The 5th anniversary of the accession to the throne by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz was celebrated throughout the Kingdom today. Senior Saudi officials and foreign leaders offered their good wishes to the King and highlighted the major achievements made by Saudi Arabia during his reign. King Abdullah’s policies, they noted, have led to great strides in the fields of education, health, social affairs, security, foreign relations, energy, business, communications and national development.

In an article written for the occasion, the Secretary General of the Cabinet, Abdulrahman bin Mohammed Al-Sadhan, pointed to King Abdullah’s launching of his inter-faith and cross-cultural dialogue initiative as a major milestone. In addition, he praised the establishment of the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KACARE).

Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal lauded the King’s wise handling of regional and international relations – actions that have raised the Kingdom’s global stature, while contributing to stability at home. In particular, he welcomed the King’s efforts to promote Arab and Islamic reconciliation.

Najran Governor Prince Misha’al bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz noted that the King has implemented several massive development projects across the country, including many that contribute to the comfort and convenience of pilgrims and visitors to the Holy Places.

The Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Asheikh, commended the King for promoting national dialogue and for pushing to develop and improve religious institutions.

Rector of King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals Dr. Khalid bin Saleh Al-Sultan pointed out that during King Abdullah’s reign, higher education has received a great deal of attention. He noted that the state’s budget for education and training has risen significantly and the number of universities in the Kingdom has increased exponentially. Furthermore, he highlighted the launch of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Program for Foreign Scholarships and the establishment of the King Abdullah University for Science and Technology (KAUST).

For his part, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani praised the role of King Abdullah in serving Saudi Arabia and all of the world’s Muslims. He declared that the efforts exerted by the King to enhance dialogue among the followers of religions are appreciated by all and welcomed the Saudi monarch’s concerted efforts to strengthen bilateral relations.