|
King Fahd, or Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz, has been the Saudi monarch since 1982, when King Khaled died. Until his death, he was the king, prime minister and leader of the House of Al Saud. However, a stroke suffered in 1996 meant that he was unable to perform all his official duties and public appearances became limited. His half brother Crown Prince Abdullah has been performing most of the functions as head of the Saudi's since King Fahd's stroke.
Son of King Abdul Aziz, King Fahd was born in Riyadh in 1923, and was the eldest of seven brothers.
Born to Hassa Bint Ahmad Al Sudayri, the brothers are known are the "Sudayri Seven." His first formal schooling was at the "Princes' School" in Riyadh, a school established by his father to ensure that his own sons and the children of other leading citizens were well equipped for the challenges that lay ahead. He was also strongly influenced by his father, King Abdul Aziz, who taught him about religion, history and Arab culture. King Fahd was introduced early in life to the world of international diplomacy. In 1945, at age 22, he accompanied his elder brother, Prince Faisal Bin Abdul Aziz, to the signing of the United Nations Charter in San Francisco. Several years later, he traveled to Great Britain to represent Saudi Arabia at the 1953 coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. This experience in the world of international relations was invaluable because, as the Kingdom began to emerge as a world leader, Prince Fahd assumed greater diplomatic responsibilities. He led, for example, the Saudi delegation to the summit conferences of the League of Arab States in Morocco in 1959 and Lebanon in 1960. Later, he held discussions with French President Charles de Gaulle in 1967 and with the British in 1970 over the future of the Arabian Gulf
In 1953, he became the nation's first Minister of Education. Under his guidance, the new ministry laid the foundation for a nationwide school system.
Appointed Minister of the Interior in 1962, then-Prince Fahd traveled extensively throughout the developing nation, further acquainting himself with its people and diverse regions. In 1967, he also assumed the position of Second Deputy Prime Minister. In this capacity, he frequently chaired the regular meetings of the Council of Ministers. Prince Fahd became Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister in March 1975, when Khalid Bin Abdul Aziz was proclaimed King. While Crown Prince, he continued to direct the domestic progress of his nation during a period of intensified development. He was particularly instrumental in guiding the country's second and third five-year development plans (1975-79 and 1980-84), which launched a program to modernize the country's infrastructure. These years saw significant growth in the sectors of education, housing, transportation, industry, agriculture and communications. Crown Prince Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz was proclaimed the fifth King of Saudi Arabia on June 13, 1982. In his investiture speech, King Fahd emphasized that his reign would be marked by great concern not only for the citizens of his dynamic nation, but also for the peoples of the world. "We are active, fellow countrymen, in the wider international sphere within the framework of the United Nations, its agencies and its committees," he said. "We are committed to the charter, we reinforce its endeavors...Our acts have reflected, and will continue to reflect, our sense of belonging to the world community."
|
