Up And Down Beirut
By Rita Wakim
The Saudi Embassy in Canada celebrated the 94th Saudi National Day for the year 2024, under the slogan “We Dream and Achieve” in the presence of the Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to Canada, Amal bint Yahya Al-Muallimi
This slogan embodies the Kingdom’s ambitious vision 2030, which aims to bring about a major transformation in various economic, social and cultural fields. It symbolizes the dream of reaching a better future, and achieving these dreams through hard work and creativity, whether in developing the economy, technology, tourism, education, or any other field.
The slogan reflects the national spirit and unity between the leadership and the people, as everyone works together for a bright and sustainable future.
While the Master of Ceremony Mrs Lamia Abdullah Hamdan Al-Yahibi, the Embassy ‘s first secrectary welcomed the guests , the Saudi and Canadian national anthems were played, and then a documentary film was shown about the succession of kings to rule since the establishment of the Kingdom with the first king of Saudi Arabia, “Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud” who founded the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932 after unifying the regions of the Arabian Peninsula under his rule, where he was called “the founder of the modern Saudi state” and “the father of the nation” He ruled for nearly twenty years and was succeeded after his death in 1953 by his sons consecutively Saud, Faisal, Khalid, Fahd, and Abdullah. After the death of the latter in 2015, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the half-brother of King Abdullah, assumed power and continues to rule the Kingdom until now. The documentary also presented the most important developments and achievements made by the Kingdom in various fields. The Ambassador of the Kingdom to Canada then began her speech on this occasion by welcoming the large audience by saying, “I am very happy, it is an honor and a privilege to stand before you representing the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, His Royal Highness the Crownedu Prince, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and my beloved country, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Standing before you is a testament to the empowerment of women in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
My role symbolizes the trust and support that women now enjoy in my country, as we are engaged in contributing and leading in various fields. I hope in my mission here in Canada to strengthen the bilateral relations between Canada and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
This year marks 51 years of strong and lasting relations.
We look forward to further progress in various horizons.
Nearly a century ago, under the visionary leadership of King Abdulaziz Al Saud, our nation transformed from divided tribal communities into a modern, unified state.
This journey rooted in a rich history spanning more than 300 years has laid the foundation for the dynamic and progressive country we are today. Looking to the future, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is proud to host the World Expo in 2030, and the FIFA World Cup in 2034. These events reflect our commitment to becoming a global hub for cultural creativity and sports.
Finally, I thank you for being here tonight, and I extend to you all a sincere invitation. Welcome to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the land of opportunity.”
The celebration was attended by Canadian officials and diplomats, where the importance of strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries was emphasized.
For his part, His Excellency the Minister of International Development, Ahmed Hussen, delivered a speech in which he praised the rapid development witnessed by the Kingdom under its wise leadership, and noted the desire of the Canadian side to benefit from investment opportunities to achieve the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, pointing to the importance of strengthening cooperation between the two countries in all fields, especially economic, cultural, environmental and security.
The ceremony was also attended by heads of Arab and foreign diplomatic missions accredited to Canada and heads of local and international organizations. It is worth noting that this year’s ceremony is the first celebration for the Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to Canada, Amal Yahya Al-Mouallimi, who was appointed to this position in 2020. She is the first woman to hold the position of ambassador to Canada from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, reflecting the Kingdom’s modern trends towards enhancing the role of women in leadership positions. Before her appointment as ambassador, she held several important diplomatic positions, including her work in the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where she played an active role in diplomatic and cultural issues. Amal Al-Mouallimi is considered a symbol of progress in women’s diplomacy in the Kingdom, and plays an important role in achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
