RIYADH: Diriyah made history on Saudi Arabia’s 94th National Day by setting a mark recognized by Guinness World Records for the largest display of virtual assistant devices.

The show, featuring more than 500 Amazon Echo devices and Alexa voice assistants, was part of Diriyah’s celebrations of the Kingdom’s national day.

According to the Diriyah Gate Development Authority news release, the Echo devices were orchestrated to harmonize Saudi Arabia’s national anthem and other patriotic songs at Bujairi Terrace.

Officials from Guinness World Records were on hand to witness the extraordinary feat.

“Congratulations on achieving the Guinness World Records’ title for the largest display of virtual assistant devices,” said Kanzy El-Defrawy, senior adjudicator for Guinness World Records.

“Diriyah has consistently been at the forefront of introducing cutting-edge entertainment to the people of Saudi Arabia, and this achievement reflects your relentless drive to fuse artificial intelligence with cultural celebrations.”

The DGDA’s chief executive, Jerry Inzerillo, said: “This historic moment underscores Saudi Arabia’s innovative spirit and Diriyah’s commitment to preserving and promoting our rich heritage and culture.”

Raf Fatani, Amazon’s regional general manager of Alexa in the Middle East and North Africa, said the attempt to set a world record was “a celebration of our deep reverence for the Kingdom’s rich culture and heritage. Through this collaboration, we weave a tapestry that intertwines artificial intelligence with the timeless threads of Saudi culture.”

The celebrations in Diriyah exhibited a rich display of Saudi culture and heritage, as well as an embrace of the modern-day.

South African visitor Karien told Arab News: “I feel energized. The atmosphere is just really so relaxed, and it is inviting.”

As you walk around, taking in the Najdi architecture in a style that blends the old with the new, your first stop takes you to the front of Salwa Palace for the ardah show, a traditional dance of swords and drums.

Next, the Diriyah Museum displays historical artifacts dating back to the First Saudi State, including a 300-year-old hand-written copy of the Qur'an, a manuscript of “Mokhtasar Sahih Al-Bukhari,” a book written by Sheikh Muhammed bin Abdul-Wahab, and the attire of Imam Mohammed bin Saud.

This historic moment underscores Saudi Arabia’s innovative spirit and Diriyah’s commitment to preserving and promoting our rich heritage and culture.

Jerry Inzerillo, Chief executive, Diriyah Gate Development Authority

The various National Day displays brought together local and international visitors eager to join the celebration.

“I saw the airshow yesterday. It was great to see all the different aircraft flying around, in Saudi colors,” Dan, a UK native, told Arab News.

Isabella, who is Brazilian, told Arab News that a high point of the day for her was learning about the internal anatomy of a horse and “how it is used to the desert, how it survives here” at the Horse Museum.

One of the highlights of the celebrations was the samri dance at the Prince Thunayan Palace. Traditionally performed in the desert when families gathered around at night, samri involves singing poetry and drumming on a daff drum while sitting on one’s knees.

Lara, from Germany, told us that she was fascinated by how people in Saudi Arabia express their national pride on this day.

“What they wear, they decorate their cars and their buildings, and I have seen so many flags everywhere … it is really exciting,” Lara said. “I feel like so many more people out there need to experience Saudi Arabia because it is a whole different place. It is like going in a different universe.”

To mark the historical significance of Diriyah, a video was projected on the side of Salwa Palace showing the battles fought at the establishment of the First Saudi State.

Karien noted the progress made by the Kingdom. “There is development in so many areas. I can already see a diversity of people around. And because my husband has a mobility difficulty as well, it is interesting to see that there are more people in wheelchairs here as well.”

From poetry readings to an interactive palm tree growing branches with more online social engagement, all the while serving Saudi coffee everywhere you go, the Saudi National Day events in Diriyah were a salute to 94 vibrant years, and a welcoming of the many more to come.