King Abdul Aziz bin Abdul Rahman bin Faisal Al-Saud (1876-1953) was the first monarch of the Third Saudi State known as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Beginning with the regaining of his family’s ancestral home city of Riyadh in 1902, he consolidated his control over Najd in 1922, and Hijaz in 1925. The nation was founded and unified as Saudi Arabia on Sept. 23, 1932. As king, he presided over the discovery of oil in 1938. King Abdul Aziz’s efforts created modern Saudi Arabia.

The life of King Abdul Aziz is that of a remarkable man because a simple unvarnished account of the man and his deeds immediately reveals a figure of immense stature. A man who went on against all odds, despite conflicting tribal loyalties and the machinations of colonial powers, to build a Kingdom more or less the size of Western Europe.

The Custodianship of the two Holy Cities and ensuring that those who performed the pilgrimage were protected was for King Abdul Aziz a primary responsibility. It was a responsibility he and his successors undertook with a total commitment.

In the course of his reign, King Abdul Aziz gave studious attention to the development of international relations. His reign reflected his strength of character, foresight and clear strategic vision that enabled him to deal with regional and superpowers from a stance of dignity, strength and mutual respect.

This respect led two leaders of the world to meet with him. In 1945 on board the USS Quincy, the Saudi king met with the US President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Also in 1945, King Abdul Aziz met with the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

We now all know that in his quest to build the Kingdom, Abdul Aziz was spectacularly successful. He began an exile from his own land. In attempting to unify the vast lands, which became his Kingdom, he faced the seemingly insurmountable difficulties posed by the fractious tribes, which peopled the peninsula. He had to contend with the Ottoman and British Empires, which, while they had conquered the peninsula, were nevertheless powers to be reckoned with in the region.

At each step on the path, Abdul Aziz himself had a vision and knowledge of the outcome. Nevertheless, there was one certainty that permeated everything the Abdul Aziz said and in his every action. It was his total submission to the will of God. This gave him his indomitable strength for he knew, whatever the outcome, he fulfilled God’s purpose.

Perhaps we should give the last word to Chambers Biographical Dictionary: “Abdul Aziz, King of Saudi Arabia (was) the outstanding Arab ruler of his time.”