Royal Saudi Air Force jets will perform an aerial show above Jeddah on Saturday as part of the Saudi National Day celebrations.
Events to mark the occasion began across the kingdom on Wednesday and will carry on until Sunday.
Saturday will be an official holiday for the private and public sectors, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has announced.
Schools and universities will be given an additional day off on Sunday.
A military parade was held in Riyadh on Thursday, with the participation of the Ministry of Interior.
The government has organised a military march and air shows in cities including Riyadh, Jeddah, Taif, Al Baha, Tabuk, Abha, Dhahran, Al Jawf, Al Ahsa, Khamis Mushait, Al Khobar and Dammam.
The 93rd National Day celebrations aim to reflect the "pride in the kingdom's present and the achievements it has achieved to build the future in accordance with Saudi Vision 2030", the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Roads, billboards, malls and offices across the kingdom have been decorated with the Saudi flag and traditional motifs.
"Today we celebrated with a beautiful Saudi dance and musical performance in our office. We had Saudi coffee, dates and desserts during the afternoon," said Nabil Alfaiz, 36, a marketing executive in Riyadh.
"I plan to celebrate with the family as my wife and children also have a National Day holiday."
'First Ronaldo, now Neymar'
As Saudis and residents celebrate National Day, some have reflected on major milestones reached during the past year.
Saudi Pro League clubs have attracted global talent to the kingdom – capturing the imagination of supporters at home and abroad.
"This year has been very special to me as I am a football fan. First [Cristiano] Ronaldo joined us and this year Neymar. I am a big fan of them and very happy to celebrate this year as we one of the best football leagues in the world," said Amir Hashim, 15, who lives in Jeddah.
The theme of this year's celebrations is "This is Our Home".
“Our dreams have not stopped since the foundation of this kingdom and we will work to achieve them as long as we live. Let’s celebrate our accomplishments,” said a statement on the National Day website.
People have thronged to malls to take advantage of sales and find items to help them mark the occasion.
"The malls are full of life as you can hear the national songs being played all day. Malls are crowded as schools and public offices have holidays," said Nahla Eman, 37, a Saudi saleswoman in Jeddah.
Another saleswoman, Umm Talal, said her shop green abayas have been popular this year.
"We ordered more stock to fill the growing demand. It is a busy season and full of activities," she said.
Military and biker parades
Military events, a biker parade and an arms exhibition have been among the nationwide celebrations.
"I went on Wednesday to see the air show on the Corniche with my sisters," said Maha Abdullah, 28, in Jeddah.
"We love coming out on National Day. We dress up in green dresses and abayas. It's good to see all the cars decorated with flags and people enjoying this day to celebrate our nation and leadership."
The eastern and western fleets of the Royal Saudi Navy will participate in the National Day celebrations in Jeddah.
The National Day celebrations honour "the endeavours and efforts that came together to achieve successful initiatives that benefit the citizen and the resident", the General Entertainment Authority said.
Diana Wijaya, an Indonesian resident in Al Khobar, said she marks the day every year with friends.
“We watch the air show and fireworks," she said.
"Sometimes we go around Al Khobar and try new coffee stores.
“We love Saudi Arabia so much, we want to celebrate and share our happiness for the good times we had here. People passing by were recording us and they’re all happy to see what we’re doing."
Schools across the kingdom planned to hold National Day activities, before closing for the long weekend.
"It was great to see all the kids dressed up in the colours of the national flag. We bought them headbands, thobes and flags to enjoy the celebration with friends," said Canadian citizen Amina Mudassir, 40, who lives in Jeddah.
"Saudi National Day is equally celebrated by citizens and residents. We are so happy to be living in such a safe and prosperous nation."
Recent winners
2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)
2004 Nathalie Nasralla (France)
2005 Catherine Abboud (Oceania)
2007 Grace Bijjani (Mexico)
2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)
2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)
2010 Daniella Rahme (Australia)
2011 Maria Farah (Canada)
2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)
2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)
2014 Lia Saad (UAE)
2015 Cynthia Farah (Australia)
2016 Yosmely Massaad (Venezuela)
2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)
2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 2 (Mahrez 04', Ake 84')
Leicester City 5 (Vardy 37' pen, 54', 58' pen, Maddison 77', Tielemans 88' pen)
Man of the match: Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)
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Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Laundry
Employees: 170
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- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Five healthy carbs and how to eat them
Brown rice: consume an amount that fits in the palm of your hand
Non-starchy vegetables, such as broccoli: consume raw or at low temperatures, and don’t reheat
Oatmeal: look out for pure whole oat grains or kernels, which are locally grown and packaged; avoid those that have travelled from afar
Fruit: a medium bowl a day and no more, and never fruit juices
Lentils and lentil pasta: soak these well and cook them at a low temperature; refrain from eating highly processed pasta variants
Courtesy Roma Megchiani, functional nutritionist at Dubai’s 77 Veggie Boutique
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COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Barcelona v Liverpool, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE).
Second leg
Liverpool v Barcelona, Tuesday, May 7, 11pm
Games on BeIN Sports
Overview
Cricket World Cup League Two: Nepal, Oman, United States tri-series, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu
Fixtures
Wednesday February 5, Oman v Nepal
Thursday, February 6, Oman v United States
Saturday, February 8, United States v Nepal
Sunday, February 9, Oman v Nepal
Tuesday, February 11, Oman v United States
Wednesday, February 12, United States v Nepal
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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