Abdul Rahman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud facts for kids

Abdul Rahman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud was a prince from the House of Saud, the royal family of Saudi Arabia. He was born in 1931 and passed away on July 13, 2017. For many years, he served as the deputy minister of defense and aviation in Saudi Arabia. He was also a senior member of a special group of brothers known as the Sudairi Seven.

Early Life and Education

Prince Abdul Rahman was born in 1931. He was the sixteenth son of King Abdulaziz, who was the founder of modern Saudi Arabia. His mother was Hussa bint Ahmed Al Sudairi.

He was the first of King Abdulaziz's sons to study in Western countries. He earned a bachelor's degree in economics and business from the University of California, Berkeley in the United States. He also completed his studies at the California Military Academy.

His Career and Role

In the mid-1970s, Prince Abdul Rahman worked as an advisor for royal family matters. In 1978, he became the deputy minister of defense and aviation. He took over this important role from his brother, Prince Turki.

Prince Abdul Rahman was also involved in business. For example, during the 1980s, he reportedly provided food services to the defense ministry through his own company.

He was removed from his position as deputy minister on November 5, 2011. Reports suggested that King Abdullah dismissed him. This happened because Prince Abdul Rahman was unhappy about changes in who would become the next crown prince. He reportedly refused to show his support for the new choice.

Views on Leadership

After the Gulf War, Prince Abdul Rahman had a disagreement about who should lead the Saudi army. He did not agree with Prince Khalid bin Sultan being named the chief of staff.

Prince Abdul Rahman was also known for being the only son of King Abdulaziz to disagree with the creation of the Allegiance Council in 2007. This council was a new way to decide who would become king in the future. Instead of just going by age, the new system would choose leaders based on their skills and abilities.

Prince Abdul Rahman disagreed because, by age, he would have been next in line after the current Crown Prince Sultan. His younger brother, Prince Salman, who often helped solve family disagreements, encouraged him to accept the changes.

Personal Life and Passing

Prince Abdul Rahman had two wives: Maha Al Ibrahim and Munira bint Turki bin Ahmed Al Sudairi. One of his sons, Mohammed, became the deputy governor of Riyadh in 2017. His son-in-law is Nayef bin Fawwaz Al Sha'lan.

Prince Abdul Rahman passed away on July 13, 2017, at the age of 86. His funeral prayers were held at the Grand Mosque in Mecca on July 15. He was then buried at Al Adl cemetery. One of his sons, Saud, died a few years later in November 2021.