| 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 on 23 September 1932 |
| Ends | The day after |
| Date | 23 September |
| Next time | 23 September 2027 (2027-09-23) |
| Frequency | Annual |
| First time | 1965 (1965) (at official levels) 2005 (2005) (as national holiday) |
| Started by | King Faisal |
The Saudi National Day[a] is an official public holiday in Saudi Arabia celebrated annually on 23 September. The holiday was established in 1965 by King Faisal to replace Royal Seating Day (1930–1963) while retaining its predecessor's historic year count, commemorating the official renaming and proclamation of the Kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd and Its Dependencies as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on 23 September 1932.
In 2005, it was designated as an official public holiday by King Abdullah.[1] It stands as one of two non-religious public holidays in the country, alongside the Saudi Founding Day.[2]
History
From 1930 to 1963, the country observed Royal Seating Day (Accession Day). The date of the celebration varied depending on the reigning monarch's coronation date. It was initially observed on 8 January following the crowning of King Abdulaziz, before moving to 12 November after the accession of King Saud.[3]
In August 1965, King Faisal issued a royal decree replacing Royal Seating Day with an official Saudi National Day. The change was intended to shift the focus of the holiday from the individual monarch's coronation to the state itself. King Faisal designated 23 September for the holiday to mark the date in 1932 when the Kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd and Its Dependencies was officially renamed and proclaimed as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Despite the change in date and purpose, the holiday retained the annual numbering system of its predecessor, counting the inaugural 1930 Royal Seating Day as the first national day.[4][5]
Slogans
| Year | Edition | Official Slogan (English) | Official Slogan (Arabic) | Significance and Theme Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 88th | For Glory and Prosperity | للمجد والعلياء | The slogan was sourced from the national anthem and marked the first use of an official slogan for Saudi National Day.[6] |
| 2019 | 89th | Mettle Until the Top | همة حتى القمة | Inspired by a quote from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman comparing Saudi determination to Mount Tuwaiq.[7] |
| 2020 | 90th | |||
| 2021 | 91st | She Is a Home to Us | هي لنا دار | Highlighted national security, humanitarian initiatives, and community inclusion alongside structural housing and development programs.[8] |
| 2022 | 92nd | |||
| 2023 | 93rd | We Dream and We Achieve | نحلم ونحقق | Focused heavily on the global visibility and execution phase of giga-projects linked directly to Saudi Vision 2030.[9] |
| 2024 | 94th | |||
| 2025 | 95th | Our Pride Lies in Our Nature | عزّنا بطبعنا | Highlights Saudi Arabia’s landscapes, traditional hospitality, and cultural heritage, with branding elements such as the Ajrab sword.[10] |
| 2026 | 96th |
Events
The following events occurred on 23 September across the history of Saudi Arabia:
- 1932 – King Abdulaziz issues a royal decree establishing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
- 1963 – The College of Petroleum and Minerals (later King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals) is founded to advance technical education.
- 1965 – 23 September is observed for the first time as Saudi National Day, succeeding Royal Seating Day by order of King Faisal.
- 2007 – King Abdullah declares the national day an official public holiday.
- 2009 – King Abdullah officially inaugurates the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).
- 2014 – The Jeddah Flagpole is unveiled, holding the world record as the tallest flagpole from 2014 until 2021.
- 2015 – National Day celebrations are officially observed across all employment sectors due to regulatory updates.
- 2017 – Low-cost airline Flyadeal commences commercial flight operations.
Gallery
Saudi national flag mounted behind a Chevrolet Suburban, 2024
Saudi Falcons at an airshow, 2020
Olaya Towers lit in green, 2024
Drone art of King Abdulaziz at KAFD, 2024
Public Investment Fund Tower in Riyadh lit in green, 2024
See also
Notes
- Arabic: اليوم الوطني السعودي; Romanization: al-Yawm al-Waṭanī al-Suʿūdī
References
- "Saudi Arabian National Day: A Story With No End". Asharq Al-Awsat. 29 September 2005. Retrieved 25 September 2026.
- "Official Holidays in Saudi Arabia". Saudipedia. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
- "A peep into diverse manifestations of National Day festivities during 56 years". Saudi Gazette. Retrieved 25 September 2026.
- "When Does Saudi Arabia Celebrate National Day?". Saudipedia. 3 September 2026. Retrieved 25 September 2026.
- "History of Saudi National Day: Confusion and Correction". Asharq Al-Awsat. 23 September 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2026.
- "Ministry of Media launches theme, slogan to mark Kingdom's 88th National Day". Saudi Gazette. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
- "Saudi Arabia gets ready to its 89th National Day". Ajel English. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
- "Al-Baha ready and dressed up for 91st National Day". Saudi Gazette. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
- "'We dream and We Achieve': Saudi Arabia unveils new identity for 93rd National Day". Al Arabiya English. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
- "KAUST Saudi National Day campaign shows how "Our Pride Lies in Our Nature"". Campaign Middle East. Retrieved 24 September 2026.