Discover Saudi Arabia: A Comprehensive Country Profile

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in West Asia. Located in the centre of the Middle East, it covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula and has a land area of about 2,150,000 km2 (830,000 sq. mi); making it the fifth-largest country in Asia, the largest in the Middle East, and the 12th-largest in the world.

It is bordered by the Red Sea to the west; Jordan, Iraq, and Kuwait to the north; the Persian Gulf, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates to the east; Oman to the southeast; and Yemen to the south. The Gulf of Aqaba in the northwest separates Saudi Arabia from Egypt and Israel. Saudi Arabia is the only country with a coastline along both the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf, and most of its terrain consists of arid desert, lowland, steppe, and mountains. The capital and largest city is Riyadh; other major cities include Jeddah and the two holiest cities in Islam, Mecca and Medina. With a population of almost 32.2 million, Saudi Arabia is the fourth most populous country in the Arab world.

Capital: Riyadh

Area: 2,149,690 km²

Population: ~35 million

Languages: Arabic

Top 10 Tourist Attractions:

• Al-Ula (UNESCO Heritage Site)
• Mada’in Saleh
• The Edge of the World
• Kingdom Centre Tower
• Al Masmak Fortress
• Jeddah Corniche
• King Fahd Fountain
• Red Sea Scuba Diving
• Diriyah Historic District
• Al-Balad (Historic Jeddah)

Timeline of History:

610 CE: Birth of Islam in Mecca.

1932: Unification of Saudi Arabia under King Abdulaziz.

Culture: Deeply rooted in Islamic traditions, with hospitality, Arabic coffee, and camel racing as cultural staples.

Politics: An absolute monarchy, with King Salman as the head of state.