A Land of Principles and Values
Hani Khashoggi
The story of the Kingdom’s National Day “Extraordinary” in Its Details and Lessons… and a Heroic Epic Embodied by the Founding King
The history of the country and nations preserves immortal days, that memory does not forget, nor do minds overlook; it preserves within its folds heroic stories, accompanied by awe mixed with respect and appreciation, for humanitarian events that shaped history and laid the foundation for proud and enduring nations.
Among these stories, the story of the Kingdom’s National Day stands out as “exceptional” in its details and lessons learned, and in the epic heroism embodied by the Founder, King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman, on the soil of the Arabian Peninsula, resulting in a proud and prosperous nation. He turned the impossible into reality and achieved in less than 100 years what other nations have failed to achieve in hundreds of years.
No matter what I say or how much I speak about my homeland, I cannot do it justice or summarize its journey filled with achievements, which the kings of the Kingdom have built era after era, and who managed to transform the barren desert sands into jewels and pearls, from which shines the light of human civilization—a civilization forged by Saudi citizens through their hard work and sweat—making this experience a model of willpower and determination.
As we celebrate the 92nd National Day, we are overwhelmed with joy and filled with pride in a homeland where a true miracle has been realized—a miracle created by King Abdulaziz, guided by his far-sighted vision, and a forward-looking perspective, establishing a set of principles and values that led to the building of a nation as enduring as humanity itself, as long as people remain on the face of the Earth.
And the miracles of our homeland continue, one era after another, leading to the flourishing era of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, the builder of the Third Kingdom on strong foundations and pillars, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the architect of the ambitious Vision 2030, which has harnessed the country’s potential, transformed the Kingdom, and turned it into a pivotal state that influences its regional and international surroundings.
Recognition of the manifestations of this vision and its successive achievements across all fields has not come solely from within; it has also been acknowledged by nations around the world, which have realized that the Kingdom has decided to change, adopting a path of brilliance and development, and charting a new course in its journey to become a major power that shares the interests of the world’s leading nations in technology, development, science, and the economy—a fact explicitly noted by international organizations, and affirmed that, under the umbrella of the Vision, the Kingdom has achieved everything it dreamed of and strived for—and there is still more to the dream.
On this day… we reflect on the memory, draw inspiration from the lesson, and learn from the epic chapter written by men who believed in their Lord, put their trust in Him, and followed in the footsteps of King Abdulaziz in unifying the country under the banner of Tawhid, and they achieved what they desired and more, by realizing their aspirations.
On this day… We have every right to take pride and boast to the nations of our glorious past, our prosperous present, and our heroes who rewrote history as they saw fit, declaring to the world that they are the sons and daughters of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Land of the Two Holy Mosques, the homeland of justice, truth, Islam, and equality...
On this day, every citizen—male and female—holds their head high with pride in what has been achieved on the soil of our homeland, and I pray to God to protect our leaders, grant them health and well-being, and reward them generously for their efforts to ensure the comfort of the people of this loyal nation… May your glory endure, O homeland.
