Iffat (1916–2000)
Iffat (1916–2000)
Saudi queen. Name variations: 'Iffat; Iffat al Thunayan; Iffat bint Ahmad al-Saud. Born Iffat bint Ahmad al-Saud in 1916 (some sources cite 1910) in Istanbul, Turkey, a descendant of Saudi notables who had been exiled there during Turkish domination of the peninsula; died Feb 18, 2000; dau. of Ahmad ibn Abdallah al-Saud; sister of Sheikh Kamal Ahmad; m. Crown Prince Feisal or Faisal (1905–1975), son of Abd Al-Aziz Ibn-Saud (founder of Saudi Arabia), who was later king of Saudi Arabia (r. 1964–75); children: 9, including Muhammad (b. 1937), Latifah, Sara, Saud (b. 1940), Abdalrahman, Bandar (b. 1943), and Turki (b. 1945).
Grew up in Turkey but was taken back to Saudi Arabia by her father's cousin Crown Prince Feisal whom she then married; became husband's partner as they modernized and oversaw the development of the kingdom; her influence was recognized both inside and outside the palaces of Riyadh; started government boys' school (1942) and girls' school (1956); after husband became king (1964), pushed for education for girls, then unknown in the Arab world; later helped plan adult-education centers and Institute of Management and Administration for Women; started girls' College of Education (1967); husband was assassinated (Mar 26, 1975), ending a remarkable reign.