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Saudi Founding Day guide
Three hundred years since Diriyah.
In short
Saudi Founding Day falls on Monday 22 February 2027, the 300th anniversary of Imam Muhammad bin Saud taking power in Diriyah. With Ramadan expected to begin around 8 February, celebrations will likely move to the evenings after iftar. Diriyah's mud-brick At-Turaif district on Riyadh's edge is the natural place to be; extra days off are announced weeks before.
On 22 February Saudi Arabia marks the day in 1727 when Imam Muhammad bin Saud took power in Diriyah, the oasis town on the northwestern edge of present-day Riyadh where the First Saudi State began. The next Founding Day, on Monday 22 February 2027, is the 300th anniversary by the Gregorian calendar.
Timing matters this year. Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin around 8 February, so the holiday will most likely fall during the fast, and much of the celebrating should shift to the evenings after iftar.
For a visitor, Diriyah is the obvious place to be. Its At-Turaif district, the mud-brick seat of the first state, has been on UNESCO's World Heritage list since 2010.
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Key Facts & Stats:
Where: Saudi Arabia
Held: Every year
Type of event: Cultural Events, National Day
Currency: Saudi riyal (SAR, SR)
Time zone: Arabia Standard Time, UTC+3
Language: Arabic
Getting around
Hotels near the venue fill up around the event dates.
Founding Day 2027 falls on a Monday
The date never moves, and in 2027 it lands on a Monday. Public and private sector staff have had the day off every year since the holiday began. Any extra days are confirmed by government announcement a few weeks beforehand.
The 2022 royal decree and how it differs from National Day
King Salman created the holiday by royal decree in January 2022, and the first one that February ran to three days of festivities.
It is not the same as Saudi National Day on 23 September, which commemorates the unification of the Kingdom in 1932. Founding Day reaches back two centuries further, to the Diriyah state of the 18th century. Alongside National Day and Saudi Flag Day it is one of the country's three non-religious national holidays.
Heritage events and traditional dress
- Heritage events
- craft markets, storytelling and folk performances in cities across the Kingdom.
- Dress
- many Saudis put on regional clothing in the style of the First Saudi State.
- In 2023 the Saudi Falcons aerobatic team flew a night show to open the celebrations in Jubail.
- The armed forces staged a heritage event in Riyadh the same year.
Programmes in Riyadh, Jeddah and other cities
Riyadh and Jeddah run their own programmes, as do smaller cities, and local authorities tend to publish them only a few weeks ahead. For background on the Kingdom's past, see our round-up of Saudi museums. Our Saudi Arabia sightseeing list covers the rest of the country.
Crowds, closures and Ramadan etiquette
Roads, restaurants and heritage sites fill up, most of all after dark. Government offices and many businesses shut for the day.
During Ramadan, don't eat, drink or smoke in public between dawn and sunset, and expect shorter opening hours. Cover shoulders and knees. Ask before photographing people in traditional dress. King Khalid International Airport is the gateway for Riyadh and Diriyah.
Etiquette and dress
Ramadan in 2027
Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin around 8 February, so the holiday will probably fall in the holy month. Do not eat, drink or smoke in public in daylight, and expect shorter opening hours and more events after iftar.
Dress
Dress modestly in public, covering shoulders and knees.
Photography
Ask before photographing anyone, especially people in traditional or regional dress.
Founding Day and National Day
| Aspect | Founding Day | National Day |
|---|---|---|
| Date | 22 February | 23 September |
| What it marks | Imam Muhammad bin Saud taking charge of Diriyah in 1727 and the start of the First Saudi State | The unification of the kingdom in 1932 |
| Created | By royal decree in January 2022 | Long established; see Saudi National Day |
No single venue, and why evenings are busiest
Founding Day is a public holiday marked all over the country, so there is no single ticket or venue to plan around. Evenings are the busy part.
Our Saudi Arabia travel guide has ideas for building a trip around the day.
The First Saudi State and the 1727 founding
The day recalls 1727, when Imam Muhammad bin Saud took charge of Diriyah and the First Saudi State began. King Salman created the holiday through a royal decree issued in January 2022, and the first celebration that February lasted three days. Alongside National Day and Saudi Flag Day, it is one of three national holidays with no religious basis.
Celebrations feature heritage markets, crafts, storytelling and folk performances, and many Saudis put on regional dress dating from the first state's time. Past years have also brought air shows, including a night display by the Saudi Falcons in Jubail in 2023.
Getting there
Flying in
Fly into King Khalid International Airport for Riyadh and Diriyah, or King Abdulaziz International for Jeddah. Check entry rules on our Saudi Arabia visa page; from Bangladesh, see Dhaka to Riyadh flights or Dhaka to Jeddah flights.
On the day
Roads get busy, particularly in the evening when most people go out, so leave plenty of time for any trip across town.
To Diriyah
A taxi or ride-hailing app is the simplest way from central Riyadh to Diriyah.
Where to stay during the festival
Government offices and many businesses close on the holiday, and hotels in central Riyadh fill with domestic visitors, so book ahead. Finish practical errands before the day.
Riyadh
Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh at Kingdom Centre5-star hotel
No reviews yet
from$480.00/ night
- Internet – Wifi
- Airport shuttle
- Swimming pool
5 Rooms available
Book Now
Jeddah
The Ritz-Carlton, Jeddah5-star hotel
No reviews yet
from$217.00/ night
- Internet – Wifi
- Airport shuttle
- Parking
4 Rooms available
Book Now
Mecca
Makkah Clock Royal Tower, A Fairmont Hotel5-star hotel
No reviews yet
from$360.00/ night
- Internet – Wifi
- Airport shuttle
- Parking
10 Rooms available
Book Now
Madina
Anwar Al Madinah Mövenpick Hotel5-star hotel
No reviews yet
from$172.00/ night
- Free WiFi
- Airport shuttle
- Parking
10 Rooms available
Book Now
AlUla
Banyan Tree AlUla5-star hotel
No reviews yet
from$1,000.00/ night
- Internet – Wifi
- Airport shuttle
- Swimming pool
4 Rooms available
Book Now
Weather and what to pack
Late February is mild in Riyadh. On the 1991–2020 normals for Riyadh's old airport station, February averages highs of 23.6 °C and lows of 11.5 °C, with about 6 mm of rain in the month.
Days are pleasant for walking Diriyah, but evenings outdoors turn cool.
Worth packing
- A warm layer for evenings outdoors
- Modest clothing covering shoulders and knees
- Comfortable shoes for At-Turaif's lanes
- Sun protection for daytime sightseeing
Car hire in Saudi Arabia
Airport transfer to Saudi Founding Day
Met at arrivals and driven door to door to Saudi Arabia.
Restaurants and food in Saudi Arabia
Places to eat in Saudi Arabia before or after the celebrations.
Maraya Social
Rooftop, Maraya Concert Hall, Ashar Valley, Al Otheeb 43536, AlUla, Saudi Arabia
Cuisine:Modern EuropeanSharing plates
- Dine-in
- Outdoor seating
- Bar
Al Basali Seafood
Suq Bab Makkah, Al Balad, Jeddah 22236, Saudi Arabia
Cuisine:SeafoodHejazi
- Dine-in
- Takeaway
Kuuru
Al Malik Road, Al Khalidiyyah, Jeddah 23422, Saudi Arabia
Cuisine:JapanesePeruvian
- Dine-in
- Counter seating
- Bar
Marble
Turki Square, Makkah Al Mukarramah Branch Road, Umm Al Hamam Al Sharqi, Riyadh 12321, Saudi Arabia
Cuisine:SteakhouseBarbecue
- Dine-in
Najd Village
Al Olaya, King Fahd District, Riyadh 12262, Saudi Arabia
Cuisine:SaudiNajdi
- Dine-in
- Private room
- Outdoor seating
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
General
No. National Day on 23 September marks unification in 1932, while Founding Day looks back to 1727 and the start of the First Saudi State. Both are public holidays.
The official logo shows a flag-bearer, a palm tree, a falcon, an Arabian horse and the souq, standing for unity, growth, hospitality, chivalry and trade. You will see it on banners and souvenirs across the country.
Many Saudis wear traditional regional dress on the day, and visitors are welcome to join in modestly. Shops sell Founding Day scarves and accessories in the weeks before.
The ardah is a sword dance with drums and poetry, performed by men in lines. It is listed by UNESCO as intangible heritage and is a highlight of Founding Day programmes.
Cities have held fireworks and drone shows on Founding Day evenings. Exact locations are announced shortly before, usually through local authorities and the Ministry of Culture.
Yes. Residents and tourists are welcome at public events, and many heritage activities are designed to introduce Saudi history to visitors.
Timing & weather
The first official Founding Day was 22 February 2022, after King Salman's royal decree of January 2022 created the holiday.
Malls, restaurants and most attractions stay open and often run special programmes. Government offices and banks close, so plan paperwork around the holiday.
Booking
Street celebrations, parades and many cultural events are free. Concerts, special dinners and some heritage experiences in Diriyah may need tickets, which are usually sold through official platforms a few weeks before.
Stay & facilities
Expect Saudi coffee with dates, kabsa, jareesh and regional sweets at heritage events. In 2027 many food events are likely to move to after sunset because of Ramadan.
Families & accessibility
Yes. Heritage villages, storytelling, traditional games and parades are aimed at families. Evening crowds can be large, so agree a meeting point if you get separated.