Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud

Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud was a Saudi prince whose name is associated with developmental and humanitarian work. He chaired the Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND) and the Board of Trustees of the Arab Open University.[4][5]

His work included founding the Arab Gulf Programme for Development in 1980, founding the Arab Council for Childhood and Development in 1987, and serving as an Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and a high-level envoy for UNICEF.[4][6][8]

The Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND) is a regional development institution established in 1980 on the initiative of Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz and with the support of the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council states.[4]

In 2020, his son Prince Abdulaziz bin Talal was nominated as chairman of the AGFUND board of directors, succeeding his father.[4]

Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz chaired the Board of Trustees of the Arab Open University, a university where teaching began in November 2002 and which was accredited in seven Arab countries, foremost among them the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.[5]

Its student body at the time reached 22 thousand students.[5]

Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz founded the Arab Council for Childhood and Development in 1987, and through it contributed to advancing the fields of childhood development in the Arab world.[6]

In March 2019, his son Prince Abdulaziz bin Talal assumed the council's chairmanship, succeeding his late father.[7]

Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz served as an Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and a high-level envoy for UNICEF.[8]

He also held the honorary presidency of the Ebsar Association for the Rehabilitation and Service of the Visually Impaired, alongside his chairmanship of the Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND).[9]

On the initiative of Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz, the AGFUND International Award committee approved doubling its value to one million dollars in 2017, and linked the award's theme to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.[10] AGFUND also established nine microfinance and financial inclusion banks in Jordan, Yemen, Bahrain, Syria, Lebanon, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Palestine and Mauritania, benefiting nearly 3.2 million people.[11]

In February 2008, he announced an initiative to assist the Palestinian people in Gaza with urgent aid valued at one million dollars, including medicines, medical equipment and supplies for children's hospitals and operating rooms.[12] Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz also visited the King Abdulaziz Foundation in Riyadh in 1426 AH/2005 as chairman of the Arab Gulf Programme for the United Nations Development Organizations.[13]

Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz passed away on Saturday 15 Rabi' al-Thani 1440 AH, corresponding to 22 December 2018, and the funeral prayer was performed after the Asr prayer on Sunday 16 Rabi' al-Thani 1440 AH, corresponding to 23 December 2018, at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Grand Mosque in Riyadh.[1][2]

He was buried in Al-Oud Cemetery in Riyadh.[3] His sons are Alwaleed, Khalid, Turki, Deputy Governor of Asir Region, Abdulaziz, Abdulrahman, Mansour, Mohammed and Mashhour.[2]

Q: Who is Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud? A: A Saudi prince whose name is associated with developmental and humanitarian work, he chaired the Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND) and the Board of Trustees of the Arab Open University.[4][5]

Q: What are the most prominent institutions he founded? A: The Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND) in 1980, and the Arab Council for Childhood and Development in 1987.[4][6]

Q: What was his role in education? A: He chaired the Board of Trustees of the Arab Open University, where teaching began in November 2002 and which was accredited in seven Arab countries, foremost among them the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.[5]

Q: When did he die and where was he buried? A: He died on Saturday 15 Rabi' al-Thani 1440 AH, corresponding to 22 December 2018, and was buried in Al-Oud Cemetery in Riyadh.[1][3]

Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz's career combined founding regional development institutions, chairing the Board of Trustees of the Arab Open University, and international and humanitarian work.[4][5][8] Related topics on the platform include King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal and King Abdulaziz Foundation.