There has been no official word on the cause of death, but the prince has undergone numerous surgeries on his back in recent years.
Prince Saud held the position of foreign minister for 40 years before retiring in April, and is credited with turning the oil-rich kingdom into a serious international diplomatic player.
Graduating in 1964, Prince Saud was sent to work at state oil agency Petromin as a junior employee by his father, King Faisal.
