On Thursday, 16/3/1377 AH, His Majesty the Exalted King departed Riyadh for Lebanon on an official visit at the invitation of His Excellency President Camille Chamoun to attend the Arab Sports Games. A large crowd of Riyadh’s residents gathered at the airport to bid His Majesty farewell, led by Their Royal Highnesses the Princes, Their Excellencies the Ministers, esteemed scholars, senior statesmen, dignitaries, and notables, all honored to greet His Majesty and pray for the success of his blessed journey.
Accompanying His Majesty on this visit were Their Royal Highnesses Princes Mohammed bin Saud Al Saud, Salman bin Abdulaziz, Khalid bin Saud, Mansour bin Saud, Badr bin Saud, Faisal bin Saud, Abdul‑Ilah bin Saud, and Mohammed bin Turki. Also on board the royal aircraft was the Lebanese Honor Delegation headed by His Excellency Mr. Kazem Al‑Khalil.
At Beirut International Airport, vast crowds gathered to welcome His Majesty, led by His Excellency President Camille Chamoun, Prime Minister Sami Al‑Solh, members of the Lebanese cabinet, Arab and foreign diplomats, the Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon and his staff, and members of the Saudi community. As soon as the royal aircraft landed, President Chamoun and the welcoming delegation advanced to greet His Majesty. After the two leaders embraced and the official reception ceremonies were completed, the royal motorcade proceeded to the Guest Palace, greeted along the way by cheers, applause, and elaborate displays of welcome.
Beirut had been adorned for days in anticipation of the King’s arrival. Saudi flags fluttered alongside Lebanese flags on public and private buildings, and arches of triumph bearing messages of welcome lined the streets.
On Thursday afternoon, His Majesty visited the President at the Presidential Palace, where he was received with great honor. After spending some time with the President, His Majesty departed amid warm expressions of respect. At 4:00 p.m., His Majesty received the heads of diplomatic missions in Lebanon, who expressed their delight at the royal visit and conveyed the greetings of their governments.
That evening, President Chamoun hosted a grand banquet in honor of His Majesty, attended by leading Lebanese figures and members of the Arab and foreign diplomatic corps.
On Friday morning, His Majesty received the Mayor of Beirut and members of the municipal council. He thanked them for the warm welcome extended to him by all segments of the Lebanese people. On this occasion, the Mayor presented His Majesty with a golden key to the city of Beirut, symbolizing Lebanon’s appreciation for the King’s steadfast support for Lebanon and the Arab world.
Later that afternoon, His Majesty received Lebanese journalists, who expressed their gratitude for his visit. His Majesty addressed them, urging them to support efforts to strengthen the spiritual and national bonds uniting the Arab peoples.
On Saturday morning, His Majesty received the Grand Mufti of Lebanon, senior scholars, religious leaders, and a large gathering of intellectuals and writers, who expressed their appreciation for the King’s efforts to reinforce unity among Arab nations. At 6:30 p.m., His Majesty attended the opening ceremony of the Arab Sports Games in Beirut, where he was received with great honor by senior officials and dignitaries, led by the President of Lebanon.
His Majesty remained in Lebanon for five days. Throughout the visit, the Lebanese and Arab press extensively covered his movements and the warm reception he received from the President and the Lebanese people.
At the conclusion of the visit, and following discussions on regional affairs, the following joint communiqué was issued:
Joint Saudi–Lebanese Communiqué
His Majesty King Saud I of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia responded to the invitation of His Excellency President Camille Chamoun and undertook an official visit to Lebanon from 15 to 22 Rabi‘ al‑Awwal 1377 AH (10–19 October 1957 CE). His Majesty attended the opening of the Second Arab Sports Games. Both leaders expressed their appreciation for the event’s pan‑Arab significance and its role in strengthening sportsmanship, unity, and cooperation among Arab youth.
The visit provided an opportunity for discussions between the two heads of state and between officials of both governments regarding the general Arab situation. These talks reflected the spirit of fraternity and understanding that characterizes relations between the two countries. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the Arab League Charter, the Joint Defense Treaty, the United Nations Charter, and the resolutions of the Bandung Conference. They emphasized adherence to the principles outlined in the joint Saudi–Lebanese communiqué of 26 March 1957.
The two sides reviewed current Arab political developments and the responsibilities they impose on Arab nations. They discussed recent events in Syria and jointly declared their full solidarity with Arab states, affirming that any aggression against Syria—or any Arab country—constitutes aggression against both Lebanon and Saudi Arabia. They stressed that respect for the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Arab states, and non‑interference in their internal affairs, are essential for the security of the Middle East and the stability of international relations.
Both sides affirmed their determination to continue working toward unifying the Arab position in the face of all developments.