Saudi's ‘Sleeping Prince’ turns 36 after two decades in coma

Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal, known across the Arab world as the “Sleeping Prince,” marked his 36th birthday on Friday, April 18, while remaining in a coma that has lasted more than two decades.

The Saudi royal has been unconscious since 2005 following a severe car accident in London.

Over the past 24 hours, the prince's birthday has sparked widespread attention on X, where thousands of users posted prayers, words of hope, and reflections on what has become a symbol of enduring faith.

Despite the passage of time, the prince remains on life support, relying on mechanical ventilation and a feeding tube. The last documented movements occurred in 2019, when he reportedly showed signs of limited awareness through small gestures, such as lifting a finger or slightly moving his head—though these moments did not indicate a return to full consciousness.

Prince Al-Waleed is currently being cared for at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, under the supervision of a dedicated medical team.

His family, including his father Prince Khaled bin Talal and his mother Princess Reema bint Talal, continues to express unwavering hope. In previous statements, Princess Reema has described her son's soul as “still present,” while Prince Khaled—who famously refused to remove life support—remains steadfast in his belief that “the One who preserved his soul all these years is capable of healing him.”

No new medical updates have been released by the family in conjunction with this year's birthday. However, the outpouring of support on social media underscores the prince’s lasting significance as a unifying human story across the region.

Experts have acknowledged that recovery after such a prolonged coma is medically unlikely, but they also point to ongoing advancements in neuroscience that could one day offer new possibilities. For now, the prince’s condition remains unchanged.