The Arab Nationalist Advisor: Shaykh Yusuf Yassin of Sa‘udi Arabia

Shaykh Yusuf Yassin (1892-1962) marked the contemporary history of the Kingdom of Sa'udi Arabia in his capacity as a favorite advisor who was the founder monarch's confidential secretary, relentless envoy and chief foreign policy consultant. Born in Latakiyyah, Syria, Yassin earned the confidence of King 'Abdul 'Aziz bin 'Abdul Rahman Al Sa'ud, and moved to Riyadh even before the Third Sa'udi Kingdom was inaugurated in 1932. After obtaining citizenship he participated in critical decisions reached by the ruler as regional and international actors honed in on the wealth of the Arabian Peninsula. Over the course of several decades Yusuf Yassin met with and negotiated on behalf of three monarchs, 'Abdul 'Aziz and his two successors, Sa'ud and Faysal, with Arab and global leaders. He was present at the creation of the country and suggested that al-Sa'udiyyah be added to its very name - Al-Mamlakah al-'Arabiyyah al-Sa'udiyyah - which reflected his personality and political outlook as an Arab nationalist who cherished the founder. Joseph Kechichian has written the first political biography of the statesman, based on original documents [the Yassin Papers] as well as Western diplomatic correspondence. Kechichian provides insights into the Nationalist Al Sa'ud Advisor who left his mark on Sa'udi Arabia. The volume provides essential background on a man who rose from humble origins in Syria to espouse Arabian values, and walks the reader through nearly five decades of Arab history, including the repercussions of the infamous 1916 Sykes-Picot Agreement, the creation of the League of Arab States, and various Arab crises. These events, experienced and engaged with by Shaykh Yusuf Yassin at the highest political and diplomatic levels, set the stage that empowered Sa'udi Arabia, along with other Arab States, with the wherewithal to succeed for their respective peoples.