It was summer 2007, when a royal decree appointed Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Amir of Asir, as the new Amir of Makkah. I was then deputy editor of Alwatan Daily, based in Abha, Asir's capital.
Prince Al-Faisal wrote a speech to the people of Asir in a farewell party, and faxed it to me to be published in the paper as well. He called and asked for my opinion, and I suggested reading it to him, and my tone would tell. He agreed and listened intently as I read his speech the way I felt it, then he laughed and simply said: Thank you, Khaled!
It was a heart-touching speech, filled of 38 years of mutual love and appreciation between a governor and his people. A poet, writer and painter, Prince Khaled presented the beautiful and cultured Asir to the world. He single-handedly redefined tourism in Saudi Arabia, starting with his governance that went through a great transition from a sleepy, hard-to-reach province in 1971, to one of the country top tourist attractions, with sophisticated public and private services.
Prince Khaled, 75, the third son of King Faisal who was the first Amir of Makkah (1926-1954), was met by people in Makkah region with great enthusiasm and high expectations.
From day one, he recognized the most important challenges: Over a million Asians and Africans living in Makkah and Jeddah for generations without proper documentation; an over-due upgrade to the road and transportation networks, including an old airport, that serves about two thirds of passengers entering the Kingdom, and the biggest port, receiving two thirds of the country imports.
In seven years, Prince Khaled managed to overhaul the infrastructure and superstructure — not just of major cities, but also of smaller, almost neglected villages and towns. His projects include an ultra modern airport with an annual 70-million passengers; a major upgrade to the Islamic Port of Jeddah, a rail network that connects Makkah with Jeddah and Medina and all the cities in between; new industrial, medical, educational, cultural and sport cities; major academies, comprehensive electric, water, sewage and rain-drain networks. And above all, the greatest expansion of Makkah Grand Mosque and biggest development of Haj facilities in history.
In 2013, Prince Khaled was appointed education minister. In his first year in office, he put together a comprehensive, far-reaching package of SR80 billion to upgrade the school system. The King Abdullah Education Project includes extensive training programs — home and abroad — for teachers; state of the art school buildings; public kindergarten schools; e-services; Internet networked science, English and computer labs; culture, art and sport facilitates for boys and girls, alike. The most important, in my opinion, was the rewriting and redesigning of the curriculum, with more focus on science and technology and less on theocracy.
All this was expected of a learned and cultured prince. He graduated from Oxford University with a bachelor of arts degree in political economy (1966).
After his return, he served as director general of the Presidency of Youth Welfare in the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (1967), before he was appointed governor of southwestern Asir Province, from 1971 to 2007.
Prince Khaled is managing director of King Faisal Foundation, (1976), one of the largest philanthropic and charitable organizations in the world. The Foundation runs the Al-faisal University in Riyadh, where Prince Khaled is the chairman of the Board of Trustees. He is also the founder and president of the Arab Thought Foundation (2000), and the Painting and Patronage organization, (1999). He is a close friend of British Crown Prince Charles, who is one of the most prominent supporters of Painting and Patronage.
In January, 2015, Prince Khaled returned to Makkah, again, as its governor. Challenges met him at the door, and he was quick to face them. Water, electrical and gas shortages became a serious problem in the last few months. Some of the mega projects he established were behind schedule. Contractors were either facing challenges of their own, or resting. Some government agencies were not cooperating as should be.
Within days, the not-so-pleased Emir met with all concerned directors and put together a quick fix to all issues, and a strategy to get all projects back on track. It shows. Within days, the shortages mostly disappeared, the huge traffic jams, on the Harameen highway softened, and work went day and night on overdue projects, like the railway and new bridges. As important, his daily, scheduled and non-scheduled meetings and visits with residents were resumed, even in his Friday weekend.
The return of Prince Khaled Al-Faisal to his region is very much welcome. Now, also the trusted Consultant to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, he could continue what he started, and take us to the promised land of the First World.
— Dr. Khaled M. Batarfi is a Saudi writer based in Jeddah. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him at Twitter:@kbatarfi
