Saudi Arabia’s ‘Sleeping Prince’ Dies After 20 years In Coma

Prince Al Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal, known as Saudi Arabia’s “Sleeping Prince”, has died after spending 20 years in a coma, his family announced on Saturday.

The prince, a nephew of billionaire Saudi Arabian investor Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, had been in a coma since being admitted to hospital following a car accident in 2005.

A family statement posted on X expressed “profound sadness and sorrow” over the death of the prince. It said his funeral will take place in Riyadh on Sunday.

Over the years, he became a symbol of hope and endurance, with many across the Arab world keeping him in their prayers and wishing for his recovery.

Videos and photographs of Prince Al Waleed connected to a life-support machine have been shared by members of his family over the years. One showed him covered with a Saudi Arabian flag with the words “Our Country is in Our Hearts”.

In a video shared by his family five years ago, he was seen moving his fingers, giving hope to wellwishers who had hoped to see him make a full recovery.