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Sultan bin Abdulaziz

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Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
سلطان بن عبد العزيز آل سعود
Crown Prince
First Deputy Prime Minister
Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General
Prince Sultan in the White House
Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia
Tenure1 August 2005 – 22 October 2011
PredecessorPrince Abdullah
SuccessorPrince Nayef
MonarchKing Abdullah
Second Deputy Prime Minister
Tenure13 June 1982 – 1 August 2005
PredecessorPrince Abdullah
SuccessorPrince Nayef
MonarchKing Abdullah
Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General
Tenure1962 - 22 October 2011
PredecessorMuhammed bin Saud bin Abdulaziz
SuccessorPrince Salman
MonarchKing Faisal
King Khalid
King Fahd
King Abdullah
Born(1928-12-30)30 December 1928http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-11-01/crown-prince-sultan-s-death-starts-plan-for-saudi-succession.html
Riyadh, Kingdom of Nejd and Hejaz
Died22 October 2011(2011-10-22) (aged 82)http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-11-01/crown-prince-sultan-s-death-starts-plan-for-saudi-succession.html
New York City, New York, U.S.
Burial25 October 2011
Al Oud cemetery, Riyadh
Names
Sultan bin Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman bin Faisal bin Turki bin Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Saud
HouseHouse of Saud
FatherKing Abdulaziz
MotherHessa bint Ahmed al Sudairi
ReligionIslam

Template:Contains Arabic text

Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (30 December 1928 – 22 October 2011) (Arabic: سلطان بن عبدالعزيز آل سعود), called Sultan al-Khair (Arabic: سلطان الخير, Sultan of good) was the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, from 2005 to 2011. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-11-01/crown-prince-sultan-s-death-starts-plan-for-saudi-succession.html

Early life and education

Sultan was born in Riyadh. He was the 12th son of King Abdulaziz[1] and his mother was Hassa bint Ahmed Al Sudairi (1900–1969). As such he was one of Sudairi Seven. Sultan, along with many of his brothers, received his early education in religion, modern culture, and diplomacy at the royal court.

Early experience

His career in public service began in 1947 when he was appointed governor of Riyadh,[2] whose main task is resolving the disputes among the 7.000 members of royal family.[3] Prince Sultan also assisted King Abdulaziz's attempts to establish a national administrative system based on the Islamic Sharia law during this period.[2] In 1947, Prince Sultan oversaw ARAMCO's construction of the Kingdom's rail link between Dammam and Riyadh. He was appointed as the kingdom’s first Minister of Agriculture in 1953[2] and Minister of Transport in 1955.[3]

Although his direct military experience was brief, heading the Royal Guard in Riyadh in the early 1950s, he felt a lifelong connection to the military and the cause of Saudi independence from an early age.[4] Major General Carl Von Horn, Swedish commander of the UN observer mission during the Yemeni civil war, described the Prince as "a volatile and emotional young man" in the early days.[4]

Minister of Defense and Aviation

In 1962, King Faisal appointed Prince Sultan as Minister of Defense and Aviation. He presided over the development of the Saudi armed forces.

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.[5] He was involved in many scandals, including the Al Yamamah deal.[6] However, his influence remained unhindered until his health began to deteriorate.[6] During his tenure, Saudi Arabia became the largest importer of U.S. arms. He was a strong proponent of U.S.-Saudi partnership.[7]

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[disambiguation needed], six Hawker Hunters, and a set of missile launchers going to Royal Saudi Air Force. Geoffrey Edwards[disambiguation needed] served as the official intermediary. British pilots also came over, privately contracted.[4]

Prince Sultan was an expert on the Yemen civil war and Soviet involvement in the Horn of Africa in 1985.[8]

In 1996, Prince Sultan opposed Pentagon plans to relocate U.S. troops to safer locations after the Dhahran complex bombings.[9]

Second Deputy Prime Minister

On 13 June 1982, after the death of King Khalid, Prince Sultan was appointed to the Second Deputy Prime Minister.[10]

Opposition to his appointment as second deputy prime minister came in particular from two other half brothers, Musaid and Bandar, both of whom, like Abdullah, were born in 1923 and therefore, were older than Prince Sultan, who was born in 1924. The objection of Prince Musaid was easy to be neglected since his son, Faisal bin Musaid, had assassinated King Faisal. However, the interests of Bandar bin Abdulaziz were much more hard to ignore. Thus, he was compensated and the dispute was eliminated.[11]

Crown Prince

Styles of
Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud
Reference styleHis Royal Highness[12]
Spoken styleYour Royal Highness

On 1 August 2005, Sultan bin Abdulaziz was designated heir apparent despite having a discord with King Abdullah.[13]

Various positions

Prince Sultan was Saudi Arabia's Inspector General. He was Chairman of the Board of Saudi Arabia's national airline, Saudi Arabian Airlines. As Chairman, he approved a ban on smoking inside all Saudi airports.[14] In 1986, he founded the Saudi National Commission for Wildlife Conservation.[15]

Scientific prizes sponsored by Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz

  • Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz prize for water. He was the founder and patron of the Prince Sultan bin Abdul-Aziz International Prize for Water, a bi-annual international scientific award for water research.[16]
  • Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Chair for environmental engineering, department of civil engineering, King Fahd University for Petroleum and Minerals. It is the first chair in the university.
  • The scientific agreement between Prince Sultan bin Abdullaziz and Oxford University for academic and cultural co-operation, which enables Saudi students for bachelor, master and PHD degrees in the field of human sciences.[17]

Charity works

A non-profit charity organization, Sultan bin Abdulaziz al Saud Foundation, was set up and funded by Prince Sultan in 1995 for social objectives. The foundation includes the following centers in different countries:

  • 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.[19]

Controversy

Donations

In April 2005, Sultan donated £2 million to the Ashmolean Museum. This is regarded as one of the most controversial donations Oxford University received. 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 (PSU). When this arrangement became public, it led to criticism from both academics and students stating that it was no academic worth to the university, bypassing Oxford’s governing council, and breaching the admissions process for prospective students.[20]

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.’[20]

Personal life

Prince Sultan has thirty-two children by his multiple wives. His eldest son Khalid, after Prince Sultan's death, was assigned as the Deputy Minister of Defence.[4] Bandar bin Sultan is secretary-general of the National Security Council since 2005 and head of General Intelligency Directorate since 19 July 2012. Fahad bin Sultan is Governor of Tabuk Province. Salman (born 1976), another son of him, is assistant secretary-general of the National Security Council.[21] Faisal bin Sultan (born 1951) is the Secretary General of Sultan bin Abdulaziz al Saud Foundation.[22][23]

His other sons are Turki, Nayef (born 1979), Badr (born 1980), Mohammed, Saud, Ahmad, Nawwaf, Abdullah, Mishaal, Mansour, Fawwaz, Abdulmajid and Abdul Ilah.[23]

One of his daughters, Reema, is married to Muhammad bin Nayef, son of the late Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz.[24] His other daughter, Noura bint Sultan, is married to Turki bin Nasser. Another daughter, Munira bint Sultan who was late Faisal bin Fahd's spouse died in June 2011.[25]

Wives

  • Monera bint Abdul Aziz bin Mousad Al Saud (deceased), mother of Khalid, Fahd, Faisal and Turki[26]
  • Huda bint Abdullah Al Shaikh, mother of Saud, Nayef, Nawwaf, Badr
  • Areej bint Salem Al Maree, mother of his youngest two sons, Abdulmajid and Abdul Ilah
  • Hussa bint Muhammed bin Abdulaziz bin Turki, mother of Princess Daad (divorced)[23]
  • Jowaher bint Mohammed bin Saud bin Nasser Al Farhan Al Saud (divorced)
  • Mouda bint Saud Al Kabeer Al Saud (divorced)
  • Mounira bint Mishaal bin Saud Al Rashid (deceased)
  • Leila Al Thunayan (sister of Iffat Al Thunayan) (divorced)[27]
  • Mouda bint Salman Al Mandeel Al Khaldi (divorced)
  • Ghadir bint Shawaan Al Shibani (divorced)
  • Maha bint Abdullah Al Binyan (divorced)
  • Abir bint Fahd Al Faisal Al Farhan Al Saud, mother of Fawaz (divorced)

Characteristics

He was regarded[by whom?] as a workaholic with a reputation as "the epitome of corruption". His lavish spending is legendary:[citation needed] he doles out money at banquets in keeping with tribal custom. A conservative expected to put a brake on Abdullah's timid reforms assuming he becomes king, he was considered to be a pro-American whose son, Prince Bandar, is a former US envoy.[28]

Wealth

Prince Sultan’s wealth in 1990 was reported to be $1.2 billion.[29] Later, his fortune was estimated at $270 billion, which he distributed between his sons prior to his death in October 2011 in order to support their political position in the competitive princely arena.[30][31]

Health issues

Prince Sultan was rumored to have had colon cancer in 2003. A foreign correspondent was forced to leave the country after reporting his health problems.[32]

In 2004, Prince Sultan was diagnosed with colon cancer and underwent several corrective surgeries. He underwent an operation to remove an intestinal polyp in Jeddah in 2004.[33][2] In April 2009, he started to suffer from Alzheimer's disease.[34][35]

A leaked March 2009 diplomatic cable from WikiLeaks stated that U.S. diplomats viewed Prince Sultan as "for all intents and purposes incapacitated".[36] He was possibly suffering dementia, specifically Alzheimer's disease.[37]

Morocco vacation

In February 2009, Sultan spent several months in New York City at New York–Presbyterian Hospital and underwent surgery in New York. He then convalesced at Agadir, Morocco. He went back to Saudi Arabia, but soon returned to Morocco in August 2009. During his vacation, the Saudi cabinet increased officer salaries, a traditional domain of Sultan.[38]

In 2009, King Abdullah took charge of all defense purchases and reduced the power of the Defense Ministry. In October 2010, Abdullah personally conducted much of the negotiations for the U.S. arms package worth over $60 billion.[39]

In November 2010, Sultan received Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Al-Hariri to discuss the future of Lebanon's government.[40] He had been receiving treatment since 2009 for what analysts and diplomats believed to be cancer.[41] At the end of November 2010, he returned to Saudi Arabia because King Abdullah left for the United States for surgery. His return was seen as a legal formality necessary under Saudi law, which stipulates that only one of the kingdom's top two officials can be abroad at a given time.[42]

Death and funeral

The Saudi Royal court announced on 22 October 2011 that Prince Sultan died at dawn of an unspecified illness.[43] According to media reports, Prince Sultan had been battling cancer and had been seeking medical treatment in the United States since mid-June 2011.[44][45] He had a surgery operation in New York in July 2011.[46] Unnamed U.S. officials cited by the The New York Times stated that he died at New York-Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan.[47]

His body was taken from New York City to Riyadh on 24 October 2012.[46] His funeral was held at the Imam Turki bin Abdullah mosque in Riyadh on 25 October 2011 in the presence of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz.[44] His body was buried in Al Oud cemetery in Riyadh.[48]

Various leaders, including the president of Afghanistan, Farouk al Sharaa, the vice-president of Syria, the Iranian foreign minister and the head of Egypt's ruling military council, participated in the funeral.[46] Additionally, other statesmen went to Riyadh to offer their condolences, such as the US Vice President Joe Biden, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak.[49]

Views

Sultan took a lifetime anti-communist and anti-Soviet view, based on his dislike of Soviet state atheism as well as Soviet interest in Gulf oil and access to ports that he felt risked Saudi independence. He rebuked U.S. President Jimmy Carter for what he saw as "pusillanimity" in the face of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.[4]

In a 23 October 2001 interview in Kuwaiti newspaper As Seyassa, concerning 9/11 attacks, Sultan stated “Who stands behind this terrorism and who carried out this complicated and carefully planned terrorist operation? Osama bin Laden and those with him have said what indicates that they stand behind this carefully planned act. We, in turn, ask: Are bin Laden and his supporters the only ones behind what happened or is there another power with advanced technical expertise that acted with them?”.[50]

References

  1. ^ Mouline, Nabil (April*June 2012). "Power and generational transition in Saudi Arabia" (PDF). Critique internationale. 46: 1–22. Retrieved 24 April 2012. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ a b c d "Saudi heir to throne dies in hospital". CBC. AP. 22 October 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  3. ^ a b Glen Carey; Vivian Salama (1 November 2011). "Crown Prince Sultan's Death Starts Plan for Saudi Succession". Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul-Aziz al Saud". The Daily Telegraph. London. 23 October 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
  5. ^ "The way we live now". The New York Times. 22 December 2002. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
  6. ^ a b "Saudi king to US for treatment of back ailment". Yahoo! News. 21 November. Retrieved 9 December 2010. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ "Backlash in Saudi Arabia". The Christian Science Monitor. 12 August 2002. Retrieved 9 December 2010. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help); Missing pipe in: |first= (help)
  8. ^ "Confidential (image) – Briefing for the Prime Minister's meeting with Prince Sultan". The Guardian. London. 25 September 1985. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 January 2011. Retrieved 9 December 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ "Saudi Arabia – Defense Minister opposes U.S. plans to move soldiers". The Vindicator. 15 July 1996. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
  10. ^ "Crown Prince Fahd takes control of largest oil-exporting nation". Herald Journal. 14 June 1982. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  11. ^ Henderson, Simon (August 2009). "After King Abdullah. Succession in Saudi Arabia" (PDF). Policy Focus. 96. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  12. ^ "Council of Ministers: Membership". Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Washington, DC. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  13. ^ Leyne, Jon. Tensions remain among Saudi royals, BBC News, 1 August 2005. Retrieved 7 December 2008.
  14. ^ Fatima Sidiya (19 October 2010). "Kingdom bans smoking at airports". Arab News. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
  15. ^ Butt, Gerald (3 June 2004). "Profile: Saudi Prince Sultan". BBC News. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
  16. ^ "About the Prize". psipw.org. Retrieved 31 December 2008.
  17. ^ "Biography. Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman bin Faisal Al Saud". iTTaleem. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  18. ^ "Sultan bin Abdulaziz Humatarian City". Sultan bin Abdulaziz Humatarian City. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  19. ^ "Biography. Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz". iTTaleem. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  20. ^ a b Simcox, Robin (2009). "A Degree of Influence" (PDF). The Centre for Social Cohesion. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  21. ^ Henderson, Simon (27 October 2010). "Saudi Diplomat Bandar bin Sultan has returned to the fore as the oil kingdom mastermind". The Cutting Edge. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  22. ^ "Sultan bin Abdulaziz al Saud Foundation sponsors Arab Creativity Award Ceremony". AMEINFO.com. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  23. ^ a b c Sharif, Sabri (2001). The House of Saud in Commerce: A Study of Royal Entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia,. New Delhi: I. S. Publication. ISBN 81-901254-0-0.
  24. ^ www.dataarabia.com
  25. ^ "Rulers offer condolences to Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz". WAM Emirates News Agency. 11 June 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  26. ^ "Wife of Saudi crown prince dies in Paris hospital". The Daily Star Lebanon. 25 August 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
  27. ^ AbuKhalil, As'ad (2004). The Battle for Saudi Arabia. Royalty, fundamntalizm and global power. New York City: Seven Stories Press. ISBN 1-58322-610-9.
  28. ^ Penketh, Anne (17 June 2008). "Succession at House of Saud: The men who would be king". The Independent. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  29. ^ "The billionaires 1990". CNN/Fortune. 10 September 1990. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  30. ^ Yamani, Mai (25 October 2011). "Saudi Arabia's Old Regime Grows Older". Project Syndicate. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
  31. ^ Riedel, Bruce (1 November 2011). "What to Expect from the New Saudi Crown Prince". National Interest. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
  32. ^ Henderson, Simon (11 December 2009). "Saudi Royals Reunited? Crown Prince Sultan Returns Home". The Washington Institute. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
  33. ^ P.K. Abdul Ghafour (22 May 2004). "Prince Sultan Leaves Hospital". Arab News. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
  34. ^ "Crown Prince Sultan Suffers from Alzheimers". Arabia Today. 1 February 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  35. ^ "The royal house is rattled too". The Economist. 3 March 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  36. ^ Fraker (31 March 2009). "Scenesetter for Senator Bond's April 6–8 visit to Saudi Arabia". WikiLeaks. WikiLeaks cable: 09RIYADH496. Archived from the original on 11 January 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2011. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  37. ^ Henderson, Simon (7 January 2011). "Saudi Arabia's Oil Policy Vacancies". The Washington Institute. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  38. ^ Reuters (27 October 2010). "Saudi crown prince in good health, on holiday". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 9 December 2010. {{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  39. ^ "For Saudis, U.S. Arms Deal is a Challenge". NewsDesk – iWireNews ™ (iWireNews ™ and OfficialWire). 26 October 2010. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
  40. ^ "Sultan receives Hariri in Agadir". Arab News. 4 November 2010. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
  41. ^ "Saudi king to US for treatment of back ailment". Yahoo! News. 21 November 2010. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
  42. ^ Summer Said and Margaret Coker (22 November 2010). "Saudi King to Seek Medical Care in U.S." The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
  43. ^ "Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Dies | Fox News". foxnews.com. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  44. ^ a b McDowall, Angus (22 October 2011). "Saudi Crown Prince dies: royal court". Reuters. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
  45. ^ "BBC News – Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Sultan dies". BBC. 22 October 2011. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
  46. ^ a b c "Funeral held for Crown Prince Sultan". BBC. 25 October 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  47. ^ MacFarquhar, Neil (22 October 2011). "Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia Dies". New York Times. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
  48. ^ Shaheen, Abdul Nabi (23 October 2011). "Sultan will have simple burial at Al Oud cemetery". Gulf News. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  49. ^ "Saudi Arabia holds funeral of Crown Prince Sultan". Al Arabiya. 25 October 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  50. ^ Dudney, Robert S. (December 2001). "Verbatim Special: War on Terror" (PDF). AIR FORCE Magazine: 40–48. Retrieved 22 April 2012.

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Preceded by Governor of Riyadh
1947–1952 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Second Deputy Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia
1982 – 27 March 2009 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia
1 August 2005 – 27 October 2011 		Succeeded by

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