Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Al-Hamzi, director of police in Makkah, conveyed through Arab News his sincere condolences to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior Prince Naif, Prince Sultan's brothers, sons and Saudi citizens. “Prince Sultan has a great record in charitable deeds inside the Kingdom and abroad,” he said.

Al-Hamzi recalled that Prince Sultan’s charitable actions have been institutionalized through his charity foundation and his special relief committee.

Director of Civil Defense in Makkah Brig. Jameel Arbaeen said Prince Sultan had dedicated his life to the service of his religion, homeland and the king. “The whole world has mourned the death of Prince Sultan because he was a man of noble deeds both locally and externally,” he said.

Arbaeen said the Prince Sultan Charitable Foundation has a number of welfare programs that benefit the poor and needy people everywhere in the world as well as programs for financing scientific research for universities, colleges, hospitals and others.

“The foundation has provided medicines and medical equipment to people of special needs, dug wells to provide clean water to the needy people in Saudi Arabia and abroad, encouraged thinkers and researchers by printing their books and publications and helped the old men and women,” Arbaeen said.

Assistant Director General of Health Affairs in Makkah Dr. Hussain Ghannam said the good deeds of Prince Sultan would outlive him. “History will always remember Prince Sultan as a charitable man,” he said.

Ghannam recalled that Prince Sultan’s Relief Committee began its work in Niger in 1998 and extended to Mali next year. “In 2000, the committee extended its welfare assistance to Chad, Ethiopia, Malawi, Djibouti and other countries in Africa,” he said.

He said the committee also organized medical caravans to combat endemic diseases such as malaria in a number of Third World countries.

Ghannam said Prince Sultan’s charity work included the digging of wells and construction of schools, hospitals, kidney dialysis centers and mosques. “The entire Saudi society and the world community were saddened by the death of Prince Sultan,” he said.

Talking to Arab News, a number of businessmen expressed sadness over the death of Prince Sultan and conveyed their condolences to the king, Prince Sultan's brothers, sons and members of the royal family.

“Prince Sultan was a man of charity. He extended humanitarian assistance for the sake of God without awaiting thanks or appreciation from anyone,” said Sheikh Saleh Kamel, chairman of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI).

Deputy chairman of the chamber Mazen Batterjee said Saudi businessmen, businesswomen and the entire economic sector were saddened by the death of Prince Sultan. “The country will never forget Prince Sultan's welfare deeds. His charitable foundation has extended relief aid and humanitarian assistance both inside the Kingdom and abroad,” he said.

JCCI Secretary-General Adnan bin Hussain Mandoura expressed his deep sadness over the death of Prince Sultan and said his humanitarian actions and welfare deeds would speak for him.

Zuhair bin Ali Al-Marhoumi and Ahmad bin Ali Saeed Al-Marbaie, who are members of the chamber’s board of directors, also expressed deep sadness and said Prince Sultan had left a remarkable legacy in humanitarian work.

Chairman of the National Committee for Land Transport at the Saudi Council of Chambers Saeed bin Ali Al-Bassami said he was shocked when he heard the news. “The death of Prince Sultan did not shock the Kingdom alone but entire Arab and Muslim communities,” he said.

Deputy chairman of the chamber's building and construction committee Khalaf bin Housan Al-Otaibi said Prince Sultan was a man who dedicated his life to the service of his country and his people. “His contributions to the process of nation building and sustainable development will ever speak for him,” he said.

President of the Madinah Islamic University Muhammad bin Ali Al-Aqla on Saturday said the saddening loss had put the Kingdom's people and leaders in a state of deep sorrow.

“The departure of our dear father the crown prince creates an unbridgeable void because he was a true patriot, loyal to the king and devoted to the service of his people, country and religion over the past 60 years or more. Since the time of the Kingdom's founder King Abdul Aziz, the prince has been holding a number of key positions in the government,” Al-Aqla said.

The prince made vital contributions to achieving and maintaining the Kingdom's security, people's prosperity and keeping up the momentum of economic growth of the country, he added.

“King Abdul Aziz had such a deep trust in the young prince that he appointed him at the head of the Royal Guards. Other positions he held before taking the command of the Ministry of Defense and Civil Aviation included the governorship of Riyadh, the ministers of agriculture and transport,” he said. He was promoted to the position of crown prince and deputy premier when then Crown Prince Abdullah became the king. “Devoted service to the religion and the country was the hallmark of the prince's career,” he added.

A noted achievement of the prince as the defense and aviation minister is the fortification of the country’s defenses.

— Input from Badea Abu Al-Naja, Md Humaidan and Yousuf Muhammad