<Tr> <Th> Ethnicity </Th> <Td> Arab </Td> </Tr> <P> The House of Saud (Arabic: آل سعود ‎ ‎ Āl Saʻūd IPA: (ʔæːl saʕuːd)) is the ruling royal family of Saudi Arabia . The family has thousands of members . It is composed of the descendants of Muhammad bin Saud, founder of the Emirate of Diriyah, known as the First Saudi state (1744--1818), and his brothers, though the ruling faction of the family is primarily led by the descendants of Ibn Saud, the modern founder of Saudi Arabia . </P> <P> The most influential member of the Royal family is the King of Saudi Arabia, currently King Salman . The succession to the Saudi Arabian throne was designed to pass from one son of the first king, Ibn Saud, to another . The next in line, Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, is the son of King Salman, and thus from the ruling House of Saud . The king - appointed cabinet includes more members of the royal family . The monarchy was hereditary by agnatic seniority until 2006, when a royal decree provided that future Saudi kings are to be elected by a committee of Saudi princes . Although current King Salman first choose his nephew and then his son as a crown prince without any consulation with Allegiance Council . </P> <P> The family is estimated to comprise 15,000 members, but the majority of the power and wealth is possessed by a group of only about 2,000 . </P>

How did the house of saud come to power
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