Saudi National Day 2024: History, celebrations and what you need to know

Kingdom to celebrate its 94th birthday with fireworks, flypasts and festivities

Celebrations for Saudi Arabia's 93rd National Day get under way in the north-western city of Tabuk. SPA

The children of Tabuk, like their counterparts in other Saudi cities, can expect a National Day of fireworks and flypasts. SPA

Tabuk’s children wear the green and white of Saudi Arabia as part of their National Day celebrations. SPA

Young Saudis in Tabuk are not only celebrating the 93rd National Day but marking a time of momentous change that shapes their future. SPA

Tabuk’s children join their families in celebrating the 93rd National Day. SPA

In Tabuk, the enthusiasm of children is infectious on National Day. SPA

National Day celebrations on September 23 mark the establishment of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia with Arabic as its language and the Quran as its constitution. SPA

Smiles and flags as Tabuk’s children celebrate National Day. SPA

Saudi Arabians joined King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Prime Minister, in celebrating the anniversary of their country's founding on September 23. Mariam Nihal / The National

Shops in Jeddah are full of National Day merchandise and decorations. Mariam Nihal / The National

National Day became an official holiday in 2005. Mariam Nihal / The National

A Starbucks cup rebranded for Saudi Arabia's National Day. Mariam Nihal / The National

As Saudi citizens celebrate, world leaders sent their congratulations. Mariam Nihal / The National

While the shops are stocked with National Day memorabilia, military parades and an arms exhibition are planned in Saudi Arabia's biggest cities. Mariam Nihal / The National

Streets, schools, universities, public and private spaces will be displaying the national flag, and green will be worn everywhere. Mariam Nihal / The National

The hashtag #Saudi National Day is trending on social media channels. Mariam Nihal / The National

Saudi children are participating in National Day celebrations in malls across the kingdom. Mariam Nihal / The National

September 23 is an official national holiday in Saudi Arabia for the private and public sector. Mariam Nihal / The National

Home to the birthplace of Islam and now undergoing social and economic reforms, Saudi Arabia celebrates its 94th birthday on Monday, September 23.

Saudis and foreign citizens who call the kingdom home will celebrate the transformative journey it has embarked on over the past 94 years and the people who made it happen.

Here is all you need to know about Saudi National Day.

What is the history of Saudi National Day?

King Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia. SPA

Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, Sultan of Nejd, visits Basrah in modern-day Iraq in November 1916. SPA

King Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia. SPA

Numerous heads of state attend the funeral ceremonies of Saudi King Faysal in 1975. Among them, his successor King Khaled, Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Yasser Arafat, President of the Republic of Egypt Anwar al Sadat, Algerian President Houari Boumedienne, and President of Syria Hafez El Assad. Photo: Sygma via Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth II with King Faisal of Saudi Arabia travelling along Whitehall for a military pageant by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery, London, 10th May 1967. Photo: Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Founder of Saudi Arabia, King Abdelaziz, speaks to the general manager of Aramco, N. Devins, during the opening ceremony of the Riyadh-Dammam train link in October 1951 in Riyadh. Photo: AFP

King Abdulaziz's raiders on their way to recapture Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 1910. Photo: Getty Images

A street scene shows the Saudi capital city of Riyadh in 1937. Photo: AFP

President of the United Arab Republic Gamal Abdel-Nasser and Saudi King Faysal, sign an agreement on a peace plan to end the three year civil war in the Yemen in King Faysal palace in Jeddah 24 August 1965. Photo: AFP

A 1987 meeting in Oman of Emir of Bahrain Sheikh Isa II bin Salman II Al Khalifa, Oman's Sultan Qaboos, Kuwait Emir Jaber Al Ahmad, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Saudi Arabia’s Fahd bin Abdulaziz, King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, Emir of Qatar Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad. Photo: AFP

Saudi Arabia King Saud ibn Abdalaziz jokes during a meeting in 1953 in Riyadh. He succeeded his father, King Ibn Saud, in November 1953 but in March 1958 he bowed to pressure from the royal family and conferred full powers to Crown Prince Faisal ibn Abdalaziz and abdicated in November 1964. He died in February 1969. Photo AFP

American president Franklin Delano Roosevelt meets with King Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia, chief of staff William D. Leahy and Col William A Eddy, minister to Saudi Arabia, aboard a United States warship on February 20, 1945. Photo: Getty Images

An Arabian-American Oil Company drilling rig at Rub' al Khali in the Arabian Peninsula, Saudi Arabia, circa 1955. The Arabian-American Oil Company became known as Aramco and then Saudi Aramco. Photo: Getty Images

King Fahd with the future King Salman attending a graduation ceremony in 1967. SPA

Queen Elizabeth II greets Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, during a private audience at Buckingham Palace on March 7, 2018 in London. Photo: Getty Images

In about the year 610, the Prophet Mohammed received God's message to spread Islam and to recognise the unity of the One God (Allah, in Arabic). People plotted to kill him, and Prophet Mohammed made his way to a nearby town called Yathrib, now known as Madinat Al Nabi (the Prophet's City in Arabic).

The year of the Prophet Mohammed's migration from Makkah to Madinah marks the beginning of the Islamic lunar calendar.

Since then, Islam grew and spread from parts of Spain to India and the Far East as more Muslims began settling in Makkah and Madinah.

In the early 1700s, a Muslim scholar named Mohammad bin Abdul Wahhab began calling for a return to the "true" version of Islam. He and Mohammad bin Saud eventually formed an alliance establishing the first Saudi state, ruling over what became known as Al Najd, which included Makkah and Madinah.

After a war with the Ottomans, Al Sauds regained lost territory and established Riyadh as their capital before more clashes with the Ottomans in 1865.

Abdulrahman Al Saud, who ruled at the time, sought refuge with the local Bedouin in the deserts of the Empty Quarter. His son Abdulaziz would recapture Riyadh, leading to the formation of the modern Saudi state.

On September 23, 1932, the kingdom of Saudi Arabia was established with Arabic as its national language and the Quran as its constitution.

What celebrations will take place?

In 2016, Vision 2030, a plan to transform the kingdom socially and economically, was revealed. Through the plan, announced by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi leaders aim to completely reshape the kingdom’s economy into one that is self-sufficient, progressive and diversified.

The kingdom recognised National Day for the first time in 2005. Now, UAE leaders have congratulated the country on its 94th anniversary.

President Sheikh Mohamed wrote on X: "On the occasion of Saudi National Day, I extend my congratulations to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the people of Saudi Arabia.

“United by deeply rooted bonds of friendship, our countries share a vision for the progress and prosperity of people throughout the region, and together we look to the future with ambition and confidence.”

National day merchandise and decorations on sale in Jeddah. Mariam Nihal / The National

Saudi National Day celebrations began in all major cities across the kingdom on Friday, September 20. Celebrations include firework displays, live music and air shows across major cities while streets, schools and universities, as well as public and private spaces, will be display the green Saudi flag.

The Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development announced Sunday, September 22, and Monday, September 23, as official holidays.