Mark your calendars — February 22nd isn’t just another day off in Saudi Arabia. It’s Founding Day, and this year, it hits different. We’re talking about the 299th anniversary of the moment that set everything in motion: the establishment of the First Saudi State in Diriyah back in 1727.
Why Founding Day Matters
Here’s the thing about Founding Day — it’s not a repeat of National Day. While September 23rd celebrates the unification of the Kingdom in 1932, Founding Day reaches much further back. It honors Imam Muhammad bin Saud’s rise as the leader of Diriyah, a small oasis town in Najd that would eventually become the cradle of a nation.
King Salman bin Abdulaziz made it official in 2022, declaring February 22nd a national holiday. And honestly? It was long overdue. The Kingdom’s roots run nearly three centuries deep, and that story deserved its own spotlight.
Diriyah: Where It All Began
If you haven’t visited the At-Turaif District in Diriyah, you’re missing out. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a stunning testament to Najdi architecture — mud-brick walls, narrow passageways, and a sense of history that practically seeps from the ground.
But Diriyah isn’t stuck in the past. The massive Diriyah Gate development project is transforming it into a world-class cultural and tourism destination. Think heritage museums, boutique hotels, and restaurants — all woven around those ancient structures. It’s the kind of place where the past and future actually shake hands.
What to Expect in 2026
Every year, Founding Day celebrations get bigger. Light shows illuminate the Riyadh skyline, cultural festivals pop up across the Kingdom’s regions, and Saudis don their traditional attire — men in classic thobes and bisht, women in vibrant heritage dresses. Streets turn green, traditional songs fill the air, and social media? It absolutely explodes.
For younger Saudis especially, Founding Day has become something personal. It’s not just a history lesson — it’s a lived experience that connects them to their ancestors in a way textbooks simply can’t.
More Than a Holiday
Let’s be real: some people treat any holiday as an excuse for a long weekend. Fair enough. But Founding Day carries genuine weight. It’s a reminder that Saudi Arabia’s ambitions under Vision 2030 — the mega-projects, the cultural renaissance, the economic diversification — aren’t coming out of nowhere. They’re the latest chapter in a story that started nearly 300 years ago in a dusty town west of Riyadh.
So as millions prepare to celebrate on February 22nd, here’s a question worth asking: what does Founding Day mean to you? Because that answer, more than any fireworks display, is what keeps a nation’s story alive.
