About this Holiday
Founding Day, celebrated every February 22nd, marks the establishment of the First Saudi State in 1727 when Imam Muhammad bin Saud formed a historic covenant with Islamic scholar Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab in Diriyah, near present-day Riyadh. This union laid the foundation for what would ultimately become the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Declared an official public holiday in 2022 by Royal Decree, the occasion is celebrated with cultural events, traditional performances, and illuminations across the Kingdom affirming Saudi Arabia's deep historical roots and national identity.