“We all know and fully appreciate the great calamity that befell us with the passing of the renewer of our glory and the founder of our state—our father, King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al‑Faisal. May God sanctify his soul, envelop him in His mercy, and grant him the gardens of bliss.”
His Majesty continued:
“By God’s grace, he restored to us the glory of our forefathers and established our state, giving it a distinguished position among the nations. His standing in the world is well known to you. What he left us—his legacy and his great reputation in international circles—is a pillar of our pride, one that history will continue to recount.”
“Our only consolation after this tragedy was the patience and fortitude God granted us in that difficult hour, enabling us to continue along the path he laid out for us. What eased our grief was witnessing your unity around us, your support, and your pledge of allegiance—offered with your hearts before your hands—and the people’s commitment to obedience in accordance with the Book of God and the Sunnah of His Messenger. This reminds us of what the Companions of the Prophet, peace be upon him, did with the Rightly Guided Caliphs.”
“This was our consolation—and yours—and it became a renewed motivation for us to work day and night for the advancement of our country and the well‑being of our people.”
Adherence to Religion Above All
“From the moment we assumed responsibility, our foremost concern has been to hold fast to the Book of God, follow the guidance of His Messenger, and emulate the righteous predecessors. We also follow the path of our great father in governance, administration, and reform—continuing what he built and completing what he began.”
“Islam has made governance a matter of consultation among Muslims. Therefore, our first resolve was to make you—our brothers, our sons, and our ministers—the source of our trust and counsel. We established this Council—the Council of Ministers—to be the foundation of all state affairs. Every action of the state will originate from you and return to you, each according to his responsibilities and the regulations assigned to him.”
Foreign Policy
“Our foreign policy follows the path of our late father. Our foremost concern is unifying the Arab word and supporting Arab interests within the Arab League and the Joint Defense Pact. We instructed our delegation to the League’s first meeting after our accession to declare our firm commitment to supporting the Arabs and cooperating with them in every possible field to prevent aggression and achieve collective benefit.”
“We shall continue, God willing, to call upon all Arab countries to unite their ranks and strengthen their forces to preserve Arab independence and repel aggression from any direction.”
His Majesty praised the condolences and solidarity shown by Arab and Muslim nations, especially Pakistan, whose Governor‑General visited the Kingdom personally.
He then addressed the Palestinian issue:
“We all know the cancer that has been planted in the body of the Arab world. The Zionists committed atrocities unprecedented in history—killing and expelling nearly a million Arab Muslims from Palestine. Their repeated attacks on neighboring Arab states show that they threaten not only the region but the entire world. They threaten Islam and Muslims everywhere. We are working with Arab and Islamic nations to defend ourselves against this aggression, and God is our supporter.”
Relations Beyond the Arab World
“Our general policy outside the Arab sphere is to strengthen friendly relations with all nations that show goodwill. We regret that a problem remains unresolved between us and the friendly British government, but we are working diligently to preserve our sovereignty and rights through peaceful negotiation, and we hope for a friendly settlement.”
The Army — Pillar of the State
“Strengthening our army has been one of our greatest concerns, for it is the pillar of the state. Upon it—after God—rests the preservation of our independence. A large portion of the budget will be allocated to the army, and we are working to increase its numbers, improve its training, and acquire the necessary weapons.”
Care for the Nation and Its People
His Majesty outlined major initiatives:
Combating Hunger, Poverty, and Hardship
- Assisting regions affected by drought
- Relocating large groups of Bedouins to towns
- Providing food and support
- Preparing long‑term development projects to create employment
Improving Public Health
- Expanding hospitals and clinics
- Raising national health standards
Advancing Education
- Establishing the Ministry of Education
- Prioritizing religious education, then worldly sciences
- Allocating a large share of the budget to education
Developing Agriculture
- Establishing the Ministry of Agriculture
- Supporting fertile regions to increase production
- Enabling the Kingdom to feed itself and potentially others
Strengthening Transportation
- Establishing the Ministry of Communications
- Planning a major railway from Riyadh to Medina, Jeddah, and Mecca
- Reviving the historic Hejaz Railway in cooperation with Jordan and Syria
Financial Reform
“The backbone of the state is finance. Without sufficient resources and organized spending, no development can succeed.”
His Majesty announced:
- A national budget divided into:
- Government operations
- Development projects
- Reserves
- Establishment of the General Audit Bureau
- Establishment of the Board of Grievances (Dīwān al‑Maẓālim)
- Creation of municipal and local administrative councils
Conclusion
“We ask God Almighty to grant us His aid and success in achieving what benefits our worldly life and our hereafter. He is the All‑Hearing, the Responsive. He is the best Protector and the best Helper. Peace be upon you.”
(2 Rajab 1373 AH)