Akher Sa‘a Magazine, Issue 508 — 22 March 1950
Youthful enthusiasm, complete manhood, and the wisdom of elders—these qualities come together in His Royal Highness Prince Saud, Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Tall in stature, strong in build—you sense his strength when he shakes your hand—yet you are struck with wonder when he speaks to you in a soft, calm voice and with remarkable diplomacy.
The History of the Saudi Kingdom
He is forty‑five years old—and these years are the very history of modern Saudi Arabia: hardship, wars, intrigues, and turmoil… followed by ease, security, peace, foundation, and construction.
The Prince witnessed all the battles of his father, King Abdulaziz, and shared in leading them. He commanded Saudi armies—including his own personal force—in campaigns of conquest and in quelling rebellions. He defeated Ibn Rashid and captured Ha’il, the capital of the Rashid family, who had ruled Najd before authority was restored to the House of Saud.
His endurance and resilience are evident in the fact that he was wounded by bullets several times during these wars, and each time he insisted on having the bullets removed on the battlefield without anesthesia.
The Dutiful Son
He is deeply devoted to his father, the King. Years ago, a plot was devised to assassinate King Abdulaziz while he was performing tawaf around the Kaaba. Three Yemenis were sent to carry out the plan. The King was circling the Kaaba with the Crown Prince beside him and guards around them. When the King finished and began to pray, the conspirators struck. One of them lunged at the King with a dagger during his prostration. The Prince sensed the danger and leapt forward, receiving the blow in his own shoulder. The guards killed the attacker’s two accomplices, and the assailant was arrested and tried.
The Prince’s Children
The Prince is meticulous in the upbringing and education of his nine sons. The eldest is Prince Fahd. He has appointed five Egyptian teachers to instruct them in various sciences, arts, and languages, in addition to religious teachers from Najd. During his visit to Egypt this week, he instructed his secretary and chief of the royal court, Sheikh Abdullah Balkhair, to purchase a collection of books—amounting to 800 volumes.
With the Children of the Nation
The Crown Prince’s sons do not study alone. They study alongside other children of the people in a special school established by the Prince. He personally supervised its curriculum, designed according to the latest educational methods. The school teaches religion, modern sciences, Arabic, English, and French. He awards annual prizes, which he presents himself, to outstanding students.
The Crown Prince leads the movement of education and culture in his country. He has sent delegations of top students to Egypt at his own expense. He established the first scientific astronomical station in Mecca, building a modern facility equipped with the latest instruments from Europe and America. It is supervised by Sheikh Muhammad Abd al‑Razzaq, a graduate of Al‑Azhar and a teacher at the Sacred Mosque.
Religious Books
He contributes to the printing of many religious books, some of which are printed in Egypt and then distributed in Saudi Arabia.
He is currently building a public library for the Saudi people in Riyadh, stocked with a wide range of Arabic publications in religion, history, literature, and culture. Borrowing will be open to all.
The Prince as Horseman
The Prince’s sole hobby is horseback riding and the breeding and acquisition of purebred Arabian horses. He owns a valuable collection of noble steeds, which he cares for with great attention.
He is keenly attentive to every detail. His secretary and acting chief of the royal court, Sheikh Abdullah Balkhair, reads to him all reports arriving from every part of the Kingdom—thoroughly and without omitting even the smallest matter.
The royal court has been divided into departments:
- The Telegraph Department
- The Internal Affairs Department
- The Najd Department
- The News and Information Department
This last department is equipped with wireless devices and is responsible for monitoring broadcasts from all radio stations around the world and presenting them to the Prince immediately.