Did you know that Prince Al-Waleed Bin Khaled, known globally as Saudi Arabia's ‘Sleeping Prince’, has been in a coma for 20 years before his death was announced on July 19, 2025?

Life is unpredictable. For some, it is filled with surprises; yet for others, tragedies. In such incidents, no one is spared irrespective of status or class: rich or poor. Anyone can be its victim or victor.

When 15-year-old Prince Al-Waleed Bin Khaled left home in 2005, it was like any other day he had earlier lived during the years of his active lifetime. No one had any premonition or foresaw the fate that awaited the young Prince and that would change the course of his life, putting an end to his bright futuristic dreams and positive expectations. 

Sadly, what happened in the latter part of the day would also give him a nickname he would bear for the rest of his life—Saudi Arabia's Sleeping Prince—a name that, the young Prince Al-Waleed himself, would have no knowledge of for the rest of his life.

The young Prince Al-Waleed was involved in a severe car accident in 2005 which resulted in a traumatic brain injury (severe cerebral hemorrhage) while he was studying at a military academy in London. That tragic accident left him unresponsive in a coma for the remainder of his life.

Al-Waleed, who was born on 18 April 1989, was the eldest son of his father, Prince Khalid bin Talal Al Saud, and the grandson of Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, a member of the House of Saud, the ruling family of Saudi Arabia, while his mother is Princess al-Jazi bint Saud, a daughter of King Saud. Al-Waleed was also the nephew of businessman Prince Alwaleed bin Talal.

According to the Khaleej Times report, after the accident, Prince Al-Waleed was admitted to King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh and placed on a ventilator, while his family called in medical experts from around the globe to assess his condition and hopefully revive him.

The Prince father hoped for his son’s recovery and refused to withdraw life support over the years. Throughout sacred Islamic occasions, from the final nights of Ramadan to Eid, he offered heartfelt prayers for his son, often sharing emotional updates and invocations on X (formerly Twitter). For instance, in June 2025, on the third day of Eid al-Adha, Prince Khaled visited Alwaleed with his other sons and pleaded publicly for his recovery.

Sadly, the Saudi Arabia 'Sleeping Prince' never regained consciousness, even when his family occasionally saw small movements that gave them hope. His condition remained the same for 20 years. He was just 36 years old when his death was announced on Saturday, July 19, 2025.

His father confirmed the news of his son’s passing In a post on X (formerly Twitter), where he wrote in Arabic on X: “With hearts believing in Allah will and decree, and with deep sorrow and sadness, we mourn our beloved son: Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, may Allah have mercy on him, who passed away today."

While we pray the soul of the Saudi Arabia Sleeping Prince to find true peace in death and that the family be comforted, it is also our prayers that the Almighty God have mercy and protect us all from any tragic fate in life, Amen.

SOURCES: Hindustan Times | Wikipedia | BBC

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