National Day of Saudi Arabia (2026)

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was once known as the Kingdom of Nejd and Hejaz. On September 23, 1932, by virtue of a royal decree from King Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud, the name-change took place. It marks the unification of the modern day Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Since 2005, Saudi Arabia celebrates its National Day in a festive mood every 23rd of September. Prior to this, Saudi Arabia only celebrated religious festivals, i.e. the Eid and Hajj, as public holidays. However, when King Abdullah assumed power, National Day received a new treatment. Since then, the country has come up with numerous exciting activities in observance of the day the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was unified.

Here is everything you need to know about National Day in Saudi Arabia.

Table of Contents

• Is National Day in Saudi Arabia a public holiday?
• History of National Day in Saudi Arabia
• Important Saudi National Day Symbols
• Saudi National Day Activities and Celebrations
• Past and Future Observances of Saudi National Day

Is National Day in Saudi Arabia a public holiday?

National Day in Saudi Arabia, or “Al-Yaom-ul-Watany”, is a public holiday. This means that government offices, schools, and most businesses are closed. Moreover, should September 23 fall on a Saturday, Sunday is treated as a holiday. Likewise, when it falls on a Friday, the country considers Thursday a holiday.

History of National Day in Saudi Arabia

The Arabia, along with majority of the countries in the Middle East, was conquered by the Ottoman Turks during the 16th century. After World War I, the Ottoman Empire was destroyed. It was only at this time when the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia began to develop.

King Abdul Aziz (Ibn Saud or “son of Saud”), the ruler of Nejd, reconquered Riyadh, his family’s ancestral home city, in 1902. In 1913, he was able to acquire al-Hasa after nearly three decades of conquests in the region. In 1925, King Abdul Aziz conquered Hejaz or western Arabia, and was declared the King of Hejaz a year later. King Abdul Aziz ruled both Nejd and Hejaz separately for the next five years. In 1932, he was able to have the primary influence and control over central Arabia. The King later unified the regions and changed the name of the House of Nejd and Hejaz into the “House of Saud” or “Kingdom of Saudi Arabia”, in reference to his family name, on September 23, 1932.

While September 23 had been recognized as the National Day in Saudi Arabia since the unification of two regions and the kingdom’s renaming, it was only in 2005 that it was declared a public holiday, in addition to religious holidays in Saudi Arabia.

Important Saudi National Day Symbols

The most important symbol of National Day in Saudi Arabia is the color of the country’s national flag. The Kingdom’s official flag features a green field with a white Arabic inscription and a sword. Its current flag has been in use since 1973. The green color of the flag is used to honor the Kingdom’s primary faith which is Islam. Likewise, green is believed to be the Prophet Mohammed’s favorite color. Meanwhile, the white Arabic inscription at the center of the flag is a Muslim Statement of Faith, which states that “There is no God but God, and Mohammed is the Messenger of God”. The sword beneath the inscription or “shahada” is used to symbolize King Abdul Aziz, the ruler who unified the Kingdom of Nedj and Hejaz to form the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Essentially, the national flag of Saudi Arabia is widely used throughout the Kingdom during National Day celebrations because it is the main symbol of the country’s identity, pride, and history. It provides a sense of what is considered important by the citizens, what values they uphold, and what principles they keep.

Saudi National Day Activities and Celebrations

Festive and diverse celebrations for National Day in Saudi Arabia were started in recent years, after the late King Abdul Aziz declared that it should be celebrated as a national or public holiday. Most activities held on National Day in Saudi Arabia are folklore dances, festivals, and other cultural activities throughout the Kingdom. Usually, the holiday celebrations are a week long. For instance, in 2018, a four-day event of National Day activities, was held in Old Jeddah (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). The event included 22 activities, including musical concerts, art shows film events, and poetry recitations.

Every year, Saudi Arabia celebrates its National Day with a significant marker. In 2009, the celebrations for National Day were concentrated on launching the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. Likewise, in 2014, the world’s tallest flagpole was launched in Jeddah.

Other activities for National Day in Saudi Arabia include light shows and art exhibits, particularly in major cities like Riyadh. Malls also offer special discounts during National Day. Moreover, the whole of Saudi Arabia is decorated with Saudi flags and green balloons. Buildings, homes, roads, cars, and the streets of every city across the Kingdom burst with green colors. Most citizens wear green shirts too.

Past and Future Observances of Saudi National Day

Below are the past and future observances of Saudi National Day: