King Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud

Biography

Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (14 April 1906 – 25 March 1975) was the King of Saudi Arabia from 1964 until he was assassinated in 1975. Born in Riyadh, he was the third son of Abdulaziz, the founder of modern Saudi Arabia, and Tarfa bint Abdullah Al Sheikh. Faisal's maternal family had strong religious ties in the Arabian Peninsula, which influenced his dealings with religious leaders throughout his career. He was educated at home and learned about Islamic scholarship and Saudi political traditions from his maternal grandfather.

Before becoming king, Faisal was already a prominent political figure. He was viceroy of Hejaz from 1926 to 1932 and became Saudi foreign minister in 1930, a role he held for much of his life. He also served as prime minister from 1954 to 1960 and again from 1962 until he died. When his father, King Abdulaziz, passed away in 1953, his half-brother Saud became king, and Faisal was made crown prince. In this role, he enacted laws to abolish slavery in Saudi Arabia. Tensions with King Saud over financial and policy matters led to Faisal, with support from senior royals and the Grand Mufti Muhammad ibn Ibrahim Al ash-Sheikh, pushing Saud to step down in 1964. Faisal became king in November of that year.

As king, Faisal aimed for controlled modernization. He introduced television, expanded education, and ensured women had access to formal schooling despite resistance from conservative groups. He also worked to streamline and formalize the government, moving it from an informal system to a more organized state. His reign saw significant increases in oil revenue, which he used to build infrastructure, improve health care, and enhance education, rather than for personal luxury as seen during King Saud's rule.

Faisal's foreign policy focused on pan-Islamism, anti-communism, and supporting the Palestinian cause. He opposed Soviet influence in the Middle East and used Saudi resources to counter leftist movements in the Arab world. His strong backing of the Palestinians led to a significant decision in October 1973. After the Yom Kippur War and the U.S.’s support for Israel, Faisal led an oil embargo against the U.S. and other Western countries backing Israel. This embargo caused a global energy crisis, dramatically increased oil prices, and changed the dynamics between oil-producing nations and industrialized countries. In 1973, Financial Times named him Person of the Year for his role in these events.

Faisal was shot and killed on 25 March 1975 in Riyadh by his nephew Faisal bin Musaid during a public gathering. His half-brother Khalid succeeded him. Faisal received numerous honors, including the Royal Victorian Chain in 1967, and distinguished awards from Italy, Spain, and Jordan. His wife, Iffat Al-Thunayan, was a notable advocate for women's education in Saudi Arabia.