The Founder

Prince Abdulrahman bin Ahmed Al-Sudairy was born in Al-Ghat in 1338 AH (1920 AD). He served as Governor of the Al-Jouf Region from 1362 AH to 1410 AH (1943–1990 AD). During his tenure, he devoted his life and resources to serving the community and achieving growth and development in the region.

He dedicated his life to serving the nation in general, and Al-Jouf and Al-Ghat in particular. He worked at both the official and private levels in support of knowledge and culture, accompanied by the launch of cultural and social initiatives that became exemplary models. His formal education was limited to traditional kuttab schooling; however, he continued to develop his knowledge and experience, investing them in community service. He did not distinguish between his role as an official and his role as a citizen; rather, his life and activities were intertwined with national concerns, both official and voluntary. He was keen to engage directly with people’s lives and needs, without barriers between himself and the community.

The founder’s pioneering spirit is clearly reflected in the public library he established, as well as in other similar initiatives he adopted. Notably, the women’s public library he founded was the first of its kind in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Under his leadership, Al-Jouf achieved significant progress in many vital fields, including general education, healthcare, agriculture, and overall economic development.

The founder’s initiatives stemmed from a deep sense of duty, a firm belief in the importance of knowledge and culture in building societies, and a humility rooted in the joy he felt whenever he was able to serve his country and community. This sense of responsibility, the inclination toward volunteerism and altruism, the love of knowledge and culture, and community service are the core values upon which the Abdulrahman Al-Sudairy Cultural Center is founded and for which it has become a symbol.

Pioneering Initiatives by the Founder

• Camel Racing: The first organized camel race in the Kingdom, held in 1383 AH (1963 AD).
• Farmers’ Competition: The first adjudicated competition for farmers, held in 1393 AH (1973 AD).
• Local Carpet Exhibition: The first award for local carpets, held in 1385 AH (1965 AD).
• Academic Excellence Awards: Financial awards presented to outstanding male and female students from Al-Jouf schools across various educational stages.
• Al-Jouf Week: A cultural and heritage festival aimed at fostering local creativity and initiatives and promoting healthy competition among the region’s residents. Its events included camel racing, the farmers’ competition, and the local carpet exhibition. The first festival was held in 1385 AH, serving as an opportunity to introduce Al-Jouf and its heritage and to strengthen its connection with other regions of the Kingdom.

Timeline

• Born in Al-Ghat in 1338 AH (1920 AD).
• Governor of Al-Jouf from 1362 AH to 1410 AH (1943–1990 AD).
• Founder of the first public library in Al-Jouf.
• Founder of the first public library for women in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• Founder of the Abdulrahman Al-Sudairy Charitable Foundation in 1403 AH (1983 AD).
• Poet; published a poetry collection titled Al-Qasa’id (Poems) in 1403 AH (1983 AD).
• Author of an important reference on the history of the Al-Jouf region titled Al-Jouf: Wadi Al-Nafakh, first published in 1406 AH (1986 AD), with a second edition in 1426 AH (2005 AD).
• Hobbies included breeding purebred Arabian horses and camels, and cultivating date palms.
• Passed away—may Allah have mercy on him—on 26/2/1427 AH (26/3/2006 AD).