Saudi Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal, widely recognized as Saudi Arabia’s “Sleeping Prince” due to spending nearly two decades in a coma, has passed away at the age of 36. His family confirmed his death over the weekend.
His passing, extensively shared on social media, marks the conclusion of a prolonged and poignant chapter that resonated deeply with hearts across Saudi Arabia and beyond.
The Prince had been in a coma since 2005, when he was just 15 years old, following a severe car accident in London. He suffered a serious brain hemorrhage and was subsequently transported to King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh. There, he remained on a ventilator in a vegetative state for many years. Despite consultations with numerous specialists, he never regained consciousness.
Announcing his son’s death on social media, the “Sleeping Prince’s” father quoted an ayah from the Holy Quran: “O tranquil soul, return to your Lord, well-pleased and pleasing [to Him]. Enter among My [righteous] servants and enter My Paradise.”
He further expressed, “With hearts that believe in God’s will and decree, and with deep sadness and sorrow, we mourn our beloved son, Prince Al-Waleed Bin Khalid Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, may God have mercy on him, who passed away today.”
Prince Khalid announced that the funeral prayer would be held on Sunday. He stated that mourning gatherings for those wishing to pay their respects would be held over the next three days—Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.
The Saudi royal was a military college student at the time of the accident. For two decades, his family remained steadfastly by his side, clinging to hope for his recovery. They provided care for him in a medical facility in Saudi Arabia and frequently shared updates with the public.
In April of this year, a video circulating on social media erroneously claimed that the prince had awoken. The video, which showed old footage of him with added text, asserted that he had regained consciousness after 20 years. While the video quickly went viral, leading many to believe the news, it was later confirmed that he had not, in fact, woken up.
