Al-Walid himself continues the effective rule that had been characteristic of his father, developing a welfare system, building hospitals and educational institutions, and taking measures for the appreciation of art.

An enthusiast of architecture, al-Walid has repaired and refurbished the Masjid al Nabawi in Medina, the second holiest mosque in Islam.

In addition, he has converted the Christian Basilica of St. John the Baptist into a great mosque, now known as the Great Mosque of Damascus or simply the Umayyad Mosque (John the Baptist is considered a Prophet of Islam and is known as Yahya).

Al-Walid has also greatly expanded the military, building a strong navy.

His rein is considered as the apex of Islamic power.

He is also known for his own personal piety, and many stories tell of his continual reciting of the Qur'an and the large feasts he hosts for those who fast during Ramadan.

Al-Walid has appointed the first so-identified sahib al-masahif (“curator of books”), by which time the Umayyad collection includes hundreds of works on astrology, alchemy, medicine, and military science.