Saudi Founding Day: What It Is and Where to Travel to Explore Saudi History

If you’re traveling to Saudi Arabia around this time, it’s one of the best moments to explore the country through a historical lens. Cities come alive with cultural events, traditional dress, heritage exhibitions, and storytelling that connects the past to the present.

Here are the best places to visit if you want to truly understand Saudi Arabia’s history during Founding Day.

Diriyah: Where the Saudi Story Began

Just outside Riyadh, Diriyah is the birthplace of the first Saudi state and the heart of Founding Day celebrations. Walking through the mud-brick structures of At-Turaif feels like stepping back nearly 300 years.

What to do:

• Explore At-Turaif UNESCO World Heritage Site

• Visit museums dedicated to early Saudi leadership

• Attend Founding Day cultural performances and exhibitions

• Enjoy Najdi cuisine in restored heritage settings

Diriyah is essential viewing if you want to understand how Saudi Arabia began.

Riyadh: Old Meets New

The capital blends modern Saudi ambition with deep historical roots. During Founding Day, Riyadh hosts some of the country’s biggest celebrations, making it a great base for culture-focused travel.

What to do:

• Visit Masmak Fort, where key moments of Saudi history unfolded

• Walk through the National Museum for a full historical timeline

• Explore Founding Day pop-ups, parades, and cultural shows

• Pair history with modern Riyadh cafes and galleries

Riyadh offers context connecting early Saudi history with today’s Kingdom.

AlUla: History Carved in Stone

While AlUla predates the Saudi state by thousands of years, it provides crucial insight into the civilizations that shaped the Arabian Peninsula long before 1727.

What to do:

• Visit Hegra (Madain صالح), Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO site

• Explore ancient tombs, inscriptions, and desert landscapes

• Join guided heritage tours explaining the region’s role in trade and culture

AlUla adds depth to any Founding Day trip, showing how history here goes back millennia.

Jeddah Al-Balad: The Historic Gateway

On the Red Sea coast, Al-Balad tells the story of Saudi Arabia’s connection to pilgrims, traders, and the wider world.

What to do:

• Walk through coral-stone houses and narrow alleys

• Visit heritage homes turned into museums and galleries

• Learn how Jeddah became the gateway to Makkah for centuries

Al-Balad offers a different side of Saudi history cosmopolitan, coastal, and deeply human.

Why Founding Day Is the Perfect Time to Visit

Traveling during Saudi Founding Day isn’t just about sightseeing. It’s about context. You see how Saudis celebrate their origins, how traditions are preserved, and how history shapes the country’s future vision.

Whether you’re visiting Diriyah’s birthplace, Riyadh’s forts, AlUla’s ancient tombs, or Jeddah’s historic streets, Founding Day turns travel into a story one that’s still being written.