Picture Story | Al-Ahsa celebrates Saudi National Day with horses and classic cars evoking the nation’s memory
In a scene bringing together popular heritage and the memory of the road, the 96th Saudi National Day procession in Al-Ahsa became an open tableau where horses, classic cars and artistic performances stood side by side, while residents lined the route, raising the Saudi flag and joining in patriotic chants.
The image, documented by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) during the major procession on King Abdullah Ring Road, captures one aspect of how Al-Ahsa celebrates the occasion: a broad popular presence and a visual scene blending elements of local heritage with modern details, on a day when Saudis commemorate the unification of the Kingdom.
A procession bringing together horses and classic cars
According to SPA, the procession set off on the evening of Tuesday, September 22, 2026, as part of the Saudi National Day celebrations. It was jointly organized by Al-Ahsa Governorate, the Al-Ahsa Municipality, King Faisal University and the Al-Ahsa Development Authority, with the participation of government entities as well as security, health and service sectors.
The event was not limited to a single parade; it also featured traditional arts performances and patriotic chants, along with displays of classic and modified cars and equestrian performances. This variety gave the scene a distinctive character: the vintage cars evoked the memory of decades past, while the horses appeared as an integral part of Arab and Saudi culture.
Residents become part of the picture
The image’s most significant element is not the vehicles or performances alone, but the crowd that surrounded the procession route from early on. SPA reported that spectators raised the national flag and repeated popular chants, turning the event from an organized show into broad community participation.
In this “Picture Story,” these details are important because they explain what lies behind the shot: the celebration is not read only through the color green or the flag, but through different generations gathering in one place and the city’s institutions and residents participating in a single national occasion.
Why does Al-Ahsa offer a different backdrop for the celebration?
Al-Ahsa has a clear cultural and heritage presence, making the choice of traditional arts, equestrian performances and classic cars well suited to the local setting. Rather than presenting the occasion in a single format, the procession brought together a mix of performances that gave visitors and followers more than one perspective from which to view the celebration.
Saudi National Day falls on September 23 each year, commemorating the declaration of the country’s unification under the name of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932. On the 96th anniversary, events were held in various regions of the Kingdom in a range of formats, while Al-Ahsa presented a scene built around the procession, popular participation, arts and displays.
The picture story
The Al-Ahsa shot says a great deal without any need for a staged scene: horses and cars from different eras, Saudi flags, and a crowd filling the sides of the road. It is a genuine image from a genuine celebration, captured on an occasion when streets and public squares become shared spaces for memory and joy.
Source: Saudi Press Agency (SPA) — report titled “Al-Ahsa celebrates National Day with a major procession,” September 23, 2026.
