In a world that increasingly relies on the high speed and efficient movement of information for business and diplomacy through cyberspace, human face-to-face interaction comes second as a means of communication. Instant delivery of or access to large volumes of information is now the norm. However, that face-to-face contact is of supreme importance in developing deep and trusting relations between people, institutions and indeed nations because the human person is at the center of everything we do.

This is true in Ireland as in Saudi Arabia as these two friendly countries have several points of overlap. In both countries one tends not to ask where he can get a job done, but rather asks a contact if he or she knows anyone who can do it. This point of overlap is important as it places the person at the center of any dealings and as anyone who has done business with Saudi Arabia or Ireland knows that personal relationships underpin everything else.

A striking commonality between Irish society and Saudi society is the central position of family in both cultures. Again, it is people at the center of things bound by human ties and with all the personal interactions and implicit trust that goes with it. These shared values have made diplomatic life a real pleasure and I have been touched by the warm and genuine welcome offered by official and unofficial contacts.

St. Patrick’s Day serves as a moment of reflection on the values and interests that bring together Saudi and Irish societies. Establishing The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Ireland symbolizes the friendly ties and the interest of both countries to enhance their bilateral relations. As the Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to Ireland, I have been honored to convey his good wishes to Her Excellency President Mary McAleese and the friendly Irish people. Here, I would like to acknowledge the continuing good relation between Saudi Arabia and Ireland and the support of the Irish government and in particular the Department of Foreign Affairs to our mission.

This support has paved the way for numerous mutual visits at ministerial as well as parliamentary levels and has resulted in the signing of numerous memorandums and agreements between the two countries. The 8th Session of the Saudi-Irish Joint Commission for Economic and Technical Cooperation that took place in Dublin last June was the first session held after the establishment of the Saudi Embassy in Ireland. The two delegations held productive and fruitful discussions and reached agreements in areas of common interest such as business, education, technology, health, food and civil aviation. Work is now underway to implement the agreement. 

As a result, the number of Saudi students in Ireland has tremendously increased. There are now over 800 Saudi students undertaking higher education in different Irish academic institutions. These students, who are proud recipients of the generous scholarships provided by the King Abdullah Foreign Scholarship Program, have found the Irish people friendly, welcoming, sociable and open.

I feel privileged and proud to offer my congratulations on the occasion of St. Patrick’s Day to Ireland and its friendly people wherever they may be and especially those celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in my home country, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. May our already strong relationship live long and prosper.