ROYAL CEREMONIES AND OFFICIAL CELEBRATIONS DURING THE REIGN OF KING ʿABD AL-ʿAZĪZ ĀL SAʿŪD IN THE PILGRIMAGE SEASON OF 1368 AH / 1949 CE

This study analyzes the royal ceremonies and official celebrations held for King ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz during the 1368 AH / 1949 CE pilgrimage season, as recorded in Wathbat al-Diyār al-Ḥijāziyya fī ʿAhd ʿĀhil al-Jazīra al-ʿArabiyya. The analysis reveals how these events reflected the King’s leadership in consolidating national unity, strengthening state authority in the Ḥijāz, and framing pilgrimage as both a religious duty and a manifestation of emerging Saudi identity. By documenting these ceremonies, the study highlights the role of royal ritual in shaping political legitimacy and the cultural diplomacy of early Saudi Arabia.