# Saud bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud

> Saudi royal and foreign minister (1940–2015)

**Wikidata**: [Q58156](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q58156)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saud_bin_Faisal_Al_Saud)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/saud-bin-faisal-bin-abdulaziz-al-saud

## Summary
Saud bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud was a Saudi royal and long-serving foreign minister of Saudi Arabia from 1975 to 2015. He was the son of King Faisal and played a pivotal role in shaping Saudi Arabia's foreign policy for four decades.

## Biography
- Born: 2 January 1940
- Nationality: Saudi Arabian
- Education: Princeton University (graduated 1964)
- Known for: Longest-serving foreign minister in the world (1975-2015)
- Employer(s): Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia
- Field(s): Diplomacy, foreign policy

## Contributions
Saud bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud served as Saudi Arabia's foreign minister for 40 years, from 1975 until his retirement in 2015 due to health reasons. During his tenure, he represented Saudi Arabia in numerous international forums and negotiations, including the Arab-Israeli peace process, the Gulf War coalition building, and responses to regional crises such as the Lebanese Civil War and the Iran-Iraq War. He was instrumental in strengthening Saudi Arabia's diplomatic relationships with Western powers, particularly the United States, and played a key role in OPEC diplomacy and oil market stability.

## FAQs
**What was Saud bin Faisal's role in Saudi Arabia's government?**
He served as the foreign minister of Saudi Arabia for 40 years, from 1975 to 2015, making him the longest-serving foreign minister in the world at the time of his retirement.

**Where did Saud bin Faisal receive his education?**
He graduated from Princeton University in 1964, making him one of the most highly educated members of the Saudi royal family.

**What were some of the major international events Saud bin Faisal dealt with as foreign minister?**
He managed Saudi Arabia's response to the Lebanese Civil War, the Iran-Iraq War, the Gulf War, and various Arab-Israeli peace initiatives throughout his four-decade tenure.

**How did Saud bin Faisal influence Saudi Arabia's relationship with the United States?**
He was a key architect of the Saudi-American strategic partnership, maintaining close diplomatic ties and coordinating on regional security issues throughout the Cold War and beyond.

## Why They Matter
Saud bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud's four-decade tenure as foreign minister made him one of the most influential diplomats in the Middle East during a period of significant regional transformation. His steady leadership helped maintain Saudi Arabia's position as a key player in global oil markets, regional security arrangements, and Islamic diplomacy. His diplomatic approach, characterized by discretion and strategic patience, helped navigate Saudi Arabia through multiple regional crises while preserving the kingdom's core interests and alliances.

## Notable For
- Longest-serving foreign minister in the world (40 years)
- Key architect of Saudi Arabia's modern foreign policy
- Fluent in multiple languages including Arabic, English, and French
- Member of the Saudi royal family as son of King Faisal
- Graduated from Princeton University, one of the first Saudi royals to receive Western higher education
- Managed Saudi Arabia's diplomatic response to major regional conflicts including the Gulf War
- Played crucial role in OPEC diplomacy and oil market stability
- Maintained Saudi Arabia's strategic partnership with the United States through multiple administrations

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Saud bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud was born on January 2, 1940, as the son of King Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. He received his early education in Saudi Arabia before pursuing higher education abroad. He graduated from Princeton University in 1964 with a degree that prepared him for his future diplomatic career. His Western education at one of America's most prestigious institutions made him one of the most internationally educated members of the Saudi royal family at that time.

### Diplomatic Career
Saud bin Faisal began his diplomatic career in 1970 when he was appointed deputy governor of the Saudi Arab Monetary Agency. He was appointed foreign minister of Saudi Arabia on October 13, 1975, following the assassination of his father, King Faisal. He would go on to serve in this position for 40 years, making him the longest-serving foreign minister in the world at the time of his retirement.

Throughout his tenure, he represented Saudi Arabia in numerous international forums and negotiations. He was known for his diplomatic skills, fluency in multiple languages, and deep understanding of international relations. His approach to diplomacy was characterized by discretion, strategic patience, and a focus on maintaining Saudi Arabia's core interests while preserving important alliances.

### Major Diplomatic Achievements
During his four-decade tenure, Saud bin Faisal dealt with numerous major international events and crises. He played a significant role in the Arab-Israeli peace process, participating in various peace initiatives and negotiations. He was instrumental in building and maintaining the international coalition during the Gulf War in 1990-1991, when Saudi Arabia hosted coalition forces following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait.

He managed Saudi Arabia's response to the Lebanese Civil War, helping to coordinate Arab League efforts to resolve the conflict. He also dealt with the Iran-Iraq War, maintaining Saudi Arabia's position of supporting Iraq while trying to prevent the conflict from spreading throughout the region.

### OPEC and Energy Diplomacy
As foreign minister of the world's largest oil exporter, Saud bin Faisal played a crucial role in OPEC diplomacy and oil market stability. He worked to balance Saudi Arabia's interests as a major oil producer with the need for stable global oil markets. His diplomatic efforts helped maintain Saudi Arabia's position as a key player in global energy markets and ensured the kingdom's voice was heard in international energy discussions.

### Saudi-American Relations
Saud bin Faisal was a key architect of the Saudi-American strategic partnership. He maintained close diplomatic ties with the United States through multiple administrations, coordinating on regional security issues, counterterrorism efforts, and economic cooperation. His diplomatic approach helped preserve this crucial relationship even during periods of tension, such as after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

### Regional Leadership
Throughout his tenure, Saud bin Faisal worked to strengthen Saudi Arabia's position as a leader in the Arab and Islamic worlds. He was involved in various Arab League initiatives and worked to coordinate Arab positions on regional issues. He also represented Saudi Arabia in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, helping to maintain the kingdom's position as the custodian of Islam's two holiest sites.

### Health and Retirement
Saud bin Faisal's health began to decline in the later years of his tenure. He underwent multiple surgeries for a chronic medical condition. On April 29, 2015, he was relieved of his duties as foreign minister due to health reasons and was appointed an advisor and special envoy to the king. He was succeeded by Adel al-Jubeir as foreign minister.

### Legacy
Saud bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud's legacy as Saudi Arabia's longest-serving foreign minister is marked by his steady leadership during a period of significant regional transformation. His diplomatic approach, characterized by discretion and strategic patience, helped navigate Saudi Arabia through multiple regional crises while preserving the kingdom's core interests and alliances. He is remembered as one of the most influential diplomats in the Middle East during the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
3. Munzinger Personen
4. [Former Saudi foreign minister Saud Al Faisal dies, aged 75. Gulf News. 2015](http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/saudi-arabia/former-saudi-foreign-minister-saud-al-faisal-dies-aged-75-1.1548005)
5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
6. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File