Saudi Arabia has stopped exploration missions of new oil fields to save the wealth and pass it on to future generations, King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, said here Thursday. The King was speaking during a reception of a group of Saudi students studying in the United States. The number of Saudi students pursuing their higher education in the United States has reached 30,000 thanks to the King's Scholarship Program. King Abdullah, who expressed hope that oil will last for a long time, said that when recent exploration for underground resources started, he ordered that it be ended because the oil should be left for future generations. The King said once in a meeting of the Cabinet he asked the ministers to repeat a prayer after him “May Allah prolong its life.” “What is it?, the ministers replied,” the King said. “It is the oil wealth,” he answered them. “Just leave the underground wealth for our sons and their sons,” the King said as he continued his response to the ministers. During the reception, which was attended by the Saudi Cultural Attaché in the United States, Dr. Muhammad Al-Isa, the King said that the Kingdom is well and its future will be prosperous. He urged those in attendance to preserve the good reputation they enjoy in all countries of the world. “You are ambassadors of your homeland. Thank God, your homeland is proceeding resolutely to a prosperous future, God willing. And what is unknown is even better,” the King told the audience. Wishing the students success, the King also expressed a hope to see them soon in the Kingdom, contributing to its progress. “God willing, I will see the best of you all,” he addressed the students at the end of his short welcome speech. King back in CasablancaKing Abdullah arrived in the Moroccan city of Casablanca early Friday after a three-day official visit to the United States.
