THE point of view of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz always serves as a safe haven for Arab-Gulf citizens. His magnanimous speech during the inauguration of the Shura (Advisory) Council gladdened the hearts of the people.

The Arab and expatriate observers regard the council as a landmark in the history of the Kingdom due to the commendable initiative taken by the monarch who has granted women the right to join the institution. The appointment of 30 women to the council is an unprecedented step that reflects the commitment of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to work towards building a modern nation.

This means the King acknowledges the essential role that women play in nation-building. He believes women deserve fair treatment, because “they are virtuous mothers, sisters, daughters and wives.” He was once quoted as saying that the woman is a life-partner, so he took a historic decision to honor women by putting them in their rightful position within the Saudi society.

The achievements, which were made possible through the discretion of the highest authority in Saudi Arabia, indicate the wise leader is creating history for his country. His effort to use the nation’s wealth for human resource development before focusing on the improvement of structures is the outcome of a thorough search for people who work in the interest of the country. This was evident when the council members took their oath before the King, during which they promised to do their best in working towards national development. They are aware that the advancement, stability and safety of Saudi Arabia have a positive impact on the entire Arabian Gulf.

We were deeply impressed by the speech of King Abdullah when he addressed the council members with fatherly love. The most wonderful aspect of his speech was the affirmation of his closeness to the people. He even apologized for the inability to hug all of them — another expression of profound love for the citizens.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques is the creator of civilization for modern Saudi Arabia. He prioritizes his country and he wants to offer the best to the people. His hard work resulted in remarkable achievements which made the Kingdom worthy of emulation. He bears the burden of improving the image of the country in the international community by initiating cultural dialogue with other nations.

We are now witnessing the introduction of a new method of nation-building to set the standard for other countries in the Arabian Gulf. Congratulations to the Kingdom and the entire Arabian Gulf on this momentous event! Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, all the Arab-Gulf citizens are praying for you with one voice, “May God Almighty grant you good health and long life. You and the Kingdom are our common shelter.”

By Ahmed Al-Jarallah
Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times