Roma Special Edition Saudi National Day Saudi Arabia in Focus SAUDI NATIONAL DAY II III Saudi Arabia in focus THE ROYAL EMBASSY OF SAUDI ARABIA IN ROME UNITY IS STRENGTH, INCLUSION IS POWER 90th Anniversary TABLE OF CONTENTS CONGRATULATION MESSAGES FROM MALTA 86 Diplomatic Relations between the Kingdom 88 SAUDI NATIONAL DAY 3 of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Malta Opening remarks 4 Diplomatic Relations between Saudi Arabia 91 HRH Prince Faisal bin Sattam bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and the Republic of San Marino Saudi Arabia: state, history 6 G20 2020 SAUDI PRESIDENCY 95 and culture over 90 years The G20 2020 Saudi Presidency’s agenda: 96 HIGHLIGHTS ON NATIONAL SYMBOLS 22 “Realizing Opportunities of the 21° Century for All” Diriyah, land of kings and jewel of the future 22 How G20 Riyadh will put Arab Women 100 on a Global Stage Monuments and heritage sites are symbols 24 of the resilience of humanity SPECIAL INTERVIEWS 105 Masmak Fort: the birthplace 28 HRH Princess Maha bint Mishari Al Saud 106 of the modern Kingdom Lead co-chair, Task Force 9 Migration and Young Societies; Vice President for external Relations & Advancement, Al Faisal University LIVING BY ISLAMIC VALUES 33 HH Princess Haifa Al Mogrin 120 LIVING BY ISLAMIC VALUES 33 Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO The Great Mosque of Makkah 33 Ms. Hind Al Zahid 122 The story behind Ibrahim’s shrine at the Kaaba 34 Deputy Minister for women’s empowerment at the Ministry of Human Resource and Social Development The Hajj 41 Dr. Thuraya Al Arrayed 126 The Prophet’s Mosque 46 Writer, poet and former member of the Shoura Council BILATERAL RELATIONS 51 Dr. Hala bint Mazyad Al-Tuwaijri 130 CONGRATULATION MESSAGES FROM ITALY 53 Head of G20 Women’s Empowerment Team Italy, Saudi Arabia and the Friendship 72 Ms. Sarah R. Al-Husseini 134 of Diplomacy Chair of the G20 Tourism Working Group Saudi diplomatic relations with Italy 78 Ms. Sarah A. Assiri 138 G20 Office at the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bilateral Trade and Economic Cooperation 82 with Italy Ms. Dalma Malhas 140 Olympic Show Jumper CULTURE, SPORTS 219 AND ENTERTAINMENT Ms. Razan Alazzouni 144 Fashion designer Saudi Culture: a new golden age 218 Ms. Maisah Sobaihi 146 Unlocking Sport and Entertainment Sectors 254 Academic, playwright and performer RESPONDING TO COVID-19 MULTIMEDIA LIBRARY 259 G20 2020 facing Covid-19: a common challenge, 150 a united global response Saudi Arabia efforts to fight Covid-19: 152 from global to local, no one left behind Feature Story: a Saudi doctor on Italy’s frontline 156 against Covid-19 ECONOMY 161 Covid19: Saudi economy is getting back 162 and recovering KEY SECTORS TO DRIVE SAUDI ARABIA’S VISION 2030 166 “Mining and Industrial Sector are strategic” 168 Mining opportunities for investors 170 TOURISM 175 Tourism in the Economy Diversification Strategy 176 Tourism Giga-Projects 178 Tourism destinations 182 Photo credits: VisitSaudi Adel Al Quraishi Amani Alqahtani SAUDI NATIONAL DAY Saudi Arabia in Focus SAUDI NATIONAL DAY Cari amici Italiani, This year, we celebrate the 90th anniversary of Saudi National Day, along with Saudi’s herit- age and tradition, in an unexpected, non-traditional way. Although this challenging time prevents us from welcoming all of you our annual celebration event in Rome, we believe that nowadays it is more important than ever to celebrate and to share the values of unity and resilience, which are constitutive of our National Day. Before emerging for the third time in 1932 and becoming modern Saudi Arabia, the Saudi state raised twice. It came back stronger than ever, thanks to the faith, the resilience and the desire of unity of King Abdulaziz, the founder of the Kingdom, and thanks to the people who shared his cause. Today, these values are a source of renewed inspiration to lead us through these challenging times. Values which were fully embodied by the tireless work done in the past six months by doctors, nurses and volunteers on the frontline. Their sense of duty and empathy remind us how strong is the human spirit and how limitless is its potential. I would like to express, once again, sincere admiration on my behalf, and on behalf of all members of the Saudi missions in Rome, to the Italian health personnel and to Italy for the remarkable response to the pandemic. Saudi ties with the Italian people have been solid and friendly since 1932, and today they are stronger than ever. Our cooperation has been constantly renewed for almost 90 years in all sectors and the Kingdom looks forward to further strengthening bilateral relations in various fields, in order to provide mutual benefit between the two Countries and regions. This year, dur- ing the pandemic, Saudi cooperation with Italy have been renewed and reinforced at a bilateral and multilateral level, in the framework of the group of the G20. It is time to be concrete on how we can shape a future in which we can realize the opportu- nities of the 21st Century for all, and, most importantly, how we can do it together. Saudi Arabia, as holder of the G20 2020 Presidency, exerted great efforts to create a path for a common and united global response to the coronavirus pandemic. The agendas of the G20 2020, Saudi Arabia is determined to continue its international commitment to achieve common goals the European Union, Italy - who will hold the next G20 Presidency - and indeed Saudi Arabia through collective and unified efforts, inspired by its legacy and guided by its Vision. are aligned on unity as the heart of the crisis response. Together we have the means to achieve I would like to conclude by echoing the words of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques our goals and to turn solemn declarations into common actions. From energy and deforestation “Today, through our cooperation, we are confident that we, together, will overcome this crisis, to financial inclusion and people empowerment, the more we work together, the sooner we will and move forward towards a future where all people thrive, prosper and are healthy”. reach our goals. The more we are united in combining our efforts, the better chance we have to accelerate a sustainable recovery process, ensuring that the most vulnerable are not left behind. HRH Prince Faisal bin Sattam bin Abdulaziz Al Saud 4 5 Saudi Arabia in Focus SAUDI NATIONAL DAY THE MODERN In 1902, the return journey towards glory and history began conquering Saudi Arabia: state, history, KINGDOM Riyadh, declaring it the capital for a new king and announcing the be- and culture over 90 years OF SAUDI ARABIA ginning of the formation of the third Saudi state. The journey to unify the country began as a tough and exhausting journey, but with the grace by Prof. Abdulaziz bin Ali Al Ghareeb, Saudi Cultural Attaché in Italy of Allah and the gathering of people around one word, conquests and and Professor of Social and Cultural change victories came in succession until 1932, with the announcement of the end of the unification process and the declaration of the foundation of a state named Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with Riyadh as its capital. From there began the great departure towards development and planning, for ince 1744, the Kingdom of Sau- strong again, with the start of its second phase the future of a country that was frail and lacking financial capabilities and di Arabia was established in its in the period between 1823 and 1891, when infrastructure. Sfirst phase, under the leadership of the region witnessed great transformations Imam Muhammad bin Saud who gave birth to and also had supporters from the people of The beginning was with what the earth had generously given from its a new state with authority over much of the the same region, but at the same time its en- innermost, which brought abundant goodness to a king who possessed Arabian Peninsula and even outside to the emies were on the lookout, stirring up strife nothing but truly little for his people. Allah was dear and generous to this north. Through this state, the region, with all its and resentment within this state, until it was honest king and to the loyal and generous people who accompanied him components, moved to a new stage in terms of thrown as such into a cycle that maybe would on his journey or were eagerly waiting for him. In general, the society values, culture and urbanization, becoming a not have lasted long. The last of its rulers was remained a traditional one for more than half the period of rule of King remarkable region for the world. Through this Imam Abdul Rahman bin Turki Al Faisal – may Abdulaziz – may Allah have mercy on him –, but the Second World War, state, this region for the world. It came out to- Allah have mercy on him – who forcedly de- the discovery of oil and other factors pushed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia wards the light and the civilization, in its first parted from his country due to sedition and into the first stage of modernization, a stage in which it was threatened cradle at least, after living unaware of its geog- intrigue against him, carrying his family and a militarily and ideologically by its more developed neighbors, and it was raphy and its history, which provoked resent- few of his supporters with him, among whom urged by the educated minority calling for urbanization within the country. ment among major countries that were impos- there was his young son Abdulaziz, who kept So the giant economic companies searching for new markets came to ing their powers on some areas in the Arabian stuck in his mind such departure and bitter- open the horizons of economic life by starting with the exploration of the Peninsula.