On September 23rd of each year, Saudis mark their National Day with parades and festivities across all the Kingdom’s regions.
All Saudi citizens and residents celebrate the big event in the Kingdom’s streets, restaurants, cafes, or entertainment venues. Meanwhile, some people prefer to celebrate at home.
Where Do Saudis Celebrate?
In a new survey, the Saudi Center for Opinion Polling found that each age group has different preferences when celebrating the Saudi National Day.
تتوارث الأجيال حب الوطن
ويستمر الاحتفاء بـ #اليوم_الوطني في كل مكان.من أعمارهم 44 الى 78 هم الأكثر احتفالا داخل المنزل.
ومن أعمارهم 18 الى 43 هم الأكثر احتفالا في الأماكن العامة والخاصة بالاحتفالات. pic.twitter.com/kiKdOF6UUA— المركز السعودي لاستطلاعات الرأي (@SCOP_SA) September 19, 2024
Citizens aged between 44 and 78 years prefer to celebrate the Saudi National Day at home. On the other hand, Saudis aged between 18 and 43 years prefer to celebrate the National Day in public venues and event spaces.
The Saudi Center for Opinion Polling survey involved a sample of Saudis above 18 years old.
How Saudis Celebrate
Under the slogan “We Dream and We Achieve,” Saudis celebrate their 94th National Day on September 23, 2024. It marks the anniversary of the unification of Najd and Hijaz into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932, on the hands of King Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud.
Saudis from across the Kingdom celebrate the day with parades, fireworks, music concerts and entertainment activities. They adorn the streets with Saudi flags, and light up the buildings in green.
On this occasion, Saudis rejoice a year of achievements and advancements across various fields. They honor their past, take pride in their accomplishments, and aspire for building a more prosperous future.
Outdoor Celebrations
For people who love to celebrate outdoors, they can watch the fireworks displays held in the Kingdom’s regions. The General Entertainment Authority (GEA) organizes spectacular fireworks shows in most Saudi cities to mark the 94th National Day.
In Riyadh, fireworks display will take place at Umm Ajlan Park, at 9 pm. It will take place in Jeddah at the Jeddah Promenade. Similarly, the awe-inspiring display in Al Khobar will take place near Al Khobar Northern Corniche.
Saudis can watch fireworks shows in other Saudi cities as well at designated locations, including Buraidah, Tabuk, Madinah, Abha, Hail, Arar, Najran, Al Baha, Al Jouf and Jazan.
Moreover, the Saudi National Day celebrations involve parades across several cities. In the light of this, the Presidency of the Saudi Royal Guard is organizing parades in Riyadh and Jeddah, on September 22-23, 2024.
The Royal Saudi Air Force and the Saudi Falcons are celebrating the National Day with a stunning air show at Taif form 5:30 pm to 6:00 pm.
Music Performances
Music fans can enjoy amazing performances by famous singers, such as Majid Al-Muhandis, who will perform at the Dammam Exhibition Grounds from 7 pm to 12 am. More concerts are scheduled at various venues to celebrate the event.
Furthermore, the renowned singer, Rabih Saqr, performed last night at Mohammed Abdu Theater in Boulevard City, Riyadh, as part of the 94th Saudi National Day celebrations.
Celebrations at Home
The National Day celebrations reflect the heritage and cultural identity of Saudi Arabia. On this occasion, Saudis wear their tradition attires and cook their favorite dishes from the Saudi cuisine.
In recognition of the authenticity and richness of the Saudi traditional cuisine, the Saudi Culinary Arts Commission in 2023 declared Jareesh as the Saudi national dish, and Maqshush as the Kingdom’s national dessert.
Moreover, each of the 13 Saudi Regions has a traditional dish that best represents its culture and heritage.
Saudis who love to celebrate the National Day at home can decorate their dining tables with some of the traditional Saudi delicious dishes.
They can try Jareesh, an original porridge-like dish made of cracked wheat, aromatic spices and lamb meat or chicken. They can also try Saleeg, the rich creamy dish representing Makkah that combines rice, milk and chicken.
For a sweet delight, people can bake Kleija. It is the traditional dish of Al Qassim Region, blending the flavors of dates, sugar, nuts and traditional Saudi spices.
