King Faisal Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, one of the most influential leaders in the modern Arab world, was assassinated on 25 March 1975. A champion of the Palestinian cause and an ardent advocate of pan-Islamism as a counter to the pan-Arabism espoused by nationalist leaders like Egypt’s Gamal Abdel Nasser, Faisal’s reign saw sweeping modernisation within Saudi Arabia while he positioned the kingdom as a formidable force in global geopolitics.
His assassination not only marked the loss of a visionary leader, but also the abrupt end of what some have seen as one of the most defiant voices against Western imperialism in the region, although the reality is more complex and rooted in pragmatism. While revolutionary Arab states like Nasser’s Egypt spearheaded anti-imperialist movements, “reactionary” Saudi Arabia maintained strategic ties with the US, particularly in Yemen, where Faisal supported royalist forces in a proxy war against Nasser’s republican allies, although these relations would become stronger with subsequent kings.
A prince shaped by war and diplomacy
Born in April 1906 in Riyadh, Faisal was raised in a deeply political environment. His father, King Abdulaziz, had just begun unifying the Arabian Peninsula, a campaign in which Faisal played an early role. As a young prince, he led military expeditions to consolidate Saudi rule and, by his teenage years, was already a key figure in Saudi diplomacy. At 14, he represented his father in London, where he gained first-hand exposure to Western power structures.
His diplomatic prowess led to his appointment as Foreign Minister in 1930, a role that he would hold until his death, barring a brief hiatus. As an early opponent of the partition of Palestine, Faisal’s political consciousness was shaped deeply by Britain’s betrayal of Arab independence and the Zionist colonisation of Palestine.
King Faisal Ibn Abdul-Aziz āl-Saud (رحمه الله) on Zionism pic.twitter.com/dOTN9FIvhu
— رعد (@RaadTheShepherd) October 11, 2023
Faisal’s rise to power
Faisal’s ascent to the throne was marked by a power struggle with his half-brother, King Saud, whose mismanagement of the kingdom’s finances and foreign affairs had drawn internal and external criticism. In 1964, with the support of the royal family and religious establishment, Faisal deposed Saud and assumed power.
His reign was defined by a dual strategy: modernising Saudi Arabia’s infrastructure and economy while reinforcing Islamic identity as a unifying force across the Muslim world. He introduced sweeping reforms, including the establishment of the first public schools for girls (founded by his most prominent wife Queen Iffat Al-Thunayan Al-Saud), despite conservative opposition, and a modern banking system. Yet, Faisal was acutely aware of Western imperialist designs in the Middle East and sought to bolster pan-Islamic solidarity as a countermeasure.
READ: Remembering the 1919 Faisal-Weizmann Agreement
Advocate for Palestine and the OIC
Of all Faisal’s foreign policy priorities, none was more important than Palestine. He viewed the Palestinian struggle as emblematic of the broader colonial oppression inflicted upon the Muslim world.
Outspoken against Zionism, he made no secret of his disdain for the occupation state of Israel.
During a radio broadcast in 1965, he said: “We consider the issue of Palestine our cause and the first Arab cause, and Palestine is more valuable to us than oil. Oil can be used as a weapon in battle if necessary. The Palestinian people must return to their homeland, even if it costs us all our lives.”
King Faisal (ra) vowed the Kingdom would never abandon their Palestinian brethren and recognize Israel. pic.twitter.com/0MDHX8ElBv
— The Mad Mamluks (@TheMadMamluks) March 14, 2023
Following the 1969 arson attack on Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, Faisal spearheaded the formation of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (later Cooperation, the OIC), a move that cemented his role as a pan-Islamic leader. The OIC became a platform to rally Muslim-majority countries and those with significant populations in support of Palestine, an effort that Faisal saw as a direct challenge to Western hegemony in the region.
The 1973 oil embargo
Perhaps Faisal’s most audacious move came in 1973, during the October War between Arab states and Israel. In response to US and Western support for Israel, he led a coalition of oil-producing nations in imposing an embargo on oil exports to pro-Israel states. This decision triggered an energy crisis that sent shockwaves through Western economies, exposing their dependence on Middle Eastern resources.
At the time, he warned that, “If the United States does not change its policy in the Middle East and continues to side with Zionism, then, I am afraid, such course of action will affect our relations with our American friends because it will place us in an untenable position in the Arab world and vis‐a‐vis the countries which Zionism seeks to destroy.”
The embargo solidified Faisal’s reputation as a leader who was unafraid to use economic warfare to advance Arab and Muslim interests.
It also demonstrated that the Arab world had leverage against Western powers. However, while the embargo elevated Saudi Arabia’s economic and political influence — raising oil prices and facilitating the kingdom’s takeover of Aramco — it also deepened Riyadh’s dependence on Washington, ultimately cementing its long-term strategic relationship with the US.
OPINION: Why calls for oil embargo on Israel are unlikely to go anywhere
The Soviet jihad
During the Cold War, Faisal’s pan-Islamic vision extended beyond the Arab world. He saw Islam as a tool to counter both Western imperialism and “godless communism”. When the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979, Faisal’s policies had already laid the groundwork for what would become the global mobilisation of mujahideen against communism.
Saudi Arabia, alongside the US and Pakistan, played a key role in supporting the Afghan mujahideen, a movement that would have long-term consequences for the Muslim world and global security.
Faisal’s commitment to Islamic solidarity was instrumental in fostering Saudi soft power and shaping the country’s later role in funding and supporting Islamist movements, some of which would evolve into powerful political and militant entities. While his successors fully embraced the US-backed jihad in Afghanistan, Faisal’s ideological groundwork had already framed the Soviet Union as an existential enemy of Islam.
Assassination
On 25 March 1975, King Faisal was assassinated by his nephew, Prince Faisal Bin Musaid, during a royal audience in Riyadh. The official narrative attributes the assassination to personal revenge, as the prince’s brother had been killed by Saudi security forces years earlier. However, many speculate that Faisal’s staunch opposition to Western imperialism and Zionism made him a target of covert operations seeking to destabilise his legacy.
In 2020, former Saudi intelligence chief, Prince Turki Al-Faisal said that, “The probe that continued for two months concluded that the assassination of King Faisal was an individual act and no foreign party had any links with it.”
Faisal’s funeral was attended by leaders from across the Muslim world, a testament to his influence and the void left behind by his death. He was buried in Riyadh’s Al-Oud Cemetery, and was succeeded by his half-brother Khalid. Another prince and future king, Fahd Bin Abdulaziz, was appointed as crown prince.
A legacy that lives on
King Faisal remains an enduring symbol of resistance against Western hegemony and unwavering support for the Palestinian cause.
His warnings about Zionist expansionism and Western complicity in the oppression of Muslims resonate as strongly today as they did during his lifetime.
Faisal’s influence can be seen in landmarks and institutions bearing his name, which stand as a testament to his legacy. The Faisal Mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan — one of the largest mosques in the world — was funded by Saudi Arabia and named in his honour as a symbol of Islamic unity and solidarity. Similarly, the Pakistani city of Lyallpur was renamed Faisalabad in 1979, recognising his contributions to the Muslim world and his close ties with Pakistan.
Saudi Arabia needs another King Faisal to pull the country out from the grip of materialism. https://t.co/PKTYIgVHQs
— Irena Akbar (@irenaakbar) May 16, 2021
Beyond such tributes, Faisal’s outspoken stance on Zionist expansionism and his strategic use of economic and diplomatic pressure continue to be referenced by those advocating for Palestinian rights. Many have called for another King Faisal to effectively deal with the occupation state, especially in light of the genocide in Gaza.
The late king’s words and actions serve as a reminder of what principled and fearless leadership looked like. For many, his reign stands in stark contrast to the current trajectory of Saudi Arabia, marked by growing speculation over normalisation with Israel and an era of rapid, state-driven hyper-modernisation. His influence on pan-Islamic alliances and Cold War-era geopolitics continues to have an impact on the region, fifty years after his assassination.
READ: Shaukat Ali Khan (1873-1938): Indian freedom fighter and great supporter of Palestine
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