Diriyah on Founding Day: The Saudi state's birthplace and a stage for many of its heroic tales

Imam Muhammad bin Saud bin Muhammad bin Muqrin, one of Saudi Arabia's greatest historical figures and the founder of the first Saudi state, unified Diriyah, taking it from a city-state that held a number of surrounding territories to a major city-state under which the vast majority of the Arabian Peninsula was unified. He laid the state's foundations and established its guiding principles during his reign. His reign was marked by several achievements, including Diriyah's growth into a distinguished urban center, new neighborhoods, and the construction of the city's wall to protect it from aggression. In addition, key pilgrimage and trade routes were secured, along with the overall safety and stability of the state and an increased emphasis on education. 

Moreover, the imam coordinated with the city's surrounding tribes, enlisting them to work as part of the ongoing construction and unification efforts and leading several unification campaigns before handing over military leadership to his son Abdulaziz.

Imam Muhammad also had a vested interest in establishing sound financial and economic policies for the state since its establishment to better organize and regulate government expenditures, growing Diriyah into one of Central Arabia's greatest economic centers. Upon his death in 1765, he was succeeded by his son Abdulaziz whose reign continued until his assassination in the last ten days of Rajab 1803. His son Saud would assume leadership until his death in 1814 and was then succeeded by his son Abdullah who would continue to resist Ottoman aggression throughout his reign.

Diriyah continued to be the state's seat of governance until Imam Turki bin Abdullah - may Allah have mercy upon him - chose Riyadh as its new capital in 1824.

On the state's founding day anniversary, the Saudi people look back at a brilliant legacy whose chapters are rife with their ancestor's brave struggles and tireless efforts that helped solidify Diriyah as a national icon, one whose decisive historical influence on the Saudi state's formation and the Kingdom's eventual unification at the hands of King Abdulaziz Bin Abdul Rahman Al-Faisal Al Saud, may Allah have mercy upon him, cannot be understated. 

The founding of Diriyah dates to the middle of the 9th century AH / 15th century AD when Mani' al-Muraydi moved his family from Eastern Arabia to Wadi Hanifah at the invitation of his cousin Ibn Diraa, the ruler of Hajar and Jaz'ah who bestowed upon them the lands of "Al Mulaibid" and "Ghasibah," where he and his family settled. These two settlements would soon become heavily populated thanks to their fertile farmlands becoming Diriyah, which grew into a strong emirate that the Saudi state's imams would lead. 

Currently, Diriyah, home to a population of about 74,000, falls under the administrative jurisdiction of the Riyadh province and lies  20 km away from the capital and occupies 2020 km2 of land. 
In 2010, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) named the At-Turaif historic district a world heritage site; additionally, The Arab League's Educational, Cultural, and Scientific Organization (ALESCO) chose Diriyah as the Capital of Arab Culture for  2030, making it the second Saudi city to be selected after Riyadh in 2000. 

Today, the Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA) carries out a number of restoration efforts within the supervisory area of its more than 7 km2 development project with their work encompassing the historic At-Turaif neighborhood, the seat of governance for the imams of the first and second Saudi states and home to a large segment of Diriyah's population at the time, several historic palaces and mosques throughout, with Bujairi Terrace and other sites also falling within its jurisdiction.

With the unlimited support, attention, and care of our wise leadership, led by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and His Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Authority is working to preserve the land of kings and heroes and its great historical heritage. These efforts also aim to transform Diriyah – Jewel of the kingdom - into a leading global destination, alongside DGDA's other development projects that work to preserve and modernize many historic sites, elevate its people's overall quality of life, and fulfill the Kingdom's Vision 2030 goals.