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Saudi prince hires female airline pilot { January 31 2006 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/8379B2FF-B61E-4C2B-BB76-A3CBEEE4EB5C.htm http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/8379B2FF-B61E-4C2B-BB76-A3CBEEE4EB5C.htm Saudi prince buys into luxury market Tuesday 31 January 2006, 8:31 Makka Time, 5:31 GMT A Saudi billionaire is getting one step closer to putting Muslim capital on the world's luxury leisure industry map after teaming up with Colony Capital in a $3.9 billion deal to buy Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Inc. Prince Walid bin Talal's hotel investment group, Kingdom Hotels International, and Colony Capital have agreed to combine Fairmont with the Raffles hotel group to create an international luxury chain with 120 hotels in 24 countries. With interests in Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, George V Hotel and Movenpick Hotels & Resorts, the new deal will put the prince in competition with luxury brands launched recently by Starwood Capital Group and Hilton Hotels Corp. Walid has been ranked by Forbes as the world's fifth richest person. His estimated fortune of $23.7 billion makes him the wealthiest Muslim businessman. A nephew of Saudi King Abdullah, the 50-year-old prince has amassed an enormous fortune from investing in shares, property and recently the Arab music and entertainment industry, all under the giant Kingdom Holding Company. Need for reform While he has, for a long time, stayed outside of the core of political power in Saudi Arabia, the prince has recently voiced critical statements of Saudi traditionalism and the need for political and economic reforms as well as boosting women's rights. He has hired the first female airline pilot in Saudi Arabia. Walid was born in Riyadh to Prince Talal, son of Abdulaziz al-Saud, Saudi Arabia's founder and Princess Mona el-Solh, daughter of Riad el-Solh, the first Lebanese prime minister and leader of its independence. He completed his studies in the US where he received a master's degree in Social Science from Syracuse University in 1985. His activities as an investor came to prominence when he bought a large stake in Citigroup when it was in rocky waters. He later acquired substantial interests in AOL, Apple Computer Inc, Worldcom, Motorola Inc, News Corporation Inc and others. In January last year, Alwaleed bought the Savoy Hotel in London for some £250 million. Charitable acts The prince is also involved in charitable activities across the Middle East, Asia and Africa, with estimated donations of $100 million annually. At home, he also receives on a regular basis needy Saudis under a state-of-the-art tent. Last year, Walid donated a combined $40 million to Georgetown University and Harvard University for the expansion of their Islamic studies programmes. But his offer in 2001 of a $10 million donation to the City of New York for relief efforts after the 11 September 2001 attacks was turned down. Rudolph Giuliani, New York's former mayor, said then the prince's comments that Washington "must address some of the issues that led to such a criminal attack" could be construed as a justification of the attacks, perpetrated by mainly Saudi nationals. Reuters

may12-03-attacks Al qaeda aimds topple saudi royals { November 10 2003 } Alqaeda arms traced saudi national guard { May 19 2003 } Alqaeda suspects blow selves up in mecca { November 6 2003 } Bomb explosion immediately after terror alert { November 9 2003 } Briefing depicted saudis as enemies backing terrorism { August 6 2002 } Chaos in saudi arabia { May 15 2003 } Forceful and flawed leader king fahd dies { August 1 2005 } Mercenaries inc { November 13 1995 } Moroccans planned saudi suicide flight { May 21 2003 } Nov03 suicide attack kills 11 { November 9 2003 } Pakistan saudiarabia secret nuke pact Questions 12000 citizens { August 15 2003 } Saudi arabia allows women working to boost economy { June 7 2004 } Saudi attack targets foriegners { May 30 2004 } Saudi depicted enemy { August 6 2002 } Saudi enemies { August 6 2002 } Saudi fall Saudi memorial weekend terror rampage Saudi national guard weapons probe Saudi prince hires female airline pilot { January 31 2006 } Saudi says kills 10 militants in 2 days of raids Saudi view disavowed { August 7 2002 } Saudis accuse british staff of destabilisation { September 7 2002 } Saudis consider nuclear bomb { September 18 2003 } Saudis control funding of islamic extremist groups { March 7 2004 } Saudis deny pakistan nuclear pact Saudis find deep network of terror cells { August 14 2003 } Saudis win backing for anti terror center Terrorist car bomb kills saudi { April 21 2004 } Two americans killed in saudi arabia US gives saudis 20b in weapons { June 2007 } Us intensifies warning on terrorism in saudi arabia { December 17 2003 } Us knew attack was likely Us leads arms sales saudis are buying Us pulls saudi diplomats under threats US rebukes Saudis on religious rights violations Us urges saudi cooperation after blast Files Listed: 37

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