‘…The burdens of kingship, and the honor of serving it and protecting the Two Holy Mosques, have been placed upon my shoulders. On this night, in which I have seen with my own eyes, heard with my own ears, and felt with my heart what your chests hold and what your intentions contain—of love, of noble remembrance for your late ruler, and of loyalty and devotion to his successor in the leadership of your affairs.’
After this tribute to his people, he asked God to grant him ‘the best support from them in obeying Him.’ He then outlined—may God have mercy on him—in concise words his general policy:
‘…Keeping my eyes, as I look into the affairs of the state, ever mindful of God, as though I see Him; and if I do not see Him, He surely sees me.’
He implored the Almighty ‘…to grant me aid from Him in what He has bestowed upon me of authority over His Sacred Land, and in the honor He has granted me of serving the Two Holy Mosques.’
Regarding the guests of the sacred places, he made clear that they are guests of his kingdom, whose comfort must be safeguarded, whose needs must be met, and whose obstacles must be removed. All of this, he emphasized, requires greater care for the holy sites:
‘…And I shall grant your blessed city—Mecca—the greatest of my attention and the highest degree of my concern.’
To provide services for the pilgrims and visitors to the holy places, cooperation and unity of effort are essential. He highlighted this by saying:
‘…So that, with your help and cooperation, I may ensure for those coming to the Sacred House of God from the East and the West all that enables them to perform their pilgrimage with comfort, health, and dignity.’
This care extended as well to Medina, for how could it not, when he said in his address to the people of Medina:
‘…I feel, from the depths of my heart, the duty owed to you and to your city. For this reason, I have taken the neighborhood of the Messenger of God—and your neighborhood—as a place of residence, and I have ordered our Minister of Finance to begin building a palace for me among you, so that I may, each year—God willing—visit the Prophet’s Mosque, pray therein, and undertake the blessed journey to it. And be assured that I am firmly resolved to exert every effort in all that advances this cherished part of our great homeland, revives it, and ensures a prosperous life for all.’”