The "Al-Faisal: A Witness and a Martyr" Exhibition


This traveling exhibition was launched on May 6, 2008, as part of the series of exhibitions highlighting the lives of the kings of Saudi Arabia, which were supported by the late King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The exhibition showcased the life of the late King Faisal and his contributions, which were chronologically displayed beginning with his childhood, followed by his role as viceroy in the Hijaz for King Abdulaziz, his reign, and his martyrdom. It shed light on issues which were most important to the late King Faisal such as the development of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its people, unity in the Arab and Islamic worlds, and ending the occupation of Palestine. The exhibition continued through 2018 and visited most of the Kingdom's regions in addition to the two cities in Kazakhstan, informing visitors of the pivotal period in the Saudi and global history.

The exhibition aimed at introducing King Faisal as a historical leader, whose stances, speeches, and initiatives left a mark on the world during his reign. It showcased different aspects of his life and told the story of his struggle as he led the Kingdom to prosperity. It also displayed various photographs that documented King Faisal’s travels, his political stances and decisions on global, regional and local issues, as well as documentary films that derived their importance from the period during which the late King lived as a strong leader of the country in a world rife with global turmoil. The exhibition included important personal items belonging to King Faisal, and photographs of the most prominent stages of his life from birth to martyrdom, in addition to a collection of his prominent speeches, as well as a number of manuscripts, photographs and video clips documenting his history and the services he rendered to the Arab and Islamic nations over more than half a century. The exhibition also included a number of written, visual and audio materials that highlighted King Faisal’s positions on local, regional and international issues. It documented King Faisal's journey, which was filled with historical and influential initiatives at the national, regional, and international levels.

The 1st Exhibition in Riyadh (2008)

The first "Al-Faisal: A Witness and a Martyr" exhibition took place at the Saudi National Museum at the King Abdulaziz Historical Center in Riyadh under the patronage of the then-Governor of Riyadh HRH Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (King since January 2015). The opening ceremony was attended by HRH Prince Khalid AlFaisal, Governor of Makkah, and HRH Prince Saud AlFaisal, Saudi Foreign Minister. Upon their arrival to the exhibition, they were received by HRH Prince Turki AlFaisal, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies (KFCRIS). The ceremony was also attended by a number of Highnesses and Excellencies as well as groups of politicians, intellectuals, and media representatives.

 


 

The 2nd Stop: Abha (2008)

HRH Prince Faisal bin Khalid bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Asir, inaugurated the exhibition at its second stop, Abha Palace Hotel. The opening ceremony was attended by HRH Prince Turki AlFaisal and HRH Princess Mashael bint Turki AlFaisal. During the exhibition, three seminars were held to tell the story of King Faisal and what the Asir region received during his reign. Several scholars from the King Khalid University in Abha participated these seminars.

 

The 3rd Stop: Jeddah (2008)

HRH Prince Khalid AlFaisal, Governor of Makkah, inaugurated the exhibition at its third stop, the Jeddah International Exhibition and Convention Center. The opening ceremony was attended by HRH Prince Turki AlFaisal, HRH Prince Mishaal bin Majed bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Jeddah, sons and grandchildren of King Faisal, and a number of Highnesses and Excellencies as well as media representatives.

 

The 4th Stop: The National Festival of Heritage and Culture in Janadriyah (2009)

The exhibition's fourth stop was the National Festival of Heritage and Culture in Janadriyah. The exhibition was attended by King Abdullah, HRH Prince Mutaib bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs, and Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz, Head of General Intelligence, as well as a number of Highnesses and Excellencies. HRH Prince Turki AlFaisal received King, showing him several photos and collections from the exhibition and presenting him as a gift the book entitled Al-Faisal Illustrated.

 

The Fifth Stop: Madinah (2009)

The exhibition visited its fifth stop, the Taibah University in Madinah, where Sheikh Saleh Al-Maghamsi, Imam of Quba Mosque and a faculty member of the Taibah University, gave a lecture entitled "Al-Faisal and Muslim Solidarity."

 

 The 6th Stop: Qassim (2009)

The exhibition was held at its sixth stop, the King Khalid Cultural Center in Buraidah, under the patronage of HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar, Governor of Al-Qassim. The opening ceremony was attended by HRH Prince Turki AlFaisal, HRH Prince Faisal bin Mishaal bin Saud bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of Al-Qassim, HRH Prince Faisal bin Saud bin Abdullah AlFaisal, and HRH Prince Saud bin Turki AlFaisal.

 

The 7th Stop: Dhahran (2010)

    

HRH Prince Mohammad bin Fahd, Governor of the Eastern Province, inaugurated the exhibition at its seventh stop, the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Dhahran. The exhibition was attended by HRH Prince Turki AlFaisal, HRH Prince Juluwe bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of the Eastern Province, HRH Prince Mishari bin Saud bin Abdulaziz, Undersecretary of the National Guard for the Eastern Province, a number of Highnesses and Excellencies, as well as media representatives. The exhibition was also attended by Crown Prince HRH Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz.

 

The 8th Stop: Al-Ahsa (2014)

HRH Prince Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, Governor of the Eastern Province, inaugurated the exhibition at its eighth stop, the King Faisal University in Al-Ahsa. The opening ceremony was attended by HRH Prince Khalid AlFaisal, Governor of Makkah, HRH Prince Badr bin Mohammed bin Jalawi, Governor of Al-Ahsa, and HRH Prince Faisal bin Saud bin Abdulmohsen.

 

The 9th Stop: Jazan (2014)

HRH Prince Mohammed bin Nasser bin Abdul Aziz, Governor of Jazan, inaugurated the exhibition at its ninth stop, the Jazan University. The opening ceremony was attended by HRH Prince Turki AlFaisal.

 

The 10th Stop: Ha'il (2015)

     

HRH Prince Saud bin Abdulmohsen bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Ha'il, inaugurated the exhibition at its ninth stop, the Conference Center of the Ha'il University. The opening ceremony was attended by HRH Prince Turki AlFaisal and a number of officials and intellectuals from the region.

 

The 11th Stop: Ta'if (2015)

HRH Prince Khalid AlFaisal, Governor of Makkah, inaugurated the exhibition at its eleventh stop, the Rudaf Park in Ta'if. The opening ceremony was attended by HRH Prince Turki AlFaisal. Several seminars and panel discussions were held to highlight the late King's life and his contributions.

 

The 12th Stop: Makkah (2016)

HRH Prince Khalid AlFaisal, Governor of Makkah, inaugurated the exhibition at its twelfth stop, Al-Amanah Club in the Al-Khalidiya district in Makkah. The opening ceremony was attended by HRH Prince Turki AlFaisal.

 

The 13th Stop: Sakaka (2016)

HRH Prince Fahd bin Badr bin Abdulaziz, Governer of Al-Jouf, inaugurated the exhibition at its thirteenth stop, the Al-Jouf University. The opening ceremony was attended by HRH Prince Turki AlFaisal.

 

The 14th Stop: Astana, Kazakhstan (2017)

  

Ms. Gulshara Abdykhalikova, Secretary of State of Kazakhstan, inaugurated the exhibition at its fourteenth and the first foreign stop, the National Museum of Astana in the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in May 2017. The opening ceremony was attended by HRH Prince Turki AlFaisal, HE Abdulrahman Al-Najjar, Saudi Chargé d'Affaires to Kazakhstan, HRH Prince Amr AlFaisal, HRH Prince Faisal bin Saud bin Abdulmohsen, HRH Prince Saud bin Turki AlFaisal, as well as a number of officials and intellectuals from the host country. It was the first Arab exhibition ever held in Kazakhstan. The exhibition lasted for nearly a month and received more than 10,000 visitors. The exhibition covered a large part of King Faisal’s life and activities, displaying rare historical holdings and personal items of the late king. It also contained a number of artifacts from Islamic history preserved by the KFCRIS, including a piece of the covering of the Kaaba, and historical pieces from the 2nd to the 14th century AH, including: household tools, combat and war machines, book-making equipment, medical equipment, coins, as well as a radio, which is one of the first devices used in the Kingdom.

 

The 15th Stop: Almaty, Kazakhstan (2017)

Mr. Muhamediuly Arystanbek, the Minister of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, inaugurated the exhibition at its fifteenth stop, the Central State Museum in Almaty on Thursday, July 27, 2017. The opening ceremony was attended by HRH Prince Turki Alfaisal, HE Dr. Thaher bin Mu'tesh Al-Enezi, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Republic of Kazakhstan, and Kyrykbaev Arman Orazbayevich, Deputy Governor of Almaty, as well as groups of officials and intellectuals.

 
The 16th Stop: Tabuk (2018)

HRH Prince Fahd bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Tabuk, inaugurated the exhibition at its sixteenth and the last stop, the Prince Sultan Cultural Center at the Tabuk University, on March 20, 2018. The opening ceremony was attended by HRH Prince Turki AlFaisal.