For over a decade, there has been anticipation in Saudi and Arab cultural circles about the release of memoirs by Sheikh Jamil Al-Hujailan, a prominent Saudi statesman.
Al-Hujailan has played key roles in Saudi diplomacy, serving at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when it was in Jeddah, before its move to Riyadh in 1984. He was ambassador to Iran and Pakistan, Director General of Broadcasting, Press, and Publication, and Saudi Arabia’s first ambassador to Kuwait.
He also became the Kingdom’s first Minister of Information, later serving as Minister of Health and ambassador to Germany and France, before becoming the first Saudi Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Al-Hujailan has witnessed the reigns of all Saudi kings, from King Abdulaziz to the present.
His memoirs, titled “Jamil Al-Hujailan: A Journey Through the Era of Seven Kings,” document key moments in Saudi history and will be available at the Riyadh International Book Fair.
The book offers a rare glimpse into political, administrative, and social transformations in Saudi Arabia and the region over the past century.
The importance of these memoirs comes from their unique perspective among Saudi officials’ accounts.
They provide detailed documentation of key local and regional events over the past century, explaining their causes and outcomes. Written by someone who didn’t just witness these events but also took part in them, the book tells both the story of a man and the history of a nation.
Al-Hujailan was born in Deir ez-Zor, Syria, in January 1927, to a family from Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia. His father was often absent due to travels and a second marriage in Cairo, so he was raised by his mother and grandmother.
He recalls his early education in Syria under French rule, participating in anti-colonial protests, and joining the “Cultural Club,” which had Baathist leanings.
“We weren’t official members of the Baath Party,” he says.
“We were too young to understand politics beyond the nationalist slogans we chanted with passion. The idea of Arab unity inspired us, and we saw it as a way to challenge the French occupation, without fully grasping the party’s ideology.”
Al-Hujailan’s memoirs describe his move to Egypt in 1944, where he studied during the monarchy and witnessed the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.
He was exposed to different political ideologies, attending a speech by Muslim Brotherhood founder Hassan al-Banna and later having lunch with Sudanese Communist Party members.
He also writes about the political upheavals in Egypt during the 1940s and how they influenced his development in writing, poetry, and public speaking, leading to his law degree from Fouad I University in 1950.
The Foreign Ministry in Jeddah, the Five University Graduates
In his memoirs, Al-Hujailan recalls arriving in Saudi Arabia for the first time in early 1951 and joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jeddah as a junior diplomat. On his second day, he met Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz, then Foreign Minister, who signed his appointment with a salary of 385 riyals.
The Foreign Ministry was small, with only 30 employees, including five university graduates. The headquarters was a modest two-story building in Jeddah's Al-Amariyah district, with a few rooms for protocol, consular affairs, translation, and administration. This remained the office until 1954.
In Jeddah, Al-Hujailan started writing for the Saudi newspaper Al-Bilad and contributing short stories to the radio. He mentions colleagues like Ahmed Zaki Yamani, Abdul Rahman Al-Bayz, and others who were part of this early team.
Arab Nationalists in Saudi Arabia
Al-Hujailan discusses why many Saudi officials were drawn to nationalist ideas during that time. He links this to their education at universities that promoted Arab nationalism and their experiences with colonialism in various Arab countries.
Al-Hujailan highlights the effects of the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, which deeply affected the first generation of university graduates, numbering around 15.
He writes, “The Arab defeat in Palestine shattered our confidence and diminished the pride we had in our history.”
Al-Hujailan describes how a group of university graduates started the “People's Cultural School” to educate the community. They offered open lectures on topics like history, English language, banking, and Arabic literature, with each graduate presenting in their area of expertise. The school had branches in both Makkah and Jeddah.
A Meeting with King Abdulaziz
A significant moment in Al-Hujailan’s life, as noted in his memoirs, was translating for King Abdulaziz during a meeting with Spanish Foreign Minister Roberto José Artajo in Riyadh in April 1952.
Al-Hujailan viewed this encounter as a powerful lesson in Saudi domestic and foreign policy from a leader who unified and built the Kingdom.
He recalls King Abdulaziz stating, “We are a nation blessed by Islam, which forms the basis of our governance. We seek to build friendships and avoid conflict, having no desire for land, wealth, or status. Our country is vast, and we are grateful for our abundance. Above all, we are honored to serve the Two Holy Mosques, a privilege that is unparalleled. We support our Arab and Muslim brothers when they are wronged and help them return to the truth if they are mistaken. We respect our neighbors' rights, honor treaties, and do not interfere in others' affairs, just as we expect others not to meddle in ours.”
During the meeting, King Abdulaziz expressed deep concern for the people of North Africa.
“There was a moment of silence before he said, ‘We are troubled by the suffering of our brothers in the Maghreb. They are oppressed in their faith, language, and livelihoods due to French colonial rule. This is unacceptable to God and unbearable for any human. It would be better for France to withdraw from these Muslim Arab lands and leave them in peace. Otherwise, their peoples will rise up against this injustice. We must work together on this issue. If they are determined to end their oppression, nothing can stop them. As we say, ‘Determination is the father of victory, while abandonment leads to regret.’”
The King was eager for Al-Hujailan to accurately translate this saying. Noticing his quick translation, he asked, “Have you translated it, my son?” to which Al-Hujailan replied, “Yes, Your Majesty!”
The King’s voice grew louder as he spoke about the Maghreb, reflecting his emotional connection to the issue. He was aware that Spain had also claimed parts of Moroccan territory.
King Abdulaziz, with his broad Arab-Islamic vision, was mindful of the struggles faced by his brothers in North Africa, even as he focused on nearby concerns.
This discussion was central to his meeting with the Spanish Foreign Minister, framing both the start and end of their conversation. His predictions about future events in the Maghreb proved accurate when its peoples eventually rose against oppressive rule.
A Dinner in the Dark
Al-Hujailan recalls a memorable dinner hosted by then-Crown Prince Saud for a Spanish guest at the Al-Hamra Palace in Riyadh, close to the Murabba Palace where King Abdulaziz lived. This was Al-Hujailan’s first meeting with the Crown Prince.
As the Crown Prince escorted his guest to the dining room, a heavy rainstorm caused a power outage, plunging the room into darkness. The servants shouted for a flashlight, but the Crown Prince and the minister continued their friendly conversation about the history of Arabs in Andalusia.
To ease any awkwardness, the Spanish minister exclaimed, “We love the rain in southern Spain, where women celebrate it with songs. Rain brings life and joy. You also love the rain, Your Highness, don’t you?” The Crown Prince replied, “Yes, we celebrate its arrival. Your visit brings us good fortune.”
In the early 1960s, the Al-Hamra Palace became the Cabinet Secretariat, and that dining room was repurposed for Cabinet meetings. Al-Hujailan would later return to this room as a Cabinet member, participating in its sessions.
