Interior Minister Prince Ahmad has urged Saudis to guard the Kingdom’s achievements.
“We have a joint duty as citizens to protect our security and national achievements,” he said in a statement on the eve of the National Day.
Prince Ahmed emphasized the cohesion between Saudi people and their leadership.
“Since the time of King Abdul Aziz, the Saudi rulers have been opening their doors to their citizens,” he pointed out.
“The 82nd anniversary of the National Day is an occasion to thank Allah the Almighty for His blessings on us and for this security and stability,” the minister said.
He reiterated the Saudi government’s desire to implement the Shariah. He praised Saudi leaders for their efforts to enhance the welfare and well being of their people.
In a similar statement, Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal commended the efforts made by King Abdul Aziz to unify the Kingdom and establish a modern welfare state. He reminded the new generation of Saudis about the pathetic condition of Arabia before the formation of Saudi Arabia. “About 100 years ago there was utter chaos as a result of conflicts between tribes. There was no security and stability. Gangs of robbers could be seen all over the country,” he said.
Prince Khaled noted the unprecedented progress achieved by Saudi Arabia during the time of King Abdullah who steered the Kingdom through economic crises and found a place for it among G20 countries. He also praised King Abdullah’s efforts to boost the Kingdom’s educational development by establishing more universities and sending Saudi students to reputable international universities on scholarship.
GCC Secretary-General Abdullatif Al-Zayani congratulated King Abdullah and Vice Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Prince Salman and the Saudi people on the Kingdom’s National Day.
In a statement, he wished the Kingdom continuous progress and consolidated development. He said the Kingdom’s unification by King Abdul Aziz was a major historic incident.
“The outstanding achievements of Saudi Arabia in various fields and at all levels came thanks to the wisdom and statesmanship of Saudi leadership, and its keenness to achieve the aspirations of the Saudi people and provide them with the right environment to develop and progress,” Al-Zayani said.
He said that the Saudi leadership earned the respect and admiration of the world for its political positions, diplomatic stances, moderate policies and provision of generous support for the needs of developing countries, as well as its continuous backing for international efforts to promote global peace and security.
Prince Ahmed: Guard achievements
Prince Ahmed: Guard achievements
Prince William’s visit signals ‘importance of relationship with Saudi Arabia to UK,’ ex-envoy tells Arab News
- Simon Collis: ‘Saudi Arabia is the most significant Arab country, the most significant regional country, but it’s also a global power’
- Ties between the royal families are ‘almost 100 years old’ and run at a ‘longer wavelength than the day-to-day politics’
LONDON: Prince William’s three-day visit to Saudi Arabia this week reflects deep British interest in the “expectation of an important future” with the Kingdom, a former ambassador told Arab News on Monday.
Ties between the two royal families are “almost 100 years old, and it’s the kind of relationship that runs at a sort of deeper and longer wavelength than the day-to-day politics,” said Simon Collis, ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 2015 to 2020.
“Prince William’s grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth, visited Saudi Arabia and hosted several of the kings of Saudi Arabia on their state visits to the UK.
“King Charles, as prince of Wales, visited Saudi Arabia many times — over a dozen times — and actually his last visit came shortly after I arrived in Riyadh as ambassador.
“When Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visited London in 2018, he had lunch with the queen, the late queen, and dinner, and that was at Buckingham Palace. He had dinner at Clarence House with Charles as prince of Wales, and William was there at that dinner.”
Similarities between the two heirs apparent on a personal level could also spur deeper diplomatic ties, Collis said.
“They have a lot in common: environmental interests, green energy interests, a lot of the things that have expanded in Saudi Arabia over the last 10 years in particular … as the economic transformation has moved forward under Vision 2030,” he added.
“So, areas like the core (interests), which were always there — these issues like defense, security, and energy — but what has opened up as a result of the changes in Saudi Arabia much more are other areas like education, culture, healthcare, environmental issues, heritage, sports ... all of these kind of soft power issues.”
Since King Salman assumed the throne in 2015, more than a dozen UK prime ministers and foreign secretaries have come and gone, Collis said, highlighting the “continuity” that William’s royal status can bring to the bilateral relationship.
“Links between the royal families are something special, and the fact that the prince of Wales is now visiting at the request of the British government clearly sends a signal of the importance of the relationship with Saudi Arabia to the UK,” he added.
Through a little-known government body, the Royal Visits Committee, William will have been briefed on the nature of the British-Saudi relationship, and how he can use his royal leverage to develop ties with a “priority” partner, Collis said.
“All official visits by members of the British royal family involve advice from the government about the priorities.”
The RVC meets and brings together No. 10, the Foreign Office and other relevant government departments with the staff at Buckingham Palace and the other royal households.
“They review together the countries that have been visited recently, both inward and outward visits: What are the countries that are a priority for a visit? Prince William hasn’t made a lot of these visits yet … King Charles was taking the lead on that for a long time,” Collis said.
“It’s not surprising that Saudi Arabia was seen as a priority for an early visit by Prince William as prince of Wales,” he added.
“The decision to prioritize the Kingdom for a visit reflects the overall bilateral importance to each other, the regional significance of Saudi Arabia and its position as a global player, increasingly so as Vision 2030 moves forward and as the country opens up,” Collis said.
“Saudi Arabia is the most significant Arab country, the most significant regional country, but it’s also a global power; it’s one of what people call the middle powers.
“Its views — not just on regional issues but on the global agenda, climate change, security, all of these global issues — matter.”
The pace of change in Saudi Arabia is so fast that Western observers are still playing catch-up, Collis said.
The direction of travel between the two countries means that although differences in traditions may exist, “values have certainly become closer than they were historically,” he added.
“When I arrived here (in 2015), there were religious police still on the streets, music in public places was banned and women were under the guardianship system ... The Western headline was always ‘they can’t drive.’ Women couldn’t travel, they couldn’t get a job, they couldn’t even access healthcare without the approval of a male guardian.
“Under the leadership of King Salman and of the crown prince, all of that has changed; it’s been completely transformed.”
The individual and personal nature of the visit presents an opportunity to help the two peoples develop their mutual interests, Collis said, highlighting the popularity of the UK as a destination for Saudi university students.
“You (also) see that in the growing number of British companies entering Riyadh, putting their regional headquarters in Riyadh,” he added.
“You can see that movement happening in so many ways across so many sectors. I think this visit is an opportunity to recognize, celebrate and draw attention to all of that.”
