Saudi Arabia will commemorate February 22 every year as the nation's Founding Day, according to a Royal Order issued on Thursday. Issuing the Royal Order, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman also said February 22 shall be an official holiday in the country. "Taking into account that the middle of the year 1139H, corresponding to the month of February of the year 1727, signals the commencement of the reign of Imam Muhammad bin Saud, marking his founding of the first Saudi state, we, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, have decreed the following: "First: The 22nd day of the month of February of every year shall be designated to mark the commemoration of the founding of the Saudi state under the name 'Founding Day', and shall be an official holiday. "Second: This Decree shall be communicated to the relevant entities for adoption and implementation," the order read. The King said he took "great pride in the deep roots of this blessed state and its citizens' firm bonds with its leaders which began three centuries ago with the reign of Imam Muhammad bin Saud when he founded the First Saudi State in the middle of 1139H (early 1727), lasting until 1233H (1818), with Diriyah as its capital and the Holy Qur'an and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as its constitution, and which provided unity and security in the Arabian Peninsula following centuries of fragmentation, dissension and instability, and survived attempts of elimination." Seven years following the end of the First Saudi State, Imam Turki bin Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Saud succeeded in 1240H (1824) in restoring it, establishing the Second Saudi State, which lasted until 1309H (1891. Ten years later, King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Faisal Al Saud succeeded in 1319H (1902) in establishing the Third Saudi State and uniting it under the name of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; and his sons, the kings, followed in his footsteps in reinforcing the building and unity of this country," the King said in his order. — SPA
