Saudi Arabia held celebrations on Tuesday to commemorate for the first time its foundation nearly 300 years ago. The government lined up events that included musical performances on Saudi modern history, fireworks, drone shows and sound effects, with 3,500 performers taking part, state media reported. The anniversary marks the day in 1727 when Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Saud took over the emirate of Diriyah – a remote town which now lies on the northwest edge of the Saudi capital Riyadh. That was about 18 years before what historians generally consider as the beginning of the Saudi state when bin Saud forged an alliance with Islamic preacher Mohammed ibn Abd al-Wahhab.
The agreement with the clergy boosted the legitimacy of the Al Saud rulers in exchange for lavish funding and influence granted to the conservative religious establishment over social issues, education and public morality—powers which have recently been curbed by the country’s de facto leader.
