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Saudi ‘Sleeping Prince’ passes away following long battle in coma

Saudi ‘Sleeping Prince’ passes away following long battle in coma

Web Desk
Jul 20, 2025

RIYADH: Prince al Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal of Saudi Arabia, often called the “Sleeping Prince”, passed away after almost 20 years in a coma.

His family announced his passing, closing a chapter that captured the attention and sympathy both within Saudi Arabia and around the world.

Prince al Waleed was left in a coma in mid-aughts after a series car accident in the English capital while he was studying there. From that moment, he never regained full consciousness and remained in a state of deep unresponsiveness.

While he experienced occasional, minimal movements over the years – such as fluttering fingers – these moments gave much-needed hope to his loved ones and supporters,

The Sleeping Prince father, Prince Khaled bin Talal, maintained his son’s medical care thought this period, guided by personal and religious beliefs regarding the preservation of life.

Prince al Waleed’s condition led to a widespread public interests across the kingdom and even globally. The family regularly shared updates and maintained his visibility through selected social media posts and images. This helped draw attention to the circumstances of caring for persons in a prolonged state of unconsciousness

In medical terms, a coma involves a sustained lack of awareness and responsiveness, with outcomes influenced by the underlying injury, medical interventions and durations.

Some patients may regain function depending on these variables, while others, as in the Sleeping Prince case, remain reliant on medical support for life.

Such cases often come focal points for discussions around medical ethics, quality of life, and family decision-making in long-term care situations.

Funeral arrangements for Prince al Waleed will be held at a major mosque in the Saudi capital. The Sleeping Prince’s family, acquaintances, and members of the public are expected to attend.

Web Desk