On the eighth anniversary of the pledge of allegiance to Prince Mohammed bin Salman as the Crown Prince, Saudi Arabia stands proud on the ground of a new reality forged by a young extraordinary leader who shouldered the ambitions of an entire nation through investing in the Saudi people, fully confident on their capabilities, and believing that this ancient and rich nation possessed the potential to position it among the great powers. The moment Prince Mohammed bin Salman assumed the office of Crown Prince was not merely a matter of reorganizing the ruling family and facilitating the transfer of power to the generation of grandchildren of the founding king. Rather, it was the birth of an integrated intellectual and developmental project, based on a modern state in its conception, youthful in its people, strong in its capabilities, proud of its values and heritage, faithful to its national leadership, and proud of its Arab and Islamic leadership. From the very first moment, Prince Mohammed bin Salman realized that the real wealth lies not in oil, but in the Saudi people. He expressed this by saying: "Our first wealth, which is incomparable to any other wealth, no matter how great, is an ambitious people, most of whom are young. They are the pride of our country and the guarantee of its future, by the grace of God." With this firm conviction, Saudi Vision 2030 was launched. It was not merely a development plan, but rather transformed into a major national story, combining ambition with determination, will with planning, and identity with modernity. It reshaped the state's role from one of patronage to one of empowerment and motivation. The Crown Prince reaffirmed the Kingdom's religious, cultural, geographic, and historical position, articulating this through a vision that evokes our emotional depth and economic weight, when he said: "We trust and know that God Almighty has bestowed us with a blessed homeland that is more precious than oil. It hosts the Two Holy Mosques, the holiest places on earth, and the Qiblah (direction during prayer) for more than a billion Muslims... This is our Arab and Islamic depth and the primary factor of our success." With this firm belief, the Kingdom has become a global hub for major discussions and a home for transborder initiatives in the realms of economy, climate, technology, and culture. The Crown Prince's track record includes myriad achievements; however, the most significant one is his success in crafting a unique Saudi model for stability and diplomacy in a Middle East region long known for its transformations and sharp divisions. The Crown Prince has presented a new model of political rationality, one that champions the interests of his country and never abandons its leadership role. At present, Saudi Arabia's presence is evident in all major international issues, from Ukraine to the Iranian nuclear issue, through mediation in prisoner exchanges, balanced relations with major powers, and the Beijing Agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which marked a turning point in the regional landscape and redefined the equations of influence and interests. Beyond all of this, the Crown Prince's principled and historic position on the Palestinian issue has elevated it to a new level by standing with the logic of the state, international law, and justice for the oppressed. Prince Mohammed bin Salman has not only been a defender of Saudi security. But rather, he has also worked to consolidate the Kingdom's position as a force to bring in regional balance, through rational diplomatic discourse that transcends slogans and embraces practical paths of de-escalation and constructive approaches. Through this path, the Kingdom was able to reduce the risks of escalation with Iran and reposition itself as a guarantor of Gulf stability, rather than merely a party to it. Saudi Arabia has moved away from the logic of polarization toward building bridges, consolidating its position as a power that seeks not confrontation, but rather to invest its influence in regulating the regional rhythm in a way serving its supreme interests, security, and the sustainability of its vision. What Prince Mohammed bin Salman has gained over these eight years is not merely a developmental achievement or an economic renaissance; rather, it is a new civilizational project that restores Saudi Arabia's pioneering role as a leading state in the Arab and Islamic worlds and an effective strategic partner in the international system. He expressed this vision explicitly when he said: "What we aspire to is not merely to compensate for the shortfall in revenues or to preserve our gains and accomplishments, but rather our ambition is to build a more prosperous nation where every citizen can find what they aspire for." As the Kingdom continues to build its futuristic cities as well as to diversify its economy, and empower its youth, its positions as a peacemaker in a turbulent world, a reliable partner in times of turmoil, and an Arab success story of global standards that inspires generations and redefines the meaning of ambition, will continue to be further solidified. Saudi Arabia will remain — as it's Crown Prince and heir to the throne envisioned — a country proud of its rich history and achieve a glorious future that it deserves.
