Saudi Founding Day: Embodying Three Centuries of Determination and Building

Here is a concise English translation of the Saudi Vision 2030 progress report:

**Saudi Arabia is undergoing an unprecedented strategic transformation reshaping its economic and social future.** Key achievements include:

* **Economic Diversification & Sustainable Development:**
* Achieved 3.7% average annual GDP growth over 5 years.
* Reducing oil revenue dependence from 65% to under 40% by 2030

Here’s a concise English translation:

**Iraq deposited official documents with the UN containing new maritime maps and coordinates. This move drew formal objections from Kuwait, which considers it a violation of its maritime sovereignty and waters.**

**Iraq’s Position on the Maritime Maps**

**Key points preserved:**
1. Iraq’s action (depositing documents/maps/coordinates with the UN).
2. Kuwait’s reaction (formal objections).
3. Kuwait’s reason (violation of sovereignty/waters).
4. The specific focus on Iraq’s position regarding the maps.

The Saudi people commemorate Founding Day annually on February 22nd, a deeply significant national occasion marking Imam Mohammed bin Saud’s assumption of power in the Emirate of Diriyah in 1727 AD, which initiated the First Saudi State. This pivotal event ended an era of fragmentation in Arabia, establishing a unified political entity founded on three enduring pillars: political unity under central rule, Islamic Sharia as the governing framework, and organized administrative systems. A historic alliance between Imam bin Saud and Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Wahhab achieved vast territorial unification across Najd, enhanced security on trade routes, and established an Islamic judicial system. Celebrations transcend politics, featuring historical exhibitions, cultural performances, and educational activities that strengthen national identity and pride in ancestral sacrifices, linking past heritage to future ambitions like Vision 2030. Crucially distinct from the September 23rd National Day (marking the 1932 unification decree establishing the Kingdom), Founding Day represents the

February 22nd of each year marks the anniversary of Saudi Founding Day, a deeply rooted national occasion that embodies the historical beginning of the establishment of the first Saudi state more than 290 years ago. This day brings to mind a journey of struggle and construction that has extended across three centuries, deeply rooted in the Saudi people’s conscience as a symbol of the authenticity of history, the strength of national identity, and the consolidation of values of unity, security, and stability. The historical origins of the establishment of the first Saudi state date back to the year 1727 AD, which witnessed a pivotal turning point in the history of the Arabian Peninsula, when Imam Muhammad bin Saud assumed rule of Diriyah. This event was not merely a change in local leadership, but the birth of a nascent state based on solid foundations. Imam Muhammad bin Saud formed a historic alliance with the reformer Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab, combining political wisdom and religious reform, which historical sources described as a unique alliance that brought together “political leadership and religious reform.” This alliance laid the foundation for a state that laid the first building blocks of political unity in an area suffering from dispersion and division. As a result of this alliance, an organized administrative system was established, security was spread in wide areas, and the principles of Islamic law were applied, paving the way for a new phase of stability after long periods of division and instability. The connotations of Founding Day are not limited to the political and historical aspect only, but extend to become a cultural and civilizational occasion par excellence. It reflects the depth of the historical roots of the Saudi state and consolidates pride in the rich civilizational heritage. The cultural and heritage events of the day highlight the authenticity of the Saudi heritage and its living continuity across generations, confirming that “the vision of the future is based on solid roots and a clear identity.” The occasion witnesses a series of diverse events in various regions of the Kingdom, including history exhibitions that recount the stages of the founding of the Saudi state, heritage art shows that embody the life of the ancestors, and cultural seminars in which historians and academics discuss the lessons learned from that founding stage. Educational activities are also held targeting youth and young people to enhance their connection to their country’s history and highlight “the sacrifices made by the ancestors in order to build a strong and stable state.” Founding Day represents a confirmation of the continuation of the values and principles on which the first Saudi state was founded, as the Kingdom is proceeding today on the same approach drawn by