Reasons of the Shift from Traditional to Modern Architecture and the Challenges King Saud Confronted to Advance the Nation:
- Stability and security, along with the accession of a new monarch who possessed a forward‑looking vision aligned with the transformations of the modern world.
- Rising oil revenues, which reshaped local social and cultural dynamics as economic prosperity increased and individual income grew.
- The need for a larger workforce and rapid urbanization, including the establishment of the Ministry of Education during King Saud’s reign and the urgent demand for schools (such as the example of the “Seven Palaces”).
- The necessity of building infrastructure to support public services—roads, bridges, and essential utilities.
- Saudi Arabia’s entry into the global oil arena and the founding of OPEC, joining the community of oil‑producing nations.
- Regional and global political and economic challenges, which directly influenced the architectural and urban renaissance. This period justifies describing King Saud as the “King of Construction” and the architect of the first modern urban transformation.
- Building a modern state for a newly educated generation.
- Establishing state institutions, strengthening the Kingdom’s leadership of the Islamic world, and expanding religious facilities.
- Developing the cities of Mecca and Medina to serve Muslims from around the world.
- Legislating and enacting laws to modernize the country and align it with the era’s developmental momentum.
- Constructing airports and seaports, and entering the field of oil‑tanker shipbuilding.
- Establishing modern factories to achieve national self‑sufficiency—beginning with the first cement factory, which produced 300 tons of cement.