Okaz

The crown prince continues to astonish Saudis and peoples of other countries with his energy and dynamism, which has left an indelible mark in the minds of those who believe that history is created by great and ambitious leaders.

THERE is excited activity in the Saudi as well as international media these days. This excitement surrounded Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, who is the godfather of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

This activity was at its height during his latest tours opening of a number of projects in different parts of the Kingdom, with a gap of only a few hours between one project and another.

Within 24 hours, the crown prince, who represents the big Saudi dream, was seen moving between Al-Ula, Rabegh and Makkah, inaugurating giant projects and, at the same time, inspecting the services provided to the citizens and visitors of the Grand Mosque.

This happens at a time when the hostile media is launching the biggest defamation campaign to destroy the Saudi dream. This fervent activity proves that there is nothing in this world that can stand between Saudis and their future, and that the train of Vision 2030 is now in full speed and cannot be stopped.

This hectic activity reminded me of the remarks made by the crown prince to American journalist Thomas Friedman answering a question. This answer was quoted in a New York Times article titled, “Bin Salman in a Hurry” in November 2017.

Friedman was apprehensive in his article about the fast changing society. In the last part of the article, he asked why the prince was in a hurry.

Prince Muhammad replied, “I am afraid on the day I die I will die without achieving what is on my mind. Life is very short and many things could happen. I am keen on seeing it with my own eyes and that is why I am in a hurry.”

It has been a year and three months since the article by Friedman was published in the New York Times. The same paper turned against Saudi Arabia and also joined the propaganda campaign against President Donald Trump and his allies.

The pace of Saudi development did not slow down but in fact it has picked up speed instead. The crown prince continues to astonish Saudis and peoples of other countries with his energy and dynamism, which has left an indelible mark in the minds of those who believe that history is created by great and ambitious leaders.

In short, what the crown prince is doing today defuses fears from the hearts of the Saudi people about their future. This is exactly what is needed by a nation that aims to move forward with confidence to make its dreams a reality, even if the whole world stands united against it.