The inside story of Saudi Arabia’s Founding Day, celebrating the year it all began

A 1946 photograph of Shada Palace in Abha, built in 1820.
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Updated 23 February 2022
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The inside story of Saudi Arabia’s Founding Day, celebrating the year it all began

  • The Kingdom’s new Founding Day celebrates the true birthday of the First Saudi State in 1727

RIYADH: For generations, historians and writers have unwittingly perpetuated the myth that the First Saudi State, forerunner of the modern-day Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, was founded in the year 1744.

In fact, as a new reappraisal of the origins of the Kingdom reveals, they were 17 years out.

There is no doubt that the events of 1744, the year in which Imam Mohammed ibn Saud of Diriyah offered sanctuary to the religious reformer Sheikh Mohammed ibn Abdulwahhab, were hugely significant. 




In this ‘Carte de Dreiye,’ the oldest-known map of Diriyah, drawn by a French diplomat in 1808, the historic UNESCO-listed district of At-Turaif on the Wadi Hanifah is recorded as ‘El Tereif.’

But over time the importance of that admittedly historic moment of common cause between state and faith came to obscure the far more complex and deeper-rooted origins of the First Saudi State.

It is to correct this neglect of the Kingdom’s crucial embryonic years that Founding Day has been created, to celebrate 1727 as the true moment of birth and to give Saudis a deeper appreciation of a past far richer than many realize. 




The original Makkah Gate in Jeddah.

It was in 1727 that Imam Mohammed ibn Saud came to the throne, carrying with him the dream of transforming the city state founded by his forebears three centuries earlier into the capital of a nation which, at its height, would bring peace and stability to most of the Arabian Peninsula.

This resetting of the clock from 1744 to 1727 is the outcome of extensive historical research that has been carried out studying the historical resources held by the new Saudi Historical School. 




Ibn Saud’s warriors on the move in the early 20th century as the future founder of Saudi Arabia fought to bring the Najd and the Hejaz together.

“Many historians have linked the rise of the state to the arrival of Sheikh Mohammed ibn Abdul Wahab, and have neglected the initial period of Imam Mohammed ibn Saud’s rule and the preceding era, even though this was the foundational period of the state,” said Dr. Badran Al Honaihen, associate director of historical research and studies at Diriyah Gate Development Authority.

“The revision and reinterpretation of historical events is an intellectual phenomenon found in every part of the world. Previous writings can be considered judgments and opinions that do not prevent revisions or the reaching of new conclusions.” 




It was in 1727 that Imam Mohammed ibn Saud came to the throne, carrying with him the dream of transforming the city state founded by his forebears three centuries earlier into the capital of a nation which, at its height, would bring peace and stability to most of the Arabian Peninsula. (Supplied)

Today, no one can pinpoint exactly when the long journey toward statehood began. The first certain waypoint on the path is the year 430 when the Banu Hanifah tribe migrated to Al-Yamamah in the lower Najd from their home in the Hejaz on the Red Sea coast.

Here, at the junction of several important caravan routes, the tribe to which the ruling house of Al-Saud belongs settled and thrived, founding Hajr — modern-day Riyadh — trading, and growing crops in the fertile valley that in time would take their name — Wadi Hanifah.

With the coming of Islam the Banu Hanifah stepped on to the stage of world history for the first time. 




It was in 1727 that Imam Mohammed ibn Saud came to the throne, carrying with him the dream of transforming the city state founded by his forebears three centuries earlier into the capital of a nation which, at its height, would bring peace and stability to most of the Arabian Peninsula. (Supplied)

In 628, six years after the hijra, the flight of Mohammed and his persecuted followers from Makkah to Madinah, the Prophet sent letters to various Arabian rulers, inviting them to embrace “Islam,” submission to the will of God.

The ruler of the Banu Hanifah at this time was Thumamah ibn Uthal, whose spiritual journey from initial rejection to heartfelt acceptance of Islam is celebrated in the Hadiths.

IMAM MOHAMMED IBN SAUD’S MOST SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS

• Unified Diriyah under his rule and contributed to its stability.

• Managed internal affairs and strengthened Diriyah’s community.

• Ensured regional stability.

• Built the Diriyah wall to counter external attacks.

• Began unification campaigns.

• Political independence from any external influence.

• Organized the country’s resources.

• Unified the majority of Najd.

• Secured Hajj and trade routes.

In Hadith number 189, he is recorded as telling Mohammed: “There was no face on the face of the Earth that was more hateful to me than your face, but now your face has become the most beloved of all faces to me.”

In historical terms, Al-Yamamah would lay dormant for much of the next 800 years. This was a dark age of neglect and widespread emigration to escape the economic hardship endured under the oppressive Ukhaidhir dynasty, which rose to temporary prominence in the Najd in the ninth century. 

Destiny, however, is a patient force, and by the 15th century the stage was finally set for the return to influence of the Banu Hanifah. 

Generations earlier, part of the tribe had migrated eastwards to settle on the shores of the Arabian Gulf. But in 1446, Manaa’ Al-Muraide, leader of the Marada clan of the Al-Duru tribe of the Banu Hanifah, led his people back to the heart of Arabia, at the invitation of his cousin, Ibn Dira’, the ruler of Hajr.

The settlement they had founded on the coast they had named Diriyah after their tribal name, Al-Duru. Now they established a new Diriyah on the fertile banks of the Wadi Hanifah.

In the words of historian Dr. Badran Al-Honaihen, Al-Muraide’s arrival “laid the building blocks for the establishment of the greatest state in the history of the Arabian Peninsula, after the Prophetic State and the Rashidun Caliphate.” 




It was in 1727 that Imam Mohammed ibn Saud came to the throne, carrying with him the dream of transforming the city state founded by his forebears three centuries earlier into the capital of a nation which, at its height, would bring peace and stability to most of the Arabian Peninsula. (Supplied)

Another 300 years would pass before the next momentous steps were taken. In 1720, Saud ibn Mohammed assumed the leadership of Diriyah, who the Saudi Royal Family named after him.

Today, historians date the origin of the First Saudi State to 1727, when Saud’s son, Mohammed, became the ruler of the city state.

He had, said Al-Honaihen, “assumed power in exceptional circumstances.” Diriyah had been rent by internal divisions, and a plague that had spread throughout the Arabian Peninsula had claimed many lives in the Najd. Nevertheless, “Imam Mohammed was able to unite Diriyah under his rule, and to contribute to the spread of security and peace at the regional level and on the level of the Arabian Peninsula.

“The project of the first Saudi state began in 1727, and then his sons took it on after him. What we need to remember from this story is unity, security and peace after centuries of lack of unity.” 




It was in 1727 that Imam Mohammed ibn Saud came to the throne, carrying with him the dream of transforming the city state founded by his forebears three centuries earlier into the capital of a nation which, at its height, would bring peace and stability to most of the Arabian Peninsula. (Supplied)

At last, here was a leader with a vision that extended beyond his immediate horizon, and who was determined to found a new state, based on education, culture and security and allegiance to the true faith of Islam.

It was to this dynamic and politically and economically increasingly powerful new state that the religious reformer Sheikh Mohammed ibn Abdul Wahab was drawn.

The sheikh, a religious scholar from the nearby village of Al-Uyayna, had become increasingly concerned that many in the Arab world were forsaking the teachings of the Prophet and returning to heretical pre-Islamic ways. His attempts to introduce reforms were met with hostility in Al-Uyayna, but he would find sanctuary in Diriyah.

“The migration to Diriyah of Sheikh Mohammed ibn Abdul Wahab came as a natural result of Imam Mohammed ibn  Saud’s policies,” said Al-Honaihen. “The Imam was known to be religious, and his two brothers, Thunayan and Mishari, and his son Abdulaziz were among those in contact with Sheikh Mohammed ibn Abdulwahhab in Al-Uyayna. 

“Sheikh Mohammed did not leave al-Uyayna until after Imam Mohammed invited him to come to Diriyah, and there was a state capable of protecting the Sheikh’s religious mission.”

For his part, “in supporting this reformist mission, Imam Mohammed saw that it was in agreement with the principles of the state he was working to establish, especially its religious aspect.”

In short, it was not the alliance of Sheikh and Imam that made possible the foundation of the First Saudi State, but rather it was the existence of that state, already politically and economically strong, that made possible the spread of the message of reform. 




It was in 1727 that Imam Mohammed ibn Saud came to the throne, carrying with him the dream of transforming the city state founded by his forebears three centuries earlier into the capital of a nation which, at its height, would bring peace and stability to most of the Arabian Peninsula. (Supplied)

Al-Honaihen stressed that the decision to officially recognize 1727 as the year of founding should in no way be interpreted as undermining religion as the cornerstone of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

“That’s not correct,” he said. “The objective is merely to put a precise political date to the founding of the state, namely Imam Mohammed ibn Saud’s accession to power in Diriyah, since a number of erroneous policies and opinions had arisen concerning the rise and establishment of the state.

“Moreover, the state in its constitution stipulates that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is an Arab Islamic state whose religion is Islam and whose constitution is the Book of God and the Sunna of His Prophet.” 




It was in 1727 that Imam Mohammed ibn Saud came to the throne, carrying with him the dream of transforming the city state founded by his forebears three centuries earlier into the capital of a nation which, at its height, would bring peace and stability to most of the Arabian Peninsula. (Supplied)

He is also clear that Founding Day is not an alternative to National Day, celebrated on Sept. 23, but complementary to it.

“Founding Day is not intended to replace Saudi National Day, which celebrates the unification of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932, but rather to recognize the beginning of the Saudi state’s history with a new event that celebrates the deep historical roots of the Kingdom.”

Although there is no doubt about the year, 1727, the precise date of the start of Imam Mohammed’s reign is lost to history, according to Al-Honaihen.

Feb. 22 was selected as Founding Day simply because a number of important events are known to have taken place in the first months of Imam Mohammed’s reign, at the start of 1727.


Makkah Route Initiative: Enhancing the experience for once-in-a-lifetime journey

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Makkah Route Initiative: Enhancing the experience for once-in-a-lifetime journey

  • The initiative involves dedicated services at 12 airports in 8 countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkiye, Morocco, the Maldives and Cote d’Ivoire
  • Now in its seventh year, more than 1m pilgrims benefitted from the initiative, says ministry

RIYADH: The Makkah Route Initiative by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior aims to make the once-in-a-lifetime journey easy for foreign pilgrims by enhancing their Hajj experience.

Now in its seventh year, the initiative is carried out by the ministry as part of the Vision 2030 Pilgrim Experience Program.

The ministry recently announced that more than 1 million pilgrims have benefited from the initiative since its launch, reaffirming the Kingdom’s commitment to serving Hajj pilgrims.

Makkah Route Initiative: A farewell wave, and a smile preceded by satisfaction as a pilgrim completing the procedures with ease at Karachi Airport. (Supplied/X/Makkah Route Initiative)

Established in 2018 and activated in 2019, the initiative enables pilgrims to complete their entry procedures to Saudi Arabia at their home countries’ airports.

Upon arrival in the Kingdom, pilgrims and their luggage are directly transported to their accommodation in the two holy cities of Makkah and Madinah, avoiding long lines and wait times at the airport.

Pilgrims arriving under the initiative spend only a few minutes at the Saudi immigration counters.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Makkah Route Initiative enables pilgrims to complete their entry procedures to Saudi Arabia at their home countries’ airports.

• Pilgrims arriving under the initiative spend only a few minutes at the Saudi immigration counters.

It includes dedicated lounges at 12 airports in eight countries — Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkiye, Morocco, the Maldives and Cote d’Ivoire.

Malaysian pilgrim Hasna Hamza, who arrived for her pilgrimage last week, expressed her heartfelt thanks to the Saudi government for facilitating the journey.

Makkah Route Initiative: A farewell wave, and a smile preceded by satisfaction as a pilgrim completing the procedures with ease at Karachi Airport. (Supplied/X/Makkah Route Initiative)

Aged 74, she described the process as “smooth, respectful and deeply spiritual.”

She completed her travel procedures in Kuala Lumpur — including biometric collection, health screening, passport validation and luggage processing.

Upon arrival in Madinah, she and fellow pilgrims were swiftly transferred to their accommodation with their luggage.

Bangladesh Ambassador M. Delwar Hossain welcoming the Bangladeshi pilgrims at King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah. (Supplied/Embassy of Bangladesh)

Naved Hasan, a Pakistani pilgrim told Arab News that the initiative enables pilgrims “to be fully committed to performing one of their holiest duties with peace of mind.”

Mohammed Mubarak, a Bangladeshi pilgrim, added: “Completing all the necessary procedures before leaving my home country saved me a lot of time and stress.”

The first group of 414 Bangladeshi pilgrims arrived at the Hajj Terminal of King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah on April 29.

A Hajj pilgrim completing the procedures with ease upon arrival under Makkah Route Initiative. (File photo)

Bangladesh Ambassador to Saudi Arabia M. Delwar Hossain welcomed them at the airport, and assured that the Bangladesh Embassy, Consulate and Bangladesh Hajj Mission were available to support them.

The program, led by multilingual national teams and supported by advanced technology, ensures a smooth and spiritual experience for all pilgrims.

Underscoring Saudi Arabia’s commitment to pilgrims through the Makkah Route Initiative, Saudi Ambassador to Morocco Dr. Sami Al-Saleh said the initiative “streamlines Hajj procedures and ensures a peaceful journey for pilgrims traveling from their home countries to the Kingdom.”

Makkah Route Initiative: A Hajj pilgrim completing the procedures with ease at Jakarta Airport. (Supplied/X/Makkah Route Initiative)

Al-Saleh added that the widely embraced initiative in Morocco enables pilgrims to fulfill all travel procedures at Mohammed V International Airport in their home country.

Saudi Arabia launched the Makkah Route Initiative in the Maldives this week, making it the eighth country to benefit.

Officially inaugurating the initiative at Velana International Airport in Male on Monday, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu presented the passport to the first pilgrim from a group of 234.

The ministries of media, health and Hajj and Umrah in Saudi Arabia run campaigns through social media to provide all the necessary information.

The Ministry of Hajj has reiterated that all intending to perform Hajj must obtain an official permit through the “Nusuk” platform, in technical integration with the unified digital platform for Hajj permits, “Tasreeh.”

The ministry emphasized that compliance with regulations is essential to protect the safety and well-being of pilgrims, and to ensure a smooth and secure Hajj experience.

In an official statement, the ministry stressed that no separate visa category — other than the official Hajj visa — grants its holder the right to perform Hajj.

Hefty fines up to SR100,000 ($26,000) will be enforced for anyone attempting to perform Hajj without the necessary visa.

The Makkah Route Initiative is run in coordination with several government entities, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, and Ministry of Media, the Saudi Data and AI Authority, the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, the General Authority for Awqaf, the Pilgrim Experience Program and the General Directorate of Passports.

 


Saudi Arabia launches Makkah Route Initiative in Maldives

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Saudi Arabia launches Makkah Route Initiative in Maldives

  • Maldives is eighth country to benefit, following Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkiye, Morocco, Ivory Coast

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has launched its Makkah Route Initiative in the Maldives, making it the eighth country to benefit from the scheme.

The other seven countries are Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkiye, Morocco and the Ivory Coast.

President of the Maldives Dr. Mohamed Muizzu inaugurated the route at Velana International Airport in Male on Monday, in the presence of the Chairman of the Makkah Route Supervisory Committee Lt. Gen. Sulaiman Al-Yahya, Minister of Islamic Affairs in the Maldives Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, and several other officials.

Maldives President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu inaugurating the Makkah Route Initiative at Velana International Airport in Male in the presence of Chairman of the Makkah Route Supervisory Committee Lt. Gen. Sulaiman Al-Yahya, and Maldives Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed. (Supplied)

The President’s Office posted on X: “President Dr @MMuizzu officially inaugurates the Makkah Route Initiative, accompanied by first lady madam @sajidhaamohamed.

“The president presented the passport to the first pilgrim utilizing the Makkah Route Initiative, while the first lady presented the passport to the second pilgrim.”

The first group of 234 Maldivian pilgrims left Male Airport under the initiative for Saudi Arabia.

This is a tremendous honor for the Maldivian people.

Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, Maldives Minister of Islamic Affairs

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Ali Saeed described the occasion as a proud moment for all Maldivians.

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs in the Maldives said it noted that the positive changes initiated in Hajj affairs under Muizzu’s administration were now coming to fruition, transforming the pilgrimage experience for Maldivian pilgrims.

The minister said: “This is a historic page in our efforts to ease and enhance the Hajj journey for our citizens.”

Ali Saeed expressed sincere gratitude to Muizzu for his strong support and commitment to making the Makkah Route Initiative a reality for the Maldives.

He further revealed that the inclusion of the Maldives in the Makkah Route Initiative was made possible through special exemptions granted by Saudi Arabia, with the personal approval of King Salman.

“This is a tremendous honor for the Maldivian people,” he added, recognizing the close and valued relationship between the two nations.

The Makkah Route Initiative is designed to provide high-quality services to pilgrims from beneficiary countries by streamlining travel procedures in their home countries and facilitating the smooth and seamless completion of process at their designated embarkation points.

This includes collecting biometric data, electronically issuing Hajj visas, completing passport procedures at the departure airport following health verification, coding and sorting luggage according to transportation and accommodation arrangements in the Kingdom, and transferring pilgrims to buses to their residences in Makkah and Madinah.

Partner agencies are responsible for delivering the luggage to pilgrims’ accommodation in the holy cities.

 


Saudi Arabia condemns storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir walks to visit the Damascus Gate to Jerusalem’s Old City in Jerusalem, May 26
Updated 27 May 2025
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Saudi Arabia condemns storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Tuesday condemned the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound by Israeli officials and settlers under the protection of Israeli forces on Monday.

The Kingdom’s Foreign Ministry reiterated its condemnation of the continued flagrant violations of international law and brutal attacks on the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Crowds of Israelis streamed through Jerusalem’s Old City, where some scuffled with residents and hurled insults at Palestinians, as annual celebrations of Israel’s capture of east Jerusalem took place on Monday.

Far-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben Gvir stormed the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, to mark the occasion.

Jerusalem Day, as the celebrations are known, commemorates Israeli forces taking east Jerusalem during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.

The Kingdom affirmed its categorical rejection of anything that undermines the historical and legal status of Jerusalem and its holy sites.It called on the international community to hold Israeli authorities accountable for their ongoing violations against Islamic holy sites and innocent civilians in Palestine.


Dhul Hijjah crescent moon sighted in Saudi Arabia

The crescent moon for the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah, during which the annual Hajj pilgrimage takes place, has been sighted.
Updated 27 May 2025
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Dhul Hijjah crescent moon sighted in Saudi Arabia

  • Day of Arafah to be observed on June 5
  • Eid Al-Adha will fall on June 6

RIYADH: The crescent moon for the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah, during which the annual Hajj pilgrimage takes place, has been sighted, the Supreme Court announced on Tuesday.

This means that the pilgrimage — which all healthy and wealthy Muslims are required to undertake once in a lifetime — will start on June 4 with the pilgrims gathering in the Tent City of Mina. The day of Arafah will fall on June 5.

Muslims who are not performing the pilgrimage this year will celebrate Eid Al-Adha on June 6.

The Supreme Court urged Muslims across the Kingdom to look out for the crescent moon on Tuesday — Dhu Al-Qa’dah 29 — and report any sightings as soon as possible to their nearest court.

The Kingdom has announced a weeklong Eid holiday for both public and private sector workers.


Riyadh hosts first UK-Saudi Infrastructure Assembly meeting

Updated 27 May 2025
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Riyadh hosts first UK-Saudi Infrastructure Assembly meeting

  • ‘We want to create a better system for doing business together,’ says lord mayor

RIYADH: The Lord Mayor of the City of London Alastair King launched the first meeting of the UK-Saudi Infrastructure Assembly in Riyadh on Tuesday to enhance financial and professional cooperation between the two countries.

The initiative is in partnership with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Investment, the UK’s Department for Business and Trade, and the City of London Corporation.

“We want to create a better system for doing business together. What we are launching is the UK-Saudi Infrastructure Assembly — a platform bringing together various parties involved in infrastructure investment,” King told Arab News ahead of the meeting.

The new strategic partnership aims at boosting collaboration between the UK’s financial and professional services sectors and Saudi Arabia’s sustainable infrastructure developers.

King said the assembly would help Saudi and UK counterparts to prepare for more joint projects in the Kingdom.

“That means that the costs will go down because they do not have to go through all the mobilization costs. The cost of capital can fall if you have got those companies absolutely ready,” he said.

“I think that is a very exciting example of the sort of collaboration that we have between the UK and Saudi Arabia.”

The assembly has brought together leading Saudi and UK firms, policymakers, and industry experts to shape the future of sustainable infrastructure investment.

It has focused on projects such as the new Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Company, led by the Public Investment Fund, and the Prince Faisal bin Fahad Sustainable Sports City, led by Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Privatization.

King highlighted other areas with potential for greater cooperation, including regulatory alignment, the insurance sector, and cultural exchange.

He said: “We see remarkable opportunities in sectors like asset management. It is something that we do very well. In the UK we have the second-largest investment management industry in the world.

“We have around £10.9 trillion ($14.7 trillion) under management in the UK. We’re looking for all kinds of collaboration with Saudi Arabia in that area.”

He added: “I think we would like to see more collaboration on the legal side as well. (Some) 80 percent of global contracts are under English law.”

King said that he would meet government ministers, regulators, family offices, and members of the insurance industry during his time in Riyadh.

When asked why he chose to visit the Kingdom at this time, King said: “It is a remarkable moment. We have got major developments in the UK that present a good set of opportunities for Saudi parties.”

King added that he would return to Riyadh in October for the Future Investment Initiative.