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Claim: A viral video circulating on social media platforms claims that Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal, who has been in a coma since a 2005 car accident, has regained consciousness and is awake.
Verdict: False! The video actually shows Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al Saud visiting Dakar Rally 2025 winner Yazeed Al Rajhi in a hospital in Riyadh following a racing accident in April 2025. It does not depict Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal or indicate his recovery from a coma.
Full Text
On June 14, 2025, a video began circulating across social media platforms, including X, Facebook, and TikTok, claiming that Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal, a Saudi royal known as the “Sleeping Prince,” had woken up after nearly 20 years in a coma following a 2005 car accident. The video was shared with captions suggesting a miraculous recovery, sparking widespread reactions ranging from celebration to scepticism.
One prominent post on X by @BlessedGirl001 garnered 6.5 million impressions by June 15, 2025, with the caption: “The sleeping Prince of Saudi Arabia has just woken up, after being in Coma for 20yrs!!!! Praise be to God!!! And thanks to his father for not giving up on him.” The post received 979 comments, 4.4k retweets, 55k likes, and 5k bookmarks. Similar posts appeared across X, including here, here, here, and here.
On Facebook, accounts like Deddeh J Harris shared the video, amassing 19k views, 38 comments, and 110 reactions. Another account, AnaedoTV, posted to its 44,000 followers with the caption: “The Sleeping Prince of Saudi Arabia is finally awake, after being in a coma for 20 years. His dad, the king, never gave up on him. Wow.” This post received 8k views, 32 comments, and 72 reactions. Additional Facebook shares can be found here, here, and here.
On TikTok, the account @destinyedera, with over 8,600 followers, posted the video, which garnered over 100k views, 2,900 comments, and 4,925 bookmarks. Reactions on TikTok reflected a mix of belief and doubt.
For instance, @user2331060482540 commented: “Amazing! Glory be to God!!! Determination and Resilience pay. Welcome back to life, sleeping prince. May God grant you many more years.”
Also, @rollymalabo wrote: “He has no idea about Covid-19, lockdown, Obama was President, 2 Popes dead, Osama bin Laden dead, Sadam Dead, Gaddafi Dead, Michael Jackson, etc Messi masterclass in Qatar (world cup) This guy has a lot of breaking news to deal with.”
On X, @el_obino reacted: “Wow, 20 years big ups to his family for not giving up on him,” while @_SammyNas questioned: “Will him be able to regain his memories? and again can him be able to move? Bc for someone that has been one place for that long, I don’t think he can be able to move.”
Given the video’s viral spread and potential to misinform, DUBAWA conducted a thorough investigation to verify the claims.
Verification
DUBAWA’s investigation, using Google’s reverse image and cross-referencing with credible sources, revealed that the viral video does not depict Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal.
Instead, it shows an April 15 hospital visit by His Royal Highness Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al Saud, President of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, to Dakar Rally 2025 winner Yazeed Al Rajhi in Riyadh. Al-Rajhi was recovering from a spinal injury sustained during the Jordan Baja International Rally in April 2025.
A YouTube channel, Hasan Al Najmi, with 31.5k subscribers, posted the video on April 16, 2025, captioned: “Prince Khalid bin Sultan visits the champion Yazeed Al Rajhi.” This predates the June 14, 2025, claims of the “Sleeping Prince” waking up.
Another YouTube channel, @almashaheersnap, posted a similar video, captioned,
“Visit of His Royal Highness Prince Khalid bin Sultan, Chairperson of the Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, to Yazid Al-Rajhi.” The description detailed Al-Rajhi’s accident, stating, “During the Jordan Baja International Rally, medical examinations showed that he [Yazeed Al Rajhi] had fractured two vertebrae in his spine. As for his co-driver, Timo Gottschalk, he had fractured four vertebrae in his spine. We ask God to heal the champion Yazeed Al Rajhi.” The Arab News equally reported the accident on their website.
Moreover, a visual comparison confirms that Yazeed Al Rajhi and Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal are distinct individuals. Images of Prince Al-Waleed, such as those shared on X by @YousafK53695321, show him in a coma with medical equipment, while photos of Al-Rajhi, like those on @crosscountryrally/Instagram, depict a different person recovering in a hospital.
Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal, a member of the Saudi royal family, is often referred to as the ‘Sleeping Prince’ due to his long-term coma. (Photo/X/@YousafK53695321)
Dakar Rally 2025 winner Yazeed Al Rajhi at the hospital in Riyadh. Credit: @crosscountryrally/Instagram
Medical Implausibility
The claim that Prince Al-Waleed woke up and immediately appeared active, as seen in the video, is medically implausible. After 20 years in a coma, a patient would face:
- Severe Muscle Atrophy: Prolonged immobility causes muscle wasting and joint contractures, making immediate movement unlikely without extensive rehabilitation.
- Neurological Damage: The 2005 accident caused a brain haemorrhage, likely damaging areas responsible for speech and motor functions. Recovery, if possible, would be gradual.
- Tracheostomy and Feeding Tubes: Prince Al-Waleed relies on a ventilator and feeding tube, as reported by Roya News. The video’s subject shows no such equipment.
- Rehabilitation Needs: Cases like Munira Abdulla, who woke after 27 years in a coma, required months of therapy to regain limited speech and movement. Immediate activity, as depicted, is inconsistent with medical evidence.
Dr. Ali Al-Mansoori, a neurologist cited in Pulse Nigeria on April 30, 2025, noted that Prince Al-Waleed’s occasional movements (e.g., lifting a finger in 2019) suggest minimal awareness but not full consciousness. Such movements are reflexive, not indicative of recovery.
Environmental Differences
The hospital settings in the viral video and documented images of Prince Al-Waleed differ significantly:
- Yazeed Al Rajhi’s video features modern hospital decor with visible artwork and no coma-specific equipment.
- Prince Al-Waleed’s setting: Includes Quran cardboards and candles at some points, but most especially medical devices like ventilators and feeding tubes, as seen in 2019 and 2020 footage.
Credit: pulse.ng
Lack of Credible Reporting
No reputable news outlet has reported Prince Al-Waleed’s recovery as of June 15, 2025. A significant event like this would garner global coverage, as seen with Munira Abdulla’s recovery in 2019.
Background on Prince Al-Waleed
Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal, a member of the Saudi royal family, has been in a coma since a 2005 car accident in London that caused a traumatic brain injury.
Known as the “Sleeping Prince,” he turned 36 on April 18, 2025, while still unconscious at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh.
He relies on mechanical ventilation and a feeding tube for survival. In 2019 and 2020, he showed limited movements, such as lifting a finger or moving his head, which were shared on social media.
These were interpreted as signs of hope but confirmed as reflexive by medical experts. His condition continues to draw public attention, often fuelling unverified claims.
Conclusion
The viral video claiming that Saudi Arabia’s “Sleeping Prince,” Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal, has woken up from a 20-year coma is false. The video actually depicts Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al Saud visiting Yazeed Al Rajhi, a rally driver recovering from a recent accident, not Prince Al-Waleed.
