Rashad Pharaon

Pharaon began to serve as the private physician of Ibn Saud from 1936^[1] which he held until Ibn Saud's death in 1953.^[4] Shukri Quwatli, future president of Syria, was instrumental in Rashad's migration to Saudi Arabia.^[5] Pharaon was briefly the Saudi ambassador to Spain from 1953 to 1954 and was made the minister of health in 1954 which he held until July 1960.^[1][6] Next, he served as the Saudi ambassador to France between 1960 and 1966.^[1] From 1966 to 1982 he was the senior policy adviser to King Faisal and then, to King Khalid.^[1]

Based on the statements of Ahmed bin Abdul Wahap Russian Arabist Alexei Vassiliev reports that Pharaon was the closest person to King Faisal during his reign.^[3] He acted as the personal advisor of Faisal^[7] who was instrumental in the appointment of Rashad as minister of health when he was the crown prince and prime minister.^[3] Although he was a native of Syria, Pharaon was among the allies of the king who were opponents of the Syrian Ba'ath regime.^[7] He continued to enjoy a high status under King Khalid and was the only non-royal official who participated in the meetings of the king with foreign leaders.^[8]

His family became one of the richest families in Saudi Arabia having various assets and investments.^[9] Pharaon had five children, three sons and two daughters.^[10][11] His son, Ghaith Pharaon, was a businessman who received a bachelor's degree from Stanford University and an MBA from Harvard University.^[12] His another son, Mazen, was also a businessman, and Rashad Pharaon's both sons had business partnership with Prince Abdullah, eldest son of King Faisal.^[13]

Rashad Pharaon died in 1990.^[14]