Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal, a Saudi royal family member known globally as the ‘Sleeping Prince,’ recently turned 36 on April 18, 2025. The prince has spent nearly two decades in a coma, a condition resulting from a devastating car accident in 2005 while he was a student at a military college.
Despite enduring 20 years of unconsciousness, Prince Al-Waleed continues to receive life support at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh. His family, particularly his father Prince Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, has consistently refused medical recommendations to withdraw life support, firmly believing in the possibility of divine intervention. Prince Khaled has previously stated, “If God had wanted him to die in the accident, he would have been in his grave now,” emphasizing the family’s unyielding hope.
The prince, a great-grandson of King Abdulaziz, the founder of modern Saudi Arabia, remains on a ventilator and is fed via a feeding tube. In 2019, there were fleeting moments of potential responsiveness when Prince Al-Waleed was reportedly observed lifting a finger and moving his head, yet no significant recovery followed.
Following his recent birthday, images of the ‘Sleeping Prince’ with his family circulated widely on social media, rekindling public sympathy and curiosity about his extraordinary medical journey.
Though a member of the royal family, Prince Al-Waleed is not directly linked to Saudi Arabia’s current monarch, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Rather, he is King Salman’s great-nephew, being the grandson of Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz, one of King Abdulaziz’s many sons.
The story of Prince Al-Waleed continues to captivate audiences worldwide, symbolizing both the resilience of familial love and the profound mysteries of long-term coma cases.
The prince’s prolonged condition has stirred widespread public interest not just within Saudi Arabia but globally, as people marvel at the dedication shown by his family and the medical advancements that have kept him alive for so long. His case has also reignited broader conversations around medical ethics, end-of-life care, and the power of faith in the Arab world.
In Saudi Arabia, Prince Al-Waleed’s story is often cited as a testament to unwavering parental devotion. His father, Prince Khaled bin Talal, a known figure in the kingdom, has consistently shared updates on his son’s condition over the years, maintaining that miracles are possible and that the family’s patience is an act of deep religious faith.
Despite being unconscious and called ‘Sleeping prince’, Prince Al-Waleed’s vital signs have remained stable, and his caretakers continue to monitor his health closely. His survival for two decades under such conditions is considered rare, even in medical circles, where long-term coma patients often face multiple health complications.
