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Celebrating the 91st Anniversary of the Unification of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Guests gathered, on September 22nd, at the invitation of His Excellency Ziad M.D. Al Atiyah, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, to celebrate the national Day of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at Diplomat Club Wassenaar/Kasteel de Wittenburg.
JULIE KENNEDY/PHOTOS MR. OMAR ALSORORY
HHis Excellency started his speech, after a warm welcome, by congratulating the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and the Saudi people. And by sharing a Koranic verse stating: “O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.”
Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, H.E. Mr.Ziad Al Atiyah.
Ambassador, H.E. Mr. Ziad Al Atiyah and Mrs.Amal Al Masser welcoming H.E. Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt , H.E. Mr. Hatem Elsayed Kamaleldin and his Spouse, Mrs.Rania Al Sayed.
Ambassador of Lebanon, H.E. Mr. Abdel Sattar Issa and Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus, H.E. Mrs. Frances Galatia Lanitou Williams.
Ambassador of the Republic of Yemen, H.E. Mrs. Sahar Ghanem , Ambassador of Tunisia, H.E. Mr.Ilyess Ghariani and Ambassador of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, H.E. Mr.Lounès Magranane.
Mr. Dirk Heerema and Mr. Luca Maresi.
The Ambassador shared that for him, this verse summarised, “the essence of our noble profession of building bridges that facilitate the flow of culture, science, trade and are paved by mutual respect, understanding and dialogue”.
His Excellency is delighted to be in the Netherlands, a country he has a special attachment to as he says: “I had the honour to serve in the Netherlands as a diplomat for seven years, these years were the best and the happiest years of my life. Such a description is a mere reflection of the distinguished old bilateral relations that bind my country with the Kingdom of the Netherlands since the middle of the 19th century. Since then, trade relations between the two countries have developed and Saudi-Dutch partnerships have expanded that combine Dutch technology and innovation with great opportunities in the diversified Saudi economy. A testimony of these developing relations is that the Netherlands has become one of the top 10 trade partners with my country in the first half of this year.”
His Excellency specified that this anniversary coincides with the first five years of the mission “vision 2030” targeting the themes of: Vibrant Society, Prosperous Economy and Ambitious Nation.
Special guest at this event was young Saudi filmmaker Mr. Mansour Albadran, whose films have won several awards from various film festivals in the Arab world. Guests were then treated to a special screening of his film 89 Sun following the tracks, from start to the finish line, of a group of Saudi engineers and the solar car they built to participate in Australia’s World Solar Race.
Guests delighted in the culinary treats and basked in the wonderful hospitality of Ambassador Ziad M.D. Al Atiyah, a pleasure further enhanced by the fact that this was the first National Day celebrated at Diplomat Club Wassenaar/Kasteel De Wittenburg since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. It felt more special than ever before.
THE FIRST FIVE YEARS OF THE MISSION “VISION 2030” TARGETING THE THEMES OF VIBRANT SOCIETY, PROSPEROUS ECONOMY AND AMBITIOUS NATION.
