Faisal bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud

Faisal bin Salman (born 25 December 1970) is a member of the House of Saud and governor of Madinah province in Saudi Arabia.

Early life and education

Prince Faisal was born in Jeddah on 25 December 1970.^[1] He is the fifth son of the King of Saudi Arabia, Salman bin Abdulaziz, who had previously been the minister of defense since November 2011 and Crown Prince since June 2012.^[2] His mother is Sultana bint Turki Al Sudairi, who died in July 2011.^[3] She was a daughter of King Salman's uncle, Turki bin Ahmad Al Sudairi,^[4] who was formerly the governor of Asir Province.^[5] Faisal is a full brother of the late Prince Fahd, the late Prince Ahmed, Prince Sultan, Prince Abdulaziz and Princess Hussa (born 1974).^[6][7]

Faisal bin Salman holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from King Saud University.^[8] He received a PhD from Oxford University in 1999.^[8] His PhD thesis was titled "Iran, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf: Power Politics in Transition 1968-1971".^[9] It was published I.B.Tauris in 2003.^[10]

Career

Before embarking on a business career, Faisal bin Salman was a professor of political science at King Saud University.^[1] He studied especially political relations in the Persian Gulf region among the others during his academic career.^[11]

After the death of his brother Prince Ahmed in 2002, Prince Faisal took over as chairman of the Saudi Research and Marketing Group (SRMG), reportedly the largest media company in the Middle East, North and Central Africa.^[12] He was reported to own around seven percent of the company, while the family of his late brother Ahmed owns three percent.^[13] Faisal bin Salman is the owner of Arab News, Asharq Al-Awsat and Al Eqtisadiah. It is reported that all these publications take a pro-government position and support King Abdullah’s cautious reforms.^[14] On the other hand, these papers are among publications owned by Saudi Research and Publishing Company, which is an affiliated body of SRMG.^[15] Faisal bin Salman began to publish a new magazine through SRMG that is an Arabic translation of the magazine "Robb Report." SRMG also publishes an Islamic finance magazine and translations of Italy's design magazine Domus. In addition, the company is planning to publish other translations including Better Homes and Gardens. Prince Faisal also established a school for training journalists and other media people.^[16] He has been the chairman of Jadwa Investment, a Riyadh-based leading Saudi investment bank, since 2006.^[17] After his appointment as governor of Madinah Province, Faisal bin Salman was succeeded by his half-brother, Turki bin Salman, as chairman of the SRMG.^[18]

On 14 January 2013, Faisal bin Salman was appointed governor of Madinah province at the rank of minister, replacing Abdulaziz bin Majid.^[19][20]

Other positions

Prince Faisal joined the council of The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in 2009.^[9] He is also chairman of the board of social responsibility in Riyadh.^[21] In addition, he chairs the executive committee of “Ensan Society” that deals with various support programs for orphans.^[22][23]

Views

Faisal bin Salman stated in 2007 that social change in Saudi Arabia had to be slow.^[14]

Awards

Faisal bin Salman was named "The Man of the Year 2004 in business" by Arabian Business in 2004.^[9][24] He was also named Media Personality of the Year by the Arab Media Forum in 2009.^[25]

Horse racing

His brothers Prince Fahd and Prince Ahmed, both deceased, were involved in thoroughbred horse racing. After the death of Prince Ahmed in 2002, Prince Faisal succeeded him as the head of The Thoroughbred Corporation.^[26] In addition, he owns Belgrave Bloodstock in England.^[27]

In 2002, Faisal bin Salman had 12 horses in training, with Paul Cole, Sir Mark Prescott and John Gosden in England; Aidan O'Brien in Ireland; Jean-Claude Rouget in France; and Julio Canini and Graham Motion in the United States.^[28] It is reported that his best horse is Last Second, dam of Aussie Rules. She won both the Sun Chariot Stakes and Nassau Stakes in 1996. Prince Faisal also won the 1995 Cherry Hinton Stakes with another horse, Applaud. Last Second later became his most successful broodmare and resides with his eight other mares at Kirtlington Stud in Oxfordshire. His racing manager is British trainer Paul Webber.^[27] In 2011, Central Park was Faisal's best juvenile.^[29]

Prince Faisal bred Aussie Rules in Kentucky and is currently racing him in cooperation with Susan Magnier and Michael Tabor. He had four mares boarded at Indian Creek Farm near Paris (Kentucky). The dam of Aussie Rules, Last Second, has had only one foal sell at public auction, Bold Glance, who went for $2,202,250 in October 2005. Belgrave also has kept several fillies out of Last Second, including stakes winner Approach. Other mares are kept at Chris Budgett's Kirtlington Stud in the United Kingdom.^[27]

References