Saudi Arabia - Civilization meeting place

7. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MODERN
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
After he left Riyadh in AH
1309/1891, King Abdulaziz lived
in the desert for seven months,
during which time he learned the
prized skills of the Arabian tribes
and became acquainted with their
way of life. He grew accustomed
to bearing the hardship of life in
the desert with its unceasing travel
on camelback. King Abdulaziz
developed his ability to bear
hardship and learned patience
when confronted with hunger and
thirst and a life without any sort
of convenience. The lessons he
learned served him well when
he sought to capture the town
of Riyadh. On the morning of
Thursday 5 Shawwal AH 1319,
(14 January1902), King Abdulaziz
and his companions attacked and
captured the Masmak fortress in
Riyadh. This was the first step in
the recapture of Riyadh, the return
of the rule of the Al Saud, and the
beginning of the process of the
unification of the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was
established by King Abdulaziz Bin
Abd al-Rahman Al Saud in AH
1351/1932 after he had completed
the unification of the Arabian
Peninsula from north to south and
east to west, with its capital in
Riyadh.
King Abdulaziz in Riyadh
returning
from Friday prayer,
photograph by De
Gaury in 1939, Royal
Geographical Society,
London
Al-Masmak Fort