The primary purpose of convening this meeting with you, distinguished representatives of the international press, is to review with you—and to place before you—our position on Arab affairs, and to acquaint you with the progress our country has achieved and the comprehensive renaissance it has undertaken in the cultural, developmental, and health sectors. This has been accomplished despite the short span of time during which our resources and financial capabilities have enabled us to turn our attention to these matters and embark upon this broad program of national advancement.
The entire world knows that this Peninsula was once barren, devoid of rivers and trees, and that we lived within it a life of modest means. Yet we safeguarded security, upheld stability, served the Sacred House of God, ensured the comfort of its pilgrims, and protected their lives—lives that had long been exposed to danger. This commitment made the security of our land a model recognized throughout the world, despite the vastness of the Peninsula, the great distances between its regions, and the absence of transportation routes.
Our Domestic Reforms
Such was our condition until God bestowed upon us the blessing of oil, which began to flow shortly before the Second World War. Its flow ceased during the war, then resumed in a tangible manner after its conclusion.
Around 1946, our financial capabilities reached a level that allowed us to begin our national renaissance across various fields. Recognizing that education was the most essential foundation for this renaissance—our firm belief being that knowledge is the basis of progress and advancement—and given that education in its recognized form was nearly nonexistent, we resolved to lay the first cornerstone in educating the youth and enlightening the nation.
We therefore began establishing schools at all levels: primary, intermediate, secondary, and technical. We understood that this effort must be comprehensive, extending to all parts of the country, however distant, so that the sons of villages and valleys might enjoy the same access to education as the sons of the cities. Thus we took a major step in establishing schools until they spread throughout the Kingdom.
All students receive their education free of charge, and textbooks are provided to them at no cost. We established teacher‑training institutes and granted their students monthly stipends as encouragement and support. We founded the national university upon sound academic and methodological principles, bringing in specialized professors to teach therein. The university has begun to bear fruit, graduating students who now serve their country in various fields. We have also sent hundreds of students to universities around the world; many have completed their studies and are now contributing to the nation’s development.
The progress achieved in education is evident in the official statistics.
We also established the Islamic University in Medina, which now includes a large number of students from across the Islamic world. Its graduates will become envoys and guides, bearing the torch of knowledge, enlightenment, and understanding.
Despite our pride in the significant progress achieved, we recognize that we are still at the beginning of the path, and duty compels us to continue until we reach the goal to which we aspire.
Development and Infrastructure
Urban development has received our utmost attention. When we surveyed our capabilities, we found not a single meter of paved road connecting the regions of the country. Hospitals and medical facilities were insufficient. The Two Holy Mosques required care that would ensure the comfort of pilgrims and visitors to the Prophet’s Mosque. We therefore undertook the expansion of the Two Holy Mosques.
The works in the Prophet’s Mosque were completed some time ago, and Muslim pilgrims have testified that this project is among the most distinguished achievements in architecture and construction. As for the expansion of the Sacred Mosque in Mecca, it is progressing rapidly; the greater part has been completed, and we hope the remainder will be finished soon. Muslims have expressed admiration for the magnificence of the completed sections. Our motivation in all this is the duty we owe to the pilgrims of the Muslim world.
We also placed road construction at the forefront of our priorities. We began by paving the roads leading to the pilgrimage sites: the roads between Mecca and Jeddah, and between Mecca and Arafat—both dual carriageways to ensure the safety and comfort of pilgrims. The road between Jeddah and Medina was also paved, allowing pilgrims to travel with ease after long years of hardship.
We established a modern Pilgrims’ City for those arriving by sea, equipped with the latest health facilities. Pilgrims no longer disembark from ships to wait under the sun on the docks; instead, they find a fully prepared city awaiting them. Likewise, we established a Pilgrims’ City for air travelers, capable of accommodating all pilgrims awaiting transportation to Mecca or their return flights. These achievements are well known, and our pilgrim brothers witness them each year.
As for the major road projects linking the regions of the Kingdom despite their vast distances, we have made great progress. The Dammam–al‑Ahsa–Riyadh road has been fully paved, alongside the modern railway line. Work is underway on the Riyadh–Mecca highway, with only 400 kilometers remaining. Upon completion, the Arabian Gulf coast will be connected to the Red Sea coast by a paved road stretching 1,700 kilometers. Work is also progressing on the Medina–Tabuk road in the far north, now 800 kilometers long, with only 200 kilometers remaining. Pilgrims from the northern Islamic countries will use this route.
These examples—though not exhaustive—illustrate the scale of our development efforts despite the short period available to us.
Housing projects have also been a central objective of our comprehensive renaissance. We have taken significant steps in constructing homes for citizens and granting them ownership through reduced monthly installments.
Among the challenges we are now striving to overcome is the provision of water.
Source: Al‑Ahram, via Al‑Madinah
Ahram Center for Documentation and Microfilm
14 Rabiʿ al‑Awwal 1382 AH — 15 August 1962
Documentary File of the Late King Saud bin Abdulaziz — Volume III