Those who have stayed long in the Kingdom identify with the local customs and culture and feel that they too are part of the developing nation and play their part in it enthusiastically. But those who have recently come to the Kingdom do not understand the emphasis placed by the expatriates on the occasion.

Nidal Hassan, a 32-year-old Syrian engineer and father of a girl born in Jeddah, said that he feels like he belongs in the Kingdom.

“I got into the habit of going with my family to see the celebrations of the day,” he said. “I totally belong here and have no idea what my original homeland looks like.”

Mayar Salih, a 23-year-old Arab national who was born in the Kingdom and has lived with his family who have been here for more than three decades. Despite the complex citizenship laws that makes it difficult to attain citizenship (even for those born in the Kingdom to Saudi women married to expatriates), many residents have spent most if not their entire lives in Saudi Arabia — and it’s the only country they know.

For Mayar and his two sisters, the only national anthem they know and sing is the Saudi one.

He said that he and his Saudi friends have decided this year not to participate publicly but have their own little celebration at home.

“We, for all practical purposes are Saudis, and our main concerns as non-Saudis who have been living here for our entire life is to have rights that include, education, health care, and being allowed to invest,” he said.

Marah Marwab, a young Arab student, said she is glad that she would not be going to school on this occasion, claiming that teachers treat expatriates students differently on National Day.

“They do not give us flags, gifts or tags because we are not Saudis,” she said. “I want to participate, but this exclusion is upsetting and that’s why I do not go to these events.”

“Saudi National Day? I didn’t even know they had such an occasion in the Kingdom,” said Ahmed Patel, a British journalist who has been working in the Kingdom for less than a year. “I do not know what to expect to be honest.”

Bilal, who works for a cleaning company, said this occasion means extra work for him and his colleagues.

“We’ll work extra to clean the Corniche where people come to celebrate and leave their rubbish behind,” he said.

“National day celebration symbolizes the country’s love,” said Abdul Hadi Ismaeel, an Egyptian expatriate working in a small printing firm in Jeddah. “I have been living in the Kingdom for many years and the country did not celebrate the National Day until recently. I never imagined that it would become a big celebration in such a short time. We print flags in large numbers and young Saudis come to us searching for the best posters that talk about the love for the country and king.”

He said that the way young Saudis celebrate National Day is very much similar to the way the country celebrates a win in a major football league championship.

“I do not miss this occasion and I do go out to see the people celebrating,” he added.

Ahmad Al-Shareef, a Sudanese expatriate working in a local hospital, said that he goes out with his friends to watch the Saudis celebrating.

“The streets are unorganized and traffic jams up the road but nevertheless I like the way youths celebrate by painting their cars, carrying their flags and sometimes painting their faces,” he said.

He said that during the celebration he makes sure that his family stays home on this day as sometimes the situation turns wild during the celebration.

“I think Saudi youths should be educated about how to celebrate these big occasions. I love the enthusiasm they show and the love they express to their country on this day but sometimes they cross the limit.”