Saudi 'Sleeping Prince' dies after 20 years in coma

 

By Sumesh Rajan | July 20, 2025

Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA: Prince Al-Waleed bin Khalid bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, popularly known as Saudi Arabia’s “Sleeping Prince,” passed away at the age of 36 after spending nearly two decades in a coma following a car accident in London in 2005.

The news of his death was confirmed by his father, Prince Khalid bin Talal bin Abdulaziz, in a heartfelt message shared on social media. “With hearts full of faith in Allah’s decree and destiny, and with profound sadness and sorrow, we mourn our beloved son Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. May Allah have mercy on him,” he wrote.

Funeral prayers were held on Sunday, July 20, after Asr prayer at the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh.

Prince Al-Waleed was just 15 years old when he sustained life-threatening injuries in a car crash while studying at a military college in London. The accident left him with severe brain trauma and internal bleeding. He was later transferred to King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, where he remained on life support for nearly 20 years without regaining full consciousness.

Over the years, international medical teams from the United States and Spain were involved in his treatment, but a full recovery never came. In 2020, a brief glimmer of hope emerged when a video circulated on social media showed the prince moving his fingers and slightly lifting his hand in response to a woman’s voice. However, those small signs of awareness never progressed into full consciousness.

Despite medical advice, including recommendations in 2015 to discontinue life support, Prince Khalid remained steadfast in his belief that his son would recover and refused to withdraw care.

Born in April 1990, Prince Al-Waleed was the eldest son of Prince Khalid bin Talal and a nephew of billionaire businessman Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal. His prolonged medical condition earned him the nickname "The Sleeping Prince" across the Arab world.

Following the announcement of his death, an outpouring of grief and condolences flooded social media platforms, with the hashtag #TheSleepingPrince trending across Saudi Arabia. Thousands expressed sympathy for the royal family, remembering the prince as a symbol of perseverance and parental devotion.

“Your time on this earth was a blessing to your family and the entire world,” one user wrote. Another added, “May his soul rest in complete peace