Turki bin Abdullah Al Saud

Turki bin Abdullah Al Saud (الأمير تركي بن عبد الله آل سعود) (born 21 October 1971) is the seventh son of the late King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, who ruled Saudi Arabia from 2005 until his death in 2015 and a member of the House of Saud. He served as deputy governor of Riyadh Province from 2013 to 2014 and as governor of Riyadh Province from 14 May 2014 to 29 January 2015. He was one of the 11 princes detained by Mohammad bin Salman as a part of his anti-corruption drive, on accusations of corruption in the Riyadh Metro project and taking advantage of his influence to award contracts to his own companies.

Early life and education
Turki bin Abdullah was born on 21 October 1971. He is the seventh son of King Abdullah, late king of Saudi Arabia. His mother is Tathi bint Mishan al Faisal al Jarba (al Jarbah), a member of the Iraqi branch of the Shammar tribe.

Prince Turki began his higher education at King Faisal Air College. Then he went to the United States to continue his education, and trained at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. He was also trained at King Fahd Air Base in Taif. Then he attended a course of command and staff at Joint Command College in the United Kingdom and received a master's degree in military science. He also holds a master's degree in strategic studies, which he obtained from the University of Wales. Prince Turki is a PhD candidate in international strategic studies at the University of Leeds.

Career
Turki bin Abdullah was a military officer and a jet pilot at the Royal Saudi Air Force. In October 1997, he was promoted to the rank of captain pilot. Then he was promoted to the rank of colonel. In July 2006, Prince Turki was decorated with the rank of lieutenant colonel pilot. Then Prince Turki worked at King Abdulaziz Air Base in Dhahran as the commander of Squadron 92, 3rd air wing with a rank of group captain. In 2010, Prince Turki served as the commander of the ‘Red Flag-4’ exercise group.

In addition, Prince Turki is the head of the board of directors of the Saudi Equestrian Fund, and has also several business investments in Saudi Arabia, including Al Obayya Corp.

He was appointed deputy governor of the Riyadh province on 14 February 2013, replacing Muhammad bin Saad in the post. Therefore, Prince Turki became deputy of the governor, Khalid bin Bandar, who was also appointed the same day. On 14 May 2014, he was appointed governor of Riyadh at rank of minister. Prince Turki's term as governor ended on 29 January 2015 when Faisal bin Bandar Al Saud was appointed to the post.

In 2005 Prince Turki bin Abdullah co-founded of PetroSaudi, a private oil company. The company grew from drilling and oilfield management into trading, opening offices in London’s Mayfair district with pictures of Saudi royalty and decked with national flags. The company that is embroiled in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal. Prince Turki bin Abdullah is claimed to be the Saudi royal who gifted Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak $700 million.

Arrest
On 4 November 2017, Turki bin Abdullah Al Saud was detained on accusations of corruption in the Riyadh Metro project and taking advantage of his influence to award contracts to his own companies in a "corruption crackdown" conducted by a new royal anti-corruption committee in Saudi Arabia. This was done on authority of Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman. As of a year later (that is, early November 2018), Prince Turki remains in captivity.

Achievements
Prince Turki was one of the key characters for Riyadh's metro creation.

Prince Turki is an active member of King Abdulaziz Foundation, as well as Prince Muhammed bin Abdulaziz Hospital in Riyadh. He assisted in the "intellectual security" inauguration ceremony alongside the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice.

A street called after Turki bin Abdullah Al Saud's name exists in the Sulaimania area of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Personal life
Prince Turki is the son-in-law of Prince Khalid bin Sultan, via his marriage to Princess Hala bint Khalid which was contracted on 14 January 2010.