Based on Dr. Ali Othman Al‑Zandi’s book, published by Al‑Baha Literary Club
A new volume titled “The Biography of King Saud bin Abdulaziz” by Dr. Ali Othman Al‑Zandi—Vice Dean for Academic Affairs at the College of Science and Arts in Al‑Makhwah, University of Al‑Baha—has been released by the Al‑Baha Literary Club. In his introduction, the author highlights King Saud’s pivotal role in opening the horizons of modernization and urban development, and in shaping the features of contemporary Saudi society with wisdom and balance.
The book spans 172 pages, and its first section, “Life and Achievements,” is divided into five chapters:
Sāʿūd: Birth of Blessing and a Strict Upbringing; Saud the Young Man; The Statesman; The Crown Prince; and Saud the King.
His birth itself carried symbolic significance, occurring on the third night of Eid, during the period of the recapture of Riyadh, a defining moment in the history of the Arabian Peninsula. The author traces King Saud’s upbringing and the profound influence of the “school” of King Abdulaziz—may God have mercy on him—a school that produced leaders whose names remain etched in the memory of nations.
From an early age, King Saud assumed heavy responsibilities, supporting his father in the unification of the Kingdom under the banner of “There is no god but God.” When he became Crown Prince, the Kingdom was still a young state striving confidently toward greatness. His priorities included building national capacity, strengthening human resources, attracting experts, raising the value of the Saudi riyal, and modernizing the Ministry of Finance to lay the foundations of a modern state that harmonized authenticity with progress.
He approved major projects in religious, security, economic, administrative, educational, and political fields. In 1373 AH, upon assuming the throne, he continued the path of planning and development, seeking to secure for his nation a distinguished place among other states. His policies centered on the human being as the foundation of civilization and the primary instrument of development. His speeches to the people and his diplomatic outreach to Arab, Islamic, and foreign leaders reflected a deep understanding of historical, political, and cultural realities.
Development Under King Saud
The second section of the book examines the broad development achieved during his reign across multiple sectors:
- Economic growth
- Media and communications
- Education
- Agriculture
- Transportation
- Healthcare
- Military modernization
- Expansion of the Two Holy Mosques
- Construction of religious institutes
- Building and restoration of mosques inside and outside the Kingdom
A Leader of Firmness and Humanity
The third section presents a personal portrait of King Saud—combining the discipline of a commander with profound human depth, forming a unique blend. The author concludes with a survey of the wide-ranging reflections of thinkers, politicians, and intellectuals who wrote about King Saud.
The book is richly illustrated with photographs of the King in political, social, and developmental settings. Dr. Al‑Zandi relied on numerous Arabic and foreign references, as well as personal interviews with King Saud’s sons and individuals who were close to him.
Dr. Al‑Zandi explains that writing the biography of a king is a noble endeavor, for history is a discipline of immense value, offering lessons to all. His aim was to produce a concise, precise, and purposeful work—free from excess and distortion. He writes about a man who stood firm in the face of circumstances, seeking neither applause nor sensational headlines, but rather the sincere reward of good deeds.
One Western researcher, Jean‑Jacques Bréby, offered a striking testimony—“and virtue is what even adversaries acknowledge”—describing King Saud as:
“The soaring Bedouin who has decided that anything affecting an Arab country affects his own royal person.”
Bréby noted King Saud’s firm stance against Israeli ambitions in the Gulf of Aqaba, where the King declared:
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will be compelled to strike any Israeli ships passing through the Gulf of Aqaba.”
During his visit to the United States, King Saud addressed the American public regarding Palestine—a cause for which he had shed tears during his visit to Jerusalem:
“Our American friends, this is the cause of the Arabs. We appeal to your conscience, confident that you are just and fair, and that you support the oppressed whenever truth becomes clear to you.”
He added that if a calamity even a fraction of the Palestinian Nakba had struck Britain or the United States, “the world would have been shaken.”
Political Courage and Arab Solidarity
During the Tripartite Aggression on Egypt (1956), King Saud took decisive action:
- He cut diplomatic relations with Britain and France
- He imposed an oil embargo on both countries
- He declared:
- “If Egypt bows its head, no one in the Arab nation can raise his head again.”
Riyadh became a global center of Arab and Asian diplomacy. King Saud met with leaders such as Gamal Abdel Nasser, Jawaharlal Nehru, and King Faisal II of Iraq, and the Kingdom worked to isolate Israel in international forums, reduce its global influence, and counter its activities in Africa and major world capitals.
He also protested the French arrest of Algerian leaders, demanding their immediate release, and supported the Omani resistance against British forces. In 1382 AH, he issued the Saudi Anti‑Israel Boycott Law.
A Biography Worthy of Its Subject
Dr. Al‑Zandi concludes that this biography was written out of loyalty to a king who reshaped history with his actions. He describes the writing process as a fusion of spirit and intellect, breathing life into historical events and allowing them to speak anew.
The book, he says, emerged in a form that reflects his own determination—“a name that suits me because I chose it, and because justice chose it for me.” He writes of a king whom history did not fully honor, though he himself honored history—“a king born into goodness, who lived for his people and his land, and died a believer in his Lord.”
Those who are fair-minded, he concludes, call him by the most beautiful of titles:
“Abu al‑Khayrayn — The Father of the Two Goodnesses.”