Saudi ‘Sleeping Prince’ Dies After 20 Years in Coma

In a story of survival and tragedy, the curtain fell on the 19th of July, 2025, when the “Sleeping Prince” of Saudi Arabia, Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, passed away after serving nearly two decades in a coma. The optimism of his father had prevented him from crossing the boundary, but the prince’s stay ended and he left a testament to faith and loyalty.

Prince Al-Waleed was born April 18, 1990. He was a great-grandson of the founder of the modern Saudi Arabian state King Abdulaziz and the son of billionaire prince Khaled bin Talal. In 2005, at the age of 16, the prince was involved in a serious car accident while at military school in London. During the accident, he was rendered in a persistent vegetative state and was taken care of at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh where he depended upon mechanical ventilation and a feeding tube. Though at times he exhibited reflex actions like raising his finger or turning his head in 2019 full consciousness was never within reach.

“The prince remains on life support, relying on mechanical ventilation and a feeding tube,”

reported Roya News, noting no significant recovery since those minor signs.

In 2015, doctors advised taking off life support, but Prince Khaled refused, inspired by faith.

“If God wanted him to die in the accident, he would’ve been in his grave now,”

he stated, an argument repeated by Princess Reema bint Talal, who spoke about having a connection with the spirit of her son. This decision was a personal stance, and it catalyzed discussions on medical morality and the emotional cost of prolonged care.

Prince Khaled declared the death of his son on X the 19th of July, 2025, as follows:

“With hearts believing in the decree and will of Allah, and with great sorrow and sadness, we mourn our beloved son.”

Funeral prayer was held the following day, the 20th, at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque for males and King Faisal Specialist Hospital for females.