Saudi Founding Day Countdown

What is Founding Day?

Founding Day commemorates the start of Imam Muhammad bin Saud’s rule in Diriyah in the middle of 1139 AH (February 1727), when the first Saudi state was founded. A royal order in 2022 designated 22 February as Founding Day, and it is celebrated every year as an official holiday.

The day highlights the three-century depth of the Saudi state and pride in its roots, heritage and national identity.

Symbols and celebrations

• The official emblem draws on heritage symbols such as the palm tree, the falcon, the Arabian horse and the market.
• People wear traditional dress from the Kingdom’s different regions.
• Historical and heritage events take place in Diriyah and major cities.
• Cultural performances, including the Saudi Ardah.

Founding Day in the school calendar

In the 1448 AH school year, the Founding Day break begins on 19 February 2027 (12 Ramadan 1448), and Founding Day itself falls on Monday 22 February 2027, during Ramadan. As a fixed Gregorian date, its Hijri date moves about 11 days earlier every year.

See also the National Day countdown and the Ramadan countdown.

The three Saudi states

• The first Saudi state (1727–1818): founded by Imam Muhammad bin Saud with Diriyah as its capital; it ended after the siege of Diriyah in 1818.
• The second Saudi state (1824–1891): founded by Imam Turki bin Abdullah, with Riyadh as its capital.
• The third Saudi state: began with King Abdulaziz’s recapture of Riyadh in 1902 and culminated in the unification of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932.

Founding Day links these stages to their beginning, while National Day celebrates unification. In 2028 Founding Day falls on Tuesday, around 26 Ramadan 1449 AH.