Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal

Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal was a Saudi prince and poet, a son of King Faisal bin Abdulaziz and a grandson of King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud.[1]

He combined government service with poetry: he held government posts during the reign of his grandfather King Abdulaziz, published poetry collections, and contributed to the advancement of the sports movement in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.[1]

Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal was born in the city of Riyadh, and he spent the first five years of his life in the care of his grandfather King Abdulaziz in Riyadh.[1]

He obtained his primary certificate from Al-Faisaliyyah School in Makkah, and that certificate was among the highest stages of education in the Kingdom at the time.[1]

His grandfather King Abdulaziz appointed him deputy to the viceroy in the Hejaz, acting on his behalf in running the Council of Deputies.[1] In 1370 AH he was appointed Minister of the Interior and Minister of Health together, then devoted himself to the Ministry of the Interior, and later to private business, reading and study.[1]

He accompanied his father King Faisal to a number of international conferences, most notably the conference on the establishment of the United Nations in 1945 in the United States of America.[1]

The literary scene received his first collection of poetry, "Wahy al-Hirman", in 1373 AH; he then published his second collection, "Hadith Qalb", in 1403 AH, followed by his collection of Nabati poems in the diwan "Mashairi".[1]

He was granted an honorary doctorate by decision of the Board of Trustees of the Academy of Sciences and Culture, emanating from the World Poets' Conference held in San Francisco in the United States of America in 1981.[1] In 1985 he received the State Appreciation Award in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Alphenisia plaque of the city of Paris.[1]

Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal contributed to the advancement of the sports movement in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and in 1372 AH the first organised official football league was held in the Western Region for his cup.[1]

In 1374 AH he formed the Saudi Arab Football Federation to supervise the organisation of matches under the name of the Higher Committee of the Football Federation.[1]

The Kingdom was recognised as a full and official member of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) in 1955 thanks to his efforts, and the official acceptance was announced in 1956.[1]

The "Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Award for Arabic Poetry" was announced on 13 Rabi' al-Thani 1439 AH, corresponding to 31 December 2017, with annual support of one million riyals, and it consists of a branch for adults allocated 600,000 riyals, and a branch for youth under thirty years of age with 400,000 riyals.[3] On 3 Rabi' al-Awwal 1440 AH, corresponding to 11 November 2018, the approval of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz of the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal International Award for Arabic Poetry was announced.[4]

The Ministry of Education launched the "Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Award for Arabic Poetry" competition for secondary-school and university students, with prizes worth 500,000 riyals, supervised by the Academy of Arabic Poetry, and the winners were honoured on 8 Sha'ban 1442 AH, corresponding to 21 March 2021.[5]

Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium is located in the governorate of Jeddah, and its capacity was raised after the rehabilitation and development project to 27,000 seats, including the royal box and 72 seats for people with disabilities.[6]

He passed away in 1428 AH, corresponding to 2007.[2]

His sons and brothers received condolences and mourners in Jeddah on 22 Rabi' al-Thani 1428 AH, corresponding to 9 May 2007.[2]

Q: Who is Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal? A: He was a Saudi prince and poet, a son of King Faisal bin Abdulaziz and a grandson of King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud; he was born in the city of Riyadh and spent his first five years in the care of his grandfather King Abdulaziz.[1]

Q: What government posts did he hold? A: His grandfather King Abdulaziz appointed him deputy to the viceroy in the Hejaz, acting on his behalf in running the Council of Deputies, and in 1370 AH he was appointed Minister of the Interior and Minister of Health together, then devoted himself to the Ministry of the Interior.[1]

Q: What are his most prominent poetry collections? A: The diwan "Wahy al-Hirman", which the literary scene received in 1373 AH, the diwan "Hadith Qalb" in 1403 AH, and his collection of Nabati poems in the diwan "Mashairi".[1]

Q: What was his role in advancing the sports movement? A: The first organised official football league was held in the Western Region for his cup in 1372 AH, he formed the Saudi Arab Football Federation in 1374 AH, and the Kingdom was recognised as a member of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) in 1955.[1]

Q: What is the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Award for Arabic Poetry? A: It is an award announced on 13 Rabi' al-Thani 1439 AH, corresponding to 31 December 2017, with annual support of one million riyals, and the approval of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz of its international edition was announced on 3 Rabi' al-Awwal 1440 AH, corresponding to 11 November 2018.[3][4]

The name of Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal is borne by an award for Arabic poetry with annual support of one million riyals, and by a stadium in the city of Jeddah whose capacity was raised to 27,000 seats.[3][6] Related topics on the platform include Prince Khalid Al-Faisal and Al-Faisal Museum for Arab and Islamic Art.