Saudi Arabia announces public holiday for Founding Day on February 22
It’s official. We will have a day off in February…
Saudi Arabia will commemorate February 22 every year as the nation’s Founding Day, according to a royal decree issued on Thursday (January 27).
As reported by the Saudi Press Agency, February 22 shall be an official holiday in the country.
#عاجل #أمر_ملكي: يكون يوم (22 فبراير) من كل عام يوماً لذكرى تأسيس الدولة السعودية باسم (#يوم_التأسيس)، ويصبح إجازة رسمية.#واس pic.twitter.com/hG8nZpjdQQ
— واس الأخبار الملكية (@spagov) January 27, 2022
The history
The decision to commemorate Founding Day on February 22 dates back three centuries, during the leadership of Imam Muhammad bin Saud when he founded the first Saudi state in 1727. The royal order also stated that this would enable the public to celebrate Muhammad bin Saud’s successors.
Founding Day will also mark Imam Turki bin Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Saud who was the successor in 1824 and helped restore the nation by establishing the second Saudi state, which lasted until 1891.
Ten years later, King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Faisal Al Saud then succeeded in 1902 in establishing the third Saudi state by uniting it under the name of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The new order will be communicated to the relevant entities, who will be required to adopt and implement Founding Day, which will be celebrated annually.
It is separate from Saudi National Day that is marked on September 23.
Founding Day celebrations
This year, the Founding Day holiday will fall on Tuesday (February 22, 2022). It may not be a long weekend, but at least it will be a short work week for most of us.
After which, we won’t get another public holiday until May for Eid Al Fitr.
Seeing it will be the first Founding Day, residents can expect various activities taking place around the Kingdom, such as fireworks, heritage and cultural events, and much more.
As always, we will keep you informed on some of the events and celebrations as soon as we know.
Images: Unsplash