Founding Day

Viewpoint: Saudi Arabia recently announced a new annual holiday called Founding Day. It will be celebrated for the first time this month, on February 22, 2022. Its purpose is to celebrate the establishment of the first Saudi state in Arabia and to highlight the importance that the Al Saud dynasty has played in the history of Arabia. This is the second holiday instated recently that centers around the Al Saud dynasty. The first was Saudi National Day, which remembers the unification of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under King Abdulaziz Al Saud in 1932. KSA now has 4 official holidays; 2 are traditional Islamic holidays and 2 focus on KSA’s history.

There are many tribes that make up the population of Saudi Arabia. The ruling tribe is the Al Saud tribe, who united Saudi Arabia into one country.  The younger generation in Saudi Arabia have come to embrace the celebration of Saudi National day, and most are proud to identify themselves as Saudi Arabians.  Founding Day gives Saudis another opportunity to embrace their national identity. They need to hear and accept that their true identity can only be found in Christ, as it says in 1Peter 2:9, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

Prayer points: Pray that as Saudis celebrate Founding Day, they will not be satisfied with identifying themselves as Saudis. Ask that they will have opportunities to hear about Christ and that they will find their true identity in Him.