Pupils in Saudi Arabia commemorate Founding Day with special school activities

Students were asked to make videos talking about Saudi Arabia’s history, the battles that took place, and the leadership throughout the history of KSA as part of the school activities. (AN photo by Saleh Ghanaim)
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Updated 23 February 2022
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Pupils in Saudi Arabia commemorate Founding Day with special school activities

  • "We celebrate this day, and we are all proud of the firm roots of the Saudi state, recalling its founding, and what it achieved"

RIYADH/JEDDAH: The Kingdom’s schools celebrated the country’s first Founding Day under the theme of “When We First Started,” which stressed the importance of young people knowing the history of the Saudi state.
Last month, it was announced that Feb. 22 would officially be known as Founding Day and it was designated as a new annual national holiday.
It was established to recognize the foundation of the first Saudi state in 1727 by Imam Mohammed ibn Saud. Celebrations started across the country on Tuesday and will last until Feb. 24.




Schools across Saudi Arabia are taking part in the Founding Day celebrations a day before or after the annual national holiday. (Supplied)

The festivities offer visitors different activities by showcasing traditional Saudi garments and costumes, art exhibitions, fireworks, and a parade.
Schools took part in the celebrations either a day before or a day after the national holiday.
“Being part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a huge source of pride, especially being part of its growth,” said Rana Kurdi, a second grade homeroom teacher at the girl’s section of King Faisal School. “When you look at the children explaining this important day — Founding Day — they are filled with excitement, especially that they will be part of it. Furthermore, their honest expressive feelings and thoughts toward our country is a source of hope, knowing that they are the future of our country. It is my honor to be an active part of this ever-developing nation.”

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• The festivities offered visitors different activities by showcasing traditional Saudi garments and costumes, art exhibitions, fireworks, and a parade.

• Parents were asked to assist with the preparations by gathering symbolic items that highlighted the culture of the Kingdom.

Parents were asked to assist with the preparations by gathering symbolic items that highlighted the culture of the Kingdom or small flags bearing the Founding Day logo, preparing a traditional dish for their children to distribute among fellow students, and putting together traditional costumes for children to wear to school.




Yousif Salman celebrating Saudi Founding day, a day before the big event on the 22nd. (Supplied)

“As a Saudi mother and a lover of my country, I was pleased about my child’s participation in Founding Day,” mother-of-two Maha Salama told Arab News. “He will learn about the history of his country and the beginning of its founding and the unification of our Kingdom through school activities. This will enhance his loyalty and belonging to his homeland.”
She said that her children’s school, Little Hands in Riyadh, had sent out the following message: “We celebrate this day, and we are all proud of the firm roots of the Saudi state, recalling its founding, and what it achieved of unity, security and stability, and its continuation in construction, unification, and development. Please make sure the children are wearing the Saudi traditional costume, with a child’s favorite dish to share with the kids as we invite you to join us in our activities.”
Jeddah mother-of-five Neama Hamed said her sons, aged seven and eight, would wear the traditional Saudi white thobe. Her daughters, aged five, 11, and 12, would wear a traditional Saudi costume of a green dress with gold embroidery.
In Jeddah, parents made a beeline for different stores to buy traditional garments for their kids to wear and items to take to school.
Hamed said there was a “great demand” in the shops and markets, and that stores were offering a variety of different items related to Founding Day. “I found everything I was looking for in good quantities, from a brooch, flags, and T-shirts. The shops offered beautiful and diverse merchandise and they were crowded with parents, teachers, and students.”
Students were asked to make videos talking about the Kingdom’s history, the battles that took place, and the leadership throughout the history of the Kingdom as part of the school activities.
Parents could also buy their traditional costumes from the Jahez food delivery app. Its special Founding Day campaign, with the Diriyah Gate Development Authority, was aimed at ensuring that everyone could be well prepared for the festivities.


Saudi foreign minister discusses Syria’s stability with US envoy

Updated 4 sec ago
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Saudi foreign minister discusses Syria’s stability with US envoy

  • Tom Barrack, US envoy to Syria, visited Riyadh on Thursday

LONDON: Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the Saudi minister of foreign affairs, received Tom Barrack, the US envoy to Syria, in Riyadh.

During the meeting on Thursday, officials discussed ways to support the Syrian Arab Republic in enhancing its security, stability, and economic recovery, reported the Saudi Press Agency.


Djibouti ambassador praises deep ties between African state and Saudi Arabia

Updated 7 min 18 sec ago
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Djibouti ambassador praises deep ties between African state and Saudi Arabia

  • Djibouti Embassy celebrates 48th anniversary of independence 
  • Ambassador reaffirms Djibouti’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause

RIYADH: The Djibouti Embassy in Riyadh donned patriotic colors as its staff celebrated their national day on Wednesday night, hosting a befitting reception to mark the occasion.

On the occasion of the 48th anniversary of the National Independence of Djibouti, Dya-Eddine Said Bamakhrama, ambassador of the Republic of Djibouti to Saudi Arabia and the dean of the Diplomatic Corps, hosted an official reception at the Cultural Palace in the Diplomatic Quarter.

The event was attended by Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, deputy governor of Riyadh Region, as guest of honor and patron, and Prince Sultan bin Salman, the founder and chairman of the Saudi Aviation Club.

The reception was also attended by numerous princes, ambassadors, distinguished business leaders, media professionals, artists, and members of the Saudi and Djibouti community.

Addressing the gathering the ambassador highlighted Djibouti’s remarkable achievements over the past five decades, particularly in terms of security, stability, and sustainable development.

He also emphasized the deep and sincere fraternal relations that unite the leaderships and people of the two nations.

Furthermore, the ambassador reaffirmed Djibouti’s firm and unwavering position in support of the Palestinian cause, advocating for the restoration of the Palestinian people’s legitimate rights, including the establishment of an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Saudi Arabia also strongly supports the two-state solution as the path to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Palestine is officially recognized by 147 of the UN’s 193 member states and has observer status at the UN.

The ambassador also reiterated Djibouti’s commitment to a calm, constructive, and principled diplomacy, actively working to promote peace in the region and around the world, rejecting wars and advocating for dialogue, peaceful coexistence, and sustainable development.


Forecast of higher temperatures, rainfall in July and August in Saudi

Updated 26 June 2025
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Forecast of higher temperatures, rainfall in July and August in Saudi

  • 1 C rise in central, northern and eastern regions
  • Above-normal rain in south, west regions forecast 

JEDDAH: Higher temperatures are expected in July and August in the central, northern and eastern parts of Saudi Arabia, the National Center for Meteorology has announced.

In a seasonal forecast carried by the Saudi Press Agency on Wednesday, the meteorology authority expects a rise of 1 degree Celsius in parts of Riyadh, Qassim and Hail, as well as the eastern and Northern Borders regions.

It is expected to peak in August with a rise of 1.2 degrees Celsius in Jouf, Tabuk, Qassim, Hail and the eastern regions.

The NCM has also forecast higher-than-normal rainfall in Najran, Jazan, Al-Baha, Asir, parts of Makkah and Madinah, southern Riyadh and the eastern regions, particularly in July and August.

The rest of the Kingdom is expected to have normal rainfall.

The Summer 2025 forecast, covering the months of June to August, is based on climatic conditions from 1991 to 2020, the SPA stated.

According to the report, the highest temperature was recorded in Jeddah in June 2010 at 52 degrees Celsius, while Al-Ahsa recorded 51.3 in July 2024.

Dammam and Al-Qaisumah in the eastern part of the Kingdom recorded August highs of 51 in 1998 and 2021.

For rainfall, the southwestern region of Jazan recorded the highest daily amount in August 2024 at 113 millimeters. It also held the record for July at 67.6 in 1995.

For the month of June, Sharurah, in the southern province of Najran, recorded the highest daily amount in June 1996 at 53.8.


Governor of Qassim praises heritage center for preserving region’s culture and history

Updated 26 June 2025
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Governor of Qassim praises heritage center for preserving region’s culture and history

  • Prince Faisal bin Mishaal highlights the ways in which the Cultural Heritage Center helps boost national pride in the Kingdom’s historical and cultural identity
  • He tours exhibits that showcase the region’s various historical eras and feature a wide range of treasures, including prehistoric and pre-Islamic artifacts

RIYADH: The governor of Qassim, Prince Faisal bin Mishaal, praised a cultural center on Wednesday for the work it is doing to preserve and showcase the region’s rich history and heritage.

During a tour of the Cultural Heritage Center in Qassim he saw displays devoted to various historical eras and learned about the methods used to preserve the region’s historical and cultural assets, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The prince highlighted the important role the facility plays in shining a light on the region’s cultural heritage, and showcasing key historical artifacts dating back as far as ancient times from sites closely linked to the history and evolution of the Saudi state.

The center, which is part of the regional branch of the Saudi Heritage Commission, has displays that showcase the different historical eras of the region and feature a wide range of exhibits, including prehistoric artifacts and pre-Islamic treasures.

One exhibition is dedicated to Islamic-era Qassim, others to historic pilgrimage routes, architectural heritage sites, and the region’s intangible cultural heritage. There is also an interactive room for children, and a handicrafts section.

Prince Faisal praised the work of the Heritage Commission and highlighted the ways in which its efforts contribute to national pride in the Kingdom’s heritage and its historical identity.

He was accompanied during his visit by Ibrahim Al-Mushaikih, director of the commission’s regional branch, and other officials.

Al-Mushaikih said the governor’s visit represented a significant step in the development of the facility. He invited people from all parts of Saudi society to pay a visit and see for themselves the comprehensive information it offers about Qassim’s archaeological and heritage sites through enjoyable experiences and interactive displays.


Saudi UN envoy demands global action to protect children in conflict zones, condemns Gaza violence

Updated 26 June 2025
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Saudi UN envoy demands global action to protect children in conflict zones, condemns Gaza violence

  • Abdulaziz Alwasil denounces Israeli military operations in Gaza as ‘flagrant violation of international humanitarian law’
  • He emphasizes Kingdom’s commitment to application of international legal instruments, including Convention on the Rights of the Child and its optional protocols

NEW YORK CITY: Saudi Arabia’s permanent representative to the UN, Abdulaziz Alwasil, called on Wednesday for urgent international action to protect children in conflict zones, warning that failure to do so would undermine efforts to build more stable and prosperous societies.

Speaking at a UN Security Council meeting convened to discuss the effects of armed conflicts on youngsters, Alwasil emphasized the importance of protecting children, describing it as a legal obligation and moral responsibility, particularly in nations affected by prolonged violence.

During the session, UN officials detailed an unprecedented surge in the number of grave violations against children during armed conflicts worldwide.

The meeting followed the publication of a devastating annual report by the UN secretary-general’s special representative for children and armed conflict, Virginia Gamba. It documented 41,370 grave violations against children during 2024, a 25 percent increase compared with the previous year, and the highest number since the UN’s Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism was established in 2005.

The verified abuses of children spanned 25 countries and included killings, maiming, recruitment, abductions, sexual violence, attacks on schools and hospitals, and denial of access to humanitarian assistance.

“This year marked a devastating new record,” Gamba told council members. “Behind these numbers are the shattered stories, dreams and futures of over 22,000 children.”

She cited a sharp increase in “compounded violations,” in which children were abducted, recruited and sexually abused, often simultaneously, in the context of deteriorating humanitarian crises.

Israel was responsible for the highest number of violations by a single country against children in 2024, the report stated.

Alwasil said: “As we approach the 20th anniversary of Resolution 1612, which established mechanisms for monitoring violations against children in armed conflict, the international community must focus on two priorities: We must break the cycle of violence and create an environment that rejects extremism and fosters resilience.”

The envoy expressed appreciation for Gamba’s work, and emphasized the Kingdom’s commitment to the application of international legal instruments, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its optional protocols. He stressed the shared responsibility of all parties for the protection of children and for efforts to address the root causes of armed violence.

Turning to the crisis in Gaza in particular, Alwasil sharply rebuked Israeli authorities over their military operations in the territory.

“What is happening in Gaza now is a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and humanitarian values,” he said.

“Civilians live under constant bombardment and a suffocating blockade, facing systematic aggression by Israeli armed forces. This has led to the deaths of 55,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children.”

The war has deprived more than 1 million children in Gaza of basic necessities, including food and medicine, Alwasil said. He called for immediate international action to end the conflict, protect vulnerable populations and hold accountable those responsible for violations.

“The Kingdom affirms that the protection of children in areas of armed conflict is a legal duty that cannot be shirked, and a moral responsibility that cannot be ignored,” he concluded.

“Saudi Arabia supports all UN efforts aimed at protecting civilians, and enhancing international cooperation to respond to the suffering of children affected by war, wherever they may be.”