The Saudi Club at UNA welcomed a diversity of students from all over the world to come out and celebrate Saudi National Day with food, music and entertainment on Monday, September 23.

“It is the Saudi National Day and we’re celebrating because in the past, King Abdul Aziz founded and put together [what is now known] as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” Said Muath Aljandal who participate in the National Saudi Day presentation.

To commemorate the holiday the Saudi Club held a night-time event with numerous activities that portrayed different aspects of the Saudi Arabian culture. The club offered coffee and tea while streaming Arabic music from YouTube. A reading of the Quran followed along with an English translation. Saudi Club members also performed their Arabic dance moves but not before singing the Saudi Arabian national anthem.

Student Yumi Tsukamoto said her favorite part was the comedy show.

“It was funny and I learned about the Saudi Arabian culture and how it is different from my culture and American culture,” Tsukamoto said.

The purpose of the event was primarily to promote cultural understanding, particularly Saudi Arabian culture, Aljandal said.

“We need to explain our culture,” Aljandal said. “Some people don’t look up [Saudi Arabia]. They watch the media in a negative way and there is a positive way but they never show it. So we do this to show everybody how our life is and our country, our kingdom.”

President of the Saudi Club at UNA, Ead Alsaeed also believes it is important to come to cultural events like these.

“It’s important to see a different country,” Said Alsaeed. “Students learn something new about the culture, about this country. They try Arabic food and they get new information.”

Up next on the Saudi Club’s agenda is International Day, Alsaeed said.

“Were planning for international day in two months,” Alsaeed said. “We’re going to make some surprises for it.”