Mutaib bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz
Mutaib bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al rose in rank to serve as Saudi Arabia Minister of the National Guard, head of the military of the National Guard and Commander of King Khalid Military and the National Guard Military Colleges.
Early Life and Education
Prince Mutaib, one of 34 children and the third son was born to King Abdullah and Munira Al Otaishan in
Riyadh on 26 March 1952.
Prince Mutaib attended Taif-Barmana School in Lebanon and secondary education in Jeddah. The prince proceeded to Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and graduated as Lieutenant in 1974 and to King Khalid Military College for master’s degree.
Rise in Ranks Career
Prince Mutaib career kicked off as head of the commission charged with the responsibility to review the military college curriculum. In 1983, King Fahd promoted Captain Mutaib to the rank of Colonel and was also appointed him Commander of King Khalid Military City.
Mutaib bin Abdullah has exceptional leadership qualities which set the prince in a class of his own among the second generation princes. The Prince takes low profile political status to advance his father’s conservative doctrine in addition to tribal bonds.
Prince Mutaib, the ambitious knowledgeable and highly competent commanding officer with strong professional ties to the U.S. military is touted as possible contender for the highest office in the land.
Colonel Prince Mutaib quickly rose in ranks from deputy head of the military under the chairmanship of the National Guard to Commander of King Khalid Military and the National Guard Military Colleges.
King Khalid Military City (KKMC) a special city in Northern Saudi Arabia served as a unit of the United States Corps of Engineers in the 70s and 80s. This military city named after Saudi King Khalid bin Abdul Aziz, built 60 km South of Hafar Al-Batin City provides lodging for Saudi brigade troops with capacity population of 65,000 people.
During the Gulf War, King Khalid Military City was used as military base housing thousands of American and coalition soldiers. Its airport was frequently in use during combat operations, along with bases in Dhahran and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as rallying points for fuelling and strategy due to proximity to the enemy camp.
This military city also has its own air force base onsite with the same name located south of King Khalid Military City.
King Khalid Military City was fully protected from ballistic missiles by the U.S’s Patriot missile system. On February 21, 1991 Iraq fired three Scud missiles at King Khalid Military City. All of them were destroyed by Patriot interceptors. Prince Muitab was the man of the moment as Commander of King Khalid Military City.
The success behind the Gulf war was due to the ground presence of military power in the Middle East based in Saudi Arabia, and the excellent leadership role of Prince Muitab bin Abdulaziz as Commander in chief of King Khalid Military City, the ground base use for enemy assault.
Today, only a small number of US government personnel still work and live at King Khalid Military City. During the Gulf War it was home to hundreds of US Army Corps engineers and personnel. The Royal Saudi Air Force is one of the top ranked units in the Middle East with ties to US Military training and personnel presence dating back to the Gulf War days.
The Prince rose in military ranks in a short span of time to Team Captain in 1995, and was appointed Deputy Assistant Chief of National Guard with special assignment for military affairs. Along with the new assignment came promotion to the rank of General.
In June 2009, King Abdullah bestowed upon Prince Mutaib deputy commander in the rank of minister of SANG, the country’s military wing responsible for executive affairs. One year later, the prince became the Commander of SANG taking the responsibility from King Abdullah.
Prince Mutaib immediately instituted ambitious plan to reorganize SANG to improve the unit’s firepower and artillery at a cost of $ 3 billion in 2010.
In the same year as the man in charge of National Guard, Prince Mutaib was also appointed cabinet member in the rank of Minister of State. The prince was made vice president of the Supreme Committee of the National Festival for Heritage and Culture and head of the technical committee of the Equestrian Club and a member of the board of directors of King Abdulaziz Public Library.
Business Endeavors
Prince Mutaib served as local representative for Ford Motor Corporation in Saudi Arabia.
Personal life
Prince Mutaib bin Abdullah has six children, three daughters and three sons from his marriage to Jawahir bint Abdallah bin Abdul Rahman Al Abdul Rahman. Prince Abdullah bin Mutaib one of three sons enjoys horse show jumping and has made two Olympic appearances.