Turki bin Nasser Al Saud facts for kids

Turki bin Nasser Al Saud (born 14 April 1948 – died 30 January 2021) was an important Saudi military officer and a member of the House of Saud, which is the royal family of Saudi Arabia. He was known for his work in protecting the environment in Saudi Arabia. He served as the head of the weather and environment agency and also as a state minister for environmental issues.

Early Life and Education

Turki bin Nasser was born in Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia, on 14 April 1948. He was the seventh son of Nasser bin Abdulaziz. His mother was Muhdi bint Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Sudairi.

He studied political science and earned a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from the US War College. He also took many military courses in the United States and the United Kingdom. In Saudi Arabia, he completed six aviation training sessions.

Career Highlights

Turki bin Nasser started his military career in 1966 as a flying officer. He worked at the King Abdulaziz Air Base in the Eastern Province. By 1975, he was an acting commander.

From 1976 to 1984, he commanded different units, including the Thirteenth Squadron and the 3rd Flying Wing. He also led the King Abdulaziz Air Base. From 1989 to 1994, he worked on the Al Yamamah project, which was a defense agreement.

During the Gulf War in 1990-91, he was the commander of the Dhahran Air Base. Later, in 1994, he became the chief of air staff operations. In 1996, he became the deputy commander of the Royal Saudi Air Force. He eventually reached the rank of general.

After his military career, King Fahd chose Turki bin Nasser to lead the agency for weather and environment. This agency is in charge of protecting Saudi Arabia's environment and its natural resources. In 2000, he also became a special advisor to Prince Sultan. In 2001, he was made a state minister for environmental affairs.

Prince Turki was also the leader of the Saudi environmental society. He chaired the board of directors for the Saudi charity association for autism in Jeddah. A new center for autism, named after Prince Nasser bin Abdulaziz, opened in Riyadh in 2012.

On 18 August 2013, King Abdullah appointed Abdulaziz Al Jaser to take over Prince Turki's role as head of the weather and environment agency.

Interests and Possessions

Prince Turki bin Nasser owned many interesting things. He had nearly 200 classic cars. He also owned a private Boeing business jet and a large yacht named Sarah. He had a mansion in Beverly Hills and several other houses. These houses were in cities like Jeddah, Barcelona, Riyadh, Dhahran, and London. His London home was close to Hyde Park.

He also owned the Fairmont Rey Juan Carlos I hotel in Barcelona. He had owned this hotel since it first opened in 1992.

Club Memberships

Turki bin Nasser was a supporter of the Al Qadsieh Saudi club. He became an honorary member of the Al Nasr Saudi club in 2008, but he left this role in 2016. He was also a chief executive officer for the Council of Arab Ministers, which focuses on environmental issues. He was a member of the board of governors for the Saudi Wildlife Commission.

Personal Life and Death

Turki bin Nasser was married to Noura bint Sultan. They had two sons and five daughters together. Prince Turki also had five other sons.

His oldest son is Faisal bin Turki. One of his daughters, Areej bint Turki, opened a special art cafe in Riyadh in 2012. Another daughter, Lama bint Turki, is an amateur jumper who represents Saudi Arabia in sports.

Turki bin Nasser died on 30 January 2021. His funeral prayers were held in Riyadh on 31 January.

Honors and Awards

Turki bin Nasser received many awards and honors from Saudi Arabia and other countries. Some of these include the Order of Abdulaziz Al Saud (First class) and the Kuwait Liberation Medal. He also received the Pakistani Military Excellence Star Decoration. From the United States, he got the Order of Merit of the American Commander Rank. He was also honored with the National Order of Merit (Commander rank) and the French Medal of Honor (Cavalryman rank).

See also

In Spanish: Turki bin Nasser para niños