I don’t think any crisis has affected the modern world like the COVID-19 pandemic. It revealed the mettle of management—governments—

and whether the team around them—all stakeholders—rose to the occasion or fell short. As the saying goes: “In a crisis, management’s mettle is tested, and the team shines.”

نجم الفريق”.

Many past crises, such as financial crises and others, devastated countries without affecting society as a whole or the entire world

and humanity’s health. They did not truly reveal what countries would do to protect people, keep them safe, and give them peace of mind;

for example, economic crises affect only a segment of the population, not everyone, and they do not directly affect people’s health.

When the urgent need to protect human rights became clear this year, so did the governments that genuinely care about human rights,

and their commitment to providing people with a dignified life. It also highlighted a country’s ability to withstand crises on every front,

including health and the economy.

Looking back at the COVID-19 crisis, from its global beginnings until life returned to normal, I remember many speeches by

world leaders about what the crisis meant for their countries and citizens. Perhaps the most notable was British Prime Minister Johnson’s speech, which was dubbed

the “Black Speech” after he said: “Many people will lose loved ones.”

That was hardly an act of candor by Johnson; rather, it spread fear in the hearts of many, especially his fellow citizens. In other countries, however,

government infighting took hold between those who supported imposing a curfew and those who opposed it, amid conflicts between governments or

economic benefits, disregarding human health.

In this context, the Kingdom—under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, may God protect them—has surpassed many

countries and organizations that had for years claimed to champion human rights, as their slogans faded and disappeared

in the face of the first real crisis confronting the modern world. The Kingdom distinguished itself in responding to the crisis and caring for people, after the Custodian ordered

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques announced that the Kingdom would cover the treatment costs for anyone infected with the virus—whether a citizen, resident, or someone violating residency regulations—without

regard to financial or border considerations, and without discrimination or bias, treating everyone equally, as the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques said:

“We will spare no effort or expense to ensure the safety of people.”

The Kingdom’s strength in confronting the crisis was evident in every respect. In addition to the resilience of its healthcare system, which remained unaffected,

citizens were not affected by the economic conditions that swept the world, impacting countries and their stockpiles of goods.

Saudi Arabia has proven itself to be one of the world’s top 20 economic powerhouses. During the coronavirus crisis, it also showed that first-world countries are not merely

What matters is not media talk, but what happens on the ground in times of crisis.

Residents—and even those in violation of residency regulations—recognized before citizens the strength of this nation and its steadfastness in the face of the most severe crises, as well as its ability to provide all

the essentials for a dignified life. They did not experience shortages of supplies, disruptions to the healthcare system, or price manipulation. Government agencies maintained firm control to ensure that life did not spiral into chaos and that people living in this country did not become victims. With the COVID-19 crisis and its effects

on the global economy, along with the fallout from the oil war and the drop in oil prices, there was no noticeable negative impact on daily life.

The Kingdom began to shine from the outset of the COVID-19 crisis, as countries around the world waged war against the virus. That crisis gave the Kingdom

داخل السعودية.

لقد سطع نجم المملكة من بداية أزمة كورونا، عندما خاضت دول العالم الحرب في مواجهة الفيروس، فمنحت تلك الأزمة

Saudis feel proud of and honored by the successful precautionary measures and proactive steps taken—measures that have become

a model for countries around the world, including the major powers.

This year’s National Day will be markedly different from those before it, and will remain etched in the memory of everyone who lived through this crisis,

not only those inside the country, but also those stranded abroad who wanted to return. The state provided them with every possible resource.

While some countries required their citizens to sign promissory notes for the cost of their flights, Saudi Arabia established

an air bridge to bring its citizens home and provided them with free accommodation until their quarantine period ended.

We Saudis had already recognized in recent years that the Kingdom was racing toward the pinnacle of glory in every field. But

this year, the Kingdom—and the world—recognized that it had reached the height of glory and strength when it faced the first crisis of the modern world, and that it was an example

to follow, having accomplished much that many developed countries around the world were unable to do.