1727–1818Diriyah and the First Saudi State
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Diriyah is founded
Mani bin Rabiah al-Muraidi, ancestor of the House of Saud, founded Diriyah, the starting point of modern Saudi history.
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The First Saudi State is founded
Imam Muhammad bin Saud assumed rule in Diriyah, founding the First Saudi State with Diriyah as its capital. This is the day marked as Founding Day.
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Imam Muhammad bin Saud dies
Imam Muhammad bin Saud died about forty years after founding the state.
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The First Saudi State ends
The First Saudi State came to an end after four imams had ruled it in succession.
1824–1891The Second Saudi State
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The Second Saudi State rises
Imam Turki bin Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Saud re-established the state, founding the Second Saudi State.
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The Second Saudi State ends
The Second Saudi State came to an end.
1902–1932Riyadh regained, the Kingdom unified
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Riyadh is regained
King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud regained Riyadh, the first step towards founding the Kingdom; the people of the surrounding areas, including Al-Kharj and Wadi Al-Dawasir, then pledged allegiance to him.
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Qassim
King Abdulaziz annexed Unayzah after defeating Ibn Rashid’s army, then Buraydah and the rest of the Qassim region.
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Al-Ahsa
King Abdulaziz’s army reached Al-Ahsa, where the Ottoman forces surrendered and left by sea.
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Hail and Aseer
An army was sent to Hail, which surrendered and joined the Saudi state, and Prince Faisal led an army to Abha, bringing Aseer under Saudi rule.
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Taif and Makkah
The unification of the Hejaz began: Taif was taken and Makkah joined peacefully.
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Jeddah and Madinah
Jeddah was unified and Madinah then joined peacefully, completing the unification of the Hejaz. The same year King Abdulaziz ordered the first Saudi coins.
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Jazan
Al-Hassan al-Idrisi, ruler of Jazan, ceded it to King Abdulaziz.
1932–2016The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
A royal decree of 19 September 1932 unified the country under the name Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the unification was announced on Thursday 23 September 1932, which became National Day.
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The oil concession
The concession agreement for oil exploration was signed with Standard Oil of California (SoCal).
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The flag in its present form
King Abdulaziz approved the national flag in its present form, the day now marked as Flag Day.
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Dammam Well No. 7
Oil flowed from Dammam Well No. 7 in the first week of March 1938, and commercial production was officially announced on 16 October 1938.
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The first oil shipment
The tanker D.G. Scofield was loaded at Ras Tanura with the Kingdom’s first shipment of exported crude oil.
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The UN and the Arab League
The Kingdom joined the United Nations Charter and took part in founding the Arab League.
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The Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency
The Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency, today the Saudi Central Bank, began operating in Jeddah; its headquarters moved to Riyadh on 7 July 1959.
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The founding king dies
King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud died, and King Saud bin Abdulaziz came to the throne (1953–1964).
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King Faisal
King Faisal bin Abdulaziz came to the throne (1964–1975).
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King Khalid
King Khalid bin Abdulaziz came to the throne (1975–1982).
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The World Heritage Convention
The Kingdom accepted UNESCO’s Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.
Source: UNESCO
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King Fahd
King Fahd bin Abdulaziz came to the throne; his reign lasted twenty-three years, until 2005.
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The Basic Law of Governance
The Basic Law of Governance was issued by royal order.
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King Abdullah
King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz came to the throne; he reigned for ten years, until 2015.
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Hegra, the first Saudi World Heritage site
Hegra (al-Hijr / Mada’in Salih) was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, the first Saudi site on it. With the Al-Faw archaeological area in 2024, the Saudi sites on the list reached eight.
Source: UNESCO
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King Salman
King Salman bin Abdulaziz received the pledge of allegiance as King of Saudi Arabia.
2016–2030Vision 2030
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Saudi Vision 2030
On 18 Rajab 1437 AH the Council of Ministers, chaired by King Salman, approved Saudi Vision 2030, built on three pillars: a vibrant society, a thriving economy and an ambitious nation.
Source: Saudi Press Agency
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The Crown Prince
His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz was named Crown Prince, and later Prime Minister on 27 September 2022.
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The tourist visa
The Kingdom launched its electronic tourist visa.
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The G20 Riyadh Summit
The Kingdom hosted the G20 Leaders’ Summit on 21–22 November 2020, during its presidency of the group, which began on 1 December 2019.
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The first Founding Day
A royal order of 27 January 2022 made 22 February each year Founding Day and an official holiday; it was first celebrated on 22 February 2022 under the slogan “The Day We Began”.
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Flag Day
A royal order made 11 March each year Flag Day, the day in 1937 when King Abdulaziz approved the flag in its present form.
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Riyadh wins Expo 2030
The General Assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions elected the Kingdom to host World Expo 2030 in Riyadh, with 119 votes in the first round.
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The Riyadh Metro
The Riyadh Metro opened to passengers on three of its six lines, the Blue, Yellow and Purple, after its inauguration on 27 November 2024.
Source: Saudi Press Agency
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FIFA World Cup 2034
The Extraordinary FIFA Congress appointed the Kingdom to host the FIFA World Cup 2034.
Source: FIFA
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AFC Asian Cup 2027
The Kingdom hosts the AFC Asian Cup from 7 January to 5 February 2027 in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar.
Source: Saudi Press Agency
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Expo 2030 Riyadh
World Expo 2030 is held in Riyadh from 1 October 2030 to 31 March 2031, under the theme “The Era of Change: Together for a Foresighted Tomorrow”.
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The 2030 targets
Among Vision 2030’s targets: raising capacity for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims from 8 million to 30 million a year, cutting unemployment from 12.3% to 7%, and growing the Public Investment Fund’s assets from SAR 600 billion to over SAR 7 trillion.