The unification of Saudi Arabia under the leadership of King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud, who proclaimed the nation’s unification on September 23, 1932, marked the start of a sweeping phase of construction and development. The country moved from uniting its regions under a single banner to establishing state institutions, organizing its administration, and laying the first foundations of its development, a process on which Saudi Arabia has continued to build to reach the progress seen today.
According to records held by the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah), state agencies and departments were established and organized gradually during that era. The process began with the Royal Court, the Private Council, and the Political Division, alongside various specialized departments, followed by the founding of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1349 AH as Saudi Arabia’s first ministry, reflecting the growth of state institutions and the widening of their domestic and international responsibilities.
The judicial system was unified in its procedures and the Sharia courts were organized, while security was strengthened through the creation of security agencies, the regulation of their work, and the expansion of their mandates. Military organization began with regular units, followed by the Directorate of Military Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, and specialized military schools, building more organized defense institutions.
In public finance, a finance department was established, and financial offices were later consolidated under the Directorate of General Finance before becoming the Ministry of Finance, keeping pace with the growth of state resources and activity.
The economy was transformed by the signing of an oil exploration agreement, which led to the discovery of oil at Dammam Well No. 7 and the start of commercial oil exports, opening a new chapter in Saudi Arabia’s economic history.
In agriculture, the state supported farmers and encouraged farming through financial allocations, customs exemptions on agricultural equipment, and agricultural missions. In education, foundational steps included establishing the Directorate of Education and the Education Council, expanding schools, dispatching educational missions abroad, and laying the foundations for higher education.
Health received early attention through the establishment of the Directorate of Public Health, the opening of hospitals and dispensaries, and measures to prevent and combat epidemics. Development extended to infrastructure, with road construction, the expansion of postal, telegraph, and telephone services, and improved transport and communications linking Saudi Arabia’s regions.
As part of the social transformation, about 200 hijarh, or settlements, were established, helping tribes move from a nomadic to a settled way of life and supporting the social and urban stability that accompanied nation-building.
The Two Holy Mosques received particular attention during the reign of King Abdulaziz, with expansion, restoration, and improved services reflecting their religious status and their importance to Muslims worldwide.
Source: Riyadh Daily