Muhammad bin Saad Al Saud (Arabic: محمد بن سعد آل سعود; born 1944) is a former deputy governor of Riyadh Province, member of the House of Saud, and one of the grandsons of Saudi Arabia's King Abdulaziz. He has been in detention since March 2020.[citation needed]
Muhammad bin Saad was born in Riyadh in 1944[1][2] to Prince Saad, the seventh son of King Abdulaziz.[3] Prince Saad was not given a significant political position due to his weak and negligible character like his half-brother Prince Bandar.[3]
After completing his secondary education in Riyadh, Prince Muhammad went to the United Kingdom to join the Royal Air Force College Cranwell in 1962 and received training as a pilot, graduating with a bachelor's degree in military science and aviation.[2] He also attended an advanced flight course, a combat aviation course and then, a fighter interceptor course in the United Kingdom.[2]
Muhammad bin Saad has both military experience and governmental experience.[4] He began his career as a military officer and served in different branches of the Saudi air force. He was first appointed to the sixth squadron at Khamis Musheet base for lightning aircraft.[2] He, then, served at the Dhahran air base, and his military career lasted until 1975.[2]
From 1984 to 1992, Muhammad bin Saad served as the deputy governor of Al Qassim Province.[2][4] Then, he was appointed advisor to Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz, interior minister, in 1992.[2][5][6] When Prince Nayef was appointed second deputy prime minister in 2009, Prince Muhammad was appointed his advisor.[7] His tenure lasted until 2011, when he was made deputy governor of the Riyadh Province at the rank of minister.[8][9] He was relieved of his duty on his request on 14 February 2013 and replaced by Turki bin Abdullah as deputy governor.[10]
Prince Muhammad was one of the founders of the Dar Al Maal Al Islami Trust which was initiated by Mohammed bin Faisal Al Saud, King Faisal's son, in 1981.[11] He is a member of the Allegiance Council which was established in 2007.[12]
His spouse is Seeta bint Saud, a daughter of King Saud.[13]
Muhammad bin Saad is one of three members of the Allegiance Council who did not support the appointment of Mohammad bin Salman as crown prince on 21 June 2017.[14] The others were Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al Saud.[14] The latter represented his older brother, Khalid bin Abdullah, at the meeting of the council.[14] Muhammad bin Saad was arrested in March 2020 together with other members of the royal family and senior figures.[12][15]