360King Abdulaziz unifies the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
On 23 September 1932, King Abdulaziz Al Saud proclaimed the unification of his lands under one name: the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The royal decree joined the Kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd and its dependencies into a single state. The day marked the end of three decades of unification and is celebrated every year as Saudi National Day.
On 23 September 1932, corresponding to 21 Jumada al-Ula 1351 AH, the unification of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was proclaimed. A royal decree issued by King Abdulaziz Al Saud renamed the Kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd and its dependencies as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The announcement was made at al-Hamidiyah Palace in Makkah, where Prince Faisal, the King's son, read the decree on his father's behalf.
The proclamation crowned a journey that began in 1902, when the young Abdulaziz recovered Riyadh. Over the following three decades he brought together the regions of the Arabian Peninsula, including Nejd, Al-Ahsa and the Hejaz, and established security and stability across a vast land.
The new state soon took its first steps toward development. In 1933 the Kingdom granted an oil concession, and in 1938 oil was discovered in commercial quantities at Dammam, giving the young nation the resources to build roads, schools, hospitals and cities.
King Abdulaziz led the Kingdom until 1953 and is honoured as its founder. Today, Saudis celebrate 23 September as National Day, with flags, celebrations and events across the Kingdom marking the unity he achieved.
- 1902
- Abdulaziz recovers Riyadh
- 23 September 1932
- The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is proclaimed
- 1933
- The Kingdom grants its first oil concession
- 1938
- Oil is discovered at Dammam
- 1953
- The reign of King Abdulaziz ends
Sources: Saudipedia · Britannica · Gulf News.