Muhammed bin Saud Al Saud

Mohammad bin Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (21 March 1934 – 8 July 2012) was a member of the House of Saud. He was the only son of King Saud to hold high office after his father's deposition. Later, another son of King Saud, Mishaal bin Saud, became the governor of Najran Province.

Early life
Prince Muhammed was born on 21 March 1934. He was the third son of King Saud. His mother, Baraka al-Raziqi al-Alma'i from Asir in the southern part of the Kingdom. Prince Muhammed memorized parts of the Quran. He studied and graduated from the Princes School with his older brothers. He then went to Europe to study English and French. Prince Muhammed is from the eldest generation of King Abdulaziz's family. King Saud relied on him on many tasks regarding the independence of the Arab countries.

Career
During the reign of his father, King Saud, Prince Muhammed held many governmental positions. He began his service as the chief of the Royal Court. Then he was appointed the Saudi Royal Guard Regiment in 1953. Later, he was appointed the minister of defense and inspector general in December 1960 succeeding his brother Fahd bin Saud in the post. His tenure ended on 31 October 1962. And, was a Minister of Finance and stayed for only six days. Prince Muhammed served as the deputy governor of the Al Bahah province until 1987. Next, he served as the governor of this province from September 1987 to 2010. He resigned from his post due to health-problems. His brother Mishari bin Saud replaced him in the post in 2010.

Political rehabilitation
Prince Muhammed was among King Saud's most important supporters during the latter's reign. Following a power struggle with his half-brother, then-Crown Prince Faisal. In November 1964, Prince Muhammad pledged his allegiance to King Faisal. He was the first of the King Saud's sons to do so, reportedly because he was married to King Faisal’s daughter, Princess Sara. Prince Muhammed held several important positions.

Other positions
Prince Muhammed bin Saud was a member of the Allegiance Council from 2007 to his death on 8 July 2012. He was also a member of King Saud Foundation based in Jeddah. Prince Muhammed had various business activities.

Personal life
Prince Muhammed bin Saud's spouse is Princess Sara bint Faisal, the daughter of late King Faisal. Prince Muhammed had four children.


 * Prince Faisal (born 11 September 1951), who has eight children: Prince Fahad, Prince Salman, Prince Sultan, Prince Saad, Prince Mohammed, Princess Ameerah, Princess Sarah, and Prince Mansour.
 * Prince Khalid
 * Prince Mishaal (born 24 August 1956), who has five children: Prince Saud, Princess Al Anoud, Prince Abdulrahman, Prince Mohammed, and Prince Sultan.
 * Princess Noura.

Prince Faisal bin Muhammed received a PhD degree. He was appointed the deputy governor of Al Bahah province on 31 October 1988.

Death and funeral
On 8 July 2012, the Saudi Royal Court announced that Prince Muhammed bin Saud had died in Riyadh. He was 78. King Salman bin Abdulaziz performed funeral prayer for him after Maghrib (sunset) prayer on 10 July 2012 at Imam Turki bin Abdullah mosque in Riyadh. Sheikh Abdallah bin Abdulaziz Al Shaykh led the funeral prayer as Imam. There is a documented book on his biography by Mr. Mohammed bin Abdullah bin Saleh Mullah called Prince Mohammed bin Saud Biography and History.