Jeddah, Dhu-AlHijjah 17, 1437, Sep 18, 2016, SPA -- Saudi Arabia is a leader in humanitarian relief and development works, in various countries of the world, where it has extended helping hand and humanitarian assistance to Arab, Islamic and friendly countries, to contribute to the alleviation of suffering, caused by natural disasters or wars. It ranks ahead for its initiatives recorded in aid and humanitarian action in the world, according to reports issued in this regard, by related international organizations. By virtue of the status of the Kingdom to serve Islam and Muslims all over the world in the highest degree, this is a top priority, and it is extended generously to all types of support that benefit all the Arab and Islamic countries, such as establishment of mosques and the schools, and providing them with millions of copies of the Koran, and references relevant to the Muslim guidance to religious and worldly matters, so as to ensure the effectiveness of living in peace in the community. A report prepared by a team of World Bank experts and specialists in coordination with the Arab development funds and the Development Assistance Committee for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), published in 2010, said that the Arab donor states, led by Saudi Arabia, was the most generous on a global scale, in the provision of official development assistance throughout the past four decades. Revealed statistics issued by the United Nations showed that the Kingdom topped the list of donor countries for voluntary aid to fund humanitarian relief operations in the year 2008, where its donations exceeded (6%) of the national income, while the humanitarian assistance provided by countries known as industrial and richer represent only 5.1% of their national income. -- SPA 01:08 LOCAL TIME 22:08 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w