Saudi National Day is a remarkable occasion in which citizens emphasize the concepts of national unity, peace and coexistence among different levels of society in order to celebrate the Kingdom’s development and express their sentiments for the nation’s leadership.

Saudi Arabia has long been recognized as a powerhouse in the Middle East and nowadays it is undergoing a remarkable transformation led by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, through empowering future generations with education and security as well as guaranteeing them their rights.

The significance of National Day is to remind the younger generation of all the achievements made by their predecessors, and to instill the values of civilization in the hearts and minds of future generations so as to present the best image of Saudi Arabia in all international forums and to spread awareness about the need to preserve national unity.

Politically, there is a strong relationship between national identity and power, as the power of Saudi Arabia regionally and internationally affects the attitude, role and value of the Saudi national. On the other hand, the national identity of the Saudi citizen affects the strength of the political power the country represents in the world. Therefore, Saudi Arabia’s national security is associated with the participation of its citizens in various fields.

Saudi Arabia is home to many foreigners and accommodates people from many diverse cultural backgrounds, and these residents along with Saudi citizens celebrate the Kingdom’s National Day. Citizens in all countries compare their position in society to those of others in terms of their regional, linguistic, religious and cultural allegiances and identities along with material possessions and economic, social and political positions.

Making comparisons has always been a natural human activity, as generations have sought to understand and explain the similarities and differences they perceive between themselves and others. We also compare and evaluate our situation as individuals, communities or nations. In this regard, Saudi Arabia stands to benefit from its youth and its national identity in an age of globalization as its people unite together in nation building.

— The author can be reached at: ekleel.sallam@hotmail.com Twitter: @EkleelBS