Coinciding with the opening of the historical exhibition on the life of King Saud bin Abdulaziz,
Princess Fahda bint Saud spoke about the origins of the idea and the journey of documenting her father’s history.
From Dhahran, where the exhibition was launched, she shared a rich and heartfelt conversation filled with dates, numbers, and events that would be difficult for memory to hold—were it not for God’s grace, the noble purpose, and the deep love that united all the sons and daughters of King Saud in establishing this traveling historical exhibition, which will later become a permanent museum in Riyadh.
Below is the interview with Her Royal Highness Princess Fahda bint Saud bin Abdulaziz:
How did the idea of researching and documenting King Saud’s history begin? Did anyone assist you?
After the Gulf War in 1991, I began thinking about documenting King Saud’s history, but I did not know where to start.
During the Kingdom’s Centennial Celebration in 1999, King Saud’s history was one of the topics presented at the Centennial Conference organized by the King Abdulaziz Foundation in Riyadh. I considered the subject a personal challenge, relying solely on God’s help.
Before that, I used to visit old markets—such as Souq Al‑Baddu in Jeddah—and I was keen on collecting old books and newspapers that mentioned King Saud or were published during his reign, even though they were not archived. I began with newspapers, research, and investigation, and I asked everyone I knew to provide me with anything they had related to King Saud.
What about your participation in the Centennial Conference?
People began to recognize my interest in documenting King Saud’s biography and started providing me with old photos and newspapers.
The greatest challenge I faced was finding photographs of the laying of the foundation stones for the expansions of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque—and by God’s grace, I found them.
I then presented a research paper on King Saud at the Centennial Conference, attended by 500 researchers. The paper had a significant impact because it contained information about King Saud that had never been heard before after his long absence. It was also the only paper dedicated to his history.
What happened after that?
Many doors opened for me. More people began sending me old books and newspapers.
We established a small museum in King Saud Hall at Qasr Khuzam in Jeddah, and from there, serious efforts to document his history began, especially after obtaining a large number of photographs.
I also began working with my brother, Prince Dr. Salman bin Saud, to collect references and prepare the book “Al‑Wathiqa wal‑Haqiqa” (“The Document and the Truth”), which was published in three volumes and is now available in bookstores.
How many photographs have you collected?
I currently have 5,000 photographs of King Saud.
The King Saud website contains 3,000 of them, while the exhibition displays only 150.
What did launching the King Saud website on National Day (23/9/2005) mean to you?
The website was a gift to the nation on its glorious day.
It was a deeply emotional moment for me and for all my brothers and sisters, as we attended the launch together.
How did the website help you?
I wished it had been launched before the King Saud Symposium organized by the King Abdulaziz Foundation so that researchers could benefit from it.
Indeed, it was inaugurated by Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Riyadh, before the symposium.
The website helped me connect with many people inside and outside the Kingdom who later provided me with photos and information, forming the foundation of a comprehensive archive of King Saud’s history.
What are you working on now?
I am currently translating the book “King Saud” written by the French author Michel Benoît in 1960, from French into Arabic.
I obtained the rights to print and translate it, aiming to enrich libraries with more works about King Saud’s life.
What are King Saud’s sons and daughters planning now?
We are in the process of establishing the King Saud Charitable Foundation, which will include an information center and a historical archive.
A King Saud Prize will also be announced soon in a field currently under study.
We also plan to produce a documentary film about King Saud, as the existing film “Khalifat al‑Mu’assis” (“Successor of the Founder”) is very simplified.
Tell us about King Saud as a statesman and economist.
In his first speech to the Council of Ministers after the death of King Abdulaziz, he said his famous words:
“My father’s era was known for its conquests, and my era will be known for eliminating poverty, ignorance, and disease.”
With this statement, he set a national strategy for progress.
He then began implementing it by building hospitals, opening schools, establishing the country’s infrastructure, and improving the standard of living.
What do you remember from your childhood with King Saud?
He was keen on attending our school events.
We studied the Jordanian curriculum before the unification of boys’ and girls’ curricula.
We also studied English and French and practiced sports.
He attended our plays and awarded prizes to outstanding students, showing his commitment to educating both boys and girls.
He instructed teachers not to differentiate between his daughters and any other Saudi student.
What memory remains most vivid for you?
I vividly remember his insistence that we all attend the Eid prayer together, then sit with him for Eid breakfast in a warm family atmosphere that instilled unity and affection.
He was also keen on teaching us responsibility, discipline, and avoiding a life of excessive comfort or indulgence.
What unites the sons and daughters of King Saud?
All of King Saud’s children share a deep love for him—may God have mercy on him.
We felt this strongly while preparing for the exhibition, as every son, daughter, grandson, and granddaughter contributed meaningfully according to their abilities and age, without prior coordination.
The truth is that King Saud’s history brought together the young and old of his family in a gathering of love and harmony.
Each of us took initiative, communication increased, and we began planning future projects—this unity is one of the blessings of working on his legacy.
A message to the Eastern Province and its people
I felt, while in the Eastern Province, that I had not left my home—rather, I was in my true home.
We are one nation, and wherever we go, we feel the same belonging.
I hope that all residents and visitors of the Eastern Province will visit the historical exhibition documenting an important era in our nation’s history—from the moment of his birth, may God have mercy on him, on the day Riyadh was recaptured in 1902, until its unification, establishment, and rise