By: Fathi Radwan, Egyptian Minister of State
I saw King Saud—one of the three world figures who have truly impressed me. I first saw him in Egypt when he was still a young man and I was between childhood and adolescence, not yet fifteen years old, while he was Crown Prince. At that time, nothing in his demeanor struck me except his calmness, simplicity, and his rare speech.
The years passed, and I saw more of his photographs; his personality became more distinct, and I began to reflect on his activities, his political future, and the future of the state that bears the name of his family. Then he ascended the throne. I saw him in his palace in Jeddah, accompanied him during his visit to Egypt in March of this year—on his flight to Cairo, throughout many of his movements in our country—and I heard him speak about politics, religion, and the ordinary matters of daily life. I observed how he interacted with ministers, leaders, and ordinary people.
Throughout that time, I reflected on the immense forces contained within the Saudi state and the great international opportunities available to it. I also reflected on how the future of these forces and the fate of those opportunities were tied—largely—to the person of King Saud and to the extent of his desire to make use of them. It became clear to me that, by virtue of all these circumstances, he was an international figure of great significance. His importance did not stem solely from the material elements I have mentioned, but also from the fact that his rule extended over the Hijaz and the Holy Places—where Mecca, the qiblah of Muslims, is located, and where Medina, honored by the Prophet’s Mosque, stands.
In Mecca and Medina, every year, vast multitudes gather from all lands, regions, races, colors, classes, and social backgrounds. They come and go as they have done for centuries.
Beneath the earth of Najd lie unknown seas of oil. Great powers and immense wealth have already been extracted from the oil of Najd. Yet from the multitudes of pilgrims—whose hearts yearn for Mecca and Medina and the sacred memories surrounding them—the greatest and most powerful force has not yet been drawn. If King Saud were to extract it, or organize the means to extract it, he would not merely become an international power; he would become a turning point in the history of humanity.
One of King Saud’s greatest qualities is that his general character is profoundly human. This simple phrase contains much. For example, you never see or hear anything from him that suggests he wishes people to feel he is a king. In his movements, his stillness, or the expressions on his face, there is none of the affectation or display that those in power often cultivate. Yet his tall stature, strong build, and calm temperament constantly remind people that he is greater than them—even if he were not their king.
He jokes with those around him and listens to their jokes with a satisfied, tolerant spirit, giving the impression that his position has not deprived him of the human inclination to mix with people, find comfort in their company, and listen to them.
He once told me that when he hears the Qur’an, his heart expands and contracts at the same time—expands at its divine meanings and its call to goodness and elevation, and contracts from his sense of distance from the lofty standard the Qur’an sets for humanity. When he says this, you feel that he means it, that it comes from a heart that truly believes, and that he speaks as a human being, not as a king.
He is the farthest of people from arrogance, conceit, or pretension. I have often heard him say, “This is our mistake,” or “We fell short in this,” or “I did not know this.”
Among the qualities that contribute to his stature as a world figure is his deep love for Arabism. Nothing pleases him more than seeing something beautiful in the Arab world, as if he sees that beauty in his own land—or even in one of his own palaces.
During one of his visits, we went to the gardens of Al‑Qanater. The weather was beautiful, and His Majesty’s spirits lifted. The first thing he said, expressing his delight at the scene, was:
“Why do our young people travel abroad? Why do they not come to Egypt, where they can enrich their minds and rest their souls? And if they spend money here—or in any Arab country—it is as if they are moving a coin from one pocket of the garment to another pocket of the same garment.”