Abdullah al-Tariki

Abdullah Tariki (19 March 1919–7 September 1997) , also known by the alternate spelling of his last name as al-Turayqi and nicknamed the Red Sheikh, was a Saudi politician and government official. He served as the first oil minister of Saudi Arabia, appointed by King Saud, and was co-founder of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Historian Eugene Rogan called him "one of the first Arab oil experts." In April 1959, Time magazine described him as "the unquestioned spokesman of the new generation of Arab experts on oil." and a camel owner who organized caravans between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

Tariki received his early education in Kuwait and in Cairo. He was also trained at the Texas Oil Company after graduation before returning to Saudi Arabia.

Career and activities After his graduation, Tariki was employed as a geologist for the Texas Oil Company in Texas and California. and began to work at the ministry of finance office in Dammam from May 1953 to December 1954. In December 1954, Tariki was appointed director-general of petroleum and mineral affairs in the ministry of finance and national economy. This "made him the highest-ranked Saudi in the oil industry" at the time. He was named one of two representatives of the Saudi government as directors of the Aramco in May 1959.

Tariki was one of the earliest critics of Aramco, arguing that the US companies should consult more with Saudi officials in exploring, pumping and selling of oil. He was a Nasserite, as well as an Arab nationalist. He called for a constitutional monarchy in Saudi Arabia and the nationalization of Arab oil. To achieve this goal, he and Venezuela's mines minister Juan Pablo Perez Alfonso strongly supported the foundation of the OPEC and eventually became their founding members in September 1960.

The ministry of petroleum and mineral resources was created in December 1960, and Tariki was appointed the first oil minister. His confidants in the government included King Saud's advisor Abdulaziz Al Muammar and Prince Mutaib bin Abdulaziz. Tariki joined Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz's camp, Free Princes Movement, in 1961, and they accused Crown Prince Faisal, later King Faisal, of corruption. He claimed on evidence that Kamal Adham, who was the brother-in-law of Prince Faisal, got 2% of the profits of the Arabian Oil Company that had been cofounded by Saudi Arabia and Japan.

Dismissal Tariki was removed from office by Prince Faisal when the latter was functioning as the acting head of the state as a result of the clash between him and King Saud in March 1962. More specifically, King Saud dismissed him and four other members of the cabinet following his announcement of the constitution which had been developed by Free Princes movement members with the help of Egyptian lawyers. The Sudairi Seven, led by Prince Fahd, were very influential in this campaign against Tariki and others. and contributed to Al Anwar, a Lebanese daily. One of his articles in Al Anwar was an open letter to the Shah of Iran dated 19 May 1969.

Personal life and death When Tariki was attending the University of Texas, he married an American woman. They later divorced in Saudi Arabia. His body was taken to Saudi Arabia for burial.