Excitement and Anticipation for Founding Day

Alongside the entrance into the new year of 2022 came the announcement of a decree given by The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz on January 27^th, that February 22^nd will be Saudi Arabia’s annual holiday to celebrate the nation’s establishment, bringing to mind the strides and accomplishments that the nation has enjoyed since Imam Mohammed bin Saud launched the first Saudi state back in 1727. It is to be a day of national pride, remembrance, and recognition, of how far the country has come since its humble yet prestigious beginnings, transforming the city-state into a national state. With this transformation came alliances, peace, and prosperity that were otherwise not yet known to various regions of the Arabian Peninsula, creating what can now be considered the greatest state in the region’s history. 

Founding Day is by no means meant to become a replacement for National Day, as the root meaning between the two are completely different nationally celebrated subjects, though both are cemented with justified causes for celebrations in their own right. National Day celebrates the day the Saudi Kingdom became unified under the leadership of one sovereign king which was at that time King Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman Al-Faisal Al Saud, and was publicly declared on September 23^rd, 1932. In a sense, National Day and all reasoning behind its celebration may have come to naught were it not for the actions and steps taken by the nation’s founders back in 1727, including all that led up to that point, therefore, from a certain point of view, our cause for celebration over the events in 1932 are the fruits of events that transpired on 1727, summed up on what we now call Founding Day. 

As was the case back in 2022, all sectors will have February 22^nd off from work, making citizens available to prepare for, contribute toward, or take part in, the celebrations that will be taking place throughout Founding Day. Checking local listings or conducting a search via the internet will inform you of any parades, light shows, fireworks, or any other related events that might be scheduled to transpire in your area, so as the day draws nigh, keep an eye out for some happenings that will likely prove to be engaging, entertaining, and educational, for parents and children alike. However, one mustn’t forget that though some may only have the 22^nd off, Founding Day is a two-day public holiday that includes the 23^rd, so keep an eye out for some events transpiring on either one of these days when scheduling your holiday itinerary. 

Saudis would be remiss if they chose to forego the historical and cultural significance that Founding Day stands for, and merely went through the motions as just another “day off.” If for whatever reason you’re unsure of what the holiday stands for or are not well-versed about the nation’s history, this holiday is an opportunity to take the time given to you this Founding Day to go back and learn how the nation began, what the people of the time had to go through, and the lengths having been taken to accomplish feats that would later shape the country that you’re living in.

Prof. Alaa Alghamdi

Saudi Scholar & Writer

@ayghamd