Mishaal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud

Mishaal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
Born	Template:Birth date
Died	May 3, 2017(2017-05-03) (aged 90)
Occupation(s)	Politician, entrepreneur
Known for	Chairman of the Allegiance Council (2007–2017), Minister of Defense (1951–1953), Governor of Makkah Province (1963–1971)

Mishaal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (; born 5 September 1926 – died 3 May 2017) was a prominent Saudi political figure and entrepreneur. As a member of the House of Saud, he occupied several ministerial roles during the 1950s and led the Allegiance Council from 2007 until his passing in 2017.

Early life

Born on 5 September 1926, Prince Mishaal was the thirteenth son of King Abdulaziz. He shared full sibling ties with Princes Mansour, Mutaib, and Princess Qumash (who died in 2011). Their mother, Shahida, was an Armenian Christian and is reported to have been King Abdulaziz’s favored spouse.

Career

Prince Mishaal assumed the role of minister of defense from 12 May 1951 until 1953, succeeding his full brother Prince Mansour following his death.<ref> Prior to this, he served as deputy minister and appointed his younger brother Prince Mutaib as his own deputy. During his tenure, Mishaal amassed considerable wealth by purchasing state lands at undervalued prices, resulting in substantial financial gain. Nonetheless, due to his limited formal education and experience, the ministry under his leadership lacked organization and depended heavily on foreign expertise.<ref> Although he wielded significant influence within King Abdulaziz’s administration, the king maintained a balance of power by appointing Abdullah bin Faisal as minister of health and interior.<ref>

King Abdulaziz also established the ministry of air force under Mishaal’s authority to prevent aviation affairs from falling under Prince Talal, who was then minister of communication. Conflicts between Mishaal and Talal prompted plans for two distinct airline fleets. After Talal resigned in April 1955, the ministry of communication was consolidated with finance. Subsequently, in May 1955, King Saud restructured the National Guard by placing it under Prince Khalid’s command, which diminished Mishaal’s influence since he had previously utilized resources from the former Guard.<ref>

Mishaal’s period as defense minister concluded in 1956 when King Saud removed him amid accusations of pro-Nasserist leanings and corruption. He was succeeded by Prince Fahd bin Saud and later appointed as an advisor to King Saud on the council of ministers in 1957.<ref>

In 1963, during the regency and later reign of King Faisal, both Mishaal and Mutaib were restored to favor; Mishaal was named governor of Makkah Province until 1971 and also served as head of the Saudi Tourism Authority starting in 1969. Both brothers resigned their positions in 1971 for reasons that remain unclear.<ref>

On 10 December 2007, Prince Mishaal was designated chairman of the Allegiance Council, entrusted with overseeing matters related to royal succession.<ref>

Succession to the throne

Prince Mishaal repeatedly asserted that he merited appointment as crown prince, referencing his gubernatorial and ministerial experience along with his seniority relative to some siblings. Nevertheless, he was largely sidelined from succession contests by the Sudairi brothers, partly due to less robust connections with influential tribes.

Influence

Recognized for his impartial stance within family dynamics, Mishaal frequently allied with King Abdallah and was regarded as one of his trusted confidants. His reputation for neutrality rendered him a fitting leader for the Allegiance Council, a crucial institution shaping succession outcomes.

Business ventures

Prince Mishaal bin Abdulaziz was a distinguished entrepreneur with extensive holdings spanning real estate, insurance, electrical utilities, oil trading, and cement production. He served as chairman of the board for Yanbu Cement Company, which was established in 1976.

In 1970, he founded Al Shoula Group, a key player in Middle Eastern property investment. This group collaborated with prominent organizations such as Dubai's Emaar Group, Kuwait's Bayt Al Mal Investment Company, and the Tameer Group owned by the Al Rajhi family. Dhahran Global, a subsidiary of Al Shoula, operates extensively within the petroleum and petrochemical industry sectors, engaging in pipeline construction, oil and gas extraction, oilfield services, and global trade activities. Since the late 1990s, his son Prince Abdulaziz has held the position of CEO at Al Shoula Group.

Prince Mishaal also contributed to founding the Dar Al Maal Al Islami Trust, launched in 1981 by Mohammed bin Faisal Al Saud. Furthermore, he possessed ownership of Riyadh’s Shola Shopping Center and managed Mishaal International company.

Philanthropy

During the early 1970s, Prince Mishaal dedicated land in Mecca to establish charitable organizations aimed at supporting Palestinian families who had lost children amid conflicts with Israel.

Legal issues

In 2013, Faisal Almhairat, a Jordanian businessman and former associate of Prince Mishaal, accused him and his son Prince Abdulaziz of facilitating money laundering activities for affluent individuals and groups including Hizbollah. This led to legal proceedings in London; however, these claims were firmly denied by both princes.

Personal background

Prince Mishaal was an avid supporter of traditional camel and horse racing, owning prized animals and sponsoring annual racing events within Saudi Arabia. He was also actively involved in falconry.

Among his spouses was Noura bint Fawwaz, granddaughter of Nuri Al Shalaan; the couple eventually divorced. His son Mohammed bin Mishaal passed away at age 58 in 2005. Other sons include Faisal, Mansour, and Bandar. Prince Faisal is married to Princess Latifa, daughter of the former Crown Prince Sultan. In 2010, Abdulaziz bin Fahd wed Al Anoud bint Faisal.

In October 2009, Mishaal was admitted to a hospital in Geneva following a stroke and later returned to Saudi Arabia after receiving medical care in Beirut during that same year. He passed away on 3 May 2017 at the age of 90.

External links

• Official website of Mishaal bin Abdulaziz