Walid bin Fahid bin Huwaydi bin Faris bin Shuwaiyah al‑‘Arini al‑Subai‘i
was one of the notable chiefs of the Subai‘ tribe and among its distinguished warriors. He was born in Riyadh in 1311 AH. His father was killed in a battle he himself commanded between the Subai‘ and Mutayr tribes; he was killed by an ‘Utaybi who had sought refuge with the Mutayr. At that time, Prince Walid was seven years old, and his given name was Faisal. However, after his father’s death, and due to the tribe’s care for him and their frequent inquiries about “the little boy” (al‑walīd, meaning “the young one”), he came to be known as Walid, a name that remained with him throughout his life.
After his father’s death, he spent the early part of his life under the care of his father’s uncle, the warrior Saeed bin Shuwaiyah, and later with Prince Fadghush bin Shuwaiyah, residing in the settlement of al‑Hisi after the establishment of the Ikhwan settlements. Following the death of King Abdulaziz—may God have mercy on him—and the accession of King Saud, Walid accompanied the new monarch and became one of those closest to him. King Saud built residences for him in Faydat al‑Tanhāh, near Hafr al‑‘Atsh.
Prince Walid bin Shuwaiyah was among the commanders upon whom King Abdulaziz relied in the unification battles. In a telegram sent by the King to his son, Prince Saud, during the famous Battle of Najran, King Abdulaziz said:
“My son Saud, what has happened has happened, and by God, may He grant me twenty men like Walid.”
His father, Prince Fahid bin Shuwaiyah, had led the Subai‘ tribe against Abdulaziz al‑Mut‘ib al‑Rashid, and was killed in the well‑known Battle of al‑Tanhāh in 1318 AH. After the battle, the Subai‘ tribe withdrew to al‑Jafurah in the Empty Quarter. King Abdulaziz came to them from Kuwait, embraced the young Walid, and told him: “I will be your compensation for your father.” During that period, King Abdulaziz married Walid’s sister, Princess Sarah bint Fahid bin Shuwaiyah, before the conquest of Riyadh. Walid later became one of the founder’s strongest supporters and one of the commanders of his army in the unification campaigns, including Yanbu‘, al‑Sabla, al‑Qar‘ah, Najran, and others.
After the death of the founder—may God have mercy on him—Prince Walid had the honor of serving King Saud bin Abdulaziz at all times and remained among his closest and most loyal men. He traveled with the King to Kuwait following an invitation from Sheikh Abdullah al‑Salem Al‑Sabah to King Saud.
Prince Walid lived to an advanced age and often spoke of King Saud’s virtues, kindness, and graciousness toward both the near and the distant. Prince Walid bin Shuwaiyah passed away on 18 Ramadan 1407 AH, may God have mercy on him.