The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will celebrate tomorrow, February 22, the 299th Founding Day anniversary, commemorating Imam Muhammad bin Saud’s establishment of the First Saudi State in Diriyah in mid-1139 AH, corresponding to February 22, 1727, a historic event that laid the foundations for unity, stability, and effective governance.
This national occasion reflects the deep historical roots of the Saudi state and its continuous presence for nearly three centuries. It also embodies pride in the nation’s identity and the enduring bond with its leadership, which has safeguarded the state, strengthened its security, and guided its progress from its founding to the modern era under Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
The foundations of stability in central Arabia extend back centuries. The Bani Hanifah tribe settled in Wadi Hanifah around 430 CE, establishing their headquarters in Hajr Al-Yamamah.
The region became a significant center of its time but later experienced periods of instability until Diriyah was founded by Prince Mani' ibn Rabi'ah Al-Muraydi in 850 AH (1446 CE).
This marked the emergence of a thriving urban and commercial hub, benefiting from its strategic location on trade routes connecting northern and southern Arabia.
