These travels went on for several years and yielded amazing documentary footage from around the Kingdom. I delivered a lecture after these trips entitled The Kingdom through Loving Eyes at a conference marking the inauguration of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage and the King Abdulaziz Public Library. [24] Both as a former servicemember and a citizen, I cannot overstate my admiration for the cultural role the National Guard played in organizing the Janadriyah Festival – the annual cultural and heritage festival beloved by Saudis and non-Saudis alike – and bringing it to the Western Region, after many requests from its residents. To achieve this, I recommended, on behalf of the National Guard personnel to the Ministry of the National Guard, that we contribute to the services offered to pilgrims and visitors of the holy places, given the location and role of the National Guard’s Western Sector . I proposed to establish a center reflecting the Janadriyah Festival’s message an d goals, with some new and upcoming buildings, such as the library and its adjacent land, to be used as a center of thought and dialogue. The rationale behind this is that Jeddah’s proximity to the holy places means it attracts people from all over the world who visit to perform their pilgrimage. This perfectly positioned us to also attract intellectuals and scholars to engage in dialogue about the festival and what it stands for. My hope is that this addition would enrich the festival and highlight its core messages and values, and that it be given enough time to mature for us to reap the benefits in full. I am confident that over time, and through the National Guard’s generous hospitality, the Western Sector will become a destination for intellectuals, and ultimately, a cultural hub in its own right. [25]
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