied to OPEC because Saudi Arabia was one of the most influential oil producers in the organization. When oil prices and production became political tools in the 1970s, Saudi leadership mattered far beyond the Gulf. Faisal’s policies show how OPEC could affect both Middle Eastern diplomacy and the global economy.

### Oil Embargo

The 1973 oil embargo is the event most often linked to Faisal’s foreign policy. He supported using oil shipments to pressure countries backing Israel, which made the embargo a form of political leverage. That connection helps you explain why the embargo caused shortages, inflation, and a major shift in how governments thought about energy.

### Modernization

Faisal’s rule is a strong example of modernization in the Middle East because he expanded schools, health care, and state infrastructure while still presenting his government as rooted in Islamic values. That balance matters in the course, since modernization in the region often happened alongside debates about identity, tradition, and authority.

### [Saudi Arabia](/history-middle-east-since-1800/key-terms/saudi-arabia)

Faisal’s reign marks a major stage in Saudi Arabia’s rise from a relatively limited state into a wealthy and influential regional power. His policies helped turn oil income into state capacity, public services, and international leverage. When you study Saudi Arabia in the 20th century, Faisal is one of the clearest turning points.

## On the AP Exam

A quiz or essay prompt may ask you to explain why Saudi Arabia became so influential in the 1970s, and King Faisal is the name you use to connect oil wealth with foreign policy. In a short answer, you would identify his role in the 1973 oil embargo and explain how he used petroleum to support Arab political goals.

You might also see him in a timeline question or passage analysis about modernization. In that case, point to his investments in education and health care and describe how he tried to modernize while keeping Islamic legitimacy. The strongest responses do more than name him, they show how his rule changed both Saudi society and international relations.

## King Faisal of Saudi Arabia vs Mohammad Mossadegh

These two leaders both appear in oil politics, but they are not the same kind of figure. Mossadegh is usually connected to Iranian oil nationalization and conflict with Western powers, while Faisal is tied to Saudi oil power and the 1973 embargo. If you mix them up, the country, the decade, and the political action all change.

## Key Takeaways

- King Faisal of Saudi Arabia ruled from 1964 to 1975 and became one of the most important leaders in Middle East oil politics.
- He used Saudi oil as a political tool during the 1973 Arab Israeli conflict, which helped make oil a weapon of diplomacy.
- His reign combined modernization with Islamic identity, especially through reforms in education, health care, and state development.
- Faisal’s leadership helped raise Saudi Arabia’s regional and global influence by showing how oil producers could shape international events.
- He is a major example of how oil, nationalism, and state power connected in the Middle East after 1900.

## FAQs

### What is King Faisal of Saudi Arabia in History of the Middle East 1800 to Present?

He was the Saudi king from 1964 to 1975 and a major figure in 20th century Middle East politics. In this course, he matters because he linked Saudi modernization with oil diplomacy, especially during the 1973 embargo.

### Why is King Faisal connected to the 1973 oil embargo?

Faisal supported using oil exports as pressure on countries backing Israel during the Arab Israeli conflict. That made the embargo a political move, not just an economic one, and it showed how oil could shape international relations.

### Was King Faisal only focused on modernization?

No. He did push modernization through education, health care, and state development, but he also tried to keep Saudi society tied to Islamic tradition. That balance is one reason historians treat his rule as more than simple westernization.

### How do I use King Faisal in a history essay?

Use him as evidence for the rise of oil power in the Middle East. He works well in essays about OPEC, the 1973 embargo, Saudi Arabia’s growth, or the way Middle Eastern leaders mixed modernization with traditional legitimacy.

## Related Study Guides

- [8.2 OPEC and the oil embargoes](/history-middle-east-since-1800/unit-8/opec-oil-embargoes/study-guide/kaaHjujOa7TgZ0I9)

## About This Document

Canonical Fiveable pages are available as Markdown at the same path plus `.md`.

- [llms.txt](https://fiveable.me/llms.txt): index of Fiveable's sections and URL patterns
- [llms-full.txt](https://fiveable.me/llms-full.txt): complete subject and unit listing
- [MCP server](https://fiveable.me/mcp): call Fiveable as tools instead of fetching pages (`https://fiveable.me/api/mcp`)
- [MCP server for AP teachers](https://fiveable.me/mcp/teachers): a teacher's classes, assignments and AP-rubric grading (`https://fiveable.me/api/mcp/teacher`)

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