Colonel William A. Phillips

The Order of King Abdulaziz (Arabic: وسام الملك عبد العزيز Wisām al-malik ‘Abd al-‘Azīz) is a Saudi Arabian order of merit. The order was named after Abdulaziz Al Saud, founder of the modern Saudi state.[1]

History

In 1971, the introduction of orders was announced in a decree.[2][3] It was instituted by King Faisal on 20 March 1971.[4] However, the order had been awarded before that date unsystematically.[5] These earliest versions were produced by Bichay in Cairo, Egypt.[5] The early version of the order was called Great Chain of Badr. The Saudi king, Fons honorum of the orders, confirmed the decree in his Royal decree.[6]

Collar of the Order of Abdulaziz Al Saud

The collar is regarded as a separate order.[1] It also confers the highest rank in the Order of Abdulaziz Al Saud, and, unlike the Great Chain of Badr, is awarded to non-Muslim heads of state.

The Order of Abdulaziz Al Saud

The order is awarded to citizens of Saudi Arabia and foreigners for meritorious service to the Kingdom. The Council of Ministers makes the nominations but the King confers awards to foreigners himself when he determines it to be appropriate. Awardees enter in the 4th class of the order, with the exception of ministers and appointees for bravery, who can enter the order in a higher class. Members of the order can advance to the next higher class every five years.

The number of Saudi conferments is limited annually. The statutes of the order stipulate no more than 20 grand sashes of the distinguished class. Up to 40, 60, 80 and 100 awards can be granted to members of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th classes, respectively.

Classes

The Classes include:

  • Special Class (comparable with "Grand Cordon"). A sash with pendant is worn on the right shoulder, plus a star on the left chest;
  • Distinguished First Class (comparable with "Grand Officer"). The insignia is worn on a necklet, plus a golden star on the left chest;
  • First Class (comparable with "Commander 1st Class"). The insignia is worn on a necklet, plus a silver star on the left chest;
  • Second Class (comparable with "Commander"). The insignia is worn on a necklet;
  • Third Class (comparable with "Officer"). A badge is worn on a ribbon with a rosette on the left chest;
  • Fourth Class (comparable with "Knight"). A badge is worn on a ribbon on the left chest.
Order of King Abdulaziz Service Ribbons

1st Class

2nd Class

3rd Class

4th Class

The Saudis avoid words like "cross" (as in "Grand-Cross") and "knight".[citation needed]

The order is sometimes referred to as the:

  • King Abdulaziz Order of Merit
  • King Abdulaziz Al Saud Excellence Medal
  • King Abdulaziz Medal

Notable recipients

Saudi royalty

Politicians and officials

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi being conferred the award by King Salman

Military

Others

  • Krzysztof Płomiński – Polish diplomat
  • Samar Al Homoud (King Abdulaziz Medal of First Class)[52]
  • Sultan Alromayan (King Abdulaziz Medal of Fourth Class)

See also

References

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  2. ^ No.122 van 24 1-1391
  3. ^ No.123 of 24 1-1391
  4. ^ "Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: King Abdulaziz Order of Merit". Medals. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  5. ^ a b Raw Rees, Owain (May 1999). "The Awards of King Saud". Jeddah: King Saud website. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  6. ^ No.4 of 25 1-1391
  7. ^ "His Royal Highness Prince Bandar bin Sultan". Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  8. ^ "البترول العربى ليس بأغلى من الدم.. صفحات خالدة من مسيرة القائد العربي الملك فيصل". Al Ahram (in Arabic). 14 April 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  9. ^ Al Mulhim, Abdulateef (24 April 2013). "Prince Fahd bin Abdullah: An admiral and a desert lover". Arab News. Archived from the original on 15 August 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  10. ^ Publitec Publications, ed. (2007). Who's Who in the Arab World 2007-2008 (18th ed.). K. G. Saur. p. 718. doi:10.1515/9783110930047. ISBN 9783598077357.
  11. ^ "Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz". Saudi Embassy. Archived from the original on 6 September 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  12. ^ "Saudi Arabia: Princess Sara honoured Medal of First Class". Gulf States Newsletter (946). Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  13. ^ "His royal highness Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz". Riyadh Government. Archived from the original on 25 September 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  14. ^ جريدة الرياض (12 December 2011). "جريدة الرياض : وزير الدفاع يقلد الفريق الوقداني والفريق خالد بن بندر وسام الملك عبدالعزيز". Al Riyadh. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
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  16. ^ "His Royal Highness Prince Turki bin Nasser bin Abdulaziz Al Saud". Saudi Environmental Society. Archived from the original on 3 November 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  17. ^ "Medals". Al Waleed Al Saud Official website. Archived from the original on 22 September 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  18. ^ "AOU and KNG organize Crisis and Disaster Management in Kuwait and the role of KNG Symposium". www.arabou.edu.kw. Archived from the original on 23 December 2018. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  19. ^ a b Saudi king sponsors historic Jeddah peace pact between Eritrea, Ethiopia, Alarabiya News.
  20. ^ "King Salman, Tunisian president hold talks, oversee signing of two deals & confer medals". Saudi Gazette. 29 March 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  21. ^ Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and President of Ukraine Attend Signing Ceremony of Draft Cooperation Program and Memoranda of Understanding between the Two Countries, Saudi Press Agency.
  22. ^ Michael D. Shear; Peter Baker (20 May 2017). "Trump Gets a Gold Medal as Welcome From Saudi King". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  23. ^ "Saudi King awards Theresa May honour for "meritorious service"". 5Pillars.
  24. ^ "Modi conferred highest Saudi civilian honour". Hindustan times. 3 April 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  25. ^ Rym Ghazal (25 February 2010). "Nation mourns Sheikh Mubarak". The National. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  26. ^ Imran Syed (30 April 2017). "South Africa emerging as one of the most popular trade and investment destinations". Saudi Gazette.
  27. ^ "Xi Jinping Holds Talks with King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia Two Heads of State Jointly Announce Establishment of China-Saudi Arabia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership". Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of China. 20 January 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  28. ^ "Jokowi Receives King Abdul Azis Medal". Tempo.co. 12 September 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  29. ^ "Najib receives award". PR Newswire. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  30. ^ Italia-Arabia/A Berlusconi la più alta onorificenza reale saudita Archived 15 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine Ilcittadinomb
  31. ^ "القمــــــــــة الســـــــــورية الســـــــــعودية... الرئيس الأسد وخادم الحرمين الشريفين يبحثان آفاق التعاون ويتبادلان أرفع وسامين وطنيين.. تعزيز العمل العربي المشترك - رفع الحصار عن الفلسطينيين" (in Arabic). Al Thawra. 8 October 2009. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  32. ^ "الملك عبدالله والرئيس الأسد يتفقان على إزالة العوائق في العلاقات الثنائية والتنسيق على جميع المستويات" (in Arabic). Al Riyadh. 8 October 2009. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  33. ^ "Obama's ties with Saudi Arabia? Solid gold". Reuters. 3 June 2009. Archived from the original on 29 November 2012.
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  36. ^ HM King Mohammed VI. map.ma
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  38. ^ Atul Aneja Putin goes calling on the Saudis. The Hindu. 20 February 2007
  39. ^ Publitec Publications, ed. (2007). Who's Who in the Arab World 2007-2008 (18th ed.). Beirut: Publitec. p. 17. doi:10.1515/9783110930047. ISBN 9783598077357.
  40. ^ "Saudis Honor Outgoing Mabus". The Associated Press. 28 April 1996. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  41. ^ "The Minister of Foreign Affairs hands Sheikh Shakhbout Al Nahyan the second-class King Abdulaziz Sash". TendersInfo News. 18 February 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  42. ^ "Sultan Haitham and King Salman hold talks in NEOM during Saudi Arabia visit". Arab News. 11 July 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  43. ^ Twitter
  44. ^ "Attorney General's Chambers - Senior Minister". www.agc.gov.bn. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
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  46. ^ "Gen Raheel meets with Saudi political, military leadership". Dawn. 5 February 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  47. ^ "Saudi Arabia confers Order of King Abdulaziz on Pakistan's military chief". 26 June 2022.
  48. ^ "Mohayya, Chief of General Staff, conferring King Abdul Aziz Al Saud Excellence Medal which is the highest military award of Saudi Armed Forces, to General Tariq Majid, CJCSC on behalf of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud". ISPR. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  49. ^ علی شمخانی، دبیر شورای عالی امنیت ملی ایران شد Archived 12 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine Shafaqna
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  51. ^ Arab News
  52. ^ "Saudi women proceed with ambition and empowerment within the framework of Vision 2030". BNA. 26 April 2019. Retrieved 19 October 2020.

Further reading

  • Guy Stair Sainty and Rafal Heydel-Mankoo, World Orders of Knighthood and Merit" (ISBN 0971196672), London 2006.

External links