After 20 Years in Coma, Saudi Arabia’s ‘Sleeping Prince’ Passes Away at 36

Prince Al-Waleed bin Khalid Al-Saud, a member of the Saudi royal family, has passed away at the age of 36, after spending 19 years in a coma following a tragic car accident.

The prince was just 15 years old when he suffered a severe brain haemorrhage and internal bleeding as a result of a devastating car crash in London in 2005. Since the accident, he had remained in a coma and was kept on life support at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh until his death on Saturday.

The sad news was announced in a statement released by his father, Prince Khaled bin Talal Al Saud.

“With hearts believing in Allah’s 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,” the statement read.

Prince Khaled was known for his unwavering hope and commitment to his son’s care, often defying medical advice to discontinue life support. In 2015, he rejected doctors’ recommendations to let nature take its course, firmly believing in the possibility of recovery.

That hope was briefly reignited when the prince showed slight movements, such as raising his fingers and tilting his head. Despite these signs, his condition did not improve significantly.

Prince Al-Waleed was a great-grandson of King Abdulaziz (Ibn Saud), the founder and first monarch of modern Saudi Arabia.