(WASHINGTON, DC) – Today, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia celebrates its 80th (according to the Hijra calendar) anniversary of the foundation of the Saudi state by King Abdulaziz Al-Saud in 1932.

“On the occasion of our 80th National Day, Saudi Arabia is proud of its accomplishments. The Kingdom will continue to be a source of global energy, promote regional security and diplomacy, and foster social development around the world. We welcome Secretary Clinton’s warm remarks, and will continue to partner with the United States to address the key issues our two countries face,” stated Saudi Ambassador to the United States, Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir.

To commemorate Saudi Arabia’s National Day, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton lauded the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz saying, “King Abdullah’s leadership on key challenges, from developing the Kingdom’s institutions and economy to establishing an enduring dialogue promoting moderation and tolerance, has put Saudi Arabia and the region on a path towards a stronger, more prosperous, and more secure future.”

Today also marks the first anniversary of the inauguration of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), the only international graduate-level research university of its kind.

For more information on the history of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia please visit www.saudiembassy.net or follow the Embassy on Twitter @SaudiEmbassyUSA.