In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
“I praise Almighty God and ask Him to grant us continued blessings and success in all that is good. O God, as You have bestowed upon us Your favors, inspire us to show gratitude. And may prayers and peace be upon the Master of Messengers and the Seal of the Prophets. May God grant us adherence to his Sharia and commitment to his Sunnah.”
“Five years have passed since God enveloped our great father with His mercy. He departed this world with a noble legacy, after striving in God’s cause and dedicating himself to the reform of the people and the security of the land.”
“We have borne the responsibility after him, carrying the trust he left behind. We continued the projects he began — relying on God, seeking His help, and sparing no effort in fulfilling the rights of God and the rights of His servants, upholding justice, compassion, and kindness.”
“These years have passed while the world around us is shaken by turmoil — principles collapsing, systems crumbling, and human values disregarded. Yet we have been determined that our nation remain steadfast in its faith, committed to its Sharia, and protective of its morals, manners, and heritage, fulfilling God’s words: ‘You are the best nation brought forth for mankind: you enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, and believe in God.’”
Unprecedented Development
“In these five years of bearing this great responsibility — before God and the nation — our Saudi land has taken remarkable strides in development, unmatched in most Middle Eastern countries. God has blessed us with the gifts of security and prosperity, the likes of which this vast land had not known for centuries.”
“We have exerted every effort to make our country a home of security, development, and progress.”
Foreign Policy and International Relations
“In our foreign policy, we have maintained principles that ensure strong relations with Arab and Islamic nations, guided by the Charter of the Arab League and the United Nations.”
“We strengthened bonds of affection with Muslim countries, visited some of them to learn about their conditions, and invited their leaders to visit our land.”
“With other nations, we have followed a balanced policy faithful to the UN Charter — avoiding bias, maintaining good relations, and confronting no one unless they aggressed against us.”
“Although we are currently in dispute with some major powers, we have sought peaceful solutions. We accepted arbitration regarding our eastern borders in al‑Buraimi and still accept it as an honorable solution. But the other party resorted to force, violating our land and then attacking our sister Egypt. We severed diplomatic relations with them, and they remain severed. When they return to justice and honor their agreements, we will welcome the resumption of normal relations.”
“As for France, we also severed relations due to its brutal oppression of Muslims in Algeria and its aggression against Egypt. We could not remain silent in the face of such injustice.”
“With all other nations, our relations remain friendly.”
The Position on Israel
“As for Israel, we have never recognized it as a state, nor acknowledged any legitimate existence for it. Its establishment on Arab land and its expulsion of the people of Palestine is an aggression against all humanity.”
Security, Peace, and the Holy Places
“We thank God that our peaceful policy and good relations have helped maintain stability in our region. The Kingdom enjoys comprehensive security — internally and externally — thanks to our adherence to the Book of God and the Sunnah of His Prophet.”
“Our policy has been founded on sincere desire for peace and fairness. The nature of our land — home to the Holy Kaaba, the Prophet’s Mosque, and the destination of pilgrims — obliges us to maintain neutrality in conflicts and preserve good relations with all nations.”
“We remain vigilant in observing global events to protect this sacred land from danger. God has honored us with the responsibility of serving the Two Holy Mosques, and we exert every effort to fulfill this trust.”
Expansion of the Holy Sites
“We have built roads and facilities to ease the pilgrimage and provide comfort to pilgrims in all rites. After completing the expansion of the Prophet’s Mosque in the most beautiful and dignified manner, we began the expansion of the Sacred Mosque in Mecca — constructing new structures, surrounding it with roads, and enhancing its beauty and strength.”
“The new expansions have fulfilled the long‑held hopes of Muslims for the development of the holy sites.”
“We also restored the Kaaba after cracks appeared in its roof and walls. The renovation was completed swiftly, and representatives of Islamic nations attended the celebration with joy and admiration.”
National Development and Prosperity
“God has greatly blessed our nation in recent years. State revenues have grown significantly, and with them, construction and development have expanded across the Kingdom — new cities, roads, services, and improvements that bring pride to our country.”
“These projects required large expenditures, but they were essential for transforming our nation from desert life to modern civilization, creating jobs, and laying the foundation for future industries and commerce.”
“This rapid development has helped distribute wealth, eliminate unemployment and poverty, and attract workers from across the Arab and Muslim world.”
“Our people now enjoy free services in health, education, agriculture, and social welfare — services rarely matched in the East.”
Education, Religion, Agriculture, and Industry
“We gave great attention to religious education, establishing many institutes and supporting their teachers and students. Graduates now serve the nation in judiciary, fatwa, preaching, and guidance.”
“We built primary and secondary schools across the Kingdom, making knowledge accessible in cities and villages alike. Education has advanced rapidly, earning praise from observers.”
“As secondary schools began graduating students, we established the university — with faculties already opened and more planned — to match the world’s universities in producing scholars and researchers.”
“We also founded a major library in Riyadh, to be filled with essential works in all fields.”
“In agriculture, we built dams, provided irrigation equipment free or at reduced cost, and established agricultural schools.”
“In industry, we opened industrial schools and planned factories across the Kingdom to reduce dependence on foreign imports.”
“We are still at the beginning of the road, but with God’s help, we are determined to expand useful industries and train our youth to master them.”
“Necessary steps have been taken to survey and map vast areas of the Kingdom for mineral exploration, using modern geological imaging techniques that will eventually cover the entire country and reveal its hidden resources.”
Health and Medical Services
“My government has devoted the utmost attention to public health. Large and small hospitals and clinics have been established throughout the Kingdom, and effective measures have been implemented to combat diseases everywhere. Major hospitals were built specifically to serve pilgrims during the Hajj season, and they have had a clear and beneficial impact in treating and assisting them.”
Advancement of the Army
“Our army has advanced rapidly in organization and numbers, and its development and armament continue in the most effective manner.”
Roads and Transportation
“Several major roads have been constructed across the Kingdom, the most significant being the road between Medina and Jeddah. Plans have been laid for additional roads connecting the farthest parts of the Kingdom — from the Arabian Gulf to the Red Sea, and from the northern regions to the south. Work has also begun on a road between Taif and Mecca passing through Mount al‑Hada and Arafat.”
“The construction of these roads greatly facilitates travel across the Kingdom, eases the transport of goods, strengthens commercial exchange, and brings provisions to those who need them quickly and at low cost. We seek God’s help in continuing the development of our country and the advancement of its people.”
Administrative Development
“Many other matters contributing to the development of the country and the welfare of its people need no detailed enumeration.”
“The rapid growth of the nation and the expansion of state services over the past five years have made it necessary to modernize the administrative system. We issued the required directives to improve the machinery of government, expand the authority of the Council of Ministers, define responsibilities, and regulate the management and distribution of national resources.”
“We will continue to adapt and improve government administration and policy to meet the needs of our developing state and to serve the interests of our people and our country.”
A Call to Gratitude and Righteous Action
“We mention all this in gratitude for God’s blessings, reminding ourselves and our nation that true thankfulness lies in obedience to God, adherence to His Sharia, honoring His sacred rites, upholding justice, fulfilling the rights of others, striving for the reform of oneself and one’s nation, and working earnestly for the development of the land — seeking only God’s pleasure and fulfilling the duty entrusted to us.”
Closing Prayer
“I ask God to grant me and you success, to guide us to what is most upright, to unite our hearts upon piety, and to make us among those whom He described in His clear Book: ‘Let there arise from among you a community that calls to goodness, enjoins what is right, and forbids what is wrong — for they are the successful.’”
Publication Details (translated)
The Saudi Country
Newspaper of the Saudi Arab People
Makkah al‑Mukarramah — Wednesday, 29 Rabi‘ al‑Thani 1378 AH
12 November 1958 AD
20 al‑Aqrab 1336 (Solar Calendar)
Issue No. 2898 — Year 22
Editor‑in‑Chief: Fouad Shaker
Administration Offic