Muhammad bin Saud establishes the First Saudi State in Diriyah. It eventually comprises most of the Arabian Peninsula. Turki bin Abdullah Al-Saud recaptures lands in central Arabia conquered by the Ottomans in 1818. He establishes the Second Saudi State and moves the capital from Diriyah to Riyadh. Abdulaziz Al-Saud stages a daring night raid into Riyadh and recaptures the city garrison, known as the Masmak Fortress, which had been taken by the Rashid family. The victory sets the stage for Abdulaziz to unite the warring tribes of Arabia into one nation. September 23 - The modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is unified under the leadership of King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al-Saud. King Abdulaziz's eldest son, Saud, is named Crown Prince. May 29 - The Kingdom grants the first concession for oil exploration in Saudi Arabia to the Standard Oil Company of California (Socal), which is later renamed Chevron. Socal establishes a subsidiary, the California Arabian Standard Oil Company (Casoc), to handle the concession. The first commercial oil field in Saudi Arabia, known as Damman No. 7, is discovered in the Eastern Province. Casoc changes its name to the Arabian American Oil Company (Aramco). February 14 - King Abdulaziz meets President Franklin D. Roosevelt aboard the U.S.S. Quincy in the Suez Canal. June 26 - Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz signs the United Nations Charter at the international conference in San Francisco. November 9 - Prince Saud bin Abdulaziz becomes King upon the death of King Abdulaziz. Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz is named Crown Prince. King Saud establishes the Council of Ministers. January 30 - February 9 - King Saud meets with President Dwight Eisenhower at the White House. It is the first visit to the U.S. by a reigning Saudi King. The first institution of higher education, King Saud University, is established. September - Saudi Arabia is a founding member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Saudi Arabia sends troops to help defend Kuwait from threats made by Iraqi Premier General Abdul Karim Qassim. November - Crown Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz is proclaimed King of Saudi Arabia upon the abdication of King Saud. The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) is founded in Jeddah. Saudi Arabia launches the first of its Five-Year Development Plans designed to establish a modern infrastructure and diversify the economy. June 14 - President Richard Nixon arrives in Jeddah. He is the first American president to visit Saudi Arabia. March 25 - Crown Prince Khalid is proclaimed King upon the death of King Faisal and Prince Fahd is named Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister. Saudi Arabia acquires full control of Aramco. February 4 - Saudi Arabia is a founding member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) along with Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. August 8 - Crown Prince Fahd proposes the "Fez Peace Plan," an eight-point plan for a comprehensive peace settlement in the Middle East. June 13 - Crown Prince Fahd is proclaimed King and Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz is named Crown Prince. June 17 - Prince Sultan bin Salman becomes the first Arab and Muslim in space as a payload specialist on board the U.S. space shuttle Discovery. King Fahd adopts the title Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. December 26 - 27 - King Fahd chairs the 8th annual GCC Summit at its new headquarters in Riyadh. October 3 - Saudi Arabia signs the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. Aramco is renamed the Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco). August 9 - King Fahd rejects Iraq's invasion of Kuwait and calls for withdrawal of Iraqi forces and the restoration of Kuwait's legitimate government. February 27 - Saudi Arabia, the U.S. and their allies liberate Kuwait from Iraqi occupation. October 30 - Saudi Arabia attends the Middle East peace talks in Madrid. March - King Fahd announces the "Basic Law for the System of Government" identifying Saudi Arabia as an Arab and Islamic state, with Islam as its religion and the Qur'an as its constitution. The Basic Law also emphasizes the duties and responsibilities of a ruler. King Fahd establishes the Provincial Council System, dividing the Kingdom into 13 provinces. The Consultative Council (Majlis Al-Shura) is formed. November 28 - President Bill Clinton arrives in Saudi Arabia. July 5 - King Fahd amends the third article of the Basic System of the Shura Council (Consultative Council) and increases membership from 60 to 90 members. March 27 - Crown Prince Abdullah presents his Middle East peace plan to the 14th Summit of the League of Arab States in Beirut. January - Saudi Arabia announces a "Charter to Reform the Arab Position" to encourage economic and political reforms in the Arab world. August 3 - The King Abdulaziz Center for National Dialogue is established to promote the public exchange of ideas and to discuss important issues facing the Kingdom. November - King Fahd grants wider powers to the Consultative Council (Majlis Al-Shura), enabling it to propose legislation without his approval. February - The Kingdom hosts the first Counterterrorism International Conference (CTIC) in Riyadh, consisting of delegates from more than 50 countries, including the United States. February - A national public awareness and education campaign on the dangers of terrorism and extremism is announced and initiated. February 10 - April 21 - The first nationwide municipal elections are held. August 1 - Crown Prince Abdullah is proclaimed King of Saudi Arabia upon the death of King Fahd. December 11 - Saudi Arabia becomes the 149th member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). October 20 - King Abdullah establishes the Allegiance Institution Law to formalize the royal succession. October 2 - King Abdullah approves an overhaul of the judicial system, including the establishment of a Supreme Court as well as labor and commercial tribunals. November 6 - King Abdullah holds historic meeting with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican. November 21 - King Abdullah lays the foundation stone for the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). November 27 - Saudi Arabia attends the Annapolis Conference on Middle East peace. January 14 - President George W. Bush arrives in Saudi Arabia. February 24 - Shura Council ratifies Arab Charter on Human Rights. July 7 - Madain Saleh named first UNESCO World Heritage site in Saudi Arabia. July 16 - King Abdullah opens World Conference on Dialogue in Madrid. November 12 - King Abdullah addresses UN meeting on interfaith dialogue. November 16 - King Abdullah participates in the G-20's Summit on Financial Markets and the World Economy in Washington, DC. December 6 - King Abdullah awarded the first Lech Walesa Prize for his contribution towards "inter-faith dialogue, tolerance, peace and international cooperation" as well as for his charity work. The award was received on behalf of his son, Prince Abdulaziz, in Gdansk, Poland. February 14 - Norah Al-Fayez is appointed Deputy Education Minister for Women's Education, the Kingdom's first female minister. April 2 - King Abdullah meets with President Barack Obama in London at the G-20 economic summit. June 3 - U.S. President Barack Obama traveled to Riyadh on a two-day official visit to Saudi Arabia. During his visit he held bilateral talks at King Abdullah's ranch in Al-Janadriyah. They discussed regional and internal developments, including the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. September 23 - The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), an international, graduate-level research university was inaugurated by international leaders in Jeddah. February 11 - Saudi Arabia began building the first solar-powered water desalination plant, the first step in a three-part program to introduce solar energy into the Kingdom. The program was launched by the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST). April 13 - Saudi Arabia sent a delegation to the Nuclear Security Summit hosted by President Obama in Washington. The Saudi delegation released an official statement expressing hope for the achievement of a nuclear weapons-free world. April 18 - King Abdullah issued a royal decree establishing the King Abdullah City for Nuclear and Renewable Energy. May 28 - U.S. Governor Beshear (KY), and Prince Nawaf bin Faisal bin Fahd, the Vice President of Youth Welfare, opened a five-month exhibition entitled "A Gift from the Desert: The Art, History and Culture of the Arabian Horse" in Lexington, Kentucky. June 28 - King Abdullah delivered an address to the G-20 Economic Summit in Toronto during which he called for cooperation regarding global financial reform, the liberalization of international trade, and increased economic aid for developing nations. June 29 - Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz met with President Obama in Washington D.C. January 7 - King Abdullah receives U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, accompanied by former U.S. President Bill Clinton, in New York. April 6 - King Abdullah receives U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates in Riyadh. September 19 - Saudi Arabia signs an agreement with the United Nations to create the U.N. Centre for Counter Terrorism. October 1 - Saudi Arabia inaugurates first solar power plant. October 27 - HRH Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz is appointed Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister. Crown Prince Nayef also serves as Minister of Interior. January 10 - Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal meets with U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House. March 30 - King Abdullah meets with U.S. Secretary Clinton in Riyadh. March 31 - First ministerial meeting of GCC-U.S. Strategic Forum concludes in Riyadh. April 13 - Minister of Defense Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz concludes official visit to the U.S. June 18 - HRH Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud is appointed Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister. Crown Prince Salman also serves as the Minister of Defense.