360The United Nations is founded
On 24 October 1945, the United Nations came into existence, with 51 founding members, to maintain world peace and promote cooperation. Saudi Arabia was among the founding nations, and Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz, later King Faisal, signed the UN Charter for the Kingdom. The UN now has 193 member states.
As the Second World War drew to a close, delegates from 50 countries met in San Francisco from April to June 1945 to draft a charter for a new international organisation. They signed the United Nations Charter on 26 June 1945. Poland signed later, becoming the 51st founding member.
Saudi Arabia's delegation was led by Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz, then the Kingdom's foreign minister and later its king. He signed the Charter on behalf of Saudi Arabia, making the Kingdom one of the UN's founding members.
The Charter came into force on 24 October 1945, now celebrated as United Nations Day. The UN's main bodies include the General Assembly, where every member has a vote, and the Security Council.
Specialised agencies such as the World Health Organization, UNESCO and UNICEF work on health, education, culture and children's welfare. Today, the UN has 193 member states.
- April–June 1945
- San Francisco conference
- 26 June 1945
- UN Charter signed
- 24 October 1945
- UN comes into existence
- 1946
- First General Assembly meets in London
Sources: United Nations · Saudipedia · Britannica.