Saudi Arabia celebrated its 93rd National Day on Saturday. It is an occasion for Saudis to celebrate important developments of the Kingdom’s history, since its founding by King Abdulaziz and until the present under the reign of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and his Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman.
When he was barely 20 years of age, King Abdulaziz decided to return to Riyadh and restore the glory of his ancestors and unite the country, transforming it into a major global player.
The development of the Kingdom continued with his successor sons: Saud, Faisal, Khalid, Fahd and Abdullah. Now, under King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed, Saudi Arabia is building the modern state of the future. Within years, the country has been transformed into a workshop for the future. Riyadh has become a model of a modern capital, through massive skyscrapers, cafes, recreational areas, and modern highways. Other regions in the Kingdom have also been developed by the state, turning them into economic and tourist destinations.
In spite of the challenges, Saudi Arabia, under King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed’s leadership, has managed to leave its mark on the international arena and develop a firm, determined, just and balanced policy. It approved projects that will elevate the country to new heights in the future, building on the achievements of past rulers.
King Salman has followed in King Abdulaziz’s footsteps, taking wise decisions and displaying the features of a successful, bold and brilliant leader, who is able to understand developments objectively and approach them without any recklessness. On the day he ascended the throne, King Salman declared: “Our Arab and Islamic nation is in great need for unity and solidarity today. We will forge ahead in this country that God has chosen as the starting point for His message and for Muslims.” He vowed to defend the “causes of the Islamic ummah, while upholding Islam, a religion of peace, mercy and moderation.”
Crown Prince Mohammed is the charismatic leader who, ever since emerging in the political arena, has prioritized critical economic, development, political, intellectual and social affairs with their local, regional and international dimensions. He succeeded in laying the foundation for a new policy for the Kingdom that addresses both the present and the future according to a clear strategy that breaks away from traditional approaches and solutions.
He chose to focus on the Kingdom’s strengths and massive potential, steering the country away from reliance on oil as a sole source of revenue. He believes that a great future lies in store for Saudi Arabia because he is convinced that the people have only exploited ten percent of their country’s potential. Moreover, he believes that the Kingdom’s location, at an intersection between Asia, Europe and Africa, allows it to become pivotal for these three continents.
In an interview with Bret Baier, chief political anchor of Fox News, at NEOM earlier this week, Crown Prince Mohammed said the Kingdom is “the biggest success story of the 21st century.”
He stressed that Saudi Arabia was the fastest growing country in all sectors, and had achieved the fastest growth in gross domestic product (GDP) among the G20 countries for two consecutive years.
