Saud of Saudi Arabia

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Saud of Saudi Arabia : biography

15 January 1902 – 24 January 1969

Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud ( ) (15 January 1902 – 24 January 1969) was King of Saudi Arabia from 1953 to 1964.

Major events
1956 Saudi Arabia stopped exporting oil to Britain and France because of the Suez Crisis.
1957 State visit to the United States at invitation of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
1957 Saudi Arabia became a member at the International Monetary Fund.
1961 A royal decree was made to establish the Institute of Public Administration.
1961 Saud became sick and traveled to America for treatment.
1962 Saud established Saudi Television.
1963 Saudi Arabia withdrew its troops from Kuwait, after the end of the Iraqi-Kuwaiti conflict.

Struggle with Faisal

A fierce struggle between Ibn Saud’s most senior sons, Saud and Faisal, erupted immediately after his death. The increase in oil revenues did not solve the financial problem associated with the debts Saud had inherited from his father, estimated to have been $200 million in 1953. In fact, this debt more than doubled by 1958, when it reached $450 million. The Saudi riyal lost half of its official value against the dollar. Both ARAMCO and international banks declined Saudi’s demand for credit. Saud suspended the few government projects he had initiated, but continued his spending on luxurious palaces.

Saud and Faisal fought an internal battle over the definition of political responsibilities and the division of government functions. Saud is often associated among other things with plundering of oil revenues, luxurious palaces, and conspiracy inside and outside of Saudi Arabia while Faisal is associated with sobriety, piety, puritanism, financial wisdom, and modernization. Moreover, the conflict between the two brothers is often described as originating from the desire of Faisal to curb his brother’s spending and solve Saudi Arabia’s financial crisis.

The battle between the two brothers was fought over the role to be assigned to the Council of Ministers. Saud abolished the office of prime minister by royal decree, thus enforcing his position as King and de facto prime minister. Saud thought of himself as both King and prime minister whereas Faisal envisaged more powers being in his own hand as Crown Prince and deputy prime minister.

Personal life

Saud had 115 children and multiple wives. Only a few of his children have a public role.

His youngest child is Basmah bint Saud, who currently lives in Acton, London. His third son, Muhammed was former governor of Al Bahah Province. He died on 8 July 2012. A second son, Mishari, was appointed governor of the Al Bahah province with the rank of a minister in August 2010, replacing his elder brother.

Another son of his, Mishaal, was the governor of Najran province from 1996 to November 2008. His son Abdul Rahman (1940–2004) was godfather of Al-Nasr Club.

His son Badr bin Saud died in 2004, was Governor of Riyadh.

One of his daughters, Hajer, 53 years old, died outside the Kingdom following an illness on 17 November 2011. Her funeral prayer was performed at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh after Asr prayer. Another daughter, Nora, is the mother of current deputy defense minister Fahd bin Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Saud. Another daughter, Hessah, was the first Saudi woman to become principal of a school.

In 2001, his daughter princess Buniah bint Saud born 1960, was arrested and charged in assaulting her maid in USA, Florida. She was held one night in prison and was released on bail of $5,000 and ordered to surrender her passport.

His son Hussam bin Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud is a businessman.

After the death of his elder brother Turki, Saud married his wife Muneera bint Obaid and they had a daughter named Al Anoud, who died in January 2006 at age of 83 and was buried in Makkah.