Kingdom goes green to celebrate Founding Day

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Government buildings and private facilities were also illuminated in green, marking 299 years of Saudi history since 1727. (SPA)
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Government buildings and private facilities were also illuminated in green, marking 299 years of Saudi history since 1727. (SPA)
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Government buildings and private facilities were also illuminated in green, marking 299 years of Saudi history since 1727. (SPA)
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Residents of Riyadh took part in an initiative to install First Saudi State flags to mark Founding Day on Feb. 22, organized by the Riyadh municipality. (SPA)
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Traditional markets turned into lively cultural hubs, showcasing local heritage and national pride (SPA)
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Updated 22 February 2026
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Kingdom goes green to celebrate Founding Day

  • Parks, streets, public spaces shine with national pride, while cultural programs, family activities bring communities together

RIYADH: Residents of Riyadh took part in an initiative to install First Saudi State flags to mark Founding Day on Feb. 22, organized by the Riyadh municipality.

The initiative, reflecting national pride and drawing community participation, enhanced the festive presence across neighborhoods, parks, streets, and public spaces.

The municipality also organized events across the city and governorates, illuminating main roads and public squares with more than 5,000 decorative lights, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The Jeddah municipality launched a multi-day program to mark Founding Day, decorating main roads, squares, and the corniche.

A key event took place at Prince Majid Park on Sunday, featuring falconry, equestrian shows, and traditional handicrafts. Family activities included henna painting and creative workshops for children.

The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture in Dhahran marked Founding Day with a multi-night Ramadan program from Feb. 20–22, offering 30 heritage-focused activities in a festive, family-friendly setting.

Visitors enjoyed cultural events, films, exhibitions, and hands-on workshops. Riyadh resident Tiger Lee, visiting Dhahran for the first time, said he came to experience the celebrations and learn more about the Kingdom’s history.

Entry was free, with food outlets, a traditional souq, henna and Sadu weaving sessions, museum and library storytelling, and plaza exhibitions adding to the experience.

Meanwhile, traditional markets in the Baha region turned into lively cultural hubs, showcasing local heritage and national pride, the SPA stated.

Shops were decorated with flags and traditional handicrafts such as palm frond products and pottery, while visitors and locals wore traditional attire. The markets supported local artisans, boosted economic activity, and enhanced the region’s touristic appeal.

Government buildings and private facilities were also illuminated in green, marking 299 years of Saudi history since 1727.

The King Fahd Complex for the Printing of the Holy Qur’an in Madinah was illuminated in green to mark the national occasion, reflecting pride, unity, and the Kingdom’s stability and progress.

The Tabuk municipality organized 23 cultural and heritage events across the region’s cities and governorates, in partnership with government and private entities, to highlight the day’s historical significance and strengthen national identity. Parks and public facilities were prepared to host residents and visitors.

Meanwhile, the Jazan municipality decorated the region with more than 1,500 banners and themed displays, transforming streets, parks, and public squares.

In coordination with government departments, the celebrations featured national performances, folk arts, and heritage showcases unique to Jazan.


Saudi kitchen to provide 24,000 daily meals to Palestinians in Gaza

Updated 27 February 2026
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Saudi kitchen to provide 24,000 daily meals to Palestinians in Gaza

  • The kitchen plans to produce 3,600,000 meals to Palestinians in central Gaza and to enable the employment of 40 local workers
  • Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, the general supervisor of KSrelief, said that 90 percent of Gaza’s population is below the poverty line, lacking access to food, water, and medicine

RIYADH: King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, also known as KSrelief, established a central kitchen in the Gaza Strip to support the Palestinian people as part of Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian efforts.

The Saudi kitchen has begun providing 24,000 daily hot meals since the start of Ramadan last week for Palestinians in the central Gaza towns of Deir Al-Balah and Al-Qarara.

The initiative is part of the Saudi Popular Campaign for the Relief of the Palestinian People in the Gaza Strip, in cooperation with the Saudi Center for Culture and Heritage.

At the end of the initiative period, the kitchen will have produced and distributed 3,600,000 meals to Palestinians in central Gaza and enabled the employment of 40 local workers, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, the general supervisor of KSrelief, told SPA that the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip is “one of the largest crises in the history of humanity.”

He highlighted that Palestinians are facing displacement and urgent humanitarian needs, with 90 percent of Gaza’s population below the poverty line, lacking access to food, water, medicine, and necessities for children and infants.

Saudi Arabia was one of the first countries to launch an air bridge, as well as sea and land convoys, sending aid to Gaza via over 80 planes and dozens of vessels, through the Jordanian and Egyptian crossings.

Dr. Al-Rabeeah noted that KSrelief used airdrops to deliver aid to Gaza after October 2023, when other means were not possible, the SPA added.

He said the Saudi kitchen will serve over 36,000 families and described it as “the largest central kitchen available for a group of displaced people.”