Wondering where kings and commoners find their final rest? Here at Al Oud Cemetery, social status fades. This public cemetery holds stories of royalty and ordinary citizens alike. Al Oud Cemetery offers a stark reminder of equality in death.
Al Oud Cemetery is located in the al-Owd neighborhood of Riyadh. It’s about one kilometer from Batha’a street, the city center. Many know Al Oud Cemetery as the resting place for Saudi royals.
Let’s delve into the history of Al Oud Cemetery. The name Al Oud means “elder” in Peninsular Arabic. This likely refers to King Abdulaziz. He was the founder of modern Saudi Arabia and is buried here.
For over 200 years, Al Oud Cemetery has been a place of burial. Six Saudi monarchs rest here. Also Imam Faisal Ben Turki and countless ordinary Saudis. King Abdullah’s grave is like the thousands of others. He was buried in a plain white shroud. No grand displays marked his status. He lies near his father, Abdulaziz, and his brothers. Saud, Faisal, Khaled, Fahd, and Sultan are all nearby.
In March 2012, Riyadh started a project to mark each grave electronically. This was done by the municipality’s environmental health directorate. People come to Al Oud Cemetery to pay their respects.
King Abdulaziz’s sons also rest here. Kings Saud, Faisal, Khalid, Fahd, and Abdullah are all buried at Al Oud Cemetery. Other senior royals are interred here too. Prince Sultan and Prince Ahmed are among them. Sultana bint Turki bin Ahmad Al Sudairi also rests here. She was a wife of King Salman. Hussa bint Turki al Awwal is also buried in Al Oud Cemetery.
Ghazi Abdul Rahman Al Gosaibi, a well-known writer, is buried in Al Oud Cemetery. The cemetery serves both commoners and royalty.
The simple burials at Al Oud Cemetery reflect Islamic law. All are equal in the eyes of God. Distinguishing a king’s grave from a commoner’s is impossible. This makes Saudi Arabia unique.
The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing oversees cemeteries. They provide free services for the deceased. This includes processing and burial.
Al Oud Cemetery stands as a testament to life’s great equalizer. Here, in the heart of Riyadh, kings and commoners share the same earth. Their stories intertwine in the silence of Al Oud Cemetery.