Talal Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud

Prince Talal Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, (August 15, 1931 - December 22, 2018), was a royal highness, the eighteenth son of the Founding King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, King Abdulaziz Bin Abdulrahman Al Saud, the first Minister of Communications, and Minister of Finance and Saudi Ambassador to France, known for supporting children's issues globally, and sustainable human development initiatives, founder of several humanitarian initiatives, and the Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND), and the Arab Open University.

Prince Talal Bin Abdulaziz's vision

Prince Talal Bin Abdulaziz was born in Shubra Palace in the city of Taif, the year before the unification of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was announced, raised under the care of his father, the Founding King, and at the age of six began his early education at the Princes' School, established by King Abdulaziz to educate his children within the palace under the administration of Abdullah Khayyat, then moved at the age of ten to Egypt to receive medical treatment and complete his studies.

At the age of fifteen, Prince Talal Bin Abdulaziz accompanied his father, the Founding King, on a visit to Egypt in 1946, where he was a well-read and knowledgeable individual, with a passion for learning, keeping up to date with local and global events.

Political positions of Prince Talal Bin Abdulaziz

At the start of his career, Prince Talal Bin Abdulaziz held several government positions in Saudi Arabia, becoming the first Minister of Communications when the ministry was established during his father's reign in 1953, and in 1955, he was appointed as the Saudi Ambassador to France, after which he moved to the Ministry of Finance and was appointed as deputy minister and then Minister of Finance, the last position he held in government service.

Humanitarian contributions of Prince Talal Bin Abdulaziz

Prince Talal Bin Abdulaziz was committed to humanitarian work and undertook to send a number of Saudi students to study abroad at his own expense, also founding the first vocational training school in Saudi Arabia in 1954, and establishing the first girls' school in Riyadh in 1957.

The efforts of Prince Talal Bin Abdulaziz expanded in sustainable human development and humanitarian work, earning international recognition and appreciation, particularly during his tenure as the personal representative to the UN Secretary-General for UNICEF, visiting many countries to support human development efforts in developing nations.

In 1980, Prince Talal Bin Abdulaziz established the Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND), with support from Gulf leaders, a regional organization supporting UN agencies across several sectors: early childhood development, women's empowerment, civil society development, open education for youth, and financial inclusion, funding about 1,712 development projects worldwide.

Within the framework of focusing on the human element in the Arab world, Prince Talal created the Arab Council for Childhood and Development, the Arab Women’s Center for Research and Training, and the Arab Network for NGOs, in addition to launching the Arab Open University.

Positions and memberships of Prince Talal Bin Abdulaziz

- Chairman of the Arab Council for Childhood and Development.

- Chairman of the Arab Gulf Programme for Development.

- Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Arab Network for NGOs.

- Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Arab Women’s Training and Research Center.

- Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Arab Open University.

- Honorary President of the Saudi Society for Rehabilitation and Education.

- Honorary President of the Saudi Society for Family and Community Medicine, and Chairman of honorary members.

- Member of the Board of Trustees of Mentor Foundation.

- Founding member of the Independent Commission for International Humanitarian Issues.

- Member of the Pasteur Institute Society.

- Honorary President of the Ameen Rihani Institute.

- Honorary President of Ibsar Center for the Care of the Blind.

- Special Envoy for UNICEF.

- UNESCO Water Envoy.

- Member of the Arab Thought Forum.

Awards of Prince Talal Bin Abdulaziz

Prince Talal Bin Abdulaziz received the King Abdulaziz Sash in 1976, and several other medals and honors, including:

- A medal from the Lebanese government in the early 1960s.

- State Medal from the Government of Brazil in 1982.

- Lionheart Medal from the Government of the Philippines in 1983.

- Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour from the Government of France in 1983.

- Personality of the Year Honour from the Independent International Committee in 1985.

- Independence Medal "First Class" in Tunisia in 1986.

- Golden Shield from the International Expatriate Association in Geneva.

- Peace Medal from the United Nations in New York.

- Grand Gold Medal from the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization.

- Bust of Prince Talal at the WHO headquarters in Geneva.

- Bust of Prince Talal at WHO's regional office in Cairo.

- Commemorative plaque from the Mayor of Paris on the 2000th anniversary of the founding of Paris.

- Humanitarian Personality of the Year Award in 1997 from the Rashid Center for Rehabilitation in Dubai.

- Recognition from the UN Secretary-General in New York in 2000.

- UN Shield in appreciation of his efforts in development and humanitarian work in 2001.

- Personality of the Year Award 2011 in the field of philanthropy and good efforts at the Fourth Islamic Philanthropy Conference in Dubai.

- UNICEF Shield in 2013 presented to him in Riyadh.

- Posthumously honored by the League of Arab States in recognition of his efforts in March 2019.

Death of Prince Talal Bin Abdulaziz

Prince Talal Bin Abdulaziz passed away on Saturday, December 22, 2018, in Riyadh.