JOIN USThe Saudi monarch featured on the list on the basis of the many initiatives he has taken for opening Saudi Arabia to foreign investors, making education accessible to people,
eliminating extremists within his country's borders and opening the job market to women.
Throughout his reign so far, he has worked tirelessly to bring people from different cultures, religions and backgrounds together.
During the course of his five years as the King, he appointed Norah Al-Fayez Deputy Education Minister for Women's Education, the first time a woman was appointed a minister in the Kingdom.
In September 2009, King Abdullah opened the first co-educational higher education Institution in the Kingdom, the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).
In 2005, King Abdullah launched the first-ever awareness campaign to reinforce the values of the Islamic faith and educate Saudi citizens about the dangers of extremism and terrorism.
The campaign, conducted over several months, featured advertisements on television, radio and billboards, as well as programs on television, in schools, mosques and at sporting events.
He also tried to bridge the gap between cultures and launched the Interfaith Dialogue Initiative in 2008. The initiative has brought together hundreds of religious and political leaders from throughout the world to unite behind the commonality of their faiths and cultures.