Muhammad bin Fahd
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Mohammad bin Fahd Al Saud |
|---|
| House of Saud |
| Mohammad bin Fahd bin Abdul Aziz al Saud |
Mohammad bin Fahd bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud (Arabic: الأمير محمد بن فهد بن عبدالعزيز السعود) was born in Riyadh in January of 1951. His father is King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz (1921-2005), and his mother is Princess Alanoud Bint Abdulaziz Bin Musaid from the Bin Jiluwi branch of the Al Saud Family. Mohammad's early schooling was at the Al Asimah elite school in Riyadh. In addition to academics, Mohammad excelled in sports and showed exceptional social skills early on. Before finishing high school, he was sent on summer trips to Europe to be exposed to the world and polish his English. Upon graduation from high school, Mohammad enrolled in the University of California at Santa Barbara in the United States, where he studied international relations. During his college years, Mohammad was well known for his support and concern for his fellow Saudi students; his popularity amongst them continues to this day.
After graduation with a bachelor's degree, Mohammad returned to Saudi Arabia to establish himself in business. He founded the Al Bilad Establishment for Trade and Economy. From 1973 to 1984, the Establishment was instrumental in various developmental projects. Most notably, he played a key role in the remarkable development of the telecommunications system, which was considered among the best in the world at the time of its implementation.
Prince Mohammad's political career started in early 1984, when he was appointed Assistant Minister of Interior. Under the watchful eyes of the Minister and his Deputy, Princes Nayef bin Abdul Aziz and Ahmed bin Abdul Aziz, Mohammad received intensive training in the intricacies of governance. By the end of 1984, Mohammad was appointed as Acting governor of the Eastern Province, where in a few months, he established himself as a capable governor. In 1985, Mohammad was appointed the Governor of the Eastern Province. In his more than twenty years as Governor, Mohammad has has influenced advancement in education and health care in the Governate. He has galvanized the business community to become more active socially, especially in the area of charity work. He has shown his political acumen by improving the integration of the Shia minority into the Kingdom's mainstream.
Prince Mohammad is married to the daughter of Prince [[Nayef bin Abdulaziz]] and has three sons and three daughters.
A prize named after him - "The Prince Mohammad Prize for Scholastic Achievement" - is one of the most recognized in Saudi Arabia. Prince Mohammad bin Fahd University in Al Khobaris named after him.
Prince Mohammad bin Fahd is also known for forcing business men in the Eastern Province to share their profits with him and for his excessive gambling with an estimate of 500 million dollars lost to casinos worldwide.
