Saudi Arabia: Three Centuries’ Legacy Weaves Memory of Unification

A group photo of Saudi Arabia’s founding King Abdulaziz and his children (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A group photo of Saudi Arabia’s founding King Abdulaziz and his children (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia: Three Centuries’ Legacy Weaves Memory of Unification

A group photo of Saudi Arabia’s founding King Abdulaziz and his children (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A group photo of Saudi Arabia’s founding King Abdulaziz and his children (Asharq Al-Awsat)

On September 23, 2021, Saudi Arabia marks a new decade in its first centenary after its founder Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud having unified the Kingdom under a profound legacy that spans over three centuries on the Arabian Peninsula.

Diriyah, with its traditional mud-brick architecture that runs along the Wadi Hanifah valley, has kept the secret to the Kingdom’s establishment in 1722. It cradles the fond memory of the birth of one of the most important nations in the Middle East and the whole world.

Weathering harsh storms and high winds, Diriyah has maintained its centrality to the political and economic scene in the Kingdom and the region over the last decades.

The first and second Saudi states fluctuated in their stability and expansion because of the geopolitical realities that the region was living in the 1800s.

It ended with the weakening of the Ottoman Empire, which was extending and folding its control from time to time on the outskirts of the Arabian Peninsula.

Before its final collapse, the Ottoman Empire mandated military campaigns that were bloody to kill the people and destroy their cities and spread fear and eliminate any signs of state and life.

With the decline of the influence of the Ottoman Empire and then its end, a stage ended, and another began.

1929 - Victory for the State

With the passage of time, minor historical events fade under shadows cast by significant happenings. Nevertheless, it is those minor instances that defined the building of a cohesive and modern state that proves its founder’s innovation and awareness.

Diversifying Foreign Relations

While Britain’s role as one of the major active powers that shaped political and geographical equations was waning, King Abdulaziz was vigilantly managing his young state’s affairs without rushing to expose it to dangers.

By September 23, 1932, Royal Decree No. 2716 was issued as an essential historical document in building the modern Saudi state.

Issued by the founder, the decree included seven articles. One of the articles stipulated renaming the Kingdom of Hejaz and Najd as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with its founder as “King.” That moment marked the launch of an important political entity that radiates its impact on the regional and global scenes.

2030 – A New Perspective

The successors of King Abdulaziz continued his march, betting on the pillars of stability and development, which gave the country decades of progress and prosperity. This approach has given the Kingdom cohesion in the face of a sea of ​​challenges and difficulties that engulfed the region and shook the pillars of several states and the well-being of their peoples.

Today, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, the seventh king of Saudi Arabia, is nurturing a new stage in the country’s history under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.

Saudi Arabia’s leadership is bringing together the promises of the future and overcoming obstacles by returning to deeper roots in the oldest civilizations that were in the Arabian Peninsula.

It is relying on the geography that connects the past and the present and Saudi Arabia’s position as a vital hub linking three continents, and its major role in global history.



Iranian Official to Asharq Al-Awsat: Committed to Peace and Stability with Saudi Arabia

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi (Reuters)
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi (Reuters)
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Iranian Official to Asharq Al-Awsat: Committed to Peace and Stability with Saudi Arabia

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi (Reuters)
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi (Reuters)

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi reaffirmed Iran and Saudi Arabia’s mutual determination to establish lasting peace and stability in the region.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat during his visit to Riyadh, Ravanchi emphasized that achieving this goal requires sustained bilateral and regional cooperation to address current threats and build a foundation for prosperity and security.
During his meetings with the Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Eng. Waleed ElKhereiji, Ravanchi discussed strengthening bilateral relations in political, economic, and consular fields, and explored key regional and international issues.
He described Saudi-Iranian efforts as a “successful model of bilateral and multilateral cooperation,” aimed at fostering peace, security, and development on both regional and international levels. Ravanchi underscored the importance of historical ties and the principle of good neighborliness as the basis for advancing this relationship.
Following the second meeting of the Saudi-Chinese-Iranian trilateral committee in Riyadh, both Saudi Arabia and Iran reiterated their full commitment to implementing the Beijing Agreement, according to a statement by the Saudi foreign ministry. The accord, mediated by China, aims to restore diplomatic ties and promote mutual respect for sovereignty and security in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and international law.
China praised the progress achieved since the agreement’s signing, including the reopening of embassies and increased bilateral engagement. It pledged to continue supporting Saudi-Iranian efforts to deepen their cooperation and maintain regional stability.
Ravanchi, who previously served as Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations and was a member of the Iranian nuclear negotiating team with the P5+1, described the atmosphere of the meetings as “cordial and transparent.” He added that the three nations exchanged views on topics of mutual interest and stressed the importance of continuing this “positive and forward-looking process.” He also revealed “constructive and friendly” meetings held by the Iranian delegation with their Saudi hosts and Chinese counterparts, during which they discussed enhancing bilateral and trilateral cooperation and reviewed developments in relations over the past year.
One significant development has been the improvement in consular services. Over 87,000 Iranian pilgrims performed Hajj, and more than 52,000 completed Umrah in the past year, demonstrating enhanced coordination. Additionally, the first meeting of the Saudi-Iranian Joint Media Committee and the signing of an MoU between Saudi Arabia’s Prince Saud Al-Faisal Institute for Diplomatic Studies and Iran’s Institute for Political and International Studies further strengthened institutional ties.
The trilateral meeting also tackled pressing regional challenges, particularly the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The participants condemned Israel’s aggression in Palestine, Lebanon, and Iran, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the continuation of humanitarian aid to affected regions. They warned that ongoing violence poses significant risks to regional and global security, including threats to maritime safety.
On Yemen, the parties reiterated their support for a comprehensive political solution under United Nations auspices. They emphasized the importance of dialogue and diplomacy to achieve lasting peace in the war-torn country.
Saudi-Iranian relations have undergone a remarkable transformation since the signing of the Beijing Agreement. The reopening of embassies, including Iran’s embassy in Riyadh in June after a seven-year hiatus, marked a turning point in their ties.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs Alireza Bigdeli described the day as a “historic milestone” in Saudi-Iranian relations. He expressed confidence that the renewed relationship would reach its peak, emphasizing that the restoration of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia opens a new chapter in bilateral and regional relations, aimed at greater cooperation and stability.