ISTANBUL

Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud on Thursday issued a royal decree to observe Feb. 22 as the Founding Day for the establishment of the first Saudi state.

According to the official Saudi Press Agency, the royal decree commemorates "the commencement of the reign of Imam Muhammad bin Saud" and marks "his founding of the first Saudi state" in 1727.

The decree stated that the first Saudi state, which lasted till 1818, "provided unity and security in the Arabian Peninsula following centuries of fragmentation, dissension and instability."

The Founding Day will be an official holiday.

Saudi Arabia celebrates its National Day every year on Sept. 23, the day that marks the establishment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar