Written by Intern Rency Gomes, Team Allycaral
Al Wadaei, widely regarded as Saudi Arabia’s oldest man, passed away in Riyadh on January 11, 2026, at a claimed age of 142, according to family members and local reports. His death marked the end of a life that, as relatives describe, spanned nearly every phase of the modern Saudi state.
Born around 1884 in the Dhahran Al Janub region of southern Saudi Arabia, Al Wadaei was believed to have witnessed the reign of all Saudi monarchs, from King Abdulaziz Al Saud, who unified the Kingdom in 1932, to the current ruler, King Salman bin Abdulaziz. Family members often referred to him as a living link to the country’s past, recalling stories of life before oil transformed the nation.
According to relatives, Al Wadaei performed the Hajj pilgrimage more than 40 times and remained active well into advanced age. He was known for regularly visiting mosques and for mediating disputes within his community, earning respect as an elder whose advice was valued.
He is survived by 134 children and grandchildren from multiple marriages, forming what his family described as a large and close-knit household. More than 7,000 people reportedly attended his funeral in Dhahran Al Janub, reflecting the esteem and recognition he commanded in the region.
Despite widespread belief in his extraordinary longevity, Al Wadaei’s age was never officially verified. Civil birth records in Saudi Arabia were introduced decades after his reported birth, and his claim was not recognised by Guinness World Records. Even so, for those who knew him, his long life, wisdom, and enduring presence remain a powerful legacy that transcends official documentation.
