Faisal, << FY suhl >> (1906?-1975), was king of Saudi Arabia from 1964 to 1975. Faisal’s name is sometimes spelled Faysal or Feisal. He restored harmony within the Al Saud ruling family and thus made the country’s government more stable. He also became an important world leader. On March 25, 1975, Faisal was assassinated by one of his nephews.
Faisal controlled Saudi Arabia’s vast oil resources. He used oil profits for industrialization, school and hospital construction, and many other public projects. In 1973, he authorized an Arab oil embargo against the United States and the Netherlands, nations that supported Israel in the 1973 Arab-Israeli war.
Faisal ibn Abd al-Aziz Al Saud was born in Riyadh. He was next in line to the throne from 1953 to 1964, and served as prime minister from 1953 to 1960 and from 1962 to 1964 when his brother Saud was king of Saudi Arabia.
See also Ibn Saud; Saudi Arabia (History).
