Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (1921–2005) was King of Saudi Arabia from June 13, 1982, until his death in 2005, also serving as Prime Minister. As the eighth son of King Abdulaziz, the founder of modern Saudi Arabia, he played a key administrative role long before ascending to the throne, including as Minister of Education (1953) and Minister of the Interior (1962). He served as Crown Prince under his brother King Khalid from 1975 to 1982. During his reign, he oversaw economic modernization and navigated major geopolitical challenges including the oil boom, the Iranian Revolution, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and the Gulf War of 1990–1991. He fostered close alliances with the United States, allowing coalition forces to use Saudi territory during the liberation of Kuwait. Domestically, he invested oil revenues into infrastructure, healthcare, and education while maintaining conservative Islamic governance. In 1986, he became the first Saudi king to adopt the title 'Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.' His rule was marked by prosperity but also criticism for human rights issues, corruption allegations, and suppression of dissent. His health declined after a stroke in 1995, leading to his son Abdullah effectively co-ruling until Fahd's death from complications of a long-term illness on August 1, 2005. His legacy includes transforming Saudi Arabia into a modern welfare state reliant on oil wealth, though his era also saw tensions over political reforms and regional stability.