Saudi Arabia has long been a staunch advocate for humanitarian causes, consistently extending a helping hand to those in need around the world.
While many of the Kingdom’s historical contributions remain quiet acts of diplomacy, their full scale and impact continue to be unveiled over time.
Generosity Beyond Borders
King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) stands as a testament to Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian commitment.
As the humanitarian arm of the Kingdom, KSrelief has implemented over 3,600 projects in 108 countries in collaboration with 466 partners, with a total cost surpassing $8.15 billion, since its establishment in 2015.
However, Saudi Arabia’s legacy of generosity and humanitarian efforts span decades, far predating modern institutional frameworks.
Iraqi writer Ibrahim Al-Zubaidi shared a touching example of this history, recounting how the Kingdom once intervened to support 120,000 Muslims in Northern Greece.
Reaching Northern Greece
In 1980, while working for an Iraqi news agency, Al-Zubaidi discovered the plight of the Muslim community in Komotini, Northern Greece. At the time, around 120,000 Muslims were struggling due to geopolitical tensions between Athens and Ankara.
As a journalist, Al-Zubaidi verified the story and produced a series of investigative reports and a 45-minute documentary detailing the hardships of Muslims there.
WATCH: #SaudiArabia takes swift action to protect those #affected and prevent a #humanitariancrisis, reinforcing its commitment to stability. pic.twitter.com/QuwbYNLjFa
— Leaders MENA (@leadersmena) May 9, 2026
The documentary caught the attention of the Saudi Ministry of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Media). “I received a phone call from Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Greece at the time, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Malhouq, inviting me to visit the Ministry in Riyadh,” Al-Zubaidi said in an interview.
Exceptional Giving
In Riyadh, the Iraqi writer met with high-ranking officials, including the then-Undersecretary of the Ministry of Information for Media Affairs, Abdulaziz Khoja, and the head of foreign media at the time, Abdulaziz Al-Suwaigh.
Upon verifying the documentary’s findings, Saudi Ambassador Al-Malhouq told Al-Zubaidi that he wanted to make an unofficial visit to the region to witness the situation firsthand. Al-Zubaidi, for his part, contacted Greek officials to coordinate the visit.
Following the visit, Saudi Arabia launched a massive support initiative for 120,000 residents, establishing vital infrastructure such as hospitals, schools and mosques, and providing scholarships for Greek Muslim students to pursue higher education in the Kingdom.
