Who was Khalid of Saudi Arabia? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Khalid bin Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman bin Faisal bin Turki bin Abdullah bin Mohammad bin Saud

Died At Age: 69

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Latifa bint Ahmed Al Sudairi, Noura bint Turki bin Abdulaziz bin Abdullah bin Turki Al Saud, Sita bint Fahd Al Damir, Tarfa bint Abdullah bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud

father: Ibn Saud

mother: Al Jawhara bint Musaed Al Jiluwi, Al Jawhara bint Musaed Al Jiluwi bin Turki bin Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Saud

siblings: Abdallah bin Muhammad bin Saud, Abdul Ilah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Abdul Majeed bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Abdul-Aziz bin Muhammad, Abdul-Rahman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Al Jawhara bint Abdulaziz Al Saud, Al-Bandari bint Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, Badr bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Bandar bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Fahd of Saudi Arabia, Faisal of Saudi Arabia, Fawwaz bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Hazloul bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Latifa bint Abdulaziz, Mamdouh bin Abdulaziz, Mansour bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Mashhur bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Mishaal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Muhammad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Muqrin bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, Musa'id bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Mutaib bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Nasser bin Abdulaziz, Nawwaf bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Nayef bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, Saad bin Abdulaziz, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Sattam bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, Saud of Saudi Arabia, Seeta bint Abdulaziz Al Saud, Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Thamir bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Turki I bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, Turki II bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud

children: Abdullah bin Khalid of Saudi Arabia, Al Bandari bin Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Al Jauhara bint Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Bandar bin Khalid of Saudi Arabia, Fahad bin Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Faisal bin Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Hussa bint Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Mishael bint Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Moudi bint Khalid Al Saud, Nuf bint Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al Saud

Born Country: Saudi Arabia

Emperors & Kings Saudi Arabian Men

Died on: June 13, 1982

place of death: Taif, Saudi Arabia

Cause of Death: Heart Attack

More Facts

awards: Royal Order of the Seraphim
King Faisal International Prize

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1

What is Khalid of Saudi Arabia known for?

Khalid of Saudi Arabia is known for his efforts in modernizing Saudi Arabia and promoting economic development during his reign as king from 1975 to 1982.
2

What role did Khalid of Saudi Arabia play in the Arab world?

Khalid of Saudi Arabia played a significant role in mediating disputes and fostering cooperation among Arab nations, particularly during times of regional unrest.
3

How did Khalid of Saudi Arabia contribute to Islamic affairs?

Khalid of Saudi Arabia was known for his support of Islamic causes, including funding religious institutions and promoting Islamic unity and solidarity.
4

What were Khalid of Saudi Arabia's key policies during his reign?

Khalid of Saudi Arabia focused on social welfare programs, economic development, and strengthening ties with other Arab and Islamic nations during his time as king.
5

What was the impact of Khalid of Saudi Arabia's rule on Saudi society?

Khalid of Saudi Arabia's rule saw advancements in education, healthcare, and infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, leading to improvements in the overall quality of life for its citizens.

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Childhood & Early Life

Khalid of Saudi Arabia was born as Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on February 13, 1913, in Riyadh, Emirate of Nejd and Hasa, to Ibn Saud and Al Jawhara bint Musaed Al Jiluwi. He was the fifth son of his father and had two full siblings: brother Prince Mohammad and sister Al Anoud.

His mother, the fourth and the most favorite wife of his father, died in the flu epidemic in 1919, when he was only six. He was educated in the Arabic language and Islamic studies by prominent Saudi scholars and became involved in his father's diplomatic initiatives since he was a teenager.

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Early Career & Crown Prince

At the age of 14, Khalid of Saudi Arabia went on his first diplomatic mission to the desert tribes as his father's representative to learn about their issues and worries. However, the first post he held as an adult was that of viceroy of the Hejaz, which he took in 1932, replacing his older brother Prince Faisal, who became the minister of foreign affairs.

When his term as viceroy of the Hejaz ended in 1934, he participated in the war against Yemeni forces led by Faisal, and was later named the Minister of the Interior. At the end of the war, he served as the chairman of the Saudi delegation at the Taif Conference with Yemen which resulted in the Taif Treaty signed later that year.

As Prince Faisal's assistant, he headed the Saudi delegation in the St. James Conference on Palestine in London in 1939. He also served as Faisal's advisor and accompanied him in foreign missions, such as representing Saudi Arabia at the United Nations, during which he showed more liberal thinking about policies.

Along with his brother, Prince Faisal, he was invited to the United States in 1943, when they stayed in Blair House and visited the West Coast in a special train. They also attended a dinner organized by the then-Vice President Henry A. Wallace at the White House and met the US President Franklin Roosevelt.

Khalid, whose influence steadily grew in the government, was made deputy prime minister in 1962, and went on to support Prince Faisal against King Saud, who was forced to abdicate in 1964. Once Faisal succeeded to the throne with support of the Saudi elite, he named Khalid the Crown Prince in 1965 after Khalid's older brother Prince Muhammad declined the place due to health issues.

As the first deputy prime minister, Khalid oversaw the work of the Council of Ministers and the affairs of the Governorate of Mecca on behalf of the new King. While thought to be selected Crown Prince because of his lack of political aspiration, he often took care of the government's daily issues whenever King Faisal was absent.

Reign

Khalid of Saudi Arabia was proclaimed the King following a meeting by his uncle and brothers hours after the assassination of King Faisal by his half-brother's son, Prince Faisal bin Musaid, on March 25, 1975. While he was initially a reluctant ruler, he gradually became more involved in making policies to improve the education, health-care and infrastructure of the country.

Immediately after assuming power, he re-organized the Council of Ministers and named Prince Fahd, the then-crown prince, the deputy prime minister, with Prince Abdullah serving as the second deputy prime minister. He further attempted to curtail the influence of the Sudairi Seven by making Prince Majid and Prince Mutaib the ministers of the newly created ministries of municipal and rural affairs and public works, respectively.

In April 1975, he decided to settle the long-standing boundary disputes between Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi and Oman at the Al Buraymi Oasis. In December that year, he visited Damascus and declared his support for Syrian President Hafez al-Assad in Syria's involvement in the emerging Lebanese Civil War.

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During his seven-year-reign, he focused on massive development projects, especially in the field of infrastructurein the industrial cities of Jubail and Yanbu, which generated rapid profits. The number of schools doubled during his rule, and the King Faisal University was also established the year he became King.

He made state visits to the Gulf States in 1976, unofficially supported Iraq in the 1980 Iran–Iraq War, had a four-day state visit to Britain in 1981, and introduced foreign laborers in the country. Internally, he introduced stricter Shariah law, allocating more power to the ulama and religious conservatives, after the Grand Mosque in Mecca was seized by armed civilians in November 1979.

Awards & Achievements

In 1981, Khalid of Saudi Arabia received a gold medal from the United Nations for his contribution to world peace and cooperation by setting up funds to help poorer countries in the Islamic conference organization. The same year, he also received the King Faisal International Prize for his support of Islamic solidarity.

Family & Personal Life

Khalid of Saudi Arabia married four women: Latifa bint Ahmed Al Sudairi, Tarfa bint Abdullah bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud, Noura bint Turki bin Abdulaziz bin Abdullah bin Turki Al Saud and Sita bint Fahd Al Damir. Among his four wives, Sita bint Fahd was the mother of his six daughters and the youngest of his four sons, Prince Faisal.

He suffered a massive heart attack in 1970 and had to undergo two heart surgeries in 1972 and in 1978, at the Cleveland Clinic in the United States. He had another heart attack in 1980 and died of heart attack on June 13, 1982, in Taif, following which his body was brought to Mecca before being buried in Al Oud cemetery in Riyadh.

His son Prince Faisal became the governor of Asir Province and a member of the Allegiance Council, while another of his sons, Abdullah bin Khalid, runs the King Khalid Foundation. One of his daughters, Princess Moudi, sits on the Consultative Assembly, the formal advisory body to the Saudi King, and is the general secretary of the King Khalid Foundation and the Al Nahda Foundation.

Facts About Khalid of Saudi Arabia

Khalid of Saudi Arabia was known for his love of falconry, a traditional sport in the region that involves hunting with trained birds of prey.

He was an avid collector of rare and antique cars, with a particular passion for vintage models from the early 20th century.

Khalid was also a skilled horseback rider and enjoyed participating in equestrian events, showcasing his talent and passion for the sport.

He had a deep appreciation for the arts and supported various cultural initiatives in Saudi Arabia, promoting creativity and expression in the community.

Khalid was known for his sense of humor and warmth, often engaging with people in a friendly and approachable manner, despite his royal status.

Khalid of Saudi Arabia Biography

You wanted to know

What is Khalid of Saudi Arabia known for?

What role did Khalid of Saudi Arabia play in the Arab world?

How did Khalid of Saudi Arabia contribute to Islamic affairs?

What were Khalid of Saudi Arabia's key policies during his reign?

What was the impact of Khalid of Saudi Arabia's rule on Saudi society?