Al Oud cemetery

Al Oud Cemetery (Arabic: مقبرة العود) is a public cemetery in the al-Owd neighbourhood of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, known for being the resting place of many kings, queens, crown princes and royals of the second and current Saudi states.^[1][2] The word "al-ʿŪud", in Peninsular Arabic means "elder (older person)", likely referring to King Abdulaziz, who was buried in the cemetery.^[3]

Al Oud Cemetery
Details
Location	Al Oud, Riyadh
Country	Saudi Arabia
Coordinates	24°37′23″N 46°43′40″E
Type	Muslim
Owned by	Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Location

Al Oud graveyard is situated at Al Ghafran district and around 1 km away from Batha'a street, the center of Riyadh.^[4] More specifically, the cemetery is on the right hand side of Batha'a street going south, between Al Diryah and Manhub.^[5] It is some 2 1/2 km from the Imam Turki bin Abdullah mosque.^[6] In March 2012, the environmental health directorate of the Riyadh municipality started a project to mark each grave electronically.^[7] People usually go there to pay respects to the dead.

Burials

The cemetery is well-known, since it is the resting place for many members of the Saudi royal family, including King Abdulaziz, King Fahd, King Khalid, King Faisal, King Saud, and King Abdullah and many of their wives and children.^{[8][9][10][11]}

Other senior royal figures, such as Prince Sultan, Prince Fahd, Prince Ahmed, Sultana bint Turki bin Ahmad Al Sudairi, wife of King Salman, Hussa bint Turki al Awwal, and Sultan bin Faisal bin Turki bin Abdullah were also buried there.^{[8][12][13][14]} The others include Prince Nasser, Prince Faisal, Prince Abdul Majeed, Prince Badr, Prince Muhammed, Prince Turki, Sultana bint Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Saud bin Abdullah Al Saud.

Well-known writer and public-figure Ghazi Abdul Rahman Al Gosaibi was buried there, too.^[15] The graveyard is being used for both commoners and royalty.^[4]

References

1. "The Dream of Gerontocracy". The Weekly Middle East Reporter. Beirut. 29 October 2011. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
2. "العود.. مقبرة الأئمة والملوك والأمراء وأعيان الرياض على مدى عقود, أخبــــــار". archive.aawsat.com. 26 October 2011. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
3. "مقبرة العود .. مرقد الملوك بين «البسطاء»". Aleqt (in Arabic). 25 October 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
4. Hameed, P A (26 October 2011). "Riyadh: Sultan Al Khair Laid To Rest through a Simple Ceremony". Daiji World. Riyadh. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
5. "Cemeteries". Riyadh. Archived from the original on 1 August 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
6. Hasni, Areeb (25 October 2011). "Saudi Prince bin Abdulaziz buried". The News Tribe. Archived from the original on 15 September 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
7. "Graves in Riyadh cemeteries to be specified electronically". Arab News. 23 March 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
8. Abdul Nabi Shaheen (23 October 2011). "Sultan will have simple burial at Al Oud cemetery". Gulf News. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
9. "Al Oud Cemetery, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia". NNDB. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
10. "Next to his father". Observer Reporter. Riyadh. AP. 26 March 1975. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
11. Ian Black (23 January 2015). "Saudi Arabia's new king promises continuity after death of Abdullah". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
12. Al Oraifij, Abdullah (3 August 2011). "Sultana, wife of Riyadh Emir, passes away". Saudi Gazette. Archived from the original on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
13. "Princess Hissah bint Turki dies". Sauress. 19 August 2007. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
14. "Second tragedy strikes Saudi Royal Family". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Riyadh. AP. 24 July 2002. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
15. Jassim Alghamdi; Naif Masrahi; Maha Sami Aboulola (16 August 2010). "Ghazi Al Gosaibi dead". Saudi Gazette. Riyadh. Archived from the original on 27 August 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2012.