Saudi National Day ( ar, اليوم الوطني للمملكة العربية السعودية ''al-Yawm al-Waṭanī lil-Mamlaka al-ʿArabiyya as-Saʿūdiyya'') is celebrated in
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in Western Asia. It covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and has a land area of about , making it the fifth-largest country in Asia, the second-largest in the Ara ...
every 23rd of September to commemorate the renaming of the
Kingdom of Nejd and Hejaz to the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in Western Asia. It covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and has a land area of about , making it the fifth-largest country in Asia, the second-largest in the Arab ...
and its
proclamation
A proclamation (Lat. ''proclamare'', to make public by announcement) is an official declaration issued by a person of authority to make certain announcements known. Proclamations are currently used within the governing framework of some nations ...
by a royal decree of
King Abdul Aziz al-Saud in 1932.
23 September was first observed when
King Faisal issued a royal decree on 21 August 1965 that declared the day to be celebrated at official levels as per the
Gregorian calendar
The Gregorian calendar is the calendar used in most parts of the world. It was introduced in October 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII as a modification of, and replacement for, the Julian calendar. The principal change was to space leap years d ...
. In 2005,
King Abdullah issued a royal decree that officially declared it a national holiday from 2007 onwards.
The number of lunar, not solar, years are commemorated.
Establishment of Saudi Arabia
King Abdulaziz
Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud ( ar, عبد العزيز بن عبد الرحمن آل سعود, ʿAbd al ʿAzīz bin ʿAbd ar Raḥman Āl Suʿūd; 15 January 1875Ibn Saud's birth year has been a source of debate. It is generally accepted ...
was able to conquer the oases of
Riyadh
Riyadh (, ar, الرياض, 'ar-Riyāḍ, lit.: 'The Gardens' Najdi pronunciation: ), formerly known as Hajr al-Yamamah, is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of the Riyadh Province and the centre of the ...
in 1902; and
al-Hasa in 1913, and by 1925, he unified both Nejd and the Hejaz after defeating the forces of
Sharif Hussein
Hussein bin Ali al-Hashimi ( ar, الحسين بن علي الهاشمي, al-Ḥusayn bin ‘Alī al-Hāshimī; 1 May 18544 June 1931) was an Arab leader from the Banu Hashim clan who was the Sharif and Emir of Mecca from 1908 and, after procl ...
. On 23 September 1932, King Abdulaziz changed the name of his realm to his family name, the
House of Saud
The House of Saud ( ar, آل سُعُود, ʾĀl Suʿūd ) is the ruling royal family of Saudi Arabia. It is composed of the descendants of Muhammad bin Saud, founder of the Emirate of Diriyah, known as the First Saudi state (1727–1818), ...
.
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
* 2005:
King Abdullah announces that Saudi National Day became an official holiday.
* 2009: King Abdullah opened the
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST; ar, جامعة الملك عبد الله للعلوم و التقنية ') is a private research university located in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia. Founded in 2009, the university provid ...
, in the presence of foreign heads of state.
* 2014:
Jeddah
Jeddah ( ), also spelled Jedda, Jiddah or Jidda ( ; ar, , Jidda, ), is a city in the Hejaz region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and the country's commercial center. Established in the 6th century BC as a fishing village, Jeddah's pro ...
unveils the tallest
flagpole
A flagpole, flagmast, flagstaff, or staff is a pole designed to support a flag. If it is taller than can be easily reached to raise the flag, a cord is used, looping around a pulley at the top of the pole with the ends tied at the bottom. The fla ...
in the world
* 2015: Saudi National Day is first celebrated officially.
See also
*
Public holidays in Saudi Arabia
Public holidays in Saudi Arabia ( Arabic: العطل الرسمية في السعودية ) In Saudi Arabia there are few holidays, compared with other countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council, but they have long-term holidays from 10 to 12 days. ...
*
Flag of Saudi Arabia
*
National Anthem of Saudi Arabia
The national anthem of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, , "Chant of the Saudi Nation" was first officially adopted in 1950 without lyrics. The piece was gifted by the then Egyptian King Farouq when King Abdulaziz made a visit to Egypt. It was then ...
References
{{Portal, Saudi Arabia
History of Saudi Arabia
National days
September observances