"The importance of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology to the Kingdom and the world"
In the name of God the Merciful,
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques,
Your Majesties, Excellencies and Highnesses,
Distinguised Guests,
Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings,
Today is the National Day of the Kingdom. In the context of this glorious day, history
will record a new Saudi Arabian initiative that will be thankfully remembered by
future generations with much gratitude and appreciation to the holder of the pioneering
vision of building this modern scientific edifice.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques,
On this memorable day, the world, represented by its leaders, scholars and talents,
gathered to share your dream of launching King Abdullah University of Science and
Technology to its broad global horizons.
At this great historic moment, I would like to express to you how much I am pleased
and gratified that the phase of establishing this University is complete. It is
no exaggeration at all when I say that the project of this university is the most
important and wonderful project among the many projects that I participated in building
throughout the years of my service. For all members of the Board of Trustees, and
all team members, this (dream) project has been taking shape to become a reality,
day after day, for three years. Opening its works and activities with great enthusiasm
and dynamism were interim team members of Saudi Aramco, who invested their talents,
abilities and worked hard with great enthusiasm during the construction period,
to fulfill their promise to you that this university will come into existence within
two years of the commencement of its construction works.
Allow me, on this historic occasion, to express to Your Majesty my great thanks
and gratitude for entrusting me with leading the University’s founding team. What
more can one hope for than having the privilege of contributing to the creation
of an edifice of science and knowledge, which has become in a short period known
to the whole world. I would like also to express high appreciation and recognition
of the support we received from the world’s universities and knowledge institutions,
which have removed many difficulties from our way and helped us, after the help
of God, to get to where we are today.
Distinguished Guest,
This university provides an elegant environment of learning that is all inclusive
not exclusive, that brings benefit not harm; and provides the greatest minds from
around the world with all the ways and means that enable them to reach their scientific
goals. They would start from here, to pursue achievements that would bring benefit
to their communities and to the societies of the world as a whole, to achieve the
first of the visions of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for this University
to benefit all peoples of the world, no matter how far the distances, and how different
the civilizations and cultures are.
The great success of this vision has attracted students, scholars and researchers
from all over the world. A promising sign of the prominent future of this university
is implied in its early ability to assemble such a large number of scholars, some
eight hundred students and researchers selected from among more than seven thousand
applicants to enroll in the University programs.
Another promising sign, also, is the acceptance with which the University has been
received by leading international universities and institutes agreeing to cooperate
with it in various areas, and the joining of renowned leading international companies
as founding members of the Industrial Cooperation Program at the University.
Through these early successes in attracting distinguished talents to its academic
programs, and the large global number of collaborations with the University to serve
its scientific research programs, the second vision of its founder has been achieved.
That vision calls for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, through the new "House of Wisdom"
on its land, to present the best of its resources to the world, and import the world’s
best resources to serve the development of the Saudi citizen, as well as the development
of the Kingdom, its industries and investments at present and in the future.
There is no doubt that this Saudi-international interaction provided by the university
through its research programs and centers would eventually make the Kingdom a global
hub known and respected for inventions and innovations.
The third vision of Your Majesty for this University has been manifested in harnessing
the means of science to accelerate the pace of economic investment here in the Kingdom.
This university is expected to lead many aspects of economic development in the
Kingdom, as many prestigious universities in the world led the development of their
communities and had an impact on their progress and well-being. What can be said
in this regard is that much of the research conducted by the University will benefit
the Saudi industry and investment sector, which is the major player in the development
process.
This benefit will be gained through a number of the University’s programs. Among
these is the program of cooperation with the national and global industrial companies.
This program aims at translating research discoveries into practical applications
for the benefit of the people of Saudi Arabia, the region and the world. The university
also provides means for training in the organization and creation of businesses,
and development of administrative and personal leadership skills. Thus, in the near
future, a generation of highly trained and qualified young leaders will be ready
to take charge of leading the development and investment process in the Kingdom.
This, without doubt, will contribute to shaping the future and economic development
of our country and its surrounding regions. In today's world, science touches every
aspect of life. Therefore, one of the most important objectives of King Abdullah
University of Science and Technology since the start-up phase was to focus on developing
programs for scientific, economic and business partnership, and to bring and to
develop the means and programs that enable the University and its people to achieve
this goal.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Your dream has come true and your vision has become a reality. I can say that, with
your deep wisdom and insight, you have provided the means that will revive the Arabs’
scientific glory that impacted every aspect of human life, from medicine to engineering,
astronomy, mathematics, algebra and other sciences. We, and the whole world, recall
the impact left by scientists such as Al-Idrisi, Ibn al-Haytham, al-Razi, Ibn Sina,
al-Khwarizmi, Ibn al-Nafis, and other distinguished Arab and Muslim scholars. As
we recall them with pride for their efforts and great scientific achievements, we
will recall in the future, God willing, with the same pride, the names of Saudi
and global scholars from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, who
will join efforts and contribute with their new scientific achievements to the world's
progress, prosperity and welfare.
Thank you, Your Majesty, for providing a great and ideal scientific opportunity
for those who deserve it. And all indications point out that those who deserve such
opportunity are many, they were waiting for it in the Arab and Muslim world, which
has long been absent from the scientific arena and has fallen far behind in the
line of distinguished scientists. Now, the opportunity is ripe as it has never been
before, and you, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, are launching it today,
having received your attention and personal follow-up on a daily basis. Congratulations
for you on the realization of your great dream and vision, congratulations for your
Arab and Muslim nation on what you have achieved for it; and congratulations for
the world on a leader who builds for science and supports and honors scientists
and seeks the welfare of all mankind.
May peace and God's mercy and blessings be upon you.