JEDDAH, 8 May 2007 — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah arrived in Arar yesterday at the start of a landmark tour of the north, during which he will also visit Al-Jouf and Tabuk. He will launch a large number of economic and welfare projects as part of the government’s efforts to foster greater development in the northern regions.
Crown Prince Sultan, Prince Abdullah ibn Abdul Aziz ibn Musaed, governor of the Northern Border Region, a large number of princes and top officials were present at Arar Airport to receive the king and his entourage, the Saudi Press Agency said. Two little girls presented bouquets to the king while a group of children threw roses in his way and sang to welcome him.
He was accompanied by a large number of senior princes and Cabinet members, including Prince Abdul Rahman, deputy minister of defense and aviation, Prince Miteb, minister of municipal and rural affairs, Interior Minister Prince Naif and Riyadh Gov. Prince Salman.
This is the king’s first visit to the region since ascending the throne in 2005. The king has declared an amnesty for prisoners held for petty crimes on the occasion of his tour of the north. More than 11,000 Saudi and foreign prisoners are expected to benefit from the royal pardon.
Abdullah has also instructed the payment of blood money and debts due from prisoners, who have insufficient funds of their own for them to be reintegrated into society. King Abdullah later attended a popular reception held by the people of the Northern Border Region.
The launch of two universities in Arar and Tabuk and a mega-economic city in Tabuk will change the face of the region. The king will lay the foundation of Arar University which includes a science college in Arar and a community college in Rafha (both to cost SR410 million), two colleges of technology and two institutes of vocational training in the same cities (SR270 million).
The king will open and lay the foundation for a number of water and electricity projects worth SR2.4 billion, including a potable water pipeline from Basitaa to Turaif and a SR138 million water purification plant in Arar. He will open the Rafha-Arar Road (SR410.54 million) and lay the stone for Arar-Turaif Road.
