King Khalid bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud

King Khalid bin Abdul Aziz, King of Saudi Arabia (Arabic: خالد بن عبد العزيز آل سعود‎) (1912– June 13, 1982) was King of Saudi Arabia from the assassination of King Faisal in 1975 until his own death in 1982.

Crown Prince and King

Khalid was named Crown Prince in 1975, after his older brother (and only full brother) Muhammad bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud declined a place in the succession. He was not very interested in politics, as King, he gave effective control of the country to his half-brother, Crown Prince Fahd. Khalid's preparation for ruling a modern state included his accompanying Faisal on foreign missions and representing Saudi Arabia at the United Nations. He was more liberal in terms of informing the press of the rationale behind foreign policy decisions.
The king's first diplomatic coup was the conclusion in April 1975 of a demarcation agreement concerning the Al Buraymi Oasis, where the frontiers of Abu Dhabi, Oman, and Saudi Arabia meet. Claims and counterclaims over this frontier had exacerbated relations among them for years. The conclusion of negotiations under Khalid added to his stature as a statesman. In a reorganization of the Council of Ministers in 1975, Khalid named Crown Prince Fahd deputy prime minister. In 1976 the strains of office began to tell on Khalid, forcing him to return to the United States for successful open-heart surgery in Cleveland, Ohio. Khalid asked President Carter to sell advanced fighter planes to Saudi Arabia to assist in countering communist aggression in the area. The delivery of the first of sixty F-15s under the agreement approved by Carter arrived in the kingdom in 1982. Some foreign observers thought traditionalism was no longer a strong force in Saudi Arabia. This idea was disproved when at least 500 dissidents invaded and seized the Grand Mosque in Mecca on November 20, 1979. Upon meeting British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Khalid is reputed to have said he would be happy to discuss falcons with her, but for all matters of administration she should talk to Crown Prince Fahd. He decided to bring in foreign labor to help with the country's development. A relatively easy-going but pious man, he died of a heart attack. He had purchased a Boeing 747 with an operating room should he be stricken while on his travels. He was succeeded by Fahd. The strict financial policies of his predecessor, coupled with the aftermath of the 1973 oil crisis, created a financial windfall that fueled development and led to a commercial and economic boom in the country. Notable achievements included the institution of the second "Five-Year Plan" in Saudi history, which aimed to build up Saudi infrastructure and health care. He also called numerous summits and inaugurated the Gulf Co-operation Council in 1981. King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and King Khalid Military City were both named after him, and his reign is remembered fondly by Saudi citizens for the economic prosperity inaugurated during his reign.

Personal Life

His wife was Queen Sita. Unlike other Saudi kings, his children have assumed a low profile and hold no notable political positions.