Upbringing and early missions
Khalid was born in Riyadh in 1913 to King Abdulaziz and Al Jawhara bint Musaid bin Jiluwi. He studied the Quran and religious subjects and accompanied his father on journeys and official missions. His responsibilities before accession included leading the Saudi side in the negotiations for the 1934 Treaty of Taif with Yemen. He also visited the United States with his brother Faisal in 1943. [1][2]
Crown prince and accession
Khalid became crown prince during Faisal’s reign and succeeded him on 25 March 1975 following his assassination. Prince Fahd was chosen as crown prince. Government continued several existing policies and projects, with responsibilities distributed among the king, crown prince and state institutions. This continuity mattered during a period of expanding financial resources and growing demands on administration and planning. [1][2]
Development, education and healthcare
Higher oil revenues funded roads, airports, ports and municipal services. Higher education and training expanded, with a Ministry of Higher Education established in 1975 and Umm Al Qura University in 1981. University hospitals, healthcare and medical training also developed. These projects belong within the context of development plans and growing cities and populations; expenditure alone is not a sufficient measure of every project’s outcomes. [1][2]
Domestic events and Gulf cooperation
Saudi Arabia faced major difficulties during Khalid’s reign, including the seizure of the Grand Mosque in 1979 and the subsequent operation to end the militants’ occupation. Regionally, Saudi Arabia joined five other Gulf states in establishing the Gulf Cooperation Council in 1981. The council provided a framework for coordination among its members against a background of regional security, political and economic change. [1][2]
Death and institutional continuity
King Khalid died in Taif on 13 June 1982 and was buried in Al Oud Cemetery in Riyadh. King Fahd succeeded him. Khalid’s reign is associated with urban and public-service expansion and the establishment of the GCC. Comparing development plans and institutions before and after his reign helps explain these changes as part of a continuing process rather than a set of achievements detached from their context. [1][2]
Related topics
- HistoricKing Khalid Royal ReserveKing Khalid Royal Reserve is a royal nature reserve located northeast of Riyadh on an area of 1,162 square kilometres, and its development is overseen by the Imam Abdulaziz bin Muhammad Royal Reserve Development Authority. It encompasses the Al-Urmah mountain range, geological and archaeological landmarks, and programmes for wildlife reintroduction and vegetation protection.
- HistoricThe Grand Mosque (Al-Masjid Al-Haram)The Grand Mosque (Al-Masjid Al-Haram) is the mosque at the centre of which stands the Kaaba in Makkah, and successive states and restorations followed upon its construction across the ages. In the Saudi era it witnessed major expansions and construction works, most notably the Third Saudi Expansion and the raising of the capacity of the Mataf and the courtyards.
- HistoricThe Prophet's MosqueThe Prophet's Mosque is the mosque of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in Madinah, built in the first year of the Hijrah over an area of 1,050 square meters. Several constructions followed across the Islamic eras, and the mosque saw its widest expansions in the Saudi era.
- HistoricZamzam WellZamzam Well is a well in the Grand Mosque, located east of the Kaaba, 21 metres away in the Mataf courtyard, aligned with the Multazam, and reaches a depth of about 30.5 metres. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has cared for it and developed its water-supply system, from pumping, transport and storage to sterilisation and distribution to the guests of the Grand Mosque.