Why Prince Al-Waleed called Saudi Arabia’s ‘Sleeping Prince’?

Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal, widely referred to as Saudi Arabia’s “Sleeping Prince,” recently turned 36 while still in a coma—nearly 20 years after a tragic car accident rendered him unconscious.

As reported by Roya News, the prince was a military college student in 2005 when he sustained a severe brain injury in a road accident. Since then, he has remained in a coma, kept on life support at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh.

A member of the Saudi royal family, Prince Al-Waleed is the great-grandson of King Abdulaziz, the founder of modern Saudi Arabia, and the grandson of Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz. Although he isn’t in the direct line of succession, he is a great-nephew of the current monarch, King Salman bin Abdulaziz.

Despite medical advice to withdraw life support, Prince Al-Waleed’s father, Prince Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, has consistently chosen to maintain his son's care, holding onto hope for a miracle recovery. “If God wanted him to die that day, he would have,” he once said, standing firm in his decision.

In 2019, there were reports that the prince exhibited minor movements, such as raising a finger or slightly turning his head, but he never regained full consciousness. His condition recently resurfaced on social media as supporters marked his birthday on April 18, sharing images of him surrounded by family members, reports the Indian Express .

Prince Al-Waleed remains a symbol of enduring hope for many in the kingdom, even as he continues his decades-long coma.