As part of Saudi Arabia’s Founding Day celebrations, the traditional Ardah dance was a key element of Saudis festivities to mark this special national occasion. Saudi celebrations showcased the Kingdom’s rich cultural heritage and traditions, with people wearing their traditional attire, cooking traditional dishes, and performing folk music and dance shows.
In Saudi Arabia’s capital city, the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) and the Emirate of Riyadh Province marked the Founding Day by hosting celebrations over four days, from February 20-23, 2025. The stunning celebrations attracted more than 50,000 visitors, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
Riyadh’s Founding Day festivities included the largest Ardah dance performances, setting a new Guinness World Record with 633 performers taking part in this traditional dance show.
The new record further emphasizes the cultural status of Ardah as one of Saudi Arabia’s longstanding traditions that reflect Saudis’ pride in their national identity and their commitment to preserving and promoting their rich heritage worldwide.
During the Founding Day celebrations, large crowds flocked to heritage zones and exhibitions that showcase the history of Saudi Arabia since its establishment through visual displays and historical documents.
On February 22 of each year, Saudi Arabia observes its Founding Day, commemorating the establishment of the First Saudi State by Imam Muhammad bin Saud in 1727, when he took Diriyah as the capital of the state, with the Holy Quran and Prophet Mohammed’s Sunnah as its constitution, laying the foundation of today’s prosperous nation.
