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HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud, Chairman of Kingdom Holding Company (KHC) visited the United Kingdom on Friday 6th May 2016 and met with HRH Prince Charles, Prince of Wales at Clarence House. The meeting was attended by Ms. Hassna Alturki, Executive Manager for International Relations to HRH the Chairman.
During the meeting the two royals discussed the Prince's investments through KHC in the United Kingdom. They discussed the importance of the long established Saudi-British relations and the efforts made by both countries to maintain it. They also discussed a number of general local, regional and international issues. Also, during the meeting Prince Charles and Prince Alwaleed discussed the Prince's investments through KHC in the United Kingdom and his Highness's philanthropic global projects in addition to the activities of Alwaleed Philanthropies that is chaired by Prince Alwaleed.
Prince Alwaleed's investments through KHC in the UK include ownership of 50% in The Savoy hotel that is managed by Fairmont in which KHC owns a 35% stake in, and Citigroup in the financial sector. In addition, other investments include a 47.5% interest in the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts is equally co-owned by the billionaire Bill Gates' Cascade, and 5% of the Four Seasons is owned by Isadore Sharp founder of the Four Seasons; which manages 3 hotels; London at Park Lane, London at Canary Wharf and the third in Hampshire. In 2010, HRH Prince Charles and HRH Prince Alwaleed inaugurated The Savoy hotel one of KHC's major investments in the United Kingdom.
In 2011, HRH Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh who is Chancellor of the University of Cambridge and the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, formally opened the HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Centre of Islamic Studies at the University of Cambridge. During the opening ceremony the Chancellor Prince Philip awarded the 800th Anniversary Medal for Outstanding Philanthropy to Prince Alwaleed.
In 2010, , Prince Alwaleed was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor honoris causa from the University of Edinburgh in a ceremony at the Signet Library, Parliament Square, and also inaugurated the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Centre for the Study of Islam at Edinburgh University. The degree was conferred by HRH Prince Philip. The Duke of Edinburgh is Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh and the University of Cambridge. In 2008, HRH made a £16 million endowment to create two new research centres for Islamic studies at the University of Cambridge and the University of Edinburgh (£8 million for each university). The new centers carry out both research and public engagement designed to enhance understanding between the Muslim world and the West. In 2002, the Prince made a £1 million endowment to the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies at the University of Exeter.
Furthermore, Alwaleed Philanthropies granted GBP 1 Million to the Turquoise Mountain Institute that was founded in 2006 by HRH The Prince of Wales, Prince Charles in partnership with former President of Afghanistan HE Hamid Karzai.
Turquoise Mountain is a non-profit, non- governmental organization regenerating the old city of Kabul, and spurring the sustainable development of the Afghan crafts industry. Alwaleed Philanthropies' grant aims to support the development of the Afghan community and empower its women and youth.
Since 2006, with the support of Alwaleed Philanthropies, the Turquoise Mountain Institute has spearheaded the revival of the Afghan craft industry at its home in the old city of Kabul. The institute has trained hundreds of artisans in traditional Islamic arts and crafts, sold over $3million worth of products internationally, and built up the reputation and expertise to successfully put on large-scale international exhibitions around the world. In Murad Khane, Turquoise Mountain has restored and built over 100 historic and traditional-style buildings, set up a model community health center, and established a primary school. In 2013, Turquoise Mountain was awarded the 2013 UNESCO Award of Distinction for the restoration of Murad Khane's Great Serai. It was also awarded first prize in the art and craft division of the annual Technical and Vocational Education and Training Expo run by the Ministry of Education in Afghanistan.
© Press Release 2016
