HRH The President, Prince Talal Bin Abdulaziz
President, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, The Arab Open University:

Since the inception of the AOU as a pan-Arab project, HRH prince Talal has continued his personal involvement in leading the efforts toward its establishment as a standing institution of higher education, with working branches in many Arab countries

Today, HRH Prince Talal continues his deep commitment to the project by serving as President and Chairman of the Board of Trustees despite his many other regional and international commitments

Below is a brief chronology of HRH's major accomplishments

H.R.H. Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz was born 1935 in Taif (Saudi Arabia) where local environment had a profound Influence shaping his personality. He grew up with real love for philanthropic work and a firm belief in the importance of solidarity with the poor and needy people. The philosophy of H.R.H. Prince Talal in his humanitarian responsibility is based on his strong conviction that sustainable development, and preserving dignity of the deprived citizens of the world, can only be  achieved  by  investing in human beings. This philosophy  is supportive to the continuous efforts the international  development community is striving to achieve, in order to meet the severe challenges facing  millions of people around the globe.

Prince Talal has dedicated his life and efforts to alleviate the suffering of the poor groups in the developing world particularly the women and children.
The noble efforts of H.R.H. have placed him among the leading philanthropists in the world and one of the most distinguished Arab personalities

Public Functions

H.R.H. Prince Talal has assumed a number of public offices in the political and developmental fields, as follows:

• President of the Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND), Riyadh / Saudi Arabia
• President and Chairman of the board of Trustees: The Arab Open University
• President of the Arab Council for Childhood and Development (ACCD), Cairo / Egypt
• President of the Board of Trustees of the Arab Network for Non-governmental Organizations " under establishment ", Cairo / Egypt
• President of the Board of Trustees of the Arab Women Centre for Training and Research (KAWTAR), Tunis
• Honorary President of the Saudi Association for Education and Rehabilitation, Riyadh / Saudi Arabia
• Honorary President of the Saudi Society of Family and Community Medicine and President of Honorary Members (Khubar)
• Member of the Board of Trustees of Mentor Foundationæ Geneva / Switzerland
• Founding Member of the Independent Commission for International Humanitarian Issues, Geneva / Switzerland
• Member of the League for the Development of the Pasteur Institute, Paris / France
• Special Envoy of UNICEF
• Minister of Finance and National Economy, Vice-President of the Higher Council for Planning, and Vice-President of the Higher Council for Holy Places at Makkah Al-Mukarramah
• Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to France
• Minister of Communication

Humanitarian and Developmental Activities
The activities and efforts of HRH Prince Talal in the field of development efforts started to take shape early in his life as he undertook a series of important tasks

• He sponsored, in early fifties, scholarships for a large number of Saudi youths to study in foreign universities at his own expense.
• He founded the first school for vocational training in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1954
• He founded the first girls' school in Riyadh in 1957.
• He gave as a gift his Al-Zahra' Palace in Makkah Al-Mukarramah to the Saudi Government to become the first college for boys
• He founded the first private hospital in Riyadh in 1957, allocating 70% of its capacity to free treatment and 10% for the treatment of children. The hospital, which is known now as "King Abdul Aziz University Hospital" was then given as a gift to the Saudi Government
• He founded the Saudi Society for Education and Rehabilitation for the welfare of children suffering from Down syndrome
• He took initiative in 1980 to establish the Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND) to support the efforts targeting sustainable human development
• H.R.H. Prince Talal played a leading role in the establishment of several new unique regional Arab institutions. The major goals behind this initiative are to ensure cooperation, coordination and partnership between various effective players in the development fields.
  Governments, private sector, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, media bodies and specialized researchers and scientist are all joining efforts, through these regional institutions, to alleviate the suffering of the poor and to assist them to become active citizens able to participate in leading the Arab societies towards a better future.
  The six regional Arab institutions that Prince Talal founded through AGFUND and in cooperation with other regional and international partners are:
  1. The Arab Council for Children and Development established in 1987 in Cairo. ACCD aims at supporting and coordinating efforts for serving the needs of Arab children, ensuring their incorporation in the national development plans and encouraging the implementation of pioneer projects. ACCD came as an outcome of the efforts and initiatives of H.R.H. Prince Talal to establish supreme councils and national committees for motherhood and childhood
  2. Arab Women Center for training and Research (CAWTAR) established in 1993 in Tunisia in recognition of the achievements of Arab Women in the last two decades, as a major force in the development of the Arab Society. CAWTAR is the only regional Non-Governmental network that aims at coordinating efforts between policy makers, civil society organizations, donors and experts in order to empower and improve the status of Arab Women
  3. Took the initiative of establishing the Arab Network for Non-Governmental Organizations (Under establishment).
     Founded in 1997, to replace the Follow-up Committee for Arab NGOs (1989 - 1997), following the recommendations of the Second Conference of Arab NGOs organized by AGFUND in Cairo. It aims at unifying and coordinating Arab non-governmental efforts for the attainment of human development and serving Arab communities
  4. The Arab Network for Non-Governmental organizations (under-establishment) founded in 1997 to replace the Follow-up committee for Arab NGOs (1989-1997). Since 1984, AGFUND under the leadership of H.R.H. has been leading a movement in the Arab world to empower NGOs and to ensure that they become capable and effective partners in achieving the goals of human development.
  5. H.R.H. masterminded the idea of establishing an Arab Open University with the aim of expanding higher education in the Arab world
  6. Initiated the idea of the AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects, 1999

  Decorations and prizes

  In recognition of H.R.H. prince Talal's contributions and efforts in the fields of development, on national, regional, and international levels, several governments, organizations and institutions have decorated him with a number of prestigious medals and prizes.

  • "Sash of King Abdul Aziz", awarded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh 1976.
  • "Badge of the Government", awarded by the Government of Brazil, 1982.
  • "The Golden Heart" medal, awarded by the Government of the Philippines, Manila, 1983
  • "General Officer" medal, awarded by the Government of France, Paris, 1983.
  • Personality of the Year" medal, for the year 1984, awarded by an International Independent Committee, Geneva, 1985
  • "The Tunisian "Independence Decoration" (First Class), awarded by the Government of Tunis, Tunisia, 1989.
  • "The Golden Shield", awarded by the International Association of Aliens at Geneva, and presented to HRH in Riyadh.
  • "Medal of Peace", awarded by the United Nations Secretariat, New York.
  • "The Great Gold Medal", Presented by the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), Tunis.
  • Unveiling of the Bust of His Royal Highness Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz in the Main Hall of (WHO) Headquarters in Geneva.
  • Plaque commemorating the second millenium of the foundation of city of Paris (presented by H.E. Mr. Jacques Chirac, Prime Minister and Mayor of Paris).
  • Etched profile of Dr. Duchenne, discoverer of the disease named after him, presented by the "Association des Myopathes de France")
  • Humanitarian Personality of the year 1997" award presented by Rashid Pediatric Therapy Centre, Dubai, United Arab Emirates