- Khalid of Saudi Arabia
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Bandar bin Khalid
*Abdallah bin Khalid
*al-Jauhara bint Khalid
*Nuf bint Khalid
*Mudhi bint Khalid
*Fahd bin Khalid
*Nura bint Khalid
*Hussa bint Khalid
*al-Bandari bint Khalid
*Saud bin Khalid
*Misha'il bint Khalid
*Saad bin Khalid
*Faysal bin Khalid Khalid bin Abdul Aziz, King of Saudi Arabia (Arabic: خالد بن عبد العزيز آل سعود b. 1912–
June 13 ,1982 ) was King ofSaudi Arabia from the assassination of King Faisal in 1975 until his own death in 1982.Khalid was named
Crown Prince in 1965, after his older brother (and only full brother)Muhammad bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud declined a place in the succession. He was not very interested in politics and gave effective control of the country to his brother Crown Prince Fahd. Khalid's preparation for ruling a modern state included his accompanyingFaisal on foreign missions and representing Saudi Arabia at theUnited Nations . He was more liberal in terms of informing the press of the rationale behind foreign policy decisions.The king's first diplomatic coup was the conclusion in April 1975 of a demarcation agreement concerning the
Al Buraymi Oasis , where the frontiers ofAbu Dhabi ,Oman , and Saudi Arabia meet. Claims and counterclaims over this frontier had exacerbated relations among them for years. The conclusion of negotiations under Khalid added to his stature as a statesman.In a reorganisation of the Council of Ministers in 1975, Khalid named
Crown Prince Fahd deputyprime minister . In 1976 the strains of office began to tell on Khalid, forcing him to return to theUnited States for successful open-heart surgery inCleveland ,Ohio . Khalid asked President Carter to sell advanced fighter planes to Saudi Arabia to assist in countering communist aggression in the area. The first delivery of the sixty F-15s under the agreement approved by Carter arrived in the kingdom in 1982. Some foreign observers thought traditionalism was no longer a strong force in Saudi Arabia. This idea was disproved when at least 500 dissidents invaded and seized theGrand Mosque inMecca onNovember 20 ,1979 .He decided to bring in foreign labour to help with the country's development. A relatively easy-going but pious man, he died of a heart attack. He had purchased a
Boeing 747 with an operating room should he be stricken while on his travels. He was succeeded by Fahd.The strict financial policies of his predecessor, coupled with the aftermath of the
1973 oil crisis , created a financial windfall that fueled development and led to a commercial and economic boom in the country. Notable achievements included the institution of the second "Five-Year Plan " in Saudi history, which aimed to build up Saudi infrastructure andhealth care . He also called numerous summits and inaugurated theGulf Co-operation Council in 1981.King Khalid International Airport inRiyadh andKing Khalid Military City were both named after him, and his reign is remembered fondly bySaudi citizens for the economic prosperity inaugurated during his reign. Unlike other Saudi kings, his children have assumed a low profile and hold no notable political positions.
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