Abdul Majeed bin Abdul Aziz

Prince Abdul Majeed bin Abdul Aziz ( _ar. عبد المجيد بن عبدالعزيز آل سعود) (circa 1943Robert Lacey's book gives birth year as 1940, but Saudi press release gave age 65 at time of death.] –May 5 2007) was a Saudi Arabian prince. He was governor of Mecca for at least 20 years, up to the time of his death, including in 2000 when Mecca became the provincial capital of the region including Jeddah.Associated Press (May 7, 2007). [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/07/world/middleeast/07abdul.html?_r=1&ref=obituaries&oref=slogin Prince Abdul-Majid, Governor of Mecca, Dies at 65.] ] He was seen as a close ally of his half-brother, King Abdullah, who became King of Saudi Arabia on the death of their half-brother King Fahd in 2005.

Abdul Majeed was born in Riyadh, the 33rd son of King Abdul Aziz al-Saud, the first King of Saudi Arabia. His mother was Abdul Aziz's tenth wife, Haya bint Sa'ad al-Sudairy. [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article1816445.ece Obituary] , "The Times", 21 May 2007] He had two full brothers, Prince Badr and Prince Abdul Illah. He was the half-brother Abdul Aziz's successors as King, King Saud, King Faisal, King Khalid, King Fahd and King Abdullah.

He received his early education in Riyadh in traditional schools, including the Sheikh Abdullah Al-Khayyat and the Al-Anjal School in Riyadh. [http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=95849&d=6&m=5&y=2007 Prince Abdul Majeed Passes Away] , arabnews.com, 6 May 2007.] He served in the Royal Saudi Navy and then studied in the United Kingdom. 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 Mohsen, 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 Mecca province, and chairman of the Mecca Development Authority.Lacey, Robert (1982). "The Kingdom: Arabia and the House of Sa'ud." Avon Books, ISBN 978-0380617623] He was also chief of the central hajj committee. An ambitious programme of development was undertaken in Mecca under his stewardship at a cost of more than US$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 centres, 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.

He married Sara bint Abdul Mohsen al-Angari, and they had one son, Faisal bin Abdul Majeed. He suffered from leukaemia in later years, and died in Seattle, Washington after returning to the US following earlier surgery.

Prince Khalid al-Faisal was appointed as his successor as Governor of Mecca.

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