• Research
  • Diwan
  • About
  • Experts
Carnegie Middle East logoCarnegie lettermark logo
LebanonIran
{
  "authors": [
    "Christopher Boucek"
  ],
  "type": "other",
  "centerAffiliationAll": "",
  "centers": [
    "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
    "Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center"
  ],
  "collections": [],
  "englishNewsletterAll": "",
  "nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
  "primaryCenter": "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
  "programAffiliation": "",
  "programs": [],
  "projects": [],
  "regions": [
    "Middle East",
    "Saudi Arabia",
    "Gulf"
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Security"
  ]
}

Source: Getty

Other

Carnegie Guide to the Saudi Eleven

The Carnegie Endowment offers a first-of-its-kind interactive site to explore the people, places, and organizations that impacted the lives of eleven prominent Saudi terrorists known as the “Saudi Eleven.”

Link Copied
By Christopher Boucek
Published on Sep 7, 2011

Saudi Arabia released the names of 85 of its most wanted terrorists shortly after the formation of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) in January 2009. Eleven of those men shared a similar story: Each had been detained at Guantanamo Bay, underwent rehabilitation after returning to Saudi Arabia, and subsequently fled to Yemen and joined AQAP. Secret U.S. government documents recently released by WikiLeaks offer unprecedented insight into how the “Saudi Eleven” embraced jihad.

Ten years after 9/11, this interactive site offers a first-of-its-kind opportunity to explore the people, places, and organizations that impacted each individual’s radicalization and, for some, their ultimate renouncement of radical Islam. By representing relationships visually, users can explore important figures and patterns of behavior common to the Saudi Eleven. Only through a better understanding of the social and other connections between all of the actors tied to global terrorism can more effective strategies be crafted to reduce the threat.

Carnegie Guide to the Saudi Eleven

Each person, place, and organization is represented as an interconnected icon. Visitors can click on an icon to see basic biographical information, or click on the lines connecting any two icons to learn more about the relationship. Each member of the Saudi Eleven has their own unique timeline, which allows users to see how a particular individual’s experience unfolded chronologically. Individual’s movements around the world are also plotted on a map. Visit the site to journey through the lives of some of the world’s most dangerous terrorists.

About the Author

Christopher Boucek

Former Associate, Middle East Program

Boucek was an associate in the Carnegie Middle East Program where his research focused on security challenges in the Arabian Peninsula and Northern Africa.

    Recent Work

  • Q&A
    Yemen After Saleh’s Return and Awlaki’s Exit

      Christopher Boucek

  • Q&A
    Rivals—Iran vs. Saudi Arabia

      Christopher Boucek, Karim Sadjadpour

Christopher Boucek
Former Associate, Middle East Program
Christopher Boucek
SecurityMiddle EastSaudi ArabiaGulf

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

More Work from Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center

  • Commentary
    Diwan
    Three Ruptures and the End of Pax Americana in the Middle East

    As the U.S. stumbles in its war with Iran, we are likely to see an acceleration of its disengagement from the region.  

      Michael Young

  • Commentary
    Diwan
    On AI, Cairo Plays China and the U.S. Off Against Each Other

    Huawei pushed hard to enter the Egyptian data centers market, until the Americans made a better offer.

      • Angie Omar

      Angie Omar

  • Commentary
    Diwan
    Less of America is More

    Middle Eastern states should welcome an accelerated U.S. disengagement from their region. 

      Michael Young

  • Commentary
    Diwan
    The Mecca Agreement Unpacked

    The accord represents a pivotal moment in the region to avert a security vacuum in the Gulf.

      Azeema Cheema, Mohanad Hage Ali

  • Commentary
    Diwan
    Years of Fire

    In an interview, Jason Burke discusses his sweeping account of the “revolutionists” who so shaped the 1970s and early 1980s.

      Michael Young

Get more news and analysis from
Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center
Carnegie Middle East logo, white
  • Research
  • Diwan
  • About
  • Experts
  • Projects
  • Events
  • Contact
  • Careers
  • Privacy
  • For Media
Get more news and analysis from
Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center
© 2026 Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. All rights reserved.