Saudi National Day

Remarkable achievements in projects to develop holy shrines from the era of the founding king until the present day

Report highlights the march of development in Saudi Arabia

Under the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Development Authority of Makkah; Medina and the holy places is conducting the necessary studies for the preparation of the comprehensive planning of Makkah; Medina and the holy places through an international advisory and under a supervision of international and local experts in planning and with the participation of relevant Hajj agencies in the Saudi Arabia.

These remarks came in an article written for the Saudi News Agency by Prince Mansour bin Miteb bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs on the occasion of National Day of the Kingdom in which he is monitoring the development projects in the Two Holy Mosques and holy places since the era of the founder late King Abdulaziz Al Saud to the era of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

In his article, Prince Mansour bin Miteb bin Abdulaziz highlighted the huge development projects being undertaken in the Two Holy Mosques and holy places by the Saudi prudent government led by King Abdullah, and which aim to provide comfort and facilitate the performance of rituals for pilgrims and visitors.

He said that the transport sector is one of the important sectors that have received support and interest from the Kingdom's prudent leadership because of its vital and important role in serving the development in various sectors, promoting the economic growth and encouraging the investment in all fields.

As a result of this attention and support, the Ministry of Transport carried out a series of main, fast and dual roads according to the latest road specifications in the world.

Until the fiscal year 1428 / 1429 H, the total length of roads that have been implemented in Saudi Arabia reached more than 186 thousand kilometers of roads.

Prince Mansour noted that at the same time, the government of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and the Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General accorded interest in constructing modern roads linking Saudi Arabia with its neighbors such as the roads linking the Kingdom with the Republic of Yemen; Kuwait; Jordan; Qatar; the United Arab Emirates and the Sultanate of Oman.

One of the important projects also achieved by the Kingdom in the field of roads is the King Fahd Causeway linking Saudi Arabia with the Kingdom of Bahrain.

On education, the Saudi Public education sector has witnessed distinguished leaps as a result of the excellent attention accorded by the prudent leadership to this sector as an important pillar of the pillars upon which the Kingdom depends in achieving progress and keeps pace with scientific and technical developments in the world.

So, the Ministry of Education was keen to provide schools in various stages throughout the Kingdom in addition to other complementary elements of the educational process such as teacher training and school supplies.

And since the importance given to education by the Government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the state budget for fiscal year 1428 / 1429 included the adoption of the construction of (1500) new schools for boys and girls in all regions as well as schools being implemented and numbered (3240) school, and the completion of more than (1100), and the rehabilitation and provision of safety facilities for about (2000) school buildings for boys and girl.

The Ministry of education was also keen on adding new classrooms to existing schools, furnishing and equipping of schools with educational means and computers as well as the construction of administrative buildings for the public education sector.

Moreover, the Ministry of Education gave great interest to the sector of adult education and literacy.

It also was keen to provide special education for children with disabilities who are not able to join the public education schools.

As for the field of health services students, the Ministry has constructed hundreds of health units for both boys and girls students in all cities and provinces of the Kingdom, equipped with all the necessary qualified human resources and medical supplies.

"As the national day was the culmination of a national march of Jihad for unity, it was the start of the march of another Jihad, for growth and construction of the modern state of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia”, the Director-General of the Executive Office of the Gulf Health Ministers' Council, Dr. Tawfiq Khoja said.

In an interview with the correspondent of the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Dr. Khoja highlighted the great attention paid by the Saudi leadership for the development of the health sector which has seen so giant renaissance that the Saudi health care is a milestone and a model at both the Gulf and regional levels as well as a subject of a tribute and appreciation at the international level.

A number of dignitaries, including foreign prime ministers and ministers, Saudi ambassadors based abroad and Saudi government senior officials, highlighted the advent of blessed Eid Al-Fitr, and the official opening of King Abdullah University for Science & Technology which takes place on Wednesday September 23, 2009 to coincide with the 79th anniversary of the national day of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

In statements to or interviews with the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), they congratulated the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud; Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General; and Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, the Second Deputy Premier and Interior Minister, on the advent of the blessed Eid Al-Fitr, which follows the fasting holy month of Ramadan.

They also described the opening of King Abdullah University for Science and Technology as a new chapter in the history of research and progress, not only in the Kingdom but also in the region and the world at large.

They envisaged a bright future for the university, saying that it would help change the status of science and technology in the region in the benefit of its peoples.

The interviewed also recalled the great achievement by late King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud 79 years ago when he completed unifying the country.

They hailed the well-done work by his successors: late King Saud, late King Faisal, late King Khalid, and late King Fahd until the great era of current Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

They described the great output of the Saudi development plans in such a short period as unprecedented in the recent history.

Those who made statements to SPA or interviewed by the national news agency included Jordan's former Prime Minister and First Deputy of the Senate Taher Almasry; Egypt's Minister of Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Mufeed Shihab; Minister of Electricity and Energy Dr. Hassan Younes; Saudi ambassador to France Dr. Mohammed bin Ismail Al Al-Sheikh; Mayor of Assir Region Hamdan bin Fares Al-Osaimi; Director General of Civil Defense General Saad bin Abdullah Al-Twaijri; Director General of Grain Silos and Flour Mills Corporation Eng. Waleed bin Abdulkareem Al-Khuraiji; the North Border Region's Assistant Undersecretary of the Governorate Sheikh Saleh Al-Mihaimeed; Director General of the Region's Education Ministry's branch Abdulrahman bin Ahmed Al-Roasa; Chief of the Police Major General Homoud bin Saleh Al-Mansour; Director General of Roads and Transport Eng. Mutlaq bin Al-Asmar Al-Sharari'; Director General of Rights Advocacy Department Mirshed bin Abdullah Al-Hussein; and Director General of Civil Defense in the Region Brig. General Abdullah bin Hadi Assiri.

Prince Metib bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, the Deputy Commander of the National Guard for executive affairs, has underlined the importance of patriotism.

Speaking on the occasion of the national day, he said this day reminds the people with the great achievement attained by King Abdulaziz.

He noted that King Abdulaziz had successfully unified the country, and his sons followed the footsteps of their great father.

Prince Metib pointed out that the Saudi government has been giving a great attention to the armed forces and to all military sectors.

He highlighted the development witnessed by the National Guard under the directives of the Kingdom's wise leadership.

Prince Metib described KAUST as a great achievement, and said it would enable the Kingdom to positively contribute to promotion of human knowledge.

Prince Faisal bin Abdullah bin Mohammed al-Saud, the Minister of Education, has underscored the importance of the national day, and said it is the anniversary of the unification of the Kingdom under the leadership of King Abdulaziz.

In a statement on the occasion of the national day, he said following the unification, the Kingdom has been witnessing great development achievements at all domains.

Prince Faisal underlined the significant role being played by the educational sector in the service of the society.

By thanking Almighty Allah, bounties perpetuate, he said.

He noted that there are about 500,000 teachers in the Kingdom who have been positively contributing to the process of the national development.

Prince Sultan bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz, the President of Youth Welfare, has highlighted the great attention given by the Saudi officials to the interests of the citizens.

In a statement to SPA on the occasion of the national day, he said the Kingdom is capable of confronting all quarters which might try to undermine its security and stability.

He noted that the national day reminds the people with the remarkable achievements attained by King Abdulaziz and his sons.

Prince Sultan bin Fahd described the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz as one of the prominent leaderships at the world arena and said he has enabled his country to attain significant achievements internally and externally.

Prince Sultan bin Fahd said KAUST will become a significant scientific institution and a bridge for enhancing relations among the nations.

Prince Sultan bin Fahd underscored the important role which could be played by the youth as regards enhancing the pillars of security and stability in the country.

Dr Abdulaziz al-Ghamidi, the president of Riyadh-based Naif Arab university for security sciences, has underlined the importance of the Kingdom’s national day and said King Abdulaziz had successfully unified the Kingdom.

In a statement to SPA on the occasion of the Kingdom national day, Dr al-Ghamidi hailed the great sacrifices made for the unification of the country.

Meanwhile, Dr al-Ghamidi highlighted the great services extended by the Kingdom to Islam and Muslims as well as its efforts in the service of the pilgrims, and Umrah (minor Hajj) performers.

Moreover, Dr al-Ghamidi praised the Kingdom’s role as regards preserving the global peace and security as well as in easing global economic crises.

He noted that the Kingdom has bravely confronted the menace of terrorism and taken appropriate measures to crush terrorism.

Dr al-Ghamidi said Naif Arab university for security studies has been giving a special attention to the phenomenon of terrorism.

The Minister of Finance Dr. Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz Al-Assaf stressed that the membership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the global economic Group of Twenty (G20) and its participation in discussing the world economic and financial issues came since that the Kingdom is the world's biggest oil exporter and has the largest in oil reserves with an increased production capacity, pointed out that "the Kingdom is now a key economic player on the map of the world economy".

"These data and facts enabled the Kingdom to be an influential force in the world oil market, not to mention that the Saudi economy is the largest in the region, in addition to its development contributions and support of the international financial institutions particularly the World Bank and International Monetary Fund" Dr. Al-Assaf explained in an economic analysis on G 20 written by him to Saudi Press Agency on the 79th Anniversary of the Kingdom's National Day.

In his economic analysis on G 20, Dr. Al-Assaf also confirmed that the attendance of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in Washington and London's G 20 summits confirmed the Kingdom's prestigious position in this global economic gathering.

"The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' presence also emphasized the Saudi Arabia's commitment to continue playing an active and positive role in achieving a global economic stability and formulating a global economic system for a global sustainable and balanced economic growth which could maintain the interests of all developed and developing countries", the Finance Minister added.