"The Saudi spring began 82 years ago when Saudis planted in the desert," said Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal after he launched the University of Business and Technology (UBT) in Dahban, about 50 km north of Jeddah, on Tuesday.

“Last Sunday, as I watched men, women and children carrying the Saudi flag and celebrating the achievements of this country, I recalled a book entitled “A miracle on the sand,” which I read years ago, and I now better understand what the author meant by miracle. The miracle is all of you who planted the desert for the betterment of the future of the country, Arab and all Muslims,” he told the audience.

UBT is a private university that started in 2000 as an institution that grants diplomas. In 2003, the institution obtained the Ministry of Higher Education’s approval to be transformed into a College of Business Administration. The college at the time had more than 3,000 male and female students.

In 2008, the college introduced its first postgraduate program, a master of business administration, and opened its College of Engineering and Information Technology. In 2010, the approval was granted for the opening of the College of Advertising, which will start its programs by the beginning of the next semester in February 2013.

Prince Khaled congratulated Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah on the Saudi National Day and the opening of the university.

“These days we celebrate several occasions: the anniversary of the foundation of this country, the safe arrival of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and his inauguration of the largest expansion project of the Prophet’s Mosque, and the establishment and opening of this university.

“I greet, from the the bottom of my heart, everyone who took part in this educational edifice," he said during the opening ceremony that was attended by officials, businessmen, consuls and diplomats.

The university’s chairman of the Council of Trustees, Abdullah Saleh Dahlan, thanked the chairman of the Higher Education Council, King Abdullah, for approving the establishment of the university after it met the conditions for approval.