RIYADH — Security has been a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia for three centuries, providing the stability upon which the Kingdom’s development has been built, Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Tuwaiyan, adviser at the Office of the Minister of Interior, said.Speaking during the Security and History Dialogue 2026 conference in Riyadh on Sunday, Al-Tuwaiyan said the event highlights the close relationship between security, history and development, stressing that development is a national foundation built on security and stability.“Security in Saudi Arabia is not circumstantial; it is a long-standing approach,” Al-Tuwaiyan said, noting that this approach has been carried forward by Saudi imams and kings over the generations, through to the reign of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman.Al-Tuwaiyan expressed his appreciation to Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif for his patronage, guidance and support for the conference, saying his attention had contributed to strengthening its content and diversifying its programs.He said this year’s conference brings together more than 160 Saudi, Arab and international speakers and features more than 60 panel discussions and interactive sessions covering a wide range of topics.Al-Tuwaiyan said the conference theme, “Our History and Our Future: Security and Development,” reflects its focus on security and history and their connection to the Kingdom’s development.He also highlighted the Interior Ministry’s partnerships with research, scientific, academic, cultural and media institutions, saying their contributions had enriched the accompanying exhibition with rare documents and historical exhibits.More than 4,000 people are attending and participating in the conference, Al-Tuwaiyan said, with visitors offered an integrated experience through its sessions, exhibition, historical documents and other content.He said one of the conference’s key objectives is to introduce Saudis to the story of their country, describing it as “an inspiring story, filled with pride.”The conference, he added, seeks to strengthen national awareness and identity while deepening a sense of pride and belonging.“We have a story that deserves to be told,” Al-Tuwaiyan said, stressing that it should be presented in a way that helps Saudis understand “who we are.”He said Saudi Arabia has been a pioneering nation since its earliest beginnings and that its standing today is rooted in a history extending back three centuries rather than being a recent development.Since its establishment, he said, the Saudi state has placed people at the forefront of its priorities, safeguarded its principles and values, and built on those foundations to reach the position it holds today among nations.Al-Tuwaiyan concluded by saying that Saudi Arabia’s standing today comes by the grace of God and the leadership of the Kingdom, praying for the protection of King Salman and the Crown Prince.The Security and History Dialogue 2026, organized by the Ministry of Interior at the Cultural Palace in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter, examines nearly three centuries of the Saudi state’s security experience and its role in supporting stability, development and prosperity.