Adhadhu has learnt that Fahad Saud Alshalan, who met with President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu claiming to be a prince, is not a member of the Saudi royal family.
Fahad arrived in the Maldives for the inauguration and groundbreaking ceremony of the Maldives International Financial Centre (MIFC). He met with Muizzu at the President's Office on Monday.
The President's Office website and social media platforms said "His Royal Highness Prince Fahad Saud Alshalan of Saudi Arabia" paid a courtesy call on Muizzu.
In Saudi Arabia, the title of "His/Her Royal Highness" (HRH) is typically bestowed upon the sons, daughters, and male-line grandsons and granddaughters of the reigning monarch.
Fahad's name does not appear on any list of Saudi royal descendants examined by Adhadhu.
Although the President's Office introduced Fahad as a member of the royal family, no representative from the Saudi Embassy in the Maldives attended his meeting with Muizzu.
Some credible sources told Adhadhu that the Saudi embassy had shared its concerns with the Maldivian government over the official documentation of a person who is not a member of the royal family.
But the Saudi embassy has not officially commented. When contacted by Adhadhu, the President's Office's Communications Minister Ibrahim Khaleel said he was not aware of any such concern raised by the embassy.
However, a senior government official confirmed that there were concerns about the issue.
Fahad Alshalan - Businesses and details
Internet searches and archives show that Fahad was first given the title of 'Prince' by the President's Office. There have been no such claims before and Fahad has not used the title 'Prince' on his own business websites.
There is not much information about Fahad on social media. The most detailed information is available on his profile on a site called Clay.
According to the site, "Fahad Saud Alshalan is a Saudi entrepreneur and investor with a diverse background in real estate development, international collaboration, and technology."
It says that he is the co-founder at Agns - A Good Night's Sleep. No details of the company are now available on the Internet. He previously used a LinkedIn account, but the profile is no longer visible. It is believed to have been deactivated.
Fahad's photos circulating on social media.
Fahad has businesses in the UK and the US. In 2019, he registered a company called Picnic Ventures in the UK with four Britons. Fahad resigned as the director of the company in 2020.
He is also involved in a company called Sand Box Studios in the US. According to the company's Instagram page, Fahad is a partner. This company is believed to have been formed in 2024.
None of these companies has stated that Fahad is a Saudi prince or a member of the Saudi royal family.
The last section of Fahad's profile on Clay says that "it's worth noting that while there are similarities in name and nationality, this Fahad Saud Alshalan should not be confused with Prince Fahad Al Saud, who is a separate individual with a background in technology and social entrepreneurship."
The real Prince Fahad Al Saud has an official website and videos. This could be the reason why the President's Office staff confused Fahad Saud Alshalan with Prince Fahad Al Saud.
In Saudi Arabia, a special priority is given to maintaining the official record of the members and the titles of the royal family. While Fahad Saud Alshalan could be a distant relative of the royal family, open-source information suggests that no official agency has previously declared him a 'prince'
There is also no mention of his name or ancestors in the official records of the Saudi royal family tree. So he is likely to be a fake prince.
