“My beloved people,”
“It gives me great pleasure to address you today on the occasion of the seventh anniversary of our assuming the responsibilities of leadership in our Kingdom. I raise my hands in gratitude to Almighty God for His blessings upon us — for enabling us to uphold His religion and His Sharia, and for granting us the strength to work tirelessly for your happiness and prosperity, sparing neither effort nor sacrifice to achieve this.”
“We have spent our nights awake, thinking of your affairs and reflecting on your needs. None of this would have been possible without our adherence to the principles of our noble religion and our commitment to the Book of God and the Sunnah of His Messenger, which we have taken as our constitution.”
Domestic Affairs
“Work continues with vigor on the expansion and reconstruction of the Sacred Mosque in Mecca, without hesitation in spending or effort, hoping that when completed — by God’s will — it will be as magnificent in its architecture as it is in its sanctity.”
“Roads in Mecca and those leading to the holy sites in Arafat and Mina have been widened and improved to ease the journey for pilgrims performing their rites in safety and tranquility.”
“We have established a comprehensive plan to connect all regions of the Kingdom with paved roads linking east to west and north to south, to strengthen the national economy and open new horizons for our citizens.”
“We have also taken practical steps toward restoring the Hejaz Railway in cooperation with the United Arab Republic and Jordan.”
“Our army continues to receive our utmost care — modern weapons, heavy equipment, and advanced training — so that it may become one of the best‑equipped and best‑trained armies, God willing.”
“We are determined that agricultural development should advance alongside urban development and transportation, aiming for self‑sufficiency and reliance on our own national resources.”
“We have given special attention to economic development and increasing national income. We have ordered comprehensive studies and long‑term planning to place our nation’s capabilities at the service of our people. I call upon our citizens and those blessed with wealth to invest in industry and production, so that our nation may become a model of prosperity and security for future generations. We stand ready to support you materially and morally.”
“To this end, we are studying the establishment of a development bank to finance agricultural and industrial projects, and we hope to implement it soon.”
Education and Health
“Education has received a large share of our attention. We established King Saud University, which now includes faculties of science, arts, commerce, and pharmacy, and we are pleased that students from sister Arab countries have joined it. We will continue to open additional faculties.”
“We ordered the opening of schools for girls, and we were delighted by the strong response. Education has been directed toward what aligns with our religious principles and the needs of our industrial, agricultural, and urban development — with special emphasis on vocational and technical training.”
“In line with this vision, we established the Islamic University in Medina, which will welcome students from across the Muslim world to study Islamic sciences and Arabic civilization.”
“We have also intensified efforts to combat disease and epidemics, providing free medical care to all citizens, with special attention to our brothers in the desert. We have provided four mobile hospitals at our own expense to treat them and supply medicine.”
“We are committed to empowering capable citizens and opening opportunities for them in government departments, companies, and banks.”
Foreign Policy
“Our foreign policy is clear: adherence to the Arab League Charter, support for our Arab brothers, and unwavering commitment to the cause of Palestine and the restoration of the rights of its people.”
“We look with admiration upon the Algerian revolution, now in its sixth year, and upon the struggle of our Omani brothers. We stand with them and with all Arab nations striving for freedom and independence.”
“Regarding the British aggression against the dear region of al‑Buraimi, we have done everything possible to resolve the dispute peacefully. Recently, Mr. ‘Ralph,’ the representative of Mr. Hammarskjöld, visited us seeking a solution. If these efforts fail, we will not hesitate to take whatever measures we deem necessary to restore our rights.”
“Our relations with foreign nations are based on mutual respect and strict neutrality, in cooperation with Arab, Islamic, and Afro‑Asian countries, in accordance with the principles of Bandung and the United Nations Charter.”
Closing Prayer
“I ask God to grant me and you success, and to guide us to what brings goodness and prosperity to our nation, our people, and all Muslims and Arabs.”
“Peace and God’s mercy and blessings be upon you.”
On the al‑Buraimi Issue (as previously stated by His Majesty)
“You know of the treacherous aggression committed by the British government against our borders and its sudden occupation of the al‑Buraimi region. We honored our commitments under the arbitration agreement, yet Britain violated its pledges without justification.”
“They pressured us to join their military alliances and follow their policies, but we refused — choosing instead to stand with Arab and Islamic interests.”
“I was heartened by the enthusiasm and readiness for sacrifice shown by our people in response to this aggression. By God’s will, we will restore our full rights, exhausting all peaceful means — and we will defend our land with all the strength we possess.”