The East is not alive only by Sheikh Moza. In hot and desert Saudi Arabia on November 6, 1983, Princess Amira Al-Tawil, the wife of Saudi Prince Al-Walid bin Talal, was born.

Princess Amira is the wife of Saudi Prince Al-Walid bin Talal. She is Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Al Waleed bin Talal Foundation, an international non-profit organization supporting programs and projects to combat poverty, the consequences of disasters, supporting women's rights and interfaith dialogue. The princess is also on the board of trustees of "Silatech", international organization on youth employment.

Princess Amira is a graduate of the University of New Haven (USA) with a degree in business administration. She defends the rights of women, incl. and the right to drive a car, get an education and get a job without having to ask permission from a male relative. Amira herself has an international driver's license and drives a car on all foreign trips herself. Known for her impeccable taste in dress, Amira is the first Saudi princess to refuse to wear the traditional abaya in public like other women in the kingdom.

Lecture at the business school in Barcelona

The Princess is Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Al-Waleed Foundation. bin Talal Foundation is an international non-profit organization that supports programs and projects to combat poverty, the consequences of disasters, women's rights and interfaith dialogue.

Opening of the Forum of Arab Women Leaders

With husband

Amira is the first Saudi princess to refuse to wear the traditional abaya in public, like other women in the kingdom. The princess herself is not of royal blood.

Amira's husband Prince al-Waleed ibn Talal ibn Abdulaziz Al Saud, better known as Prince al-Walid, is a member of the Saudi royal family, entrepreneur and international investor. He made his fortune on investment projects and buying shares. In 2007, his net worth was estimated at $21.5 billion (according to Forbes magazine). Al-Walid ibn Talal al-Saud ranks 22nd in the list of the richest people in the world.

The prince does not hold public office, he is the grandson of King Abdulaziz and the nephew of the current king. In addition, he became famous as the most progressive saudi prince, stands for equal rights for women in Saudi Arabia.

Prince al-Waleed ibn Talal ibn Abdulaziz Al Saud, on board his own yacht with son Khaled and daughter Reem. 1999

According to various sources, Amir is his 3rd or 4th wife (the only one at the moment, he never had several wives at the same time). They have no children, the prince has two children from his first marriage. They say in their marriage contract it is written that the princess cannot have children. How true this is, but such information often accompanies the discussion of this couple.

Princess Amira came to New York for annual meeting under the Clinton Global Initiative. It was founded by Bill Clinton to combat such global problems as poverty and disease. She and her husband have done something that she believes will help bridge the gap "between faiths and cultures." Family Foundation Al-Walida helped open the Islamic art wing at the Louvre in Paris, donating approximately $20 million to the project. "Art opens people's minds in a different way," says Princess Amira.

She likes to open minds. In her homeland of Saudi Arabia, which is notorious for banning women from driving, dating men, and until recently banning them from voting, Amira is a vocal advocate for women's rights. She says that divorced women in Saudi Arabia are required to give up custody of their daughters, and that female lawyers are not allowed to speak in court.

According to her, she drives a car "in the desert", where she gets away with it. “Women in rural areas have much more freedom than women in the city,” she notes. - They can drive. They don't wear an abaya." She herself put on a yellow jacket for the meeting, her dark hair not covered by anything.

Amira says she is friends with Saudi activist Manal Al-Sharif, who is famous for boldly posting videos of her driving a car on YouTube. For this, she was jailed for a week. The princess calls Manal a "fearless woman" and believes that driving rules should be changed.

“I think it's enough for the king to say, 'Women can drive. Those who don't want to don't have to do it,” she says. The Princess calls King Abdullah's recent decision to allow women to vote in municipal elections very courageous. At the same time, she notes that many religious figures were against it. “He believes in empowering women,” the princess says. "I think he's the right person to do it."

Amira, 30, denies that her activism gets her into trouble in public spheres. “Everyone knows me,” she says. - I communicate with extreme conservatives and with extreme liberals. My goal is to create negative attitude, but unity".

In her opinion, the West often gets the wrong idea about Saudi Arabia. Amira notes that only bad news and the good ones are not. “56% of university graduates are women,” she says. - We watch the television series "Seinfeld", "Friends", presidential d:) you - America is loved by many people in Saudi Arabia. I swear to God, if you come, you will see that the Saudis are watching American TV.”

The princess refers to a recent feature in Newsweek about a conservative woman in Saudi Arabia, emphasizing: “She doesn't represent all women… she's extremely conservative. And seventy percent of the people of Saudi Arabia are people from the golden mean.” However, Amira says she respected the article because it showed the extreme conservatism of the woman's family. And she loves that one of the photos shows young Saudi college girls laughing in trendy sunglasses.

With Sheikha Moza

Princess Amira studied literature at the University. King Saud in Saudi Arabia, as well as management at the University of New Haven in Connecticut, although she lived in her homeland while studying at an American university. According to Amira, she was familiar with the professor of this university, and the learning process was in the nature of close cooperation with numerous phone calls and visits.

"What's important about American education is that you're exposed to so many things - classical music, comparative religion... you learn about Hinduism and Buddhism," she shares her impressions. But the princess refuses to talk about her personal life. According to her, she comes from a middle class family and her mother is divorced.

Her latest project was the Opt4Unity initiative, which is being implemented through the Al Waleed Foundation. Like the Clinton Global Initiative, its idea is to bring together an "extraordinary team" of business leaders, investors and philanthropists to address the world's employment, food and education challenges. “We are all talking about people who can make a difference,” says Princess Amira. "Let's do something"

Princess Amira receives the 2012 Woman Leader of the Year award at the 11th Middle East Women Leaders Awards in Dubai.

Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud

P.S.
On October 10, 2013, Dubai hosted a large-scale and unprecedented event for the UAE - Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience, organized by the Italian edition of Vogue and the investment company Emaar Properties.

The event was held in mall The Dubai Mall and consisted of three parts. The first of them included fashion shows, exhibitions, movie screenings and much more. Guests of the mall could admire the collections of more than 250 world brands. Next, the guests were treated to a gala dinner, which was also attended by celebrities from the world of fashion and art, and Italian operatic tenor Vittorio Grigolo and American Ballet Theater dancer Roberto Bole presented their performances.

The third part of the evening was a charity auction with unusual items: from a gold Versace pendant to a customized Valentino dress or a weekend at the Armani Hotel. The event ended up raising around $1.4 million in a full day of sales, which will be donated to Dubai Cares, a charity that educates children from developing countries.

Princess Amira Al-Taweel was also present.

The fabulous riches of the Arab sheikhs have long become the talk of the town. Documents obtained by WikiLeaks detail how members of the Saudi royal family share the black gold proceeds.

Saudi prince al-Waleed bin Talal lives with his wife and children in a huge palace. In total there are 317 rooms, three swimming pools, a cinema hall. There are five kitchens. Each has its own specialization, based on a certain culinary tradition- Arabic, Far Eastern and European. One serves only for the preparation of desserts. The chefs working in the palace are able to prepare a meal for two thousand people within an hour.

The 56-year-old prince has 200 luxury cars in his garage, including Rolls-Royce, Lamborghini and Ferrari. Al-Walid also has a "flying palace" rebuilt in a special way. And he can rest on the same one that starred in the James Bond film "Never Say Never". The prince's fortune totals billions of dollars.

[NEWSru.com, 11/14/2007, "Saudi prince buys A380 to turn it into a flying palace" : Prince Waleed, nephew of King Abdullah Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, owns an indirect 3.6% stake in Citigroup through his Saudi-controlled Kingdom company Holding and, according to Forbes magazine, ranks 13th in the list of the richest people in the world (according to other sources - fifth). The Prince knows a lot about luxury and is the owner of several prestigious hotels in the world, such as the George V in Paris, the Plaza in New York, the Savoy and Four Seasons in London, and the Nile Plaza Four Seasons in Cairo. - Inset K.ru]

It turns out that there is a system of "stipends" for members of the royal family. And it is built strictly by rank. In the mid-1990s, the children of the founder of Saudi Arabia could receive 200-270 thousand dollars a month. Grandchildren were paid 27 thousand, great-grandchildren - 13 thousand, and the next generation - 8 thousand. The first king had several dozen sons. The royal family grew to seven thousand people. Its representatives also receive "bonuses" - several million dollars. This is in case the princes wanted to marry or build new palace. In addition, the inner circle also manages general purchases - several billion dollars a year.

Prince al-Waleed bin Talal buys Airbus A380 'flying palace' for $300 million, will cost another $300 million to finish

The original of this material
© "RBC", 02/15/2008, Photo: Forbes

Golden Airbus: The reality of an Arab sheikh, the dream of a Russian billionaire

Last year, the world community was agitated by the news from the Le Bourget air show. An anonymous buyer ordered an Airbus A380 to make a flying palace out of it. […]

The mysterious owner of the A380 was Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud.

["RBC", 06/22/2007, "Purchase of the year: $ 600 million for a flying palace": About the A380 for last years a lot has been said. Recall that this is the largest aircraft in the world worth about $ 300 million. In the passenger configuration, the double-deck giant can take on board about 840 people. It is clear that a private buyer does not need so many cramped seats - naturally, the aircraft will undergo a complete re-equipment. And there is no doubt that tuning the A380 will be a unique project in business aviation. According to some reports, the alteration can take about a year and cost the owner a pretty penny. Surely the owner of the future heavenly palace will not waste time on trifles and will order a breathtaking design and a lot of additional options. In this case, the cost of an exclusive liner will almost double, i.е. up to 600 million dollars.
The statement of representatives of Airbus about the unprecedented deal intrigued aviators around the world. It is difficult to even imagine what will appear in the giant's cabin instead of standard passenger seats. 900 sq. m of area provide ample opportunities for the realization of any fantasies. It is unlikely that we will ever see the result of the work of designers: the plane is private. But you can get a rough idea by looking at the A380 in VIP configuration, which was presented at the recent exhibition of business aviation in Geneva. According to Airbus designers, the flying palace must have a film projection hall in the form of an amphitheater with a capacity of 15-20 seats, as well as a conference room. Jacuzzi at a height of several kilometers? Easy! There must be a garage for cars on the lower deck.
The only problem with the superjet is that not every airport is able to accept such a colossus. But this is unlikely to upset its owner. Such a powerful aircraft, having lost the weight of 840 passengers and seats, becomes just a monster. " Flight characteristics such a liner will change very much for the better, - says Rustem Arinov, Deputy Commercial Director of the Moscow Sky company. - The speed will increase, and fuel consumption will drop sharply. There will be the possibility of almost round-the-world non-stop flights.” “In addition, the A380 is made using space technology using composite materials, without rivets. This significantly reduces air resistance,” R. Arinov said. - Inset K.ru]

The prince will be able to move into his flying residence in two years. But the first details are already appearing about what alterations the giant aircraft will undergo. The most interesting of them will catch the eye of everyone who sees the prince's plane. Moreover, in good weather, even from the ground, you can guess that Al-Walid bin Talal bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud is flying over your head. The plane will shine in the rays of the sun - the prince decided in literally gild your airbus. Covering the body of the aircraft with precious metal will cost the Arab luxury lover 58 million dollars. For the A 380 itself, the prince laid out 300 million. According to experts, its alteration will cost the same amount.

The filling of the flying palace will be no more modest than the exterior. Approximate options for the design of the interior decoration of the flying palace have already appeared. So far, information has been leaked to the press that there will be a swimming pool and a sauna on board the liner. The on-board dining room for the prince will be clad in marble, while the walls of some other rooms will be decorated with huge high-tech panels using fiber optics with landscapes of the Arabian desert. On long flights, bin Talal will not only indulge in hedonism, but also work out in his own gym. Fortunately, the internal usable area of ​​the A380 is enough to fit more than one volleyball court, for example.

To get a rough idea of ​​the size of the A380, it's worth knowing that this aircraft can carry 840 passengers in its base version! Its height is 24 meters, length - 73 meters, wingspan - 79.4 meters. The only disadvantage of such dimensions: the A380 is not able to accept any airport. But the prince is unlikely to be upset because of this circumstance. After all, his fleet already has a plane, and, for sure, more than one. […]

This weekend in Saudi Arabia, there were mass detentions of members of the royal family and people associated with it. Among those suspected of corruption was Prince Al-Waleed, who tried to establish ties with Russia

Al Waleed (Photo: Philippe Wojazer/Reuters)

“Putting personal interests above the public”

On the evening of November 4, King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia issued a decree to combat corruption and announced that he intended to completely put an end to abuses in the country's power structures. As the monarch explained, in the highest government circles there were people “who put their personal interests above public ones” in order to enrich themselves illegally.

Shortly thereafter, the Al Arabiya TV channel reported mass arrests: 11 members of the Saudi royal family, four current and "dozens" of former ministers were suspected of corruption. Among them are Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and former head ministries national guard Prince Mitab bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. What exactly the representatives of the Saudi dynasty did is not explained. However, Bloomberg reported that Al-Waleed, in particular, was detained at his desert camp.

On Monday, November 6, a senior Saudi official told,. Billionaire Al-Walid is suspected of money laundering, bribery and extortion from officials. Prince Mitab bin Abdullah is accused of embezzlement, hiring dead souls, transferring government contracts to his own companies, among which is a $ 10 billion deal for the supply of walkie-talkies and bulletproof vests. Former Finance Minister Ibrahim al-Assaf is accused of embezzlement in the expansion of the Great Mosque of Mecca. In addition, he is suspected of using his official position and confidential information in transactions with land. The ex-governor of Riyadh, Prince Turki ibn Abdullah, according to the authorities, also provided contracts to his own companies, and also committed abuses during the construction of the subway.

prince vs prince

Against the background of fragmentary data from Saudi Arabia appeared different versions, what was the goal pursued by the 81-year-old monarch. According to Bloomberg, the detentions only fueled rumors that King Salman is clearing the way to the throne for his 32-year-old son, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud. It was his supporter Khaled Ayyaf who replaced Mitab as head of the National Guard Ministry. Interlocutors of the agency pointed to the fact that in recent months it was people from the environment who occupied responsible posts. crown prince, and Mitab hardly held his position.

Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud (Photo: Yuri Kochetkov / EPA)

Middle East expert Hani Sabra told Bloomberg that the strengthening of the crown prince's position has previously caused discontent among many influential Saudis. Now, with Khaled Ayyaf in charge of what was considered the stronghold of the former King Abdullah's clan, it is almost impossible to predict the reaction within the royal family.

Experts took great surprise at the detention of Al-Walid, who repeatedly expressed his loyalty to both King Salman and his son. For example, in September, a huge portrait of the monarch was displayed on the skyscraper Alwaleed Kingdom Tower in honor of the national holiday. However, Market Watch indicates that the prince may have been reminded of his relatives. If Al-Walid himself did not claim a leading role in government, then his father Talal bin Abdul Aziz actively opposed the promotion of Prince Mohammed. The sources of the publication associate a quick purge within the ruling dynasty with Salman's alleged decision to retire at the end of this or early next year.

Facing Iran and back to Trump

The detention of Al-Waleed caused surprise among his business associates. According to The New York Times, it was no coincidence that he was called the Middle Eastern Warren Buffett. Forbes estimates the fortune of Prince Al-Waleed at $18 billion, which allows him to occupy the 45th place in the ranking of the richest people in the world. He owns a 95% stake in Kingdom Holding and is the largest shareholder of one of the international financial conglomerates Citigroup (more than 6% of the shares). He also owns shares in companies such as Four Seasons (together with Bill Gates they own 95% of the shares), Twitter, 21st Century Fox, Disney. He also owns the George V hotels in Paris and the Plaza in New York.

According to The New York Times, the arrest of the prince was made against the backdrop of a strengthening friendship between Prince Mohammed and US President Donald Trump. Al-Walid, despite the difficult relationship between Riyadh and Tehran, was going to invest in the Iranian economy a few years ago and abandoned this idea because of King Salman's tough stance. Mohammed, in his views on Tehran, does not contradict Trump in any way.

Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud and Donald Trump (Photo: Mandel Mgan/EPA)

At the same time, it should be noted that Trump did not have a relationship with Al-Waleed. Even during the election campaign in the United States, businessmen exchanged barbs. Prince named Republican candidate "

The full name of the prince is Al Waleed ibn Talal ibn Abdulaziz Al Saud. His grandfather, Abdel Azis ibn Saud, was the founder of the country of Saudi Arabia. Her father, Prince Talal ibn Abdulaziz, was the Minister of Finance, and her mother, Princess Mona, is the daughter of Lebanese Prime Minister Riad Solha. Born March 7, 1955 in the royal family.

The divorce of his parents, the boy, was very worried, he stayed with his mother in Lebanon, the most democratic and Europeanized country in the Middle East. But just before the start civil war in Lebanon, Al Waleed got carried away national idea and almost became a supporter of Yasser Arafat. The father intervened, sent his son to military academy named after King Abdulaziz.

The young man did not like this decision, but traditions demanded to obey the will of his father. Later, he realized that his father was right - the academy saved him from participating in terrorism, gave him the skills of self-discipline.

Then the prince went to study overseas. First at Merlo College in California, then at Syracuse University, where he received a bachelor's degree in business administration, and then a master's degree in political science and economics.

He returned to his homeland in 1979, during the "land fever". For 15 thousand dollars, donated by the father, Al Waleed organized the company "Kingdom" and engaged in land speculation, which brought him $ 2 million.

After the death of his father, the prince inherited a house that was mortgaged for $1.5 million. In 1986, having pooled funds, he unexpectedly bought Saudi commercial Bank, he was predicted bankruptcy. However, two years later, the second-rate bank made a profit, and soon swallowed up the Saudi Cairo Bank, which was many times larger than it in terms of turnover.

Next, and no less successful business was buying Arabian real estate. He owns a three hundred meter skyscraper in the center of the Arabian capital. However, by his own admission, the biggest income came from the so-called "commissions" received for the conclusion of transactions, they are very common in the Middle East. No company can win contracts without the help of princes or other high-ranking persons, and this is not considered reprehensible. The commission is usually 30% of the contract value.

At the age of 34, Al-Waleed entered the global investment market. For $550 million, he bought a 9.9% stake in the American bank Citicorp, while the company was in a state of financial crisis. Analysts regarded the actions of the prince as a gamble and considered them a whim of a too rich man. However, seven years later, the value of the purchased shares increased 12 times. And Forbes magazine, echoed by Bill Gates, ranked Al-Waleed among the most successful businessmen in the world.

In the summer of 1994, Al-Waleed shook the financial world again. He bought a 24.8% stake in a bankrupt Euro Disney amusement park near Paris for $350 million. And a year later, the package of its shares increased in price to 600 million dollars. And this can hardly be called just luck, the prince suggested that the fall in the shares of this enterprise was due to a temporary economic downturn in Europe.

In addition, together with Michael Jackson, he organized the Kingdom of Entertainment corporation. In the second half of the 90s he was actively involved in the hotel business. He became a major shareholder in the Planet Hollywood restaurant chain, the Fairmont group, the Movenpick Swiss hotel chain, and the Four Sizes hotel chain.

In the spring of 2000, during the collapse of the stock market, when high-tech investors were threatened with huge losses, the prince remained confident that the stock market would creep up again. A month later, he had already invested a billion dollars in 15 world-famous IT companies, and acquired shares in Internet providers. Al Waleed, together with Bill Gates and Craig McCaw, participated in the Teledesic project (provides Internet access from anywhere in the world).

Al-Waleed's empire includes banks, television channels, publishing houses, construction companies, hotels, agricultural enterprises, retail, production of automobiles and industrial equipment, production of electronic equipment, computers and computer programs.

Al Waleed very religious: does not drink, does not smoke, does not buy shares of tobacco and alcohol companies, his wives were never photographed, for it is forbidden by religion. He also built a luxurious mosque in Riyadh. However, without playing himself, the prince makes huge profits from gambling ... and emphatically spends them on charity. And contrary to the opinion of Muslim jurists, Al-Walid does not consider it sinful to provide money at interest (loans).

The prince keeps as far away from politics as possible, among his partners there are many Jews, which is not typical for a Muslim. At the same time, it is known that the prince donated $ 27 million to the needs of the Palestinians, who are fighting against the occupation of the lands occupied by Israel. He did not stand aside from the assessment of the September 11 attacks: "The US government should reconsider its Middle East policy and take a more balanced position towards the Palestinians." And allocated 10 million dollars for people affected by the terrorist attack. Outraged New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani rejected the money, describing the prince's statement as "absolutely irresponsible", "dangerous" and "unfriendly to American politics." In response, the prince’s statement followed: “The United States must understand the causes and roots of terrorism and their connection with the Palestinian problem,” handed the New York city hall a check for 10 million, saying that he would not give another cent if he was refused again.

The prince greatly appreciates reliable information, his team consists of about 400 people, whose maintenance costs $ 1 million a month. These people accompany him always and everywhere, creating a whole caravan of special vehicles.

Al-Walid explains the reasons for his success as follows: “I work hard when necessary - 15-20 hours in a row ... And one more thing: if success in business accompanies you, then new business will come to you. I am religious and this is a valuable help for me. If thanks to Allah you prosper, then you should always remain humble, help the poor, otherwise Allah will punish you.”

He gets up at 10 o'clock in the morning, then does a fifteen-minute exercise, has breakfast. From 11 am to 4 pm he works in the office, from 4 pm to 5 pm he has lunch and a little rest. Works in the office from 7 pm to 2 am. The next three hours are devoted to physical exercises, jogging and swimming in the pool, lunch and prayer. The prince goes to bed at 5 o'clock in the morning. He eats little, self-characterization is known: "I am a calorie counter."

Personal life, according to the press, did not work out. He was married twice and divorced both times. When asked by journalists, the prince replies that he has 100 wives and their portraits adorn the walls of his office, these portraits are emblems of his companies.

The prince lives alone, but he adores his two children Khaled and Rome, for whom a palace of 317 rooms was built and a collection of 300 cars was assembled.

Leisure Al Waleed spends either on the French Riviera or in his own villa near Riyadh in the company of Bedouins. They are rumored to drink the strongest Arabic coffee and talk about the eternal.

Chapter:

Post navigation

Bloomberg, USA
© AP Photo, Majdi Mohammed

Prince Al-Waleed on his 83-day imprisonment

One of the richest men in the world talks about his capture by the Saudi Arabian government.

Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal has repeatedly failed to become the richest investor in the Middle East and one of the most recognizable faces of Saudi Arabia. It went bust in the 1980s, and lost billions of dollars on Citigroup Inc. during the 2008 financial crisis. But nothing compares to the humiliation he has endured over the past few months. Last November, Al-Waleed's uncle, King Salman, and his cousin, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, staged a government crackdown on alleged fraudsters, embezzlers and money launderers, resulting in Al-Waleed being detained and locked up for 83 days in what became the infamous Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh.

I saw Al-Waleed at the end of October, a week before he became a government prisoner. We spent the evening at his desert camp talking about financial markets and US politics, watching a football match on TV, walking on the sands and eating a late dinner in the cool midnight air. I returned to the kingdom in mid-March, seven weeks after its release. Al-Waleed decided to break his silence and give an interview to Bloomberg Television.

The day before the interview, we had an informal meeting at his palace in Riyadh. I waited in the foyer, and the prince descended from the second floor by the grand staircase. He was dressed simply: beige taub, brown blazer and sandals - and seemed relaxed. For the next two hours, he talked about his "ordeals" while drinking Arabic coffee and ginger tea, while his five grandchildren sang and danced in the palace gym under hot n cold Katy Perry.

Early in the morning of November 4, Al-Walid, who had arrived at his camp for the weekend, received a phone call asking him to appear at the royal court. He left immediately, unaware of the trap. Before long, sensational details of the anti-corruption purge were revealed, and the news broadcasts were teeming with reports that among the hundreds of tycoons, government ministers, and other princes detained at the Ritz-Carlton, Al-Waleed was the most prominent. In three days, shares of his main company, Kingdom Holding Co. , fell by 21 percent.

Al-Waleed has been a boon for a government that wants to show its people that no Saudi can escape responsibility in the fight against parasites and bribery: with a net worth of $17.1 billion, he ranks 65th in the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. And his international prominence, forged through friendships and business partnerships with Bill Gates, Rupert Murdoch and others, rivals that of Prince Mohammed. Kingdom Holding's portfolio includes Four Seasons hotels and resorts, as well as Citigroup, Eurodisney, and Twitter. And Rotana Group, which he controls separately, is the largest entertainment company Arab world.

The government put the question point-blank: pay off, sign a guilty plea and go free, or refuse and languish in captivity. According to the Wall Street Journal, the price of Al-Waleed's release was six billion dollars. The negotiations were held in secret, and the government made no accusations or presented any evidence. Critics said the captives were being denied due process and accused Prince Mohammed of running a campaign of intimidation and extortion under the guise of fighting corruption.

Context

When the princes were locked up at the Ritz

InoSMI 11/14/2017

Al Araby TV 18.02.2018

Donya-e Eqtesad 11/11/2017

Rumors began to surface of ill-treatment and even torture at the Ritz-Carlton, which immediately made it to the pages of the Daily Mail Online and regional media. So when at the end of January, still in the hotel, the prince appeared in a smartphone video, exhausted and tired after two and a half months of imprisonment, speculation only intensified. He declared that he was being treated decently, but no one believed this. (More recently, The New York Times, citing anonymous sources, reported that some detainees were physically assaulted and otherwise forced to confess, and one of the military officers in custody died with all signs of a severe beating.)

Since his release, Al-Waleed has put on some weight and seems to me as energetic, lively and busy as ever. But from the conversation it becomes clear that he is trying his best to cope with what happened. Even if he is innocent - and he insists he is - the government has placed him on the same footing as a group of swindlers. And any complaint can cause anger, which he already directly encountered.

We conducted the interview at a makeshift site in Al-Waleed's apartment on the 67th floor of the Kingdom skyscraper in Riyadh. As I went inside, I thought about how open he could be with me. Will he talk about his life at the Ritz-Carlton? Does the fact acknowledge any harm done to him? Did he have to make a deal with the devil to get his release? Can you trust his words? What if the government threatened him? Can I talk about it?

Below are excerpts from our conversation, which had to be slightly edited for clarity.

Let's start with the obvious: why?

Al-Waleed's detention was mysterious compared to the rest. Of all the arrested princes, he is the only one who has never served in the government of Saudi Arabia, where "kickbacks" are considered commonplace. And unlike other businessmen, he was not a government contractor, and therefore he could not overestimate tariffs. He made most of his wealth transparently in real estate and as an investor in the open markets.

Eric Shatzker: First question: why were you arrested?

Prince Al Waleed: I wouldn't use that word because we were first invited to the palace and then asked to drive to the Ritz-Carlton. Everything was done with honor and dignity, and in relation to everyone, not just me.

Does this mean that the word "arrest" is fair to use only in relation to those who committed a crime and pleaded guilty?

Exactly. And reached an agreement with the government. But in my case, as you know, the situation is quite different.

So there were no charges? Have you been accused of anything at all?

There were no charges. Since I have a fiduciary responsibility to my shareholders in Kingdom Holding, my friends in Saudi Arabia and the entire global community, and in view of our worldwide investments, it is very important to say that there is no blame or blame.

You dubbed your ordeals a misunderstanding. What was it connected with?

I say "misunderstanding" because I don't think I should have been there. Now that everything is behind me, I would say that all suspicions have been removed from me. However, I must say that we have indeed reached a full understanding with the government.

What does it mean?

This is confidential information and I can't talk about it. But there is an understanding between me and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Does it require some action from you?

Not necessary. Again, I can not expand on this, because the information is secret and concerns only me and the government. But be sure: it does not constrain me in any way.

What did the government want from you?

I will not go into the details of the discussions that took place between me and government officials.

They must have wanted something.

I read in the press that they allegedly wanted to snatch a piece from me. But these are all rumors.

According to one report, it was about six billion dollars.

I have read about six billion, as well as more and less.

What did your freedom cost you? Weren't you asked to pay the government some money, give up some holdings, or give up some shares?

You must respect the confidential agreement reached between me and the government of Saudi Arabia based on a proven understanding.

I am a citizen of Saudi Arabia. And also a member of the royal family. The King is my uncle and Mohammed bin Salman is my cousin. I am interested in maintaining and keeping our relationship secret.

You maintain your innocence and say you didn't sign any plea agreement.

We have indeed signed a certain document, a confirmed mutual understanding. Some might call it a settlement agreement. I don't think so, because in my understanding an agreement is an acknowledgment that you did something wrong.

Of course, you understand how important it is to be honest and frank with me. If another version appears, your credibility will suffer.

Of course.

So everything you said is 100% true?

I have a confirmed understanding with the government and it continues to operate. I will elaborate on this: it is a permanent process with the government.

Al-Waleed's reputation question

Already, Kingdom Holding is talking to lenders about raising $2 billion in debt financing — “firepower” for the next deal, the prince says.

These events have affected your reputation. No matter what you say in this interview, people will still be convinced that once you're at the Ritz-Carlton, you must be guilty of something. Understand it.

When you are detained, someone from the business or banking community will certainly state their doubts. Now my job is to interact, meet all of them, whether privately or collectively, and tell my story.

I understand that it will not be easy, because some banks and representatives of the business community will continue to doubt. However, I assure them that everything is in order, everything is back to normal, and we are functioning in the same mode as before.

It would certainly help if the government said: "Al-Waleed did nothing wrong, there was a misunderstanding, he did not buy his freedom and remains a Saudi citizen in good standing." But that didn't happen.

Context

When the princes were locked up at the Ritz

InoSMI 11/14/2017

Camels punished for Botox and other deceptions of the Arab world

Al Araby TV 18.02.2018

What is the relationship between Hariri's resignation and the arrests of Saudi princes?

Donya-e Eqtesad 11/11/2017 All these points are reflected in the confirmed understanding, agreement between me and the government.

The confirmation of my words is the fact that I am speaking to you now, and I speak truthfully and honestly, and the fact that the government will not say: "Al-Waleed is wrong."

So you feel the need to speak out in order to restore your good name because you have been slandered?

Firstly, I really need to restore my reputation, and secondly, to clarify a lot of false points. For example, that I was tortured and sent to prison. It's a lie. I stayed at the hotel all the time and was never tortured.

Inside the Ritz-Carlton

For three months, 381 Saudis remained locked up at the Ritz-Carlton, which has 492 rooms, 52 acres of land and gigantic conference rooms. Many were quickly released. Al-Walid's tenure was one of the longest. The prince says he was held in room 628, a 4,575-square-foot (425 sqm) royal suite.

What have you been doing all this time?

Sports, walking, meditation, watching the news, prayers.

Describe one typical day.

I went to bed at 6-7 o'clock in the morning, woke up around noon. We prayed five times a day.

Did you have access to television and newspapers?

Everything was accessible.

So, no one outside knew about what was happening inside, and you, being inside, knew about everything that was happening outside?

Exactly. That's why I managed to get information about the so-called torture.

So you weren't abused?

Not at all.

Are you sure that none of the detainees suffered ill-treatment, torture or beatings?

Maybe someone tried to escape or do something crazy. Maybe they were pacified and controlled. Quite possible. But there was nothing that could be called systematic torture.

Were you allowed to speak to other detainees?

No. No one at the Ritz-Carlton could talk to each other. Even in my case. I didn't see anyone, I didn't talk to anyone.

You have been allowed to make several calls. To whom and under what conditions?

I called my son, daughter and granddaughters. And spoke to the heads of my companies CEO Kingdom Holding, head of my personal office and general secretary my fund.

Were the calls tracked?

Probably yes.

Dealing with the Crown Prince

For more than 70 years, the Saudi throne has passed from one brother to another, but Salman broke with the past by handing over control of several government portfolios to his son and making him crown prince last year. Prince Mohammed's plans include the Saudi Vision 2030 economic program, under which the largest oil company in the world, Saudi Aramco may become a public joint stock company. Movie theaters, banned since the early 1980s, have returned, and in some parts of Riyadh, women are allowed to go bareheaded. And in June, for the first time since 1990, they will be allowed to drive.

How does it feel to be held captive by your own cousin?

Not easy, I must admit. It's hard when you're being held against your will. But after my release, I had a very strange feeling. I gathered all the senior employees of my companies and associates and told them: "I swear to you that I am in complete calm and peace and do not feel resentment or other bad feelings."

And, of course, a day later we were again talking with the royal court, the crown prince and his people. The situation is very strange, but that's how it happened.

Is it because you just needed to move forward?

No. I'm a patriot. I believe in my country. What happened will not make me turn against my uncle, my cousin, my country and my people.

How would you describe your relationship with Prince Mohammed?

They got stronger. This strikes many, even my own people.

Have you forgiven him?

I completely forgot and forgave everything that happened. Everything is left behind.

How often do you communicate with him?

At least once every three days I text him, call him or talk in person.

Do you talk to him every three days?

We mostly correspond, we talk less often. But we talk every week.

Prince Mohammed has a grand plan to transform the Saudi economy and society. Do you still support him in this?

Yes. His vision absorbed many of my ideas, and he multiplied them. I put forward the idea of ​​creating a sovereign fund and talked about the transformation of Aramco into an open Joint-Stock Company. Women's rights, their competitiveness in society, their driving - I called for all this.

He lays the foundation new era in Saudi Arabia. Any person who opposes what Mohammed bin Salman is doing, I personally consider a traitor.

Navigating the new Saudi Arabia

The crown prince has also become the largest Saudi investor, pumping tens of billions of government dollars into Uber Technologies Inc. and funds managed by Blackstone Group and SoftBank Group.

Does the government want you to create and maintain relationships with heads of state and heads of international companies?

I was released without being burdened with any conditions, I maintained contacts with many heads of state in Europe and the Middle East. Everything is fine.

Can you travel?

Of course I can.

Do you know if the government is monitoring your whereabouts?

I don't care.

What about your bank accounts?

Everything is back to normal.

Are you looking for foreign investment, as is the State Investment Fund, Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund. Isn't this competition?

Actually, in terms of participation in many projects, we keep in touch with the government. They have a big project in the Red Sea with resorts like the Maldives. There will also be Four Seasons hotels. We were also invited to take part in another project in Riyadh, the construction of a huge Disney-style entertainment center.

We are involved in the hospitality, media and entertainment industries. So there is no competition, we complement each other.

What about joint investments? Will PIF invest with Kingdom Holding or perhaps Rotana or Prince Al Waleed himself?

Yes, this will happen. Now we are discussing certain projects with PIF.

Domestic projects or international ventures?

Internal to begin with.

The crown prince visits Western countries, meets with Trump at the White House and tries to attract capital to Saudi Arabia. Considering what happened to you at the Ritz-Carlton, how satisfied are you that you represent a united front with the government, the very thing that brought you to that hotel?

I support Saudi Arabia, I support my government, I support King Salman and Prince Mohammed in every way. So it was before, during and after the arrest.

It will be difficult for people to understand.

They do not understand that you are talking to a person who is a member of the royal family. We are all in the same boat here. On one side. We - ruling family Saudi Arabia.

I understand that from the point of view of ordinary citizens it sounds strange. They will definitely say “Are you still supporting the King and the Crown Prince after being their prisoner?”

You have to think about how willing CEOs will be to invest in Saudi Arabia after seeing this kind of dispute resolution.

Let them decide for themselves. On my own behalf, I can say the following: things are going on as usual, and we will continue to invest in Saudi Arabia.

Eric Shatzker- Canadian presenter and editor of Bloomberg Television, has 15 years of experience in covering events in the world of investment and economics.

The materials of InoSMI contain only assessments of foreign media and do not reflect the position of the editors of InoSMI.