Prince Al-Waleed bin Khalid Al-Saud, widely known as Saudi Arabia’s “Sleeping Prince,” has died at the age of 36, nearly two decades after a car accident left him in a persistent coma.
The tragic journey began in 2005, when the prince, then just 15, was involved in a serious car crash in London while studying at a military college.
The accident resulted in a brain haemorrhage and internal bleeding, leaving him unconscious and dependent on a ventilator ever since.
His father, Prince Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, confirmed the prince’s passing on Saturday in a message shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
“With hearts believing in Allah’s will and decree, and with deep sorrow and sadness, we mourn our beloved son: Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, may Allah have mercy on him, who passed away today,” the statement read.
Throughout the 20-year ordeal, Prince Khaled remained a constant figure at his son’s side, persistently refusing medical advice to withdraw life support, even when doctors recommended ending intervention in 2015.
At certain points, there were flickers of hope. The prince was seen making slight movements, such as raising a finger and tilting his head, but he never regained full consciousness.
Prince Al-Waleed was a descendant of Saudi Arabia’s founding monarch, King Abdulaziz (Ibn Saud), making him part of one of the kingdom’s most prominent royal lineages.
He was the nephew of billionaire investor Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud and a great-nephew of the current ruler, King Salman.
Funeral arrangements for the prince have been announced: Men’s prayers will take place at the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque, while the women’s service will be held at King Faisal Specialist Hospital on Sunday afternoon.
A verse from the Qur’an accompanied the family’s message of mourning:
{يَا أَيَّتُهَا النَّفْسُ الْمُطْمَئِنَّةُ، ارْجِعِي إِلَىٰ رَبِّكِ رَاضِيَةً مَّرْضِيَّةً، فَادْخُلِي فِي عِبَادِي، وَادْخُلِي جَنَّتِي}
Prince Al-Waleed’s story has long touched hearts across the Arab world, a symbol of enduring hope and parental devotion.
