Until the 1940s—and even into the 1950s—birthdates held little importance in most communities. Everyone in the neighborhood simply knew who was born before whom. There was no need to know the exact day, month, or year of birth, nor was there any practical reason to determine the precise age of children or young people.
At that time, there was no such thing as an age‑based retirement system, nor was age required for schooling or employment. But as the 1950s progressed, the importance of age began to surface, especially with the rise of private‑sector employment, such as at the Arabian American Oil Company (Aramco).
It is well known that some individuals under the age of sixteen were hired as if they were over eighteen—particularly those whose physical build made it easy to “increase” their age.
In addition, the 1950s witnessed a major educational boom, especially for boys. People began asking about the ages of children and whether they were eligible to enter school. It is said that, at the time, a child was asked to touch his left ear with his right hand to prove he was six years old.
During this period, King Saud bin Abdulaziz—may God have mercy on him—visited Al‑Ahsa on the 16th of Rabi‘ al‑Akhir, 1374 AH. That month became deeply engraved in the collective memory of the people of Al‑Ahsa. Since many did not possess birth certificates—despite the growing need for them—people spontaneously began using the King’s visit as a reference point for determining the birthdates of their children, or even the dates of their marriages.
Men and women alike would say, for example, that someone born in 1370 AH was born “four years before King Saud came to Al‑Ahsa,” while someone born in 1380 AH was born “fourteen years after King Saud’s visit,” and so on.
Yet many people still did not have birth certificates, or had certificates listing only the year of birth without specifying the day or month. Over time, however, awareness of the importance of birthdates grew—especially as citizens began obtaining national identity documents and passports. With the advancement of administrative systems, birthdates became essential for everyday matters such as opening bank accounts or applying to universities, whether domestic or abroad. They also became crucial for the state in determining retirement eligibility.
Since many citizens who eventually obtained birth certificates had only the year of birth recorded, the government adopted a standard mid‑year date for anyone whose certificate lacked a specific day and month. The chosen date was 1 July (1‑7), which became the official birthday for such individuals.
After the adoption of 1‑7, some people found their official age increased or decreased by several months. The rest of the story is well known: 1 July became a date etched into the memory of every citizen.
Writer and Political Analyst
Al‑Yaum Newspaper