Nawwaf bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
| Nawwaf bin Abdulaziz | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director General of intelligence Agency | |||||
| In office | 2001–2005 | ||||
| Predecessor | Turki bin Faisal | ||||
| Successor | Muqrin bin Abdulaziz | ||||
| Monarch | King Fahd King Abdullah | ||||
| Born | 16 August 1932 | ||||
| Spouse | Jawaher Alalsheikh | ||||
| |||||
| House | House of Saud | ||||
| Father | King Abdulaziz | ||||
| Mother | Munaiyir | ||||
| Religion | Islam | ||||
Nawwaf bin Abdulaziz (born 16 August 1932) is a senior member of the House of Saud and a close ally of King Abdullah.[1]
Early Life
Prince Nawwaf was born on 16 August 1932. He is the twenty-second son of King Abdulaziz.[2]
He is the full brother of Prince Talal. Their mother was an Armenian, Munaiyir whose family escaped from Armenian massacres experienced in the eastern Anatolia under the reign of the Ottoman Empire in 1915.[3] Munaiyir was presented to Abdulaziz when she was 12 years old in the place of emir of Unayzah in 1921. Their first children was born in 1924, a baby boy, Talal. Following the tradition, Munaiyir became to be known as Umm Talal, "mother of Talal".[3] However, in 1927, the three-year-old Talal died. Later, she gave four children to King Abdulaziz, one them is Prince Nawwaf. It is not exactly known when Abdulaziz divorced his fourth wife and formally wed Munaiyir. It is reported by her family that she remained illiterate all her life.[3] Munaiyir was regarded by British diplomats in Saudi Arabia as one of King Abdulaziz’s favourite wives. She was as known for her intelligence as for her beauty.[4]
During the reign of King Saud, his relations with his full-brother Prince Talal became negative, even leading to contesting their inheritances.[5]
Education
Nawwaf bin Abdulaziz received his primary Arabic and Islamic education in the Kingdom. He also obtained his university education in Islamic Civilization in the Kingdom and completed his higher studies in the United States.[6]
Political career
Nawwaf bin Abdulaziz was former Minister of Finance. He also served as King Faisal's Special Adviser for Gulf Affairs from 1968 to 1975. In 1968, following the evacuation of the British forces from the Gulf Region, King Faisal named him as one of his Special Advisors. In view of his experience in various spheres, King Faisal send him to participate in official delegations of the Kingdom at various meetings, including Arab and Islamic summits and meetings of the Non-Aligned countries. He also led the Kingdom's delegations on behalf of King Faisal or work as his Special Envoy. Prince Nawwaf is thoroughly familiar with international policy and law, and is also an expert on the Middle East affairs. He did his best to unify the ranks of the Arab Emirates and to integrate these Emirates into one state following their partitions into seven tiny states during the colonial rule.[6] In view of his rich experience in economic and political spheres, Prince Nawwaf was delegated to serve as the Saudi Government's Official spokesman and its Special Envoy on several occasions. He visited the four corners of the world and positively contributed to the settlement of numerous disputes in Africa and the Middle East as well as in other parts of the world. He also accompanied Crown Prince Abdullah during his official foreign trips.[6]
Prince Nawwaf was approinted to the Director General of Saudi intelligence Agency Al Mukhabarat Al A'amah following Prince Turki's resignation in 2001.[7] His appointment did not result in significant power change in the royal family, since late King Fahd's son, Saud bin Fahd, continued to serve as deputy director which he had been serving since 1985.[8] Prince Nawwaf's tenure lasted until 26 January 2005 when he resigned due to health concerns.[2][9] Immediately after the acceptance of his resignation, then King Fahd appointed him as his special advisor.[9]
He is special advisor to King Abdullah at the rank of minister[2] and his term was extended for four years in 2009.[1]
Other activies
Prince Nawwaf also contributed to the establishment of some industrial projects inside and outside the Kingdom to serve the Arab economy. His contribution to the strengthening of the Kingdom's relations with other world states is widely respected. He is one of the founders and a major shareholder of the Saudi-New Zealand Bank. He also owns some investment projects in the fields of real estate and tourism. He is one of the pioneers of the solar energy industry. Realizing the importance of solar energy, he extended his support to Sydney University in Australia to enable it to conduct research and studies in this field.[6]
Views
A Saudi survey conducted shortly after the 11 September attacks concluded that 95 percent of educated Saudi men aged between 25 and 41 supported ‘bin Laden’s cause. Nawwaf bin Abdulaziz explained that this support is motivated by Saudi anger over U.S. support for Israel.[10]
Health
In March 2002, Prince Nawwaf was admitted to the American University hospital in Beirut after suddenly suffering a stroke.[6] He was in Beirut for the Arab League summit meeting.[11] He is reported to have experienced bleeding in his brain. Then, he underwent a surgery in 2002.[2]
Personal life
Prince Nawwaf is married to Jawaher Al alsheikh, together they have three children: Abdulaziz (born 1979), Faisal (born 1984) and Sarah (born 1989). His daughter Princess Sarah was a student at Franklin College in Lugano, Switzerland, pursuing a degree in international communications.[12]
Mohammed bin Nawwaf is his eldest son and has been Saudi ambassador to United Kingdom and Ireland since 2005.
References
- ^ a b "Further Prince Sultan succession speculation" (PDF). Gulf States Newsletter. 33 (845). 16 January 2009. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
- ^ a b c d "HRH Prince Nawaf bin Abdulaziz". Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, General Intelligence Presidency. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
- ^ a b c Rossant, John (19 March 2002). "The return of Saudi Arabia's red prince". Online Asia Times. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
- ^ Stenslie, Stig (2011). "Power Behind the Veil: Princesses of House of Saud". Journal of Arabian Studies: Arabia, the Gulf, and the Red Sea. 1 (1): 69–79. doi:10.1080/21534764.2011.576050.
{{cite journal}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ Kechichian, Joseph A. (2001). Sucession in Saudi Arabia. New York: Palgrave. p. 29. ISBN 0-312-23880. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
{{cite book}}: Check|isbn=value: length (help) - ^ a b c d e "Prince Nawaf ibn Abdulaziz Al Saud". Global Security. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
- ^ Tyler, Patrick E (24 September 2001). "A Nation challenged: Arab Ally. Saudis Feeling Pain of Supporting U.S." New York Times. Retrieved 9 February 2011.
- ^ Glosemeyer, Iris (2004). "6". In Volker Perthes (ed.). Arab Elites: Negotiating the Politics of Change. Boulder: Lynne Rienner Publications. p. 141-172.
- ^ a b "Saudi accepts resignation of intelligence chief". Daily Times. 27 January 2005. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
- ^ Quilliam, Neil (2003). "Modernising Legitimacy: Saudi Strategies" (PDF). Alternatives: Turkish Journal of International Relations. 2 (2). Retrieved 21 April 2012.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ "Mideast Turmoil; Saudi Suffers a Stroke". The New York Times. 28 March 2002. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
- ^ "Travels with Lacie and a Saudi princess". Mercer Island Reporter. 24 November 2008. Retrieved 5 May 2012.