Saudi Arabia’s ‘Sleeping Prince’ Passes Away at 36 After Two Decades in a Coma
Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, known across the globe as the “Sleeping Prince,” has died at the age of 36—bringing an end to a life paused for twenty years following a devastating car crash at just 15.
Affectionately called “Dede” by those closest to him, the prince was born in April 1990. His life took a tragic turn in 2005 while he was in London, pursuing a military education. According to The Mirror, he was involved in a severe traffic accident that caused traumatic brain damage and massive internal injuries.
After the accident, he was flown back to Saudi Arabia and admitted to King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh. There, he remained in a prolonged coma—unmoving, unresponsive, and locked in a liminal state between life and death for over two decades.
A Father’s Unyielding Devotion
Despite the prognosis, Prince Khaled bin Talal Al Saud—his father and a key figure in the Saudi royal family, as well as nephew of billionaire investor Prince Al Waleed bin Talal—refused to give up on his son.
He chose to keep Prince Al-Waleed on life support, clinging to hope and the belief that a miracle was still possible. Over the years, he turned his son’s hospital room into a place of remembrance, celebration, and unwavering love.
During holidays like Eid, Ramadan, and National Day, the sterile hospital room would be transformed with colorful decorations, family photos, and heartfelt prayers—each gesture a testament to a father’s devotion.
Just last year, on April 10, 2024, Prince Khaled shared a tweet updating followers on his son’s condition, assuring them the prince was stable and in the ICU. The post included a touching video showing the prince lying unconscious, surrounded by Eid decorations—proof that love had not faded with time.
Visitors from all over the country would stop by to pray or simply be present, turning the prince’s bedside into a quiet space of hope and faith.
For twenty years, the scene remained unchanged: a father standing watch, a country waiting in silence, and a family holding on.
A Nation Says Farewell
On Saturday, July 19, 2025, the long chapter came to a close.
Prince Khaled shared the sorrowful news on X (formerly Twitter), posting a black-and-white photo of his son lying peacefully in bed, eyes closed—just as he had been for so many years.
“With hearts full of faith in God’s will, and with deep pain and sorrow, we mourn our beloved son, Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who has passed away to God’s mercy today,” he wrote in Arabic.
The following day, a funeral prayer was held in Saudi Arabia, where family, friends, and mourners gathered to honor the young prince’s life.
Though he never awoke from his coma, Prince Al-Waleed became more than just a sleeping figure—he came to represent the strength of a father’s hope, the power of enduring love, and the sacred bond between parent and child.