Noura bint Abdul Rahman Al Saud

Noura bint Abdul Rahman Al Saud ( Noura bint ʿAbd ar Raḥman Āl Suʿūd; 1875 – July 1950) was the eldest daughter of Abdul Rahman bin Faisal, Emir of Nejd, and the elder sister and adviser of King Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia.

Early life

Noura was born in Riyadh in 1875. She was the eldest daughter of Abdul Rahman bin Faisal bin Turki and full sister of Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman, who would establish the modern Saudi Arabia and rule as its first king. Noura's other full siblings included Faisal, Bazza, Haya and Saad. Sara bint Ahmed, or 1910. Noura also had a number of half-siblings from her father's other marriages, including Muhammad, Abdullah, Ahmed, and Musaid.

Noura and her brother Abdulaziz attended a mosque school in Riyadh when their father was in Hail province under the Al Rashid rule. There she learned to read and write from her early years which was a very rare quality for an Arab girl at the time. In 1891 Noura left Riyadh with her family members when her father was forced into exile. It is well known that on several occasions, King Abdulaziz identified himself in public by proclaiming "I am the brother of Noura." Muhammad bin Abdul Rahman, another of her younger brothers, also used to say the same. and even took his place in running the state when he was unable to do so.

She was also known to be quite progressive and outspoken. For instance, when the telephone was first introduced to the country, many Islamic clerics rejected it and considered it to be a tool of the devil, but she actively supported its use and argued that it was an amazing device that they would not be able to live without. In addition, Noura was a pioneer in charity activities and the founder of the first charity program for the poor and orphans in the country.

Personal life

Noura bint Abdul Rahman married Saud bin Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Faisal, known as Saud Al Kabir, in 1905. Emir of Nejd from 1871 to 1875 Saud Al Kabir then married Noura. In other words, Saud Al Kabir's loyalty to Abdulaziz was secured as a result of his marriage to Noura bint Abdul Rahman. Since then, the Al Kabir branch has become influential, but they have been mostly kept away from political power.

Noura and her husband had three children: two daughters, Hessa and Al Jawhara, followed by a son, Mohammed. Prince Mohammed was a senior and respected prince due to his powerful tribal knowledge and connections. Princess Al Jawhara was the third spouse of Noura's nephew King Faisal. They married in October 1935.

Noura's grandchildren include the Saudi businessman Sultan bin Mohammad Al Kabir and Princess Mashael, daughter of King Faisal and Al Jawhara. Following the establishment of the Kingdom the family moved to the newly built Al Shamsiah Palace, outside Riyadh, which is in the Al Murabba neighborhood.

Death Noura died in July 1950 at the age of 75, a few years before King Abdulaziz.

Legacy Princess Noura University was named in 2008 by King Abdullah in her memory. The university is considered to be one of the largest universities of its type and can accommodate 50,000 female students. It reflected King Abdullah's appreciation for his aunt Noura bint Abdul Rahman.