Police were out in force in Riyadh's central Olaya corridor to keep the jammed streets orderly while shooing away youths who stood on the sidewalks watching the parade of crowded sports cars and SUVs, many completely covered in green temporary peel-off paint finish and most waving at least one Saudi flag.

The country's larger cities saw nighttime fireworks and crowded public spaces that echoed the Eid Al-Fitr celebrations that ended just last week.

A number of folk artists and singers performed folk dances in an event organized by Riyadh Municipality at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Olympic Complex in the Rafeeah District as part of the day's celebrations.

Ardah dance teams representing the style of Unaizah, Bisha, Jazan, Makkah and Dawassir performed in the event. The story of the unification of the Kingdom was also enacted in a drama presentation.

In Eastern Province's Dammam and Alkhobar, many were on foot while others were part of a cavalcade of more than 1,000 cars, buses and bikes, including a large contingent of Harley-Davidson enthusiasts, that formed a parade of people along the Corniche between Dammam and Alkhobar.

At times, youngsters would get off their cars and indulge in nice little jigs to the wild applause of the curious and overjoyed onlookers. Saudi flags, big and small, fluttered from all vehicles and electric poles.

"We are the sons of Saudi Arabia and we feel proud to be a Saudi," said a beaming Nasser Ahmad Al-Oraifi. "Today is our day. Today is the day of unification. Today is the day of celebration!"

Ahmad Muhammad Al-Ahmad could not believe his eyes.

"I don't know what to say," he said. "This is the new Saudi Arabia. Look at all these youngsters. Look at their faces. Aren't they proud? Yes, we are. We are celebrating because we are aware of who we are. There is this sense of identity. There is a sense of acknowledgment."

Nesreen, who declined to give her last name, said: "My whole family is here on the Alkhobar Corniche to watch these celebrations. My brother is riding one of those colorful bikes and I am waiting for him to pass by where I am standing. We want to take his pictures and post them on Facebook right here. We want the world to know who we are. We want them to know that we do have a life."

She was full of praise for King Abdullah. "He has given us this moment of glory. He has allowed us to feel as one nation. We are proud to be Saudi and we are proud to be Muslim," she said.

At all intersections, young men were selling Saudi flags and pictures of King Abdullah.

"We love you our beloved king," read one of the giant-sized banners on a white coach. The king's picture, in which he is shown as smiling and waving, was prominently displayed. The Shahada, "La Ilaha Ilallah Muhammadur Rasoolullah," was everywhere, underlining the Saudis' deep and unflinching commitment to Islam and its message of the oneness of God.

There was a huge security presence after crowd trouble during last year's National Day celebrations on the Alkhobar Corniche, when some youths ransacked local businesses, embarrassing the community and causing authorities to publicly flog the ones who were caught as an example.

During celebrations this year, traffic moved at a snail's pace but was nevertheless flowing smoothly thanks to excellent arrangements by the traffic police. Every face was smiling. The scenes were unprecedented in a country where parades and processions are not the norm.

Google Saudi Arabia (www.google.com.sa) had its logo shaded with green, where the letter 'l' was modified to depict a Saudi flagpole.

In Jeddah, the city was virtually painted green on Thursday night. Families with their children and young Saudis in their cars and motorcycles were waving the national flag while playing the anthem.

"Tonight I am celebrating with joy our national day. I love how vehicles, streets, buildings, and people are all dressed in our national flag's white and green," 22-year-old college student Abdul Muhsin said.

"I am happy to all the good things this country has achieved through the years under our leaders," said Shahaad Saad, a mother of two.

Police too were part of the street celebration as youths standing above their vehicles waving their Saudi flags were looked upon benevolently by the police, who had turned out in large numbers.

Abdul Aziz Salem, 26, was marking the day at the Jeddah Corniche. He said "I reject these kind of dangerous reckless activities. In my view these guys can celebrate without putting themselves and other in harms way."

"Me and my friends came to Tahlia Street without a car, we got here by taxi just to celebrate in a civilized manner. We won’t be going home till late in the morning, as many people are dancing and enjoying here," 15-year-old Jawaher Hassan said.

Governor of the southern province of Najran Prince Mishaal bin Abdullah opened a technical tent on the occasion at the Al-Okhdud Club. Prince Mishaal also opened an exhibition called the Kingdom Humanity showcasing the photos of the progress of the Kingdom since its founding by King Abdul Aziz.

— With input from Sultan Al-Tamimi