Saudi Arabia celebrates the National Day every year on 23 September. The day commemorates 23 September 1932, when King Abdulaziz united Saudi Arabia into one country. To match the green colour of the city’s streets, people hang large flags. People recall their history. It was first marked at government level in 1965 and became a nationwide public holiday in 2005.

Saudi National Day 2026: Date, Holiday and Theme

Saudi National Day 2026 falls on Wednesday, 23 September, which is 12 Rabi’ al-Thani 1448 AH. It is the Kingdom’s 96th National Day, and the official theme carries over last year’s slogan, “Our Pride Is in Our Nature.”

• Private sector: Wednesday 23 September is a paid day off, confirmed by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (Platinumlist summary of the announcement).
• Public sector: government employees also have 23 September off.
• Schools: the 1448 AH academic calendar gives students a four-day National Day break, Wednesday 23 to Saturday 26 September (Saudi academic calendar). Classes resume on Sunday 27 September.

The General Entertainment Authority launched the 2026 visual identity under the same slogan it introduced in 2025, according to the Saudi Press Agency. You will also see it translated as “Our Pride Lies in Our Nature”; both refer to the same official theme.

History of Saudi Arabia National Day

The story dates back to 1932, the day when Saudi Arabia became a country. Previously, many tribes fought with one another. King Abdulaziz forced them to unite. On September 23, 1932, he said the government would be called “the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia”. This made the new country.

The celebration gained more importance in the later years. In 1965, King Faisal proclaimed 23 September to celebrate the Saudi Arabia National Day. Although it was initially honoured by the government, more individuals later took part. In 2005, King Abdullah turned it into a public holiday for everyone.

It is one of two non-religious public holidays on the Saudi calendar. The other is Founding Day on 22 February. Flag Day on 11 March is an official observance, not a day off.

Important Dates:

1. 1902-1932: King Abdulaziz takes over different areas
2. 1932: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is named
3. 1965: First official Saudi Arabia National Day celebration
4. 2005: National Day becomes a public holiday
5. 2022: Founding Day is a holiday
6. 2023: Flag Day (11 March) is established as an official observance
7. 2024-2025: 94th and 95th National Day celebrations
8. 2026: 96th National Day, Wednesday 23 September

Celebrations and Traditions 

The Saudi Hawks aerobatic team often performs sky shows with green smoke on the National Day. The Saudi Hawks fly planes and make green smoke in the sky. Major buildings are colored green and white. Cities such as Riyadh and Jeddah hold fireworks and light shows.

People leave their homes and head onto the streets. Flags are up in cars and buses. The country has its own specific dances, songs, and poetry. Every human being belts out the national song “Long Live the King”. There are picnics and festivals for the whole family. Some kids wear clothes with the Saudi Arabian flag or with the king on them.

Decorations

Roads and houses show the green and white flags. Trees and buildings get green lights. Balloons and lights display the date, 23 September.

Events

The government organizes concerts, exhibitions, and festivals in every region of the country. Many towns have been hosting open-air concerts and fireworks contests. People of Saudi Arabia living in different countries are also enjoying the party.

Symbols

The authorities and people use the flags of King Abdulaziz and Mohammed bin Salman, as well as the Saudi Arabian maps. Some stores create exclusive items for National Day only.

Media and Sports

The television broadcasts every genre of programs that centre on nationalistic issues. Teams also wear special uniforms in sports. The games of the football league frequently have national holiday themes.

Each year has an official theme. In 2024 it was “We Dream and Achieve”. In 2025 the General Entertainment Authority introduced “Our Pride Is in Our Nature,” and the 2026 identity keeps that slogan. People have to use specific images and words on social media as suggested by the government.

People express their feelings about Saudi Arabia National Day by saying that it reminds them of home. Schools and mosques perform the national song and other national theme songs.

Major Saudi National Holidays

Saudi public holidays fall into two groups: fixed-date national days, and the two Eids, which follow the Hijri calendar and move about 11 days earlier each year. The fixed dates for 2026 are below.

Date (2026)	Day	Holiday / Observance	Day off?
22 February	Sunday	Saudi Founding Day	Yes
11 March	Wednesday	Saudi Flag Day	No, observance
23 September	Wednesday	Saudi National Day (96th)	Yes

These dates can change every year. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are the longest breaks, often lasting more than a week. Many people believe Eid al-Fitr is the best party of the year. National Day is, on the one hand, just one day off, yet on the other hand, the fun can last longer.

Founding Day, Flag Day, and the Anthem of Saudi Arabia

Saudi National Day has two new special days. The first one is Founding Day, which will be on 22 February. This is the country’s first state, and it was founded by Imam Muhammad bin Saud in 1727. From 2022 onwards, it has been a holiday for schools and offices.

Flag Day is on 11 March. It has been marked since 2023 as an official observance rather than a public holiday. The green flag with the Islamic declaration of faith is the object of this celebration. Many people claim that Flag Day is a boost to the feeling of pride and unity among the Saudi people.

Music and Symbols

Music and symbols are essential to the day. Saudi nationals usually play the national song at the event on National Day. The national anthem is “Āsh al-Malīk”, usually translated as “Long Live the King”. It is performed principally in the flag-raising process.

It is performed principally during the flag-raising.

What National Day Means to Saudis

National Day is not just a date, but it is the day that helps to establish the nation. It is a reminder to the people of the history and shared values of Saudi Arabia. Many families dub it “homeland day”.

People usually give their greetings on social media platforms. They cry out “Saudi, Saudi!” at crowded places to show their national pride. Older people recount the state’s uprising. The young are creatively reinterpreting traditional dances, such as Samri or Ardha, incorporating instruments and swords.

Examples of Celebrations

In 2024, for the 94th National Day:

• Riyadh had green parades
• Jeddah had fireworks by the sea
• The Saudi Hawks made green lines in the sky
• Significant buildings lit up in green
• Cities like Dammam, Medina, and Abha had concerts
• Saudi embassies in other countries had cultural fairs and showed films about Saudi culture

These show that the National Day is improving for families, and it’s a blend of old-fashioned and novel ways that make it fun.

According to a Saudi writer, National Day is a time for reflection on history and to capitalise on “brotherhood, unity and goodness” which the flag symbolises. The past days are the best moments for people to reminisce about good events and look for a brighter future.

Timeline of Saudi National Day Milestones

Year	Event
1932	23 September: Ibn Saud proclaims the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, unifying Nejd and Hejaz
1965	King Faisal issued a decree making 23 September “Saudi National Day” at the government level.
2005	King Abdullah declares 23 September a public holiday.
2022	First observance of Saudi Founding Day (22 February) as a holiday.
2023	First Saudi Flag Day (11 March) observed; 93rd National Day celebrated.
2024	94th National Day, theme “We Dream and Achieve” (Vision 2030 emphasis).
2025	95th National Day, theme “Our Pride Is in Our Nature” introduced.
2026	96th National Day on Wednesday 23 September; the 2025 slogan is kept.

The list shows how recent National Day is as an official celebration: it began at government level in 1965 and became a public holiday in 2005, even though it marks the 1932 unification. It has since become a festival for the whole country.

Conclusion

Saudi Arabia’s National Day, celebrated on 23 September, marks the 1932 unification of the Kingdom. In 2026 it falls on a Wednesday: a paid day off for public and private sector workers, and the start of a four-day school break that runs to Saturday 26 September.