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Sultan bin Abdulaziz — news, coverage & facts — IJR

Minister of defense and aviation

In 1963, Crown Prince Faisal appointed Prince Sultan as minister of defense and aviation. He presided over the development of the Saudi armed forces. During the reign of King Faisal, Prince Sultan was particularly interested in Yemen.

At the beginning of King Faisal's reign in 1964 Prince Sultan became a member of the council which had been established by the king to guide the succession issues. In the late 1966 Prince Sultan survived an assassination attempt by the revolutionary Yemenites who were assisted by Egyptian intelligence. His influence declined under the reign of King Khalid due to the fact that in 1977 Prince Sultan unsuccessfully tried to prevent Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz from becoming heir apparent when the king died.

Sultan purchased U.S. tanks, fighter planes, missiles, and AWACS (airborne warning and control systems). However, as a result of problems assimilating technology within its armed forces, a relatively high proportion of the military equipment is stored or under maintenance, despite a large portion of Saudi's $34 billion defense budget being spent on maintaining military equipment. Sultan allegedly became extraordinarily wealthy from kickbacks by Western businesses that handled multibillion-dollar defense contracts. He was involved in many scandals, including the Al Yamamah deal. However, his influence remained unhindered until his health began to deteriorate. During his tenure, Saudi Arabia became the largest importer of U.S. arms, and he was a strong proponent of the U.S.-Saudi partnership.

As well, Sultan authorized a deal with the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) in 1965. His program, called Operation Magic Carpet, traded £16 million for six second-hand Lightnings, six Hawker Hunters, and a set of missile launchers going to Royal Saudi Air Force. Geoffrey Edwards served as the official intermediary. British pilots also came over, privately contracted. Prince Sultan was an expert on the Yemen civil war and Soviet involvement in the Horn of Africa in 1985.

In 1996, Prince Sultan opposed Pentagon plans to relocate U.S. troops to safer locations after the Dhahran complex bombings. He visited Iran in May 1999 - his visit was the first official visit of a Saudi minister since 1979.

Charity works

Prince Sultan played a role in many charitable works, including providing for the poor and people with special needs. He set up and funded the Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Foundation on 21 January 1995, with the aim of providing humanitarian services and medical services to people unable to afford the expenses. With the exception of his private residence and important necessities, he donated his possessions to the foundation.

The foundation includes the following centers in different countries:

Sultan bin Abdulaziz Humanitarian City

Sultan bin Abdulaziz Science and Technology Center

Charity housing projects

Sultan bin Abdulaziz Special Education Program at the Arabian Gulf University in Bahrain

Prince Sultan Center for Speech and Hearing in Bahrain

King Abdulaziz Center for Islamic Studies at Bologna University

Sultan bin Abdulaziz Arab and Islamic Studies Program at the University of California, Berkeley

Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Private: Committee for Relief.

This private committee organizes relief and medical convoys and sets up camps to combat diseases like Malaria and blindness. It has carried out several developmental, social and medical projects, like, digging wells, building schools, public libraries, mosques, hospitals, establishing dialysis centers. It also sponsors Muslim preachers in Ethiopia, Chad, Niger, Malawi, Mali, Comoro Islands, Djibouti and Indonesia.

He inaugurated and served as the patron of Prince Sultan University in Riyadh. It was named in his honor by the university's parent institution, Al-Riyadh Philanthropic Society, which was founded by the prince's brother, Salman of Saudi Arabia, who would later become king. This is the first private/non-profit university established in the kingdom. In 2007, Prince Sultan was awarded the Medal of Human Honor for his charitable works.

In April 2005, Sultan donated £2 million to the Ashmolean Museum. A year after his donations to establish an art museum, Oxford University agreed to 'expedite' the scholarship application process for Saudi students, and identify colleges for ten Saudi students from Prince Sultan University. When this arrangement became public, it led to criticism due to the donations bypassing Oxford's governing council, and breaching the admissions process for prospective students.

A press release issued by Oxford University on 20 April 2005 said that:

HRH Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has given the Ashmolean Museum a substantial donation to provide a fitting home for the Museum's internationally renowned collection of Islamic art. The total value of the gift is £2 million, which will also provide for ten scholarships at the University of Oxford for Saudi Arabian students.

The press release added further that ‘the new gallery, part of the ambitious redevelopment of one of the world’s oldest museums, will be named the “Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz al Saud Gallery”’. Arab News on 21 April 2005 reported that Sultan’s donation was a ‘move to promote understanding between Islam and the West’, adding that ‘Saudi and British officials’ had said that the new gallery ‘will help to portray Islamic culture and civilization in right perspectives.’

Personal life

Prince Sultan mostly married women who had a tribal background. He had thirty-two children by his multiple wives. His son Khalid bin Sultan, after Prince Sultan's death, was appointed deputy minister of defense and served in the post until 20 April 2013. Bandar bin Sultan was the former ambassador to the United States, the former secretary general of the national security council and the former head of the general intelligence directorate. Fahd bin Sultan is the governor of the Tabuk province. Salman bin Sultan, another son, is the former deputy defense minister. Faisal bin Sultan (born 1951) is the secretary general of Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Foundation.

His other sons are Turki (1959–2012), Nayef (born 1979), Badr (born 1980), Saud, Ahmad (born 1983), Nawwaf, Abdullah, Mishaal (born 1988), Mansour, Fawwaz, Abdulmajid and Abdul Ilah.

Prince Khalid bin Sultan.

Prince Bandar bin Sultan.

Prince Fahd bin Sultan.

Prince Turki bin Sultan (1959–2012).

Prince Faisal bin Sultan. He is married to Princess Mudhawi bint Muhammad bin Abdullah Al Saud. He has two sons and two daughters named, Prince Mohammed (married to the daughter of His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah bin Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud), Prince Khalid, Princess Nouf and Princess Sarah.

Prince Salman bin Sultan.

Prince Nayef bin Sultan (born 1979). He is married to Princess Jawaher bint Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and has daughters: Princess Nouf, Princess Alia, and Princess Lulwa.

Prince Badr bin Sultan (born 1980).

Prince Saud bin Sultan. He is married to Princess Mishaal bint Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and has three children: Princess Lulwa, Prince Faisal, and Prince Nayef.

Prince Nawaf bin Sultan. Married to Princess Al Hanouf bint Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and has children: Prince Khalid, Prince Abdullah, Princess Al Anoud, Princess Sarah, and Princess Fahda.

Prince Ahmed bin Sultan (nicknamed Sahm) is born in 1983. He is married to Princess Hassa bint Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, granddaughter of king Abdullah.

Prince Mansour bin Sultan. He is married to Princess Maha bint Mishaal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and has a daughter, Princess Lulwa.

Prince Abdullah bin Sultan. He is married to Princess Reem bint Abdul Mohsen bin Abdul Malik Al Sheikh and has three children: Prince Sultan, Princess Basma, and Princess Noura.

Prince Mishaal bin Sultan (born 1988). He is married to Princess Noura bint Fahd bin Turki II bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and has three children: Princess Moudi, Prince Sultan, and Princess Nouf.

Prince Fawwaz bin Sultan. Married to Princess Abeer bint Khalid bin Faisal bin Turki Al Saud - granddaughter of Princess Lulwa bint Abdulaziz Al Saud - and has Princess Reema, Prince Abdulaziz, and Princess Lulwa.

Prince Abdul-Ilah bin Sultan. He is married to Princess Noura bint Fahd bin Badr bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and has two children: Prince Sultan and Princess Arej.

Prince Abdul Majeed bin Sultan

Prince Sultan had fifteen daughters, the oldest of whom is Nouf bint Sultan. One of his daughters, Reema, is the spouse of Muhammad bin Nayef, former Crown Prince. His other daughter, Noura bint Sultan, married Turki bin Nasser. Another daughter, Munira bint Sultan, who was Faisal bin Fahd's spouse, died in June 2011 at age 59.

Princess Nouf bint Sultan

Princess Jawaher bint Sultan. (Married to Prince Faisal bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud ).

Princess Bandari bint Sultan. (Married to Prince Khalid bin Faisal bin Saad I bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud and has children: Prince Turki, Princess Ghada and Prince Nayef).

Princess Lulwa bint Sultan. (Married to Prince Khalid bin Saad bin Fahd bin Saad I Abdul Rahman Al Saud ).

Princess Latifa bint Sultan. (Married to Prince Faisal bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud ). And has children; Prince Turki, Prince Saud (married to Princess Adwaa bint Abdulaziz bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud ), Princess Al Anoud (married to Prince Abdulaziz bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud), Princess Lulwa (married to Prince Abdul Majeed bin Abdul Ilah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud ), Princess Mudawi, and Princess Dalil.

Princess Munira bint Sultan (deceased at the age of fifty-nine). (Was married to Prince Faisal bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud ). And has children; Princess Haifa (married to Prince Saud bin Khalid bin Abdullah bin Abdul Rahman bin Faisal Al Saud), Shahinaz (married to Prince Bandar bin Khalid bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al Saud), Nasreen (married to Prince Faisal bin Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al Saud), and Prince Nawaf (married to Moudi bint Ahmed bin Musaed bin Ahmed Al Sudairi).

Princess Noura bint Sultan. (Married to Prince Turki bin Nasser bin Abdulaziz Al Saud). And has children; Princess Abeer (Divorced from Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud), Princess Arej (Married to Prince Turki bin Abdulaziz bin Thunayan Al Saud), Princess Lamia, Princess Reema (Married to Prince Fahd bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud), Princess Haifa and Prince Abdullah.

Princess Atab bint Sultan. (Married to Prince Faisal bin Saud bin Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saud Al Saud ). And has children; Prince Mohammed (who was married to Princess Madawi bint Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud), Prince Bandar, Prince Fahd (who was married to Princess Madawi bint Muhammad bin Nawwaf bin Abdulaziz Al Saud ), and Princess Noura.

Princess Reema bint Sultan. (Married to Prince Mohammed bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud ). And has children; Princess sarah (was married to Prince Saud bin Fahd bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Saud Al Kabir), and Lulwa (Married to Prince Nayef bin Turki bin Abdullah bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud).

Princess Sarah bint Sultan. (Married to Prince Fahd bin Mohammed bin Saud Al Kabir ). And has children; Prince Mohammed, Nayef, and Saud.

Princess Daad bint Sultan. (Divorced from Prince Sattam bin Khalid bin Nasser bin Abdulaziz Al Saud ).

Princess Abir bint Sultan. (Divorced from Prince Bandar bin Nasser bin Abdulaziz Al Saud ). And has one son, Prince Nasser.

Princess Dima bint Sultan. (Married to Prince Fahd bin Saad bin Fahd bin Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Saud ).

Princess Al Anoud bint Sultan. (Married to Prince Nawaf bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and they have two daughters: Princess Dima and Princess Nouf).

Princess Mishaal bint Sultan. (Divorced from Prince Mohammed bin Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and married to Prince Abdulaziz bin Hussam bin Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in April 2018. They have two children: Prince Saud, born in January 2019, and Princess Sarah, born in 2021).

Sultan bin Abdulaziz

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Sultan bin Abdulaziz across IJR

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Early life and education

Early experience

Minister of defense and aviation

Second deputy prime minister

Crown prince

Various positions

Scientific prizes sponsored by Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz

Charity works

Controversy

Personal life

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Wealth and property

Health issues

Morocco vacation

Death and funeral

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Sultan bin Abdulaziz across IJR