King Abdullah ranked eighth among 72 international figures, including presidents of state, kings and billionaires.
In justifying its ranking, Forbes referred to the position occupied by Saudi Arabia under the leadership of King Abdullah on the Arab, Islamic and International levels, as well as the economic significance it has worldwide.
According to Forbes, King Abdullah “holds the keys to Islam’s two holiest sites and the world’s second largest crude oil deposit of some 265 billion barrels, amounting to about 18% of global reserves. The Kingdom boasts a $727 billion GDP, putting it in the top 20 richest countries worldwide.”
The magazine’s annual ranking also highlighted the wide-ranging reforms the Saudi monarch has undertaken in his country.