After 20 years in a coma Saudi Arabia's ‘sleeping prince' is laid to rest at 36
His father, Prince Khaled bin Talal Al Saud shared the news of his death, on 19 July, on X with a quote from the Quran.
'O reassured soul, return to your Lord, well-pleased and pleasing [to Him], and enter among His servants and enter His Paradise,' the bereaved father wrote.
{يَا أَيَّتُهَا النَّفْسُ الْمُطْمَئِنَّةُ، ارْجِعِي إِلَىٰ رَبِّكِ رَاضِيَةً مَّرْضِيَّةً، فَادْخُلِي فِي عِبَادِي، وَادْخُلِي جَنَّتِي}
بقلوب مؤمنة بقضاء الله وقدره وببالغ الحزن والأسى ننعى إبننا الغالي
الأمير الوليد بن خالد بن طلال بن عبدالعزيز آل سعود رحمه الله
الذي انتقل… pic.twitter.com/QQBbMWGOOG
— خالد بن طلال بن عبد العزيز ( أبو الوليد ) (@allah_cure_dede) July 19, 2025
'With hearts that believe in God's will and destiny, and with great sadness and sorrow we mourn our beloved son, Prince Alwaleed bin Khaled bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, may God have mercy on him, who passed away today.'
Prince Alwaleed was born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on 18 April 1990, the oldest son of Prince Khaled, the nephew of Prince Alwaleed bin Talal and the great-grandson of King Abdulaziz, known as the founder and first king of Saudi Arabia.
READ MORE | How flash flooding in Texas turned an idyllic summer holiday into a death trap at Camp Mystic
As a member of the royal family, the prince had a bright future ahead of him, but in 2005 everything changed.
He was 15 years old and attending a military college in London when he was involved in a devastating car crash that left him with critical internal injuries and a brain haemorrhage.
Prince Alwaleed's family had him transferred from the UK to Riyadh, to the King Abdulaziz Medical City.
He was placed on a ventilator, feeding tube and other equipment to keep him alive.
Prince Khaled refused to withdraw life support from his son, believing that one day he could wake up.
He would decorate the prince's room for special occasions such as Ramadan, Eid and Saudi National Day. And he regularly visited his son, praying over him and allowing visitors who were willing to pray for the prince too.
صلاة التهجد ليلة ٢٩
من شهر رمضان المبارك ١٤٤٦
عند ابني وحبيبي الوليد الله يشفيه ويعافيه
ويشفي مرضانا ومرضاكم ومرضى المسلمين
اللهم تقبل منا ومنكم صالح الاعمال pic.twitter.com/GEBqeqpIBd
— خالد بن طلال بن عبد العزيز ( أبو الوليد ) (@allah_cure_dede) March 29, 2025
In 2020 it was reported that the prince had moved his finger after being greeted by a guest, which sparked a new wave of hope for not only the family, but also for those who followed the story for years.
However, no medical improvement to the prince's consciousness was ever recorded.
No one knows what prompted Prince Khaled to withdraw life support for his son after a two-decade-long vigil, but condolences have been pouring in for the family.
The Global Imams Council, which represents Muslim religious leaders across the world, shared their condolences in a statement on X.
Statement On the Passing of Prince Alwaleed bin Khaled bin Talal Al Saud pic.twitter.com/st19kxb7lC
— Global Imams Council (GIC) (@ImamsOrg) July 19, 2025
'As we share the grief of the Royal Family on this solemn occasion, we recall with deep respect the patience and steadfastness demonstrated by his father, Prince Khaled bin Talal, and his family – a testament to their profound faith in the will and decree of Allah.'
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Saudi prince Alwaleed bin Khaled bin Talal Al Saud (36), known as the 'sleeping prince', has died after being taken off life support, after 20 years in a coma. His father, Prince Khaled bin Talal Al Saud shared the news of his death, on 19 July, on X with a quote from the Quran. 'O reassured soul, return to your Lord, well-pleased and pleasing [to Him], and enter among His servants and enter His Paradise,' the bereaved father wrote. {يَا أَيَّتُهَا النَّفْسُ الْمُطْمَئِنَّةُ، ارْجِعِي إِلَىٰ رَبِّكِ رَاضِيَةً مَّرْضِيَّةً، فَادْخُلِي فِي عِبَادِي، وَادْخُلِي جَنَّتِي} بقلوب مؤمنة بقضاء الله وقدره وببالغ الحزن والأسى ننعى إبننا الغالي الأمير الوليد بن خالد بن طلال بن عبدالعزيز آل سعود رحمه الله الذي انتقل… — خالد بن طلال بن عبد العزيز ( أبو الوليد ) (@allah_cure_dede) July 19, 2025 'With hearts that believe in God's will and destiny, and with great sadness and sorrow we mourn our beloved son, Prince Alwaleed bin Khaled bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, may God have mercy on him, who passed away today.' Prince Alwaleed was born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on 18 April 1990, the oldest son of Prince Khaled, the nephew of Prince Alwaleed bin Talal and the great-grandson of King Abdulaziz, known as the founder and first king of Saudi Arabia. READ MORE | How flash flooding in Texas turned an idyllic summer holiday into a death trap at Camp Mystic As a member of the royal family, the prince had a bright future ahead of him, but in 2005 everything changed. He was 15 years old and attending a military college in London when he was involved in a devastating car crash that left him with critical internal injuries and a brain haemorrhage. Prince Alwaleed's family had him transferred from the UK to Riyadh, to the King Abdulaziz Medical City. He was placed on a ventilator, feeding tube and other equipment to keep him alive. Prince Khaled refused to withdraw life support from his son, believing that one day he could wake up. He would decorate the prince's room for special occasions such as Ramadan, Eid and Saudi National Day. And he regularly visited his son, praying over him and allowing visitors who were willing to pray for the prince too. صلاة التهجد ليلة ٢٩ من شهر رمضان المبارك ١٤٤٦ عند ابني وحبيبي الوليد الله يشفيه ويعافيه ويشفي مرضانا ومرضاكم ومرضى المسلمين اللهم تقبل منا ومنكم صالح الاعمال — خالد بن طلال بن عبد العزيز ( أبو الوليد ) (@allah_cure_dede) March 29, 2025 In 2020 it was reported that the prince had moved his finger after being greeted by a guest, which sparked a new wave of hope for not only the family, but also for those who followed the story for years. However, no medical improvement to the prince's consciousness was ever recorded. No one knows what prompted Prince Khaled to withdraw life support for his son after a two-decade-long vigil, but condolences have been pouring in for the family. The Global Imams Council, which represents Muslim religious leaders across the world, shared their condolences in a statement on X. Statement On the Passing of Prince Alwaleed bin Khaled bin Talal Al Saud — Global Imams Council (GIC) (@ImamsOrg) July 19, 2025 'As we share the grief of the Royal Family on this solemn occasion, we recall with deep respect the patience and steadfastness demonstrated by his father, Prince Khaled bin Talal, and his family – a testament to their profound faith in the will and decree of Allah.'
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