Saudi ‘Sleeping Prince’ Al Waleed bin Khaled Dies After 20-Year Coma
Saudi Arabia’s Prince Al Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, known as the “Sleeping Prince,” passed away on July 19, 2025, at age 36, nearly 20 years after a 2005 car accident left him in a coma.
He was born in April 1990, recognized as the eldest son of Prince Khaled bin Talal and nephew of billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, a prominent investor via Kingdom Holding Company.
His grandfather, Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz, was a son of King Abdulaziz, the founder of modern Saudi Arabia, making Al Waleed a great-grandson of the kingdom’s founder and a distant cousin of King Salman.
At 15, while studying at a military college in London, Al Waleed suffered a severe brain hemorrhage and internal bleeding in a car crash.
Moved to King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, he remained on life support under specialist care from the US and Spain, showing occasional minor movements like lifting a finger or turning his head.
His father, Prince Khaled, refused medical advice to end life support, stating, “If God had wanted him to die in the accident, he would have been in his grave now,” reflecting unwavering hope.
The Saudi Royal Court announced his death, with Prince Khaled sharing, “With hearts full of faith in Allah’s decree and destiny, and with profound sadness and sorrow, we mourn our beloved son Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who passed away to Allah’s mercy today.” Funeral prayers were held on July 20 after the Asr prayer at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh, attended by royals and citizens. Social media, under #SleepingPrince, overflowed with condolences, praising the family’s faith.
There are no public records indicating Al Waleed was married or had children, likely due to his coma from adolescence, limiting his personal life to medical care and family support.
The “Sleeping Prince” nickname emerged from media and social platforms, symbolizing his youth, prolonged coma, and his family’s devotion, resonating across the Arab world as a story of faith and perseverance.
