Personal Life
Salman bin Abdulaziz married three times. He firstly married Sultana bint Turki Al Sudairi until her death at the age of 71 in late July 2011. She was a daughter of Prince Salman's maternal uncle, Turki bin Ahmad Al Sudairi, who was one of the former governors of Asir Province. Sultana Al Sudairi supported the Prince Fahd bin Salman Charitable Society for the Care of Kidney Patients and other charitable organizations in the country. His children from this marriage are Prince Fahd, Prince Ahmed, Prince Sultan, Prince Abdulaziz, Prince Faisal and Princess Hussa (born 1974).
His child from his second marriage with Sarah bint Faisal Al Sabayi is Prince Saud. His children from his third marriage with Fahda bint Falah bin Sultan Al Hithalayn are Prince Mohammed, Prince Turki, Prince Khalid, Prince Nayif, Prince Bandar and Prince Rakan.
His oldest son Fahd bin Salman died of heart failure at the age of 47 in July 2001. Another son, Ahmad bin Salman, died after a heart attack in July 2002 at the age of 43. His second son, Sultan bin Salman, became the first person of royal blood, the first Arab, and first Muslim to fly in outer space when he flew aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-51-G) in June 1985. He is the chairman of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiques (SCTA). Abdulaziz bin Salman, another son, has been the deputy minister of oil since 1995. Faisal bin Salman is the governor of Madinah province. One of his younger sons, Mohammad, is his private advisor at the ministry of defense and at the Crown Prince Court. Turki bin Salman became the chairman of the Saudi Research and Media Group in February 2013, replacing his elder brother Faisal bin Salman.
Prince Salman was the closest brother to the late Crown Prince Sultan, having remained at his side during his constant illness and recovery in New York and Morocco, nearly from 2008 to 2011. Prince Sultan described him as “the prince of loyalty” in a letter sent to him. Prince Salman was also late King Fahd’s most trusted advisor during his reign.
His legal counsel was William Jeffress Jr, of Houston-based Baker Botts LLP in a lawsuit filed by families of victims of 11 September terrorist attacks from 2002 to 2010.
Read more about this topic: Salman Bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud
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