Shaya' Bin Shaddad Al-Suhali

Shayaʿ Bin Shaddad Al-Suhali was one of the pioneers in the founding of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and one of the sixty-three men who accompanied the Founding King Abdulaziz Bin Abdulrahman Al Saud on his journey from Kuwait to recapture Riyadh in 1902. He was awarded the Pioneers Medal in 1999, when King Fahd Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud ordered the honoring of the pioneers with a special medal, presented to their families on the centennial of the founding of Saudi Arabia.

Shayaʿ Bin Shaddad Al-Suhali originated from Al-Suhool tribe, who resided in Mishash Al-Suhool near the town of Hafr Al-‘Atiq. He was among the men who joined King Abdulaziz on his journey from Kuwait to Riyadh during the campaign to reclaim the city, which lasted four months, moving between the outskirts of Al-Ahsa and the Al-Jafurah desert. During this journey, several tribal members joined King Abdulaziz, and a total of sixty-three men entered Riyadh with him.

Some sources indicate that he was among the men whom King Abdulaziz stationed at Al-Shuqayb near Riyadh, as part of the King’s plan to divide his forces into three groups. Shayaʿ remained with his group to guard the camels and supplies and to protect the backs of their fellow attackers. After the storming of Al-Masmak Palace, King Abdulaziz summoned them to join the attack.

Shayaʿ Bin Shaddad Al-Suhali continued to participate in the campaigns for the unification of Saudi Arabia until his death from an illness he contracted during his participation in the Battle of Turubah in 1918.