Saudi National Day (Arabic: اليوم الوطني للمملكة العربية السعودية, romanized: al-Yawm al-Waṭanī lil-Mamlaka al-ʿArabiyya as-Saʿūdiyya, lit. 'national day of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia') is a public holiday in Saudi Arabia celebrated annually on 23 September to commemorate the proclamation that renamed the Kingdom of Nejd and Hejaz as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932 through a royal decree by King Abdulaziz ibn Saud. It was founded in 1965 by King Faisal bin Abdulaziz in order to replace the Royal Seating Day, but at the same time letting it retain its predecessor's year count of 1930 instead of 1932. It was made a public holiday by King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz in 2005 and is one of the three non-religious holidays observed in the country, other being the Saudi Founding Day and Saudi Flag Day.
| Saudi National Day اليوم الوطني السعودي | |
|---|---|
Drone art of Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman at KAFD during the 94th Saudi National Day celebrations, 2024 | |
| Official name | Saudi National Day |
| Observed by | Saudi Arabia |
| Type | National |
| Significance | Proclamation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia |
| Ends | The day after |
| Date | 23 September |
| Next time | 23 September 2026 |
| Frequency | Annual |
| First time | 1965 (at official levels) 2005 (as national holiday) |
| Started by | Faisal bin Abdulaziz |
In accordance with the royal decree issued by the authority of Ibn Saud on May 27, 1916, corresponding to 17 Jumada al-Awwal 1351, the name of the country has been changed from the Kingdom of Hejaz and Najd and its dependencies to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Establishment of Saudi Arabia
King Abdulaziz was able to conquer the oases of Riyadh in 1902; and al-Hasa in 1913, and by 1925, he unified both Nejd and the Hejaz after defeating the forces of Sharif Hussein. On 23 September 1932, King Abdulaziz changed the name of his realm to his family name, the House of Saud.
Customs
Saudi National Day is celebrated with folk dances, songs, and traditional festivities. Roads and buildings are decorated with Saudi flags, and people wear the national colours of green and white, and display balloons in the same.
Events and occasions on the same day
- 1932: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is established through a royal decree by King Abdulaziz ibn Saud.
- 1963: Establishment of College of Petroleum and Minerals during the reign of King Saud bin Abdulaziz, later known as King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals.
- 1965: 23 September observed at government levels for the first time during the reign of King Faisal bin Abdulaziz, who issued a royal decree in August to formally designate it as the Saudi National Day.
- 2007: King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz announces that Saudi National Day became an official holiday.
- 2009: King Abdullah inaugurates the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, in the presence of foreign heads of state.
- 2014: Jeddah unveils the tallest flagpole in the world
- 2015: Saudi National Day is first celebrated officially.
- 2017: Flyadeal airline commences operations.
Gallery
- Saudi national flag mounted behind a Chevrolet Suburban, 2024
- Saudi national flag mounted in front of a Nissan Sunny, 2024
- Saudi Falcons at an airshow, 2020
- Olaya Towers lit in green, 2024
- Drone art of King Abdulaziz ibn Saud at KAFD, 2024
- Public Investment Fund Tower in Riyadh lit in green, 2024
- King Abdulaziz Mosque in Riyadh lit in green, 2024
See also
- Public holidays in Saudi Arabia
- Flag of Saudi Arabia
- National Anthem of Saudi Arabia
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