KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Saudi Arabia marks its 96th National Day on 23 September 2026, a public holiday for private and non-profit sector employees, with the main celebration held in Malham, Riyadh from 22–23 September and simultaneous fireworks displays across nine cities — Riyadh, Al Khobar, Medina, Jeddah, Hail, Arar, Al Baha, Tabuk and Buraidah — at 2100 hours on 23 September.
- . Jeddah’s celebrations coincide with the opening match of Gulf Cup 27 (Saudi Arabia vs. Kuwait) at the 65,000-capacity Alinma Stadium, adding to expected crowd and traffic volumes.
- This year’s build-up follows a heightened regional security backdrop: on 11 September, drones launched from Iraq struck Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline in the Riyadh and Medina regions, and Abha — one of the five cities covered by celebrations — sits roughly 120 kilometres from the Yemen border with a documented history of Houthi drone and missile strikes.
- Businesses and individuals should expect traffic congestion, road closures, heightened security checkpoints, temporary airspace restrictions around air shows and fireworks, and an elevated risk of National-Day-themed phishing scams.
Saudi Arabia’s National Day is one of the Kingdom’s largest annual events, and its 2026 edition arrives alongside a heightened regional security backdrop that raises the stakes for businesses and travellers planning around it. Here is what to expect and how to prepare.
What is Saudi National Day 2026 and when does it take place?
Saudi Arabia marks its 96th National Day on 23 September, commemorating the 1932 unification of the Kingdom under King Abdulaziz, and it is a public holiday for private and non-profit sector employees. The General Entertainment Authority launched this year’s identity under the retained slogan ‘Our Pride Lies in Our Nature,’ built around six national values, and has directed government, private and non-profit entities to standardise its use across events and communications. The main National Day celebration runs from 22 to 23 September in Malham, Riyadh, featuring air displays, military exhibitions, a Royal Guard ceremony, helicopter formations and a Riyadh Air Boeing 787 flypast, with gates opening at 1400 hours local time. Simultaneous fireworks displays are scheduled across nine cities — Riyadh, Al Khobar, Medina, Jeddah, Hail, Arar, Al Baha, Tabuk and Buraidah — at 2100 hours on 23 September.
Which cities and venues will see the most disruption?
In Riyadh, high-footfall venues historically include Boulevard Riyadh City, Umm Ajlan Park, the King Abdullah Financial District and Diriyah/Bujairi Terrace, with the 95th National Day seeing a three-day, 47-site programme and more than 9,000 personnel deployed for traffic and event management. Jeddah’s Corniche/Promenade is the established fireworks hub, and this year’s celebrations coincide with the opening match of Gulf Cup 27 — Saudi Arabia versus Kuwait at the 65,000-capacity Alinma Stadium — adding substantial crowd movement around King Abdullah Sports City. Medina’s King Fahd Central Park is the typical fireworks venue, while Abha’s mountainous Asir terrain around Al-Sad Park can complicate crowd egress, and Tabuk’s celebrations centre on Prince Fahd bin Sultan Park near the Jordanian border and the Neom development zone.
Why is the security backdrop different this year?
On 11 September, the Saudi government stated that drones launched from Iraq struck its East-West oil pipeline in the Riyadh and Medina regions, causing casualties and damage; Baghdad condemned the attack and launched an investigation, and Riyadh has opted not to retaliate for now at Iraq’s request while reserving the right to act to protect its sovereignty. Two of the five cities covered by National Day celebrations — Riyadh and Medina — sit within the affected regions, raising the baseline threat profile heading into the holiday. Separately, Abha International Airport, roughly 120 kilometres from the Yemen border, has a documented history of Houthi drone and missile strikes, including a 2019 attack that wounded 26 people. The wider regional environment currently presents an elevated risk of missile and drone activity against infrastructure and aviation assets in Saudi Arabia.
How could businesses and individuals be affected?
Businesses in Riyadh, Jeddah and other celebration centres may face traffic congestion, temporary road restrictions and delays to employee and service movement around event venues, while retail, hospitality and entertainment businesses may see increased footfall and spending. Air shows, drone displays and fireworks may bring temporary aviation restrictions or NOTAMs affecting flight operations near celebration areas, and increased security presence may add access controls and checkpoint delays near offices, hotels and retail centres. Both businesses and individuals face an elevated risk of phishing, fraudulent promotions and malicious links exploiting National Day offers and event information. Individuals attending celebrations may encounter crowded transport hubs, parking constraints and longer waiting times, and are subject to Saudi public-decency requirements, including modest dress, with violations carrying fines of up to SAR 5,000.
What should businesses and individuals do to prepare?
Businesses should monitor announcements from the General Entertainment Authority, municipal and traffic authorities for short-notice changes, review employee movement plans with flexible working or staggered shifts around 23 September, confirm road and aviation conditions before inter-city travel, and route deliveries or field operations away from celebration zones during peak periods. Reinforcing cyber-awareness ahead of the holiday and briefing local and expatriate staff on public-decency and photography requirements — including not photographing military facilities, security operations or drone activity — are also advised. Individuals should check official event announcements and traffic updates before travelling, use designated spectator zones, confirm flight status before heading to the airport, keep identification and a charged phone accessible in crowds, and verify any National Day promotions or ticket offers before sharing personal or financial information.
Frequently asked questions
Is Saudi National Day a public holiday for all employees?
It is a public holiday for private and non-profit sector employees; government-sector arrangements may differ, so organisations should confirm applicable holiday policies for their workforce.
Which cities have fireworks displays on 23 September?
Simultaneous fireworks are scheduled at 2100 hours local time across Riyadh, Al Khobar, Medina, Jeddah, Hail, Arar, Al Baha, Tabuk and Buraidah.
Is there an elevated security risk this year?
Yes. Following the 11 September drone strikes on the East-West oil pipeline in the Riyadh and Medina regions, the baseline threat profile is elevated heading into the National Day period, particularly around critical infrastructure and aviation assets.
Download the full advisory now
MitKat’s Special Advisory on Saudi National Day 2026 carries the complete celebration schedule, a city-by-city venue and risk breakdown, the full security-measures briefing and a directory of official resources and emergency contacts. Download the full advisory now to brief your travelling staff and continuity teams.
Filed under: EMEAThreat Intelligence Special Reports
