Abdullah bin Faisal Al Saud (born 1951)

Abdullah bin Faisal Al Saud (Arabic:عبد الله بن فيصل بن تركي بن عبد الله بن سعود آل سعود; born 1951) is a Saudi royal and government official who served as the Saudi Arabian ambassador to the United States from October 2015 to April 2017.[1]

Not to be confused with his maternal cousin Abdullah bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz.

Abdullah bin Faisal Al Saud
Abdullah bin Faisal meeting John Kerry
Governor of Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority
In office2000–2004
PredecessorOffice established
SuccessorAmr Dabbagh
MonarchKing Fahd
Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the United States
In officeOctober 2015 – 23 April 2017
PredecessorAdel al-Jubeir
SuccessorKhalid bin Salman Al Saud
MonarchKing Salman
Born1951 (age 71–72)
Taif, Saudi Arabia
Names
Abdullah bin Faisal bin Turki bin Abdullah Al Saud
HouseAl Saud
FatherFaisal bin Turki bin Abdullah bin Saud Al Saud
MotherLuluwah bint Abdulaziz Al Saud

Early life and education

Abdullah bin Faisal was born in Taif in 1951.[2][3] His mother, Luluwah bint Abdulaziz, was a full sister of the Sudairi Seven.[3][4][5] He is the oldest of six siblings.[6] His brother, Sultan bin Faisal bin Turki, was killed in a car crash at age 41 on 23 July 2002 while coming from Jeddah to Riyadh to participate in funeral prayers for Prince Ahmed, son of Prince Salman.[4][7] Prince Abdullah is the brother-in-law of Abdul Rahman bin Abdullah bin Faisal Al Saud, Sultan bin Fahd Al Saud and Saud bin Nayef Al Saud.[8]

Prince Abdullah's family on the father's side is directly descended from Saud bin Faisal.[3] Saud's rule as well as that of his brother Abdullah witnessed civil war between these rulers, leading to the end of the second Saudi state after an invasion of Ottomans early in the 19th century.[3]

Prince Abdullah received elementary and secondary education in Saudi Arabia.[9] He then went to the United Kingdom for higher education[3] where he studied engineering.[2]

Career and activities

Following graduation Abdullah bin Faisal first worked at a factory in England.[10] His early career as an engineer involved both technical and management positions in Saudi Arabia. He assumed the responsibility of the coordination of various studies for the two industrial cities, and later for the industrial security and safety sector.[2]

Abdullah bin Faisal was the acting secretary general between 1975 and 1977 at the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu immediately after established by King Khalid in 1975.[11][2] Then, he was appointed secretary general of the royal commission in 1987.[12] Next, he was appointed chairman of the body in 1991 and served as chief executive officer of the commission and chairman of its board of directors.[2][13]

In April 2000 the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) was created, responsible for promotions of the foreign and domestic investments in Saudi Arabia.[14][15] Prince Abdullah was appointed governor of the SAGIA with the rank of minister in 2000.[2][16] His tenure lasted until 2004 when he resigned from this post.[17] It was speculated that since he was frustrated with the government's bureaucratic approach and the slow pace of the reforms in the country, he left the SAGIA.[17]

Prince Abdullah was the chairman of Saudi Italian Development Company (SIDCO), charged with the task of revitalizing Saudi Arabia's economy.[18] Since he had knowledge of the Italian economy, he was regarded as the most appropriate figure to support the commercial relations between Saudi Arabia and Italy.[18]

In October 2015 Prince Abdullah became the Saudi ambassador to the USA.[9] He succeeded Adel al-Jubeir in the post.[9] On 23 April 2017 Prince Khalid bin Salman Al Saud replaced Prince Abdullah as ambassador to the USA.[19]

SAGIA governorship

During his tenure at the SAGIA Prince Abdullah strongly supported both liberal policies and privatization in the Saudi Arabia's economy.[20] Nearly 2,000 foreign business licenses were issued during his tenure. The worth of these licenses were estimated to be 15 billion U.S. dollars.[16][17] Prince Abdullah further encouraged the membership of Saudi Arabia to the World Trade Organization.[17] However, this goal was not achieved at that time because of Saudi Arabia's protectionist policies towards the industries of oil production and telecommunications, and its inability to produce a formal trade agreement with the United States.[17]

Personal life

Abdullah bin Faisal is married and has four children:[3] Turki, Salman, Al Anoud and Sarah.[6] He is keenly interested in environmental issues and in international relations as well as in the arts.[2]

References
  1. "Prince Abdullah bin Faisal bin Turki Al Saud Named New Ambassador to the United States". SUSTG. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  2. "HRH Prince Abdullah bin Faisal bin Turki Al Saud". European University Institute. 3 April 2003. Archived from the original on 13 February 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  3. Richard H. Curtiss (November 1991). "Prince Abdullah bin Faisal bin Turki Al Saud". Washington Report on Middle East Affairs. p. 24. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  4. John R. Bradley (23 July 2002). "Prince Ahmed's cousin killed on way to funeral". USA Today. Associated Press. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  5. "About the Bin Laden family". PBS. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  6. "Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to the United States: Who Is Abdullah bin Faisal bin Turki Al Saud?". AllGov. 21 March 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  7. "Prince dies in car crash on way to Ahmad's funeral". Arab News. 24 July 2002. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  8. "حفيد الملك المؤسس سفيراً لخادم الحرمين بالأردن الأمير خالد بن فيصل آل سعود يستعد لاستلام مهام عمله الجديد المزيد على دنيا الوطن". Al Watan (in Arabic). 21 October 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  9. Dina al-Shibeeb (21 October 2015). "Abdullah bin Faisal named new Saudi ambassador to Washington". Al Arabiya. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  10. Richard Ben Cramer (15 May 1983). "What Hath Allah Wrought?". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia. ProQuest 1814359370. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  11. Peter T. Kilborn (23 February 1987). "Saudi Arabia pins its hopes on new city built on oil money". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. ProQuest 386291585. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  12. "Saudis confident US presence will prevent Iraq attack". Sun Journal. 21 August 1990. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  13. "Royal decrees on ministerial and top-level appointments". Saudi Embassy. 6 July 1997. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  14. "About SAGIA". Global Competitiveness Forum. Archived from the original on 19 October 2009. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  15. Simon Henderson (August 2009). "After King Abdullah" (PDF). Washington Institute. Archived from the original (Policy Paper) on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  16. "Prince Abdullah bin Faisal bin Turki Al Saud". AMEinfo. 6 May 2003. Archived from the original on 29 May 2010. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  17. "Wide Angle". PBS. 7 October 2004. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  18. "Board of Directors". Saudi Italian Development Company Limited (SIDCO). Archived from the original on 2 February 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  19. "Saudi Royal decree announces new appointments, restores benefits to government employees". Arab News. 23 April 2017. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  20. "Saudi Arabia's New Private Sector Investment Strategies". International Development Consultants, LLC. Archived from the original on 11 June 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
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