Nasir bin Radan Al-Rashid Al-Wadaei, believed to be Saudi Arabia’s oldest living citizen, has died at the age of 142, family sources confirmed this week. His passing marks the end of a life that stretched across more than a century of the Kingdom’s political, social, and economic transformation.
Relatives said he is survived by 134 children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He had married for the final time at the age of 110 and leaves behind a daughter from his last wife. News of his death spread rapidly, and condolences poured in from across the country.
According to Gulf News, Nasir bin Radan was widely regarded as the oldest man in Saudi Arabia. Funeral prayers took place in Dhahran Al-Janoub in the Kingdom’s southern region, where more than 7,000 mourners gathered to pay their respects. Afterwards, the family laid him to rest in his ancestral village of Al-Rashid, in keeping with local tradition.
Born before the establishment of the modern Saudi state, he witnessed the reigns of every Saudi ruler, from the founding monarch King Abdulaziz to the current King Salman. Consequently, many Saudis viewed him as a living link to the nation’s early history and evolving identity.
Family members described him as deeply religious and widely respected for his character. Over his long life, he reportedly performed Hajj more than 40 times. As a result, community members often cited him as a symbol of faith, endurance, and humility.
Meanwhile, tributes continued to circulate on Saudi social media platforms. Condolences continued nationwide throughout the day.
