Security and History Dialogue 2026 Concludes in Riyadh Amid Wide Attendance and Engagement
The "Security and History Dialogue 2026" conference concluded today at the Culture Palace in Riyadh's Diplomatic Quarter, wrapping up three days of sessions organized by the Ministry of Interior under the patronage of Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, under the theme "Our History and Our Future: Security and Growth." The closing came amid strong turnout and active engagement across its sessions, with participation from senior royals, officials, experts, researchers, academics, writers, and specialists from inside and outside the Kingdom.
Attendance over the three days exceeded 5,200 visitors, alongside social media engagement that surpassed tens of thousands of interactions and significant viewership of the live broadcast of sessions and dialogues from both within and outside Saudi Arabia — an indicator of the breadth of interest in the conference's discussions on the Kingdom's history and its experience in security, stability, and development.
The conference brought together officials and decision-makers, security and executive leaders, historians, researchers, academics, media figures, writers, and intellectuals, alongside a large number of those interested in Saudi history, creating a dialogue space that examined the Saudi experience from multiple angles and linked historical milestones to present-day transformations and future aspirations.
The program included more than 60 dialogue sessions, interactive meetings, keynote addresses, and special talks, with the participation of over 160 speakers and participants from inside and outside the Kingdom, and more than 30 government, academic, and scientific entities. Sessions were divided between the "Dialogue Platform" and the "Security and History Stage," spanning more than 60 hours of dialogue and interaction.
Topics covered the history of security in the Saudi state, institution-building, justice, stability, citizenship and national identity, security and investment, awareness and moderation, international relations, security partnerships, the roles of citizens, families, and women, media, culture and the arts, cultural heritage, and artificial intelligence and the future of security, among others. Sessions also addressed milestones in the Kingdom's history, the personality of Founding King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud, the evolution of state institutions and security agencies, custodianship of the Two Holy Mosques and the Holy Sites, and the Kingdom's military and security legacy, alongside a reading of the Saudi experience in economic, social, and cultural development and the role of security and stability in supporting that journey.
The conference featured a number of special dialogues and addresses in which officials, diplomats, and local and international experts shared their experiences and testimonies on the Kingdom and its transformations, adding a human and experiential dimension to the scholarly and historical content of the sessions. Attendance drew intellectuals, media figures, researchers, and those interested in Saudi history, alongside strong youth and student turnout, with the diversity of participants enriching discussions and opening space for dialogue across official, academic, cultural, and media expertise and across generations.
The conference was organized in partnership with the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah) as the principal partner and the Royal Commission for Riyadh City as the strategic partner, alongside pioneer partners Tuwaiq Academy and the Saudi Comprehensive Security and Technical Control Company ("Tahakkom"), with participation from a number of ministries, universities, and academic and scientific institutions.
"Security and History Dialogue 2026" builds on the "Security and History Dialogue" forum held by the Ministry of Interior in 2025, expanded this year into a three-day program combining intellectual and historical dialogue with specialized experience, as part of an effort to strengthen awareness of the Kingdom's history, highlight the value of security in its development journey, and produce knowledge content documenting the Saudi experience for future generations.
