Abdul Majeed bin Abdul Aziz
Encyclopedia
Prince Abdul-Majeed bin Abdul-Aziz (1940 –May 5, 2007) was a prominent Saudi prince. He was seen as a close ally of his half-brother, King Abdullah
. . He served as Governor of Tabuk Province from 1980-1986. He served as Governor of Madinah Province from 1986-2000. He was governor of Makkah Province from 2000-2007.
as the 33rd son of King Abdul-Aziz
. His mother was Abdul-Aziz's tenth wife, Haya bint Sa'ad al-Sudairy. He had two full brothers, Prince Badr and Prince Abdullilah.
He received his early education in Riyadh in traditional schools, including the Sheikh Abdullah Al-Khayyat and the Al-Anjal School in Riyadh. He served in the Royal Saudi Navy
and then studied in the United Kingdom
.
After the death of his half-brother, Abdul-Muhsin, in 1986, Abdul-Majeed took his brother's place as Governor of Medina Province. The Prophet's Mosque in Medina
and surrounding areas were redeveloped during his 14-year term of office. He also established the Taiba Investment Corporation in Medina.
In 2000, he became the governor of the Makkah Province and chairman of the Mecca Development Authority. He was also chief of the central hajj committee. In 2000, Mecca became the provincial capital of the region including Jeddah
. An ambitious program of development was undertaken in Mecca
under his stewardship at a cost of more than $27 billion. The developments were centered on the Two Holy Mosques, the Masjid al-Haram
in Mecca and the Masjid-e-Nabawi in Medina, the key destination in the annual Hajj
pilgrimage, which attract millions of visitors each year. Huge commercial developments sprouted in surrounding areas, such as the Jebel Omar scheme, which houses hotels, convention and conference centers, and prayer facilities. Architectural historians criticized the accompanying destruction of historic sites. Communications links were improved, including port facilities were improved at Jeddah, airports, and roads.
He called for participation of women in public life in Saudi Arabia. The Khadeeja bint Khuwailed Centre for Businesswomen was established in Jeddah in 2003 by the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, under his patronage. He also served on many public and charitable committees. He pushed for the creation of the first motor racing track in Saudi Arabia, and for mandatory blood testing before marriage to avoid disease.
Abdullah of Saudi Arabia
Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, is the King of Saudi Arabia. He succeeded to the throne on 1 August 2005 upon the death of his half-brother, King Fahd. When Crown Prince, he governed Saudi Arabia as regent from 1998 to 2005...
. . He served as Governor of Tabuk Province from 1980-1986. He served as Governor of Madinah Province from 1986-2000. He was governor of Makkah Province from 2000-2007.
Early Life and Education
Abdul-Majeed was born in RiyadhRiyadh
Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of Riyadh Province, and belongs to the historical regions of Najd and Al-Yamama. It is situated in the center of the Arabian Peninsula on a large plateau, and is home to 5,254,560 people, and the urban center of a...
as the 33rd son of King Abdul-Aziz
Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia
King Abdul-Aziz of Saudi Arabia was the first monarch of the Third Saudi State known as Saudi Arabia. He was commonly referred to as Ibn Saud....
. His mother was Abdul-Aziz's tenth wife, Haya bint Sa'ad al-Sudairy. He had two full brothers, Prince Badr and Prince Abdullilah.
He received his early education in Riyadh in traditional schools, including the Sheikh Abdullah Al-Khayyat and the Al-Anjal School in Riyadh. He served in the Royal Saudi Navy
Royal Saudi Navy
The Royal Saudi Navy is the Naval force of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Royal Saudi Navy is sometimes referred to as the RSNF . The Navy has about 15,000 officers and men, including 3,000 Marines. The Naval headquarters is in Riyadh. The Western Fleet is based in the Red Sea with the main base...
and then studied in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Governorships
He returned to Saudi Arabia to become Governor of the northerly Tabuk Province in 1980. Agriculture was developed in the province during his governorship, and the area became one of the kingdom's main producers crops such as wheat and fruit.After the death of his half-brother, Abdul-Muhsin, in 1986, Abdul-Majeed took his brother's place as Governor of Medina Province. The Prophet's Mosque in Medina
Medina
Medina , or ; also transliterated as Madinah, or madinat al-nabi "the city of the prophet") is a city in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, and serves as the capital of the Al Madinah Province. It is the second holiest city in Islam, and the burial place of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, and...
and surrounding areas were redeveloped during his 14-year term of office. He also established the Taiba Investment Corporation in Medina.
In 2000, he became the governor of the Makkah Province and chairman of the Mecca Development Authority. He was also chief of the central hajj committee. In 2000, Mecca became the provincial capital of the region including Jeddah
Jeddah
Jeddah, Jiddah, Jidda, or Jedda is a city located on the coast of the Red Sea and is the major urban center of western Saudi Arabia. It is the largest city in Makkah Province, the largest sea port on the Red Sea, and the second largest city in Saudi Arabia after the capital city, Riyadh. The...
. An ambitious program of development was undertaken in Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
under his stewardship at a cost of more than $27 billion. The developments were centered on the Two Holy Mosques, the Masjid al-Haram
Masjid al-Haram
Al-Masjid al-Ḥarām is the largest mosque in the world. Located in the city of Mecca, it surrounds the Kaaba, the place which Muslims worldwide turn towards while performing daily prayers and is Islam's holiest place...
in Mecca and the Masjid-e-Nabawi in Medina, the key destination in the annual Hajj
Hajj
The Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is one of the largest pilgrimages in the world, and is the fifth pillar of Islam, a religious duty that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so...
pilgrimage, which attract millions of visitors each year. Huge commercial developments sprouted in surrounding areas, such as the Jebel Omar scheme, which houses hotels, convention and conference centers, and prayer facilities. Architectural historians criticized the accompanying destruction of historic sites. Communications links were improved, including port facilities were improved at Jeddah, airports, and roads.
He called for participation of women in public life in Saudi Arabia. The Khadeeja bint Khuwailed Centre for Businesswomen was established in Jeddah in 2003 by the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, under his patronage. He also served on many public and charitable committees. He pushed for the creation of the first motor racing track in Saudi Arabia, and for mandatory blood testing before marriage to avoid disease.