His reign was a time of generosity and prosperity, and for that he was given the title:
“Abu Khayrayn” — The Father of Two Blessings
As the Bedouin poet said:
“They named you, O Saud, Abu Khayrayn…
And all goodness, O Saud, is with God.”
Many people know only a little about the life and history of King Saud—may God have mercy on him. Here, I attempt to shed light on his life, achievements, and personal and family history.
When speaking about King Saud, one place inevitably comes to mind—a neighborhood deeply tied to his era: Al‑Nasiriyah. Through this district, we enter the story of King Saud.
Al‑Nasiriyah: The District of the King
The name Al‑Nasiriyah, now one of Riyadh’s most famous neighborhoods, is closely associated with King Saud, the second monarch of the modern Saudi state (1953–1964). He chose the district as the site of his royal residence. In 1956, a new Al‑Nasiriyah was built over the old one, and the area was named after it. At the time, it rivaled the beauty of Geneva, Switzerland—then a symbol of elegance and a destination for travelers.
For more than six decades, Al‑Nasiriyah has witnessed events and stories. King Saud’s palace marked the true beginning of the district’s development—almost a city within a city—expanding in size, architectural style, and political significance. It became a symbol of Riyadh’s urban transformation and a living testament to the eleven years of King Saud’s rule. The palace itself was like a small city, a window into a luminous chapter of national memory.
The name Al‑Nasiriyah echoed across the Kingdom, mentioned in news broadcasts as the official residence of King Saud. There he received foreign dignitaries, princes, and citizens. Over time, the district became a major urban center, though many of its original features gradually faded despite efforts to preserve them. It now hosts government offices, private institutions, and thousands of daily visitors. It is also home to the Capital Model Institute—formerly Ma‘had al‑Anjal—where princes and citizens once studied side by side.
The Story of Al‑Nasiriyah
The creation of Al‑Nasiriyah followed a long and surprising sequence of events. Originally a suburban retreat for King Saud, the area consisted of orchards owned by “Ibn Nasser.” King Saud purchased the land to build a residence and named it Al‑Nasiriyah. He commissioned Mohammed bin Laden to construct the palace, as the site was larger than the Red Palace, which King Abdulaziz had previously gifted to his son Saud after a fire destroyed his home on July 22, 1943.
Dr. Abdulatif bin Mohammed Al‑Humaid, a historian, has documented the architectural, political, and social dimensions of Al‑Nasiriyah in a forthcoming study that aims to preserve this important chapter of national history and trace the evolution of royal palaces and Riyadh’s urban development during King Saud’s era.
Based on documents and eyewitness accounts, Al‑Nasiriyah was once a rural suburb but has become one of Riyadh’s most distinguished neighborhoods. Sheikh Abdullah bin Khamis, in his book Mu‘jam al‑Yamamah, described the area—formerly known as Al‑Fuwarah—as farmland dotted with wells, located northwest of Riyadh. It was bordered by Dhahr al‑Washam to the south, Al‑Ma‘athar to the north, Wadi Al‑Yasin to the west, and the uplands draining into Abu Rafee‘ to the east.
King Saud was the first to develop the area, building a palace he named Al‑Nasiriyah. Residential districts soon grew around it—south, north, east, and west—forming what is now one of Riyadh’s most prestigious zones. To the northeast lies King Faisal’s palace; to the north, King Khalid’s palace; and nearby the palaces of Princes Fahd, Nayef, Salman, Nasser, Talal, and Sattam—sons of King Abdulaziz—along with other royal residences.
How the Palace Was Chosen
Al‑Nasiriyah was originally a farm purchased by Crown Prince Saud from a citizen named Ibn Nasser. Located about 1.5 km west of the Murabba‘ Palace complex, the land became the foundation for a new royal district. In the late 1350s AH, it became clear that the Crown Prince’s residence near Murabba‘ was too small for his large family and for his mother, Princess Wadha bint Mohammed Al‑Burghush Al‑Aqabi Al‑Uray‘ir, the senior wife of King Abdulaziz.
Crown Prince Saud requested permission from his father to develop a new residential area around the farm. King Abdulaziz welcomed the idea, pleased with his son’s initiative.