Abdullah Bin Abdulrahman Al Saud

Prince Abdullah bin Abdulrahman Al Saud (1899 –1976) was the seventh son of Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal Bin Turki Al Saud, the last ruler of the Second Saudi State, and the younger brother and advisor of the Founding King Abdulaziz Bin Abdulrahman Al Saud. He participated with him in several battles for the unification of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and was nicknamed “The Scholar and Jurist of the Al Saud.”

Prince Abdullah Bin Abdulrahman Al Saud was born in 1899 in Kuwait, six years after his father, Imam Abdulrahman, arrived there. His mother was Munirah Bint Hutaymi Al-Thunayan Al-Mahashir. Prince Abdullah spent four years in Kuwait before returning to Riyadh with his father in 1902, a year after the Al Saud recaptured control of Riyadh.

Prince Abdullah Bin Abdulrahman Al Saud received his primary education in the kuttab (the traditional form of schooling in Saudi Arabia) starting at the age of seven, as was customary for all the sons of Imam Abdulrahman. In addition, he gained education and knowledge in Imam Abdulrahman’s household, including religious sciences, horsemanship, and camel racing.

Prince Abdullah was keen on sitting with scholars and learned men, benefiting from their knowledge, discussing matters with them, and meeting them in the gatherings of his father and brother Abdulaziz, as well as in other councils. He read extensively in books on literature, history, and genealogy, acquiring a solid understanding of them, and became renowned for his knowledge and culture before reaching the age of twenty.

Prince Abdullah became famous for several titles, including “The Scholar of the Al Saud” and “The Jurist of the Al Saud,” and was sometimes called “The Literatus of the Al Saud.” King Abdulaziz himself referred to him as “The Scholar and Jurist of the Al Saud” and praised his deep knowledge of the sciences. Historical sources record that King Abdulaziz told Abbas Al-Aqqad in response to a matter they discussed: “The campaigns and wars did not leave me time to delve deeply into the sciences, but the one who did so is this… he is the most knowledgeable of my brothers,” referring to his brother Abdullah.

Prince Abdullah was selected by the Islamic Conference to serve as a corresponding member of a council that included prominent Islamic thinkers and leading writers worldwide, tasked with publishing a monthly international magazine issued by the conference. He possessed a rich personal library containing a collection of manuscripts and printed works, as he was keen on acquiring rare books. His collection covered various fields, including religious, literary, linguistic, historical, political, and medical subjects, as well as biographical works and memoirs. After his death, his library was donated to Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud Islamic University.

King Abdulaziz’s journey from Kuwait to reclaim his family’s rule in Riyadh marked a turning point between the childhood and maturity of Prince Abdullah. After returning to Riyadh, he became his brother’s companion in the mission to unify the Saudi state and began participating in battles in 1910, during the Battle of Hadiyah, at the age of twelve.

Prince Abdullah was deeply influenced by his brother, the Founding King Abdulaziz Bin Abdulrahman Al Saud, and by his profound insight and knowledge of people. He served as an advisor to King Abdulaziz and was close to him, ranking among the foremost of the king’s counselors.

He held administrative and political roles in the state, including participating in meetings and official receptions for King Abdulaziz’s guests, such as the Radwa meeting between King Abdulaziz and King Farouk, the reception of Syrian President Shukri Al-Quwatli, and the reception of King Abdullah Bin Al-Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. He also accompanied King Abdulaziz on some of his foreign trips, including his first trip to Egypt in 1945 and his second trip to Egypt in 1946, in response to an invitation from King Farouk.

Prince Abdullah Bin Abdulrahman Al Saud passed away in Riyadh in 1976.