Artists celebrate rule of King Abdullah

Seventeen Saudi artists have created a mix of artwork, including video documentaries and photographs, to celebrate the nine-year reign of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.
The artwork went on display at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Jeddah on Tuesday. Prince Fahd bin Muqrin, who heads a national environmental education initiative, opened the exhibition.
The artists are Khalid Rashid, Mohammed Asiri, Mehdi Aghili, Saleh Al-Shari, Abidha Al-Faiz, Ashwaq Dali, Hind Naseer, Hana Neto, Mohammed Kahal, Salma Sheikh, Sadiq Ghalib, Wadad Ahmadi, Hisham Punjabi, Ghada Al-Rabih, Dua’a Bender, Ihab Haddad and Jasmine Khayat.
Khayat said it was a privilege to celebrate the anniversary by exhibiting her work. It was the duty of every citizen, who has enjoyed nine years of security, safety and stability, to thank King Abdullah, she said.
Prince Fahd praised the efforts of the artists and organizers and asked Allah to grant the king a long life. He said King Abdullah was like a father to the nation.
His many achievements include the expansion of the Grand Mosque, the train at the holy sites for pilgrims, the Zamzam water project and the Jeddah and Makkah metro train developments.
The king, said Prince Fahd, also created many jobs for Saudis, opened up several universities, developed the economic and industrial cities, created five medical cities and expanded many hospitals.
In addition, King Abdullah started a project to restructure the judiciary, established the national center for inter-cultural and religious dialogue and expanded the overseas scholarship program.
He also issued a decree to create the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy, said Prince Fahd.