Saudi Arabia Foundation Day 2024: Celebrate long weekend with fireworks and more

Image credit: Saudi Press Agency (representational)

Saudi Arabia will celebrate the country’s foundation day on Thursday, February 22.

The day has been declared a public holiday for workers and students alike. The holiday will set up a long weekend, as the kingdom’s weekend spans from Friday and Saturday.

In 2022, Saudi Arabia officially announced February 22 as a national holiday to celebrate the Saudi Founding Day as per a royal order issued by King Salman bin Abdulaziz.

The government’s information portal explains, “King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, issued a Royal Decree to commemorate the founding day annually on February 22, which represents the kingdom’shistorical, civilisational, and cultural roots when Imam Muhammad bin Saud established the first Saudi state in 1139 AH / 1727 CE.”

Objectives:

• Honor the solid roots of the Saudi State.
• Honor the strong bond between citizens and their leadership.
• Honor the accomplishments of the Saudi State in terms of unity, stability, and security.
• Honor the First Saudi State’s resilience and defense against enemies.
• Honor the continuity of the Saudi State and the restoration of its roots and leadership.
• Honor the national unity of Saudi Arabia, which King Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman Al-Faisal Al Saud established.
• Honor the kings’ – King Abdulaziz’s sons’ – achievements in promoting unity and development.

Saudi Foundation Day celebrations

The kingdom celebrates the occasion with several events, including military performances, fireworks and air shows.

Cities including Jeddah, Jazan, Madinah, Al Qassim, Taif, Abha, Al Ahsa, Sakaka, Albaha, Najran, Dammam, Arar, Tabuk, and Hail will host this immersive exhibition, inviting visitors to delve into the rich history and heritage of Saudi Arabia.

Riyadh Season

The Abu Bakr Salem Stage in Riyadh’s Boulevard City is set to become a hub of cultural festivities as the Foundation Day celebrations kick off on February 21-22, offering attendees a captivating journey through time with poetry and musical performances, as reported by the Saudi Gazette.

Simultaneously, the Symphony of the Beginning will grace the same venue on February 25-26, promising enchanting performances by esteemed Saudi poets and the National Orchestra, showcasing the rich musical heritage of the kingdom.

Adding to the cultural spectacle, the History Walk, a vibrant parade narrating Saudi Arabia’s history through 19 meticulously crafted scenes from 1727 to the present day, is scheduled to take place on February 23-24, commencing from 6pm until midnight.

Beyond the Boulevard City, the Founding Village display will be showcased in 14 cities and governorates across the country from February 22-24.

Other ways to celebrate the founding day of the kingdom include visits to iconic spots such as the Diriyah City to see the origins of the Al Saud family which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. You can visit Turaif with a Diriyah Entry Pass.