Khalid al Faisal

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His Royal Highness Prince Khalid Al-Faisal bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud

Prince Khalid Al-Faisal bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud (* 1941) is the son of His late Majesty King Faisal bin Abdul Aziz and the governor of Makkah Province in western Saudi Arabia, which includes Islam's holiest city, Mecca, as well as Saudi Arabia's main seaport and second largest city, Jeddah. As the son of a king, Prince Khalid Al-Faisal holds the rank of His Royal Highness. His half-brothers include Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Saud Al Faisal and Prince Turki Al Faisal former Saudi Intelligence chief and former Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to the UK and USA.

He was appointed governor of Makkah Province on 16 May, 2007.^[1] Prior to that, he had served as governor of 'Asir Province in south-western Saudi Arabia from 1971 to 2007. The spectacular region inspired the Prince in his artwork, as he is an accomplished artist. Before his appointment as governor of Asir he served as Director General of the Presidency of Youth Welfare. Prince Khalid has a degree in political economy from Oxford University.

Prince Khalid Al-Faisal is the Director General of the King Faisal Foundation - one of the largest philantropic and charitable foundations in the world. After the crucial terrorist attacks in the country, Prince Khalid criticised Islamic Fundamentalists and accused them of preaching hatred and violent ideologies.

He is known to be a close friend with the Prince of Wales and together with him in 2000 and 2001 Prince Khalid Al-Faisal launched the Painting & Patronage initiative which brought together the two royal artists and patrons of the arts in the largest cultural exchange programme between Saudi Arabia and Britain. Subsequent events have taken place with President Jorge Sampaio of Portugal.