Glimpses of the biography of Late King Saud
By Taha Sakr
King Saud bin Abdulaziz, son of King Abdulaziz, is the founder of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and is its second official ruler.
The year his father was born in witnessed the restoration of the rule of the city of Riyadh, and the King annexed the neighboring regions and worked to stabilize them. King Saud accomplished several important achievements which contributed to building the future of Saudi Arabia and its development.
Biography of King Saud
Born in Kuwait in 1902, the birth of King Saud brought much joy that spread throughout the Kingdom, as the birth of his father, King Abdul Aziz, coincided with the rule of the city of Riyadh by the Rashid family.
He grew up with his grandfather, Imam Abdul Rahman bin Faisal, and his grandmother Sarah bint Ahmed Al-Sudairy, who both had a significant impact on shaping his personality and influencing his mind.
He was raised surrounded by religious teachings, where he received the skills of reading and writing at the hands of Abd al-Rahman bin Nasser bin Mufrij.
King Saud spent his childhood in Kuwait with his grandfather 2 accompanied by his brother Turki, but after some time had elapsed, his father, King Abdulaziz 3, summoned him to stay and settle in Riyadh.
When he returned to Saudi Arabia, he learned the sciences of jurisprudence, the Holy Qur’an 4, and literature in one of the largest schools in Saudi Arabia.
The life and rule of King Saud bin Abdul Aziz
King Saud is the second son of the sons of King Abdul Aziz Al Saud, the sons of his wife Wahha bint Muhammad Urayer.
His wisdom spanned from November 9, 1953, to November 2, 1964.
The rule of King Saud did not end with death much like the rest of Saudi Arabia’s kings but rather it ended with isolation.
He was distinguished by his accurate vision and enlightening thought which enabled him to develop Saudi Arabia on all fronts, the economic, political, and social fronts and he was able to upgrade the infrastructure of the country too.
The desire to rule grew with King Saud since he was young, as he was constantly interested in his father’s policies and how he was managing the country and learned from him the rules and foundations of governance.
When he became a young man, his father worked with him on his military, political, and administrative matters, in order to qualify him to later become the ruler of the country.
Attributes of King Saud
King Saud has many distinctive features, including:
King Saud gained boldness, courage, and distinction from his father, King Abdulaziz.
He had a tall stature as his height was estimated to be around six feet.
He was distinguished by his great presence, and the strength of his body that gave him the confidence to fight battles and confront wars.
He was also distinguished by his generosity, and he used to lavish money and gifts on all those around him, as he was known to honor his guests and visitors.
King Saud was known for his great patriotism, Arab tendency, love, and assistance to Arab leaders, as history recorded many noble positions such as his position with the Iraqi Prime Minister Rashid al-Kilani.
He had a great deal of wisdom and was always able to make the right decision at the right time.
Throughout his reign, King Saud showed a great deal of wisdom.
He played a major role in the interest of foreign policy and Arab issues.
Achievements of King Saud
King Saud worked on carrying out many internal reforms to develop regions and cities in the Kingdom.
The King had a strong role in the Sabla War, which he fought against the rebels and participated in it with his father, King Abdulaziz, and showed great ingenuity in planning and maneuvering.
King Saud enlisted the help of Lebanese businessman and economist Najib Salih to conduct regulatory reforms in the Finance Ministry.
He made a settlement for the administrative and financial systems, as well as studying the regulations related to vital projects and developmental projects.
He succeeded in advancing the economic situation after the end of the Second World War with the help of a group of experts and specialists.
In 1952, he issued the third state budget according to the established global principles.
King Saud established the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency with the assistance of the American financial expert, “Dr. Young”.
He made his development mark in many vital sectors in the Kingdom, including Hajj, water security, radio, and customs, through the establishment of many important projects.
The circumstances of King Saud’s death
The King died on February 23, 1969, in Athens, and his body was sent to Mecca.
Before his death, he was exposed to many diseases that affected his health.
When he learned of his inability to return to political life, he sent the pledge of allegiance to his brother, King Faisal.
King Saud’s decision came after a recommendation from princes, kings, and the people of the fatwa and knowledge who had gathered to discharge him.