Saudi Arabia | History, Capital, Language, Flag, Facts & Geography of Saudi Arabia
History of Saudi Arabia:
Of all countries in the world, Saudi Arabia has the most oil. It is the country that exports the most oil to the rest of the world. Islam is practiced widely in Saudi Arabia, and Mecca and Medina are two of Islam’s holiest sites. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques is the title given to the King of Saudi Arabia.
Most of Saudi Arabia was populated by nomadic tribes before the seventh century. Muhammad, the founder of Islam, was born in Mecca in the year 570. Muhammad brought many of the tribes of Saudi Arabia together in the seventh century. His adherents, the Arabs, continued to establish Muslim rule well beyond Arabia when he passed away in 632. The Ottoman Empire rose to prominence in the region in the 16th century when it seized control of the Red Sea and Persian Gulf shores. The House of Saud started to become powerful in the eighteenth century. Muhammad ibn Saud, the dynasty’s founder, established it, and it ruled until the Ottomans retook power in 1818.
After the Ottoman Empire lost the First World War, Saudi Arabia declared its independence. The House of Saud was led once more by Abdul-Aziz bin Saud. Abdul-Aziz became king when the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was established in 1932.
Information about Saudi Arabia:
| Capital | Riyadh |
| Population | 37,045,930 (Source: 2023 worldometer) |
| Major Cities | Riyadh (capital), Jeddah, Medina, Mecca, Dammam, Ta’if, Tabuk, Al Khobar, Abha |
| Borders | Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen and maritime boundaries with Egypt, Sudan, and Eritrea in the Red Sea, and with Iran, and Bahrain in the Persian Gulf |
| Gross Domestic Product (GDP) | $1,108,150,000,000 (2022 worldometer) |
| Currency | Saudi riyal (SAR) |
Flag of Saudi Arabia:
Saudi Arabia Economy Key Industries:
Saudi Arabia Major Industries: crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals; ammonia, industrial gases, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), cement, fertilizer, plastics; metals, commercial ship repair, commercial aircraft repair, construction
Saudi Arabia Agricultural Products: wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons, dates, citrus; mutton, chickens, eggs, milk
Saudi Arabia Natural Resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper
Saudi Arabia Major Exports: petroleum and petroleum products 90%
Saudi Arabia Major Imports: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, motor vehicles, textiles
The Geography of Saudi Arabia:
Total Size of Saudi Arabia: 2.15 million km² (source: wikipedia)
Geographical Low Point of Saudi Arabia: Persian Gulf 0 m
Geographical High Point of Saudi Arabia: Jabal Sawda’ 3,133 m
Climate of Saudi Arabia: harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes
General Terrain of Saudi Arabia: mostly uninhabited, sandy desert
World Region or Continent of Saudi Arabia: Middle East
Geographical Coordinates: 25 00 N, 45 00 E
The People of Saudi Arabia & Culture
Saudi Arabia Government Type: monarchy
Saudi Arabia Nationality: Saudi(s)
Saudi Arabia National Holiday: Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)
Saudi Arabia Independence: 23 September 1932 (unification of the kingdom)
Saudi Arabia National Symbol: palm tree surmounting two crossed swords
Saudi Arabia National Anthem or Song: Aash Al Maleek (Long Live Our Beloved King)
Saudi Arabia Languages Spoken: Arabic
Saudi Arabia Religions: Muslim 100%
Interesting Facts about Saudi Arabia:
King Khalid Airport is the largest airport in the world. It has a stunning surface area of 192,000 acres, or almost 300 square miles. The airport is located in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
Two of the largest mosques in the entire world are located in Saudi Arabia! The Masjid Al Haram in Makkah and the Masjid Al Nabawi in Madinah each have a capacity for more than 5 million people.
Saudi Arabia is the world’s leading date producer! Every year, 1.5 million tons of dates are harvested.
During the Hajj, more people than normal are in Mecca. Mecca has a population of about 2 million right now, but during the Hajj, that figure increases to 4.5 million.
In 2017, 400 outdated “gates” in the Arabian Desert were discovered.
King Fahd’s fountain, which is in Jeddah, is the tallest in the entire globe.
Riyadh is 80th on the list of the world’s wealthiest cities.
More fuel is exported from Saudi Arabia than from any other nation.
The Abraj Al Bait Towers in Mecca are home to the biggest working clock face in the world. The clock is also the tallest timepiece above sea level in the entire world at 601 meters. With a diameter of 43 meters, the clock face is six times bigger than Big Ben in London.
Women cannot undergo elective surgery in Saudi Arabia without a male guardian’s approval.
The only country that forbids women from driving is Saudi Arabia.
The population of Saudi Arabia is 47% younger than 24.
Saudi Arabia is a monarchy-based Islamic country.
Saudi Arabia is the 14th-largest nation in the world.
Saudi Arabia is home to the biggest sand desert in the world.
Saudi Arabia is the Middle East country with the best business climate, according to the World Bank.
In Saudi Arabia, everyone has access to free medical care.
Jeddah, in Saudi Arabia, is home to the world’s tallest water feature.
Al Hamra Open Air Museum is the name of Saudi Arabia’s largest outdoor art gallery.
The largest camel market in the world is in Riyadh.
To the east, Saudi Arabia shares a border with the United Arab Emirates and Qatar; to the north, with Jordan, Kuwait, and Iraq; and to the south, with Yemen and Oman.
