After 20 long years in a coma, Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, widely known as Saudi Arabia’s Sleeping Prince, has passed away at the age of 36. His death marks the end of one of the most extraordinary and heartbreaking medical journeys in recent royal history—one that blended hope, wealth, spiritual devotion, and medical science in a vigil few could imagine, let alone sustain.

In 2005, while studying in the United Kingdom, 15-year-old Al-Waleed was involved in a devastating traffic accident that left him with severe brain injuries. Despite emergency interventions, he slipped into a deep coma from which he would never wake. Soon after, he was transported back to Riyadh, where he remained under intensive medical care for two decades.

He was housed at King Abdulaziz Medical City, one of the kingdom’s top-tier medical centers, and remained on life support—breathing through a ventilator, fed through tubes, his body cared for day and night by a rotating team of doctors and nurses.

Over the years, his condition became a national symbol of suspended hope. Family members, particularly his father, Prince Khaled bin Talal, became known for their unwavering belief in divine healing and their refusal to accept any suggestion of withdrawing life support.

The cost of Prince Al-Waleed’s care is difficult to precisely calculate, but conservative estimates suggest it could have exceeded $40 million USD (around 150 million Saudi riyals). Daily intensive care in Saudi Arabia ranges from 10,000 to 20,000 riyals, and Prince Al-Waleed’s high-profile case likely involved the best equipment, foreign consultations, and round-the-clock monitoring.

To put this in perspective, the prince’s medical expenses over 20 years may have exceeded the total wealth most middle-class families in the world would earn across several generations.

Still, his family spared no expense. For Prince Khaled, no amount of money was too much to preserve his son’s life. “If God had wanted him to die, he would have taken him that day,” the father once said in response to doctors who advised halting life support.

When Faith and Science Intersect

Though no official records have been released about experimental treatments, it is believed that Al-Waleed’s medical journey combined the most advanced neurological monitoring with deep-rooted Islamic spiritual practices.

Every day, Quranic verses were recited by his bedside. Religious scholars visited frequently. Some video clips, shared occasionally by his aunt Princess Rima bint Talal, showed him slightly moving his head or fingers—moments interpreted by some as signs of awareness. However, medical professionals consistently clarified that such movements were involuntary, the result of reflexes, not consciousness.

One health worker, who asked to remain anonymous, described the prince’s care as “a journey that went beyond medicine—a blend of soul and science.” They recounted the emotional and psychological training provided to long-term caregivers, from spiritual grounding to physical endurance. Whether seen as symbolic or functional, this approach underscores how care in this case extended far beyond physical treatment.

Despite public and private pressures, Prince Khaled never once agreed to withdraw his son from life support. Over the years, his public statements reflected his deep faith and a father’s refusal to give up on a miracle. The royal family, especially Khaled’s branch, remained emotionally and spiritually invested in Al-Waleed’s survival.

Al-Waleed’s hospital room became more than a clinical space—it turned into a shrine of faith and familial love. The prince was commemorated during major Islamic holidays and regularly included in public prayers. His story inspired millions across the Arab world, particularly those who saw his condition as a test of divine will.

The End of the Journey

On July 19, 2025, the royal court announced the prince’s death. No details were released regarding any change in his medical condition before passing. Funeral prayers were held the next day at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh. Men prayed after Asr, and women after Dhuhr at King Faisal Specialist Hospital.

Social media lit up with messages of condolence. The Arabic hashtag #الأمير_النائم (“The Sleeping Prince”) trended across Saudi Arabia and the broader Middle East. Many users posted prayers, while others expressed admiration for the family’s 20-year perseverance.

A Mirror to Society and Ethics

Prince Al-Waleed’s story, while deeply personal, also opens a wider conversation on the ethics and economics of prolonged life support. In many Western countries, cases like his might not be sustained for so long, with decisions often guided by medical futility and healthcare policy. In contrast, Saudi society—where religious belief, familial loyalty, and royal resources intersect—allowed a different path.

For many, this case became a symbol of absolute parental love. For others, it raised ethical concerns about medical futility, costs, and whether sustaining life without consciousness is truly humane.

Yet, no one could deny the magnitude of sacrifice his family made, financially and emotionally. In a society where letting go can be seen as weakness or lack of faith, the royal family’s decision represented not just medical resilience but also spiritual endurance.

Al-Waleed bin Khaled may never have opened his eyes again, but his silent presence shaped the lives of those around him. His story influenced debates in medical ethics, religion, and the philosophy of life itself. He became a symbol of unconditional love, of science’s limits, and of the unrelenting belief in miracles.

His passing closes a long and solemn chapter. For his family, especially his father, it is the end of a journey built on hope, faith, and the dream of waking someone from what now feels like a 20-year prayer.

In the end, the Sleeping Prince never woke up. But he left behind a wake of reflection that may stir the world for years to come.