A rare photograph of King Abdulaziz at Al-Murabba Palace documents the founding phase
As part of its ongoing efforts to document national history and preserve Saudi memory, the King Abdulaziz Foundation a rare historical photograph showing the founding King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud – may God have mercy on him – with several of his sons on the roof of Al-Murabba Palace in Riyadh. This step comes as part of a series of initiatives launched by the Foundation to unveil its documentary treasures, highlighting significant aspects of the founder's life and the social and official life that characterized the nation-building era.
The symbolism of Al Murabba Palace in Saudi history
This photograph is more than just a family snapshot; it carries profound spatial and historical significance. The Al-Murabba Palace, from whose roof the picture was taken, is one of the most important historical landmarks in Saudi Arabia. Built outside the walls of old Riyadh, the palace served as the seat of government, and its halls witnessed pivotal decisions that contributed to the unification of the country and the establishment of its modern institutions. The choice of this location in the photograph demonstrates the close connection between governance and the daily life of the founding king, as the palace was both the center of government and the residence of the royal family, reflecting the lifestyle of that crucial era.
The importance of visual documentation for the foundational stage
Such visual documents are of paramount importance to researchers and historians, as historical photographs detailed insights into fashion, architecture, and prevailing protocols—information that cannot be gleaned from written texts alone. Through its Customer Service Center, the Darah Foundation is working to make this rich collection of photographs and original documents available, enabling new generations to access their cultural heritage and supporting specialized academic studies on the history of the Kingdom and the Arabian Peninsula with reliable and highly accurate sources.
The role of the department in preserving national memory
The Darah Foundation reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to collecting, classifying, and preserving historical sources according to the latest international standards. The publication of this image is part of its mission to strengthen national identity and connect the present with its rich past. The Darah Foundation is the primary reference for the Kingdom's history, geography, literature, and heritage, and plays a pivotal role in correcting historical information and disseminating documented knowledge both locally and regionally.
