It has been a privilege and pleasure to develop this book, presenting the life story of a remarkable individual. His Excellency Abdulaziz Al-Zamil has witnessed and played key roles in the dramatic modernization of Saudi Arabia. He has been a central actor in the rapid development of its dynamic petrochemical industry, as well as in the electrification of his country. Our work would not have been possible without the full support of its central figure. Abdulaziz Al-Zamil sat with us for many hours of oral history, offered generous hospitality, introduced us to his family, and regaled us with intriguing details of his life, of the creation of the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), and of his determination to foster a private petrochemical sector.
To our own enlightenment and pleasure, we learned much about the too-often neglected “good news and civilized life” that characterizes modern Saudi Arabia. We hope this study will provide the reader with an understanding not only of the life of his Excellency Abdulaziz Al-Zamil but also of the fascinating journey of Saudi Arabia into modernity.
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