Saudi Arabia is about to paint the skies green and gold for its 95th National Day, and this year’s celebrations are shaping up to be the most spectacular yet. Falling on Tuesday, 23 September, the festivities bring together fireworks, naval shows, aerial displays and parades across the Kingdom; with Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam leading the charge.
This year’s celebrations, themed “Our pride is in our nature,” promise more than just fireworks. Aerobatic aircraft, naval fleets, military parades and live bands will join forces to mark nearly a century of Saudi pride.
Fireworks lighting up the night
No Saudi National Day is complete without fireworks, and this year the skies will sparkle in 14 cities across the Kingdom. If you’re in Riyadh, head to the Banban area in the north of the capital, where the display will kick off at 9 pm. In Jeddah, the action happens at the Art Promenade and Yacht Club, a favourite spot for families and couples to gather and take in the view. Dammam locals will be flocking to the waterfront, while Madinah’s King Fahd Central Park, Abha’s Al-Mutlaq Park and Hail’s Peace Park will host their own spectacular shows. Najran’s turn comes on 24 September, when King Saud Park lights up the skies.
This year, the naval displays are just as big a draw as the fireworks. Jeddah’s Yacht Club will transform into a theatre of the seas from 4 pm to 9 pm, with frigates, patrol boats and marine commando demonstrations stealing the spotlight. Expect bikers roaring through the streets, marching bands, and the Sea Falcon aircraft showing off daring tricks above. In Jubail, Fanateer Beach takes centre stage from 3.45 pm, bringing paratrooper jumps, diving shows and aerial stunts by Super Puma aircraft. Sea drones (one of this year’s newest additions) will keep things futuristic, lighting up the waterfront until 10 pm.
Celebrations on land and in the skies
If you’re not by the coast, don’t worry; celebrations are everywhere. Across Saudi Arabia, parades will take to the streets, with military vehicles rolling past and marching bands bringing the music. In the skies, aerobatic aircraft will trail the colours of the Saudi flag, filling the horizon with green and white smoke. It’s the kind of celebration where you don’t need a ticket or a reservation — just look up and take it in.
Beyond the fireworks and the shows, National Day is about people. Families in parks, friends gathering along the Corniche, kids waving green flags; it’s a snapshot of the Kingdom at its most joyful, echoing Saudi Arabia’s journey from its founding in 1932 to today, and the ambitious future it’s building.
