المدينة المنورة في تقرير دبلوماسي مصري

Abstract EN

The present study reviews the report written by Hassan al-Ashmouni, the Egyptian Consul in Jeddah, about Al-Medina Al-Munawwarah at the beginning of the reign of King Abdul Aziz bin Abdul Rahman Aal-Saud.

The report was requested by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry at that time and in coordination with the Hijaz government.

The report is kept among the documents of the Egyptian Foreign Ministry in Cairo.

The report provides a comprehensive record of all aspects of life in Al-Medina, addressing its geographical location, the most important natural features that distinguish it, its religious and historical importance, its political development, its inhabitants' social structure, the various aspects of its economic activity and the crisis faced during the time of King Abdul Aziz bin Abdul Rahman Aal Saud, as well as the efforts exercised to reduce these crises.

The report in general provides a vivacious picture of life in Al-Madinah and the surrounding areas, especially areas between it and Jeddah, where the headquarters of the Egyptian Consulate.

The report included a comprehensive review of the health situation in Al-Medina and its health institutions, with suggestions to ensure that the Egyptian medical missions perform their duties in the country of the Hijaz.

The report presented the Egyptian goods that can be promoted in Hijaz, customs duties imposed on various commodities, and also the means of developing Egyptian commercial activity in Al-Medina and Hijaz region in general, which the Consul considered as aspects where Egypt can play a prominent role.

The researcher divided the research into two sections: the first section dealt with the history of the report, its importance, its sources and the Egyptian-Hijazi-Najdi relations, in addition to the motives of the medical and economic trip to Al-Medina.

The second section includes the manuscript of Al-Ashmouni's report, in which he presented the history of Al-Madinah and its geography past and present, and its connection to other cities; such as Jeddah and Yanbu, and then its economic wealth of agricultural products and light industries.

The report concluded with the state of health in Al-Madinah and associated hospitals, housing and drinking water, pointing to the religious and civil monuments.