A palace that embodies historical and political dimensions… and from which the oil embargo on France and Britain was declared…
Badr Al‑Otaibi – Riyadh (Sabq)
Her Royal Highness Princess Fahda bint Saud bin Abdulaziz recounted illuminating historical aspects of the Red Palace, recently opened to visitors and tourists as one of Saudi Arabia’s most prominent historic palaces. The palace was built by King Abdulaziz for his son and Crown Prince King Saud in 1362 AH, and it was recorded as the first palace in Saudi Arabia constructed using reinforced concrete and steel.
This distinguished architectural landmark bore witness to numerous political and domestic decisions and served as a command center for managing state affairs. King Saud lived there with his family; several of his children were born within its walls. The palace hosted the first session of the Council of Ministers, and many world leaders were received there. The King Saud Foundation provided Sabq with photographs of meetings held inside the palace, along with several artifacts.
Princess Fahda, Chair of the Center for Studies and Research at the King Saud Foundation, explained:
“King Saud lived in a separate residence adjacent to his father King Abdulaziz’s palace in Al‑Murabba‘, together with his mother Princess Wadha bint Muhammad Al‑Husayn Al‑Ar‘ir, his wives, sons, and daughters. After the completion of the palace and King Abdulaziz’s move there with his family from their homes in Al‑Deira around 1365 AH, the King allocated a separate palace for each of his wives and their children.”
She added:
“Prince Saud’s palace in Al‑Murabba‘ was directly adjacent to his father’s palace, separated only by a wall. It faced the southern wall of King Abdulaziz’s palace, next to the well‑known Guest Palace to the east, while to the west it bordered the road leading to Al‑Murabba‘ from the southern side. On Tuesday night, 18/7/1362 AH (22/7/1943), during a hot summer night, the Crown Prince was sleeping on the rooftop due to the heat, while his mother slept on the opposite side. At midnight, a major fire broke out in the storeroom and began spreading through the two‑story palace.”
She continued:
“Prince Saud carried his mother on his back and brought her safely downstairs. The guards evacuated the rest of the family from the ground floor. The fire continued into the next day (Wednesday), after which the mud‑brick palace collapsed completely. King Abdulaziz ordered his son to move into the Guest Palace in Al‑Murabba‘, which was small and could not accommodate King Saud’s entire family, who were moved elsewhere. At that point, King Abdulaziz ordered the construction of the Red Palace for his son and Crown Prince.”
Princess Fahda explained:
“King Abdulaziz instructed the builder Muhammad bin Ladin, along with a group of Egyptian engineers, to construct the palace south of the burned residence. The King told him: ‘I want you to build the most beautiful palace for my son Saud.’ Thus, it was built using reinforced concrete—the first palace in Saudi Arabia constructed in this manner. King Saud moved into it in 1948 and lived there for five years.”
She added:
“He then moved to the Al‑Nasiriyyah Palace for three years before returning to the Red Palace with part of his family until renovations at Al‑Nasiriyyah were completed. Others stayed at the Sahara Hotel near the old airport. King Saud lived in the Red Palace with his family until the completion of Al‑Nasiriyyah in 1956, after which he granted the Red Palace to the state for use by the Council of Ministers. When King Faisal moved from the Hijaz after becoming Crown Prince, he had an office in the palace.”
Princess Fahda noted:
“On the site of King Saud’s burned palace in Al‑Murabba‘, the first secondary school in Riyadh—Al‑Yamamah Secondary School—was built. It remained until it was incorporated into the King Abdulaziz Historical Center project. As one of King Saud’s children who lived and grew up in the Red Palace, I can confirm that the suites in which I lived with my mother and siblings still exist (among 16 suites and rooms), along with their facilities. They have been accurately identified, along with the suites allocated to my father’s wives and their children.”
She continued:
“All these details were documented thoroughly in the first book published about the Red Palace, authored by Abdullah Al‑Yami. He interviewed several individuals who lived with us in the palace and provided him with precise information about the residents—sons, daughters, and wives. His book is considered an accurate reference on the palace’s inhabitants and a detailed description of its suites and King Saud’s room.”
Princess Fahda emphasized:
“This palace is a historic structure and a witness to Saudi Arabia’s architectural renaissance. It is 77 years old and was classified in 2017 by the Tourism Authority as part of Saudi architectural heritage that must be preserved. Research should be conducted on its political and architectural history, as it represents a significant landmark like Al‑Murabba‘ Palace and Al‑Masmak. It witnessed the earliest sessions of the Council of Ministers and the signing of important treaties.”
She added:
“Pivotal decisions were issued from this palace, including the 1956 decision to impose an oil embargo on Britain and France. Royal decrees that contributed to state‑building were issued from here. It was visited by kings and presidents, including the Shah of Iran, King Hussein, Jawaharlal Nehru, Gamal Abdel Nasser, Shukri Al‑Quwatli, Imam Seif Al‑Islam Al‑Badr, and others. The palace represents an important era in Saudi history and was featured on the Saudi riyal banknote.”
She continued:
“We look forward to seeing it become a national museum that houses King Saud’s history and belongings. We at the King Saud Foundation have expressed our readiness to present these items to the nation. The palace hosted the Council of Ministers during the reigns of Kings Faisal, Khalid, and Fahd until 1988, when the Council moved to Al‑Yamamah Palace. It later became the headquarters of the Board of Grievances.”
Princess Fahda added:
“We are delighted that the palace has been opened to visitors. We previously called for this and expressed our readiness to contribute items belonging to King Saud after the Riyadh Development Authority decided to restore it. It should be presented to the nation as the historical home of the Council of Ministers and its beginnings, and as a museum dedicated to King Saud, for it represents a historical and cultural façade of the country.”
She concluded:
“This is the significance of the palace. We had hoped it would become a permanent national museum. This aligns with the vision that opened the gates of historic Diriyah and other heritage sites to visitors so they may learn their history. I sincerely hope it will be registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site after restoration according to international standards for historic buildings, befitting its depth, significance, and the legacy of the one who ordered its construction and those who lived in it. Nations do not forget their ancient civilizations, and we must care for it as the civilized world cares for its heritage. This palace concerns us all, for it is the memory of the nation, telling a chapter of our history to the world and to future generations.”