Abdullah bin Abdul-Rahman

Abdullah bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud ( ʿAbd Allāh bin ʿAbd ar Raḥman Āl Suʿūd; 1893 – 4 December 1976) was a Saudi Arabian statesman, soldier, and royal counsellor. He was a prominent advisor and member of the inner council of his elder half-brother, King Abdulaziz. After Abdulaziz died in 1953, Prince Abdullah continued to be involved in state affairs during the reigns of his nephews Saud, Faisal, and Khalid. He died in 1976.

Early life Abdullah bin Abdul Rahman was born in 1893. He had a number of half-siblings on his father's side; his half-brother Abdulaziz would become the king of Saudi Arabia, while his half-brothers Muhammad, Ahmed, and Musaid would all play an important role in the Saudi government. He led the Saudi forces in the capture of Hijaz in 1924. He was responsible for the capture and destruction of the Ikhwan centre of Ghat Ghat during the Ikhwan Revolt of 1929. Prince Abdullah and other senior family members met with King Abdulaziz upon the latter's request in late December 1934 to reaffirm their allegiance to Crown Prince Saud who had been appointed to the post in May 1933. However, Abdullah and his half-brothers Muhammad and Ahmed told the king that their allegiance to him was still active, but they did not renew their allegiance to the crown prince. and was given a left-hand drive Rolls-Royce. He also accompanied King Abdulaziz to the meeting with U.S. president Franklin D. Roosevelt on 14 February 1945.

Abdullah was part of the council of ministers with the title of chief advisor to King Saud. During the rivalry between King Saud and Crown Prince Faisal, Abdullah first supported the former in 1960. However, from 1961 he endorsed the actions of the latter, facilitating Faisal's attempts to be successful. Upon Prince Abdullah's endorsement of Crown Prince Faisal, King Saud reduced his allowance in April 1961. At the beginning of King Faisal's reign, Prince Abdullah became a member of the council which had been established by him to guide the succession issues.

Abdullah bin Abdul Rahman was among five senior princes who met immediately after the assassination of King Faisal and proclaimed then Crown Prince Khalid the king of Saudi Arabia.

Views, personal life and death Abdullah bin Abdul Rahman was conservative, and opposed some new policies of King Faisal, including reduction of financial support to tribal leaders, religious figures and older members of the royal family as well as educational reforms. His son, Abdul Rahman, was one of the members of Al Saud Family Council which was established in June 2000 by Crown Prince Abdullah to discuss private issues, including business activities of princes and marriages of princesses to non-royals. Abdul Rahman bin Abdullah married Noura bint Musaid, who was the daughter of his uncle Prince Musaid and died in July 2016.

Abdullah bin Abdul Rahman's son, Khalid bin Abdullah, married Al Jawhara bint Abdulaziz, full sister of the Sudairi Seven. Another, Noura, was the spouse of Turki bin Abdulaziz, her cousin.

Abdullah bin Abdul Rahman died on 4 December 1976.