There is no question that King Abdullah left big shoes to fill, but at the same time there is little doubt among Saudis that Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman is the best man to fill those shoes.
King Abdullah, perhaps more than any other leader in the Arab world, has set the bar so high. Saudis count themselves fortunate that King Salman can not only maintain that high standard of governance — the standard of progressive policies and reform that gives Saudi Arabia an international standing among great nations — but also improve upon the foundation that his brother had established.
What Saudis can expect is a literate man who surrounds himself with other literate men and scholars. He has always displayed that innate curiosity of the world that makes great men. He may have been known as a disciplinarian in some circles, but he also has always been keen on establishing harmony within the royal family, which extends to Saudi society.
What many people don’t know is that King Salman has a sense of history. He is well versed with his own genealogy. And that knowledge gives him an astute perspective of Arab history and how the Saudi family fits in that history.
As the decades-long emir of Riyadh, he managed a city that started with just 200,000 inhabitants to a bustling cosmopolitan city of at least 7 million people. He transformed the city literally from a desert town to one with an impressive skyline and dozens of highly ranked universities.
As the minister of defense, he joined the United States and his Gulf neighbors in leading airstrikes against the self-ascribed Islamic State (IS) in Syria. He also served as deputy prime minister. He spent a lifetime training for the job he has now. He has also committed himself — his top priority — to maintaining the stability of the country as our neighbors continue to struggle. His first move was to appoint his brother Prince Muqrin as Crown Prince and Prince Mohammed bin Naif as deputy crown prince.
Above all, he understands how important King Abdullah’s domestic policies were to Saudis, and he has promised to keep them in place.
We have entered a gloomy period in Saudi history. Oil prices have fallen to record lows. The economic outlook worldwide is uncertain. The fall of the euro, for example, and the rising anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant rhetoric in Europe are causes for concern to many Saudis. The fierce anti-Saudi attitude in the media following terrorist attacks in North Africa, Syria, Iraq and France has made us feel vulnerable.
Yet if there ever was a man to lead us out of this gloom, it’s our new king who is not going to allow emotions or fears dictate his policies. Instead, he will do what is best: Consult with his advisers and come up with workable solutions.
His talent for forging harmonious relationships within his family will become apparent when he establishes his own domestic and foreign policies. He may continue King Abdullah’s policies, as he should, but he also must put his own stamp on our country that will guarantee stability and harmony among all residents of the Kingdom.
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