Saudi Arabia

Overview

Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, occupies the greater part of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia and covers approximately 2.15 million square kilometres, making it the largest country in the Middle East. It is the birthplace of Islam, the world's leading petroleum exporter, and home to some of the most significant religious sites on Earth. Travelers, researchers, and business professionals consult this page for a structured account of the country's geography, society, economy, and practical travel details.

Geography

Saudi Arabia borders Jordan and Iraq to the north, Kuwait to the northeast, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates to the east, Oman to the southeast, and Yemen to the south. The Red Sea runs along the western coast, while the Arabian Gulf defines the eastern shoreline. The terrain is dominated by the vast Rub al Khali desert in the south, also known as the Empty Quarter, one of the largest continuous sand deserts in the world. The Hejaz and Asir mountain ranges run parallel to the Red Sea in the west, with peaks in the Asir reaching above 3,000 metres. The interior Najd plateau forms the geographic and political heartland of the kingdom. Rainfall is scarce across most of the country, with the Asir region receiving the most precipitation, particularly during the Indian Ocean monsoon season. Temperatures in the interior can exceed 45°C in summer and drop sharply at night in winter.

Demographics

Saudi Arabia's population stands at roughly 34.8 million people. A significant share, estimated at around 37 to 40 percent, consists of foreign nationals, many of them expatriate workers in the construction, oil, and service sectors. The population is heavily urbanised, with the majority concentrated in Riyadh, Jeddah, and the Eastern Province city of Dammam. Arabic is the sole official language. Islam is the state religion, and the country is home to the two holiest cities in Islam: Mecca, which non-Muslims are prohibited from entering, and Medina.

Culture & Language

Arabic is both the official language and the primary language of daily life, education, and commerce throughout the kingdom. The dialect spoken in Saudi Arabia varies by region, with Hejazi and Najdi being the two most widely understood varieties. Saudi cuisine draws heavily on rice, lamb, and dates, with dishes such as kabsa — a spiced rice and meat preparation — considered a national staple. Coffee flavoured with cardamom, known as qahwa, plays a central role in hospitality customs. Football is the most popular sport, and the Saudi Pro League attracts significant regional attention. Traditional music forms such as ardah, a sword dance performed at celebrations, remain culturally important alongside contemporary music and performance arts that have expanded under recent social reforms.

Government & Politics

Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy governed according to Islamic law. The king serves as both head of state and head of government, and the position of Crown Prince functions as first in line to the throne and typically holds executive responsibilities including oversight of economic policy. The Basic Law of Governance, issued in 1992, defines the structure of the state. The Consultative Assembly, or Majlis al-Shura, advises the government but does not function as a legislature in the parliamentary sense. The capital, Riyadh, is the seat of government and the royal court. The kingdom was unified under its modern form in 1932 by King Abdulaziz ibn Saud.

Economy

Saudi Arabia has one of the largest economies in the Arab world, with a gross domestic product estimated at around 1.1 trillion US dollars in recent years and a GDP per capita of roughly 30,000 US dollars, though these figures fluctuate with global oil prices. Petroleum and petrochemicals form the backbone of the economy, with Saudi Aramco being one of the world's largest companies by revenue. Oil exports account for the majority of government revenue. Vision 2030, a national development programme launched in 2016, aims to diversify the economy into tourism, entertainment, technology, and manufacturing. The currency is the Saudi riyal, abbreviated SAR and symbolised as ر.س, which is pegged to the US dollar at a fixed rate.

Quick Facts

• Capital: Riyadh
• Currency: Saudi riyal (SAR) ر.س
• Time zone: UTC+03:00 (Asia/Riyadh)
• Calling code: +966
• Internet TLD: .sa

Infrastructure & Development

Internet penetration in Saudi Arabia is high by regional standards, with an estimated 95 percent of the population having access to the internet as of recent years. The kingdom has invested heavily in 5G infrastructure, and major cities are well connected by fibre broadband. The road network is extensive, with multi-lane highways linking Riyadh, Jeddah, Mecca, and Dammam. The Haramain High-Speed Railway connects Mecca, Jeddah, and Medina, while King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh handle the majority of air traffic. Public education is free at all levels, and literacy rates have risen substantially in recent decades. Healthcare is provided through a mix of government hospitals and a growing private sector, with the Ministry of Health operating facilities across all regions.

Tourism & Highlights

Tourism has expanded significantly since Saudi Arabia began issuing tourist visas to nationals of many countries in 2019. AlUla, in the northwest, contains Hegra, also known as Mada'in Saleh, a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring Nabataean tombs carved into sandstone outcrops. Diriyah, on the outskirts of Riyadh, is a UNESCO-listed historic district and the ancestral home of the Saudi royal family. The Red Sea coastline offers coral reef diving and the planned NEOM and Red Sea Project development zones. Jeddah's historic district, Al-Balad, is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its coral-built merchant houses with intricately carved wooden screens. The Farasan Islands in the Red Sea and the Asir National Park in the southwest offer natural landscapes distinct from the desert interior.

History

The Arabian Peninsula has been inhabited for tens of thousands of years and served as a crossroads of ancient trade routes. The city of Mecca became the centre of the Islamic faith following the revelations received by the Prophet Muhammad in the seventh century CE, and the subsequent spread of Islam transformed the region's political and cultural landscape. The peninsula was contested by various empires, including the Ottoman Empire, which held nominal or direct control over much of the Hejaz until the early twentieth century. Abdulaziz ibn Saud unified the disparate tribes and territories of the peninsula, founding the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on 23 September 1932. The discovery of oil in the Eastern Province in 1938 fundamentally transformed the country's economy and geopolitical significance. Saudi Arabia has since played a central role in regional politics, the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, and the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Practical Information

If you are planning to visit Saudi Arabia, check the current visa requirements for your nationality, as the country now offers an electronic tourist visa to citizens of many countries through an online portal. The dress code outside of designated tourist zones remains conservative, and visitors are expected to respect local customs, particularly during Ramadan, when eating, drinking, and smoking in public during daylight hours are restricted. Driving is on the right-hand side of the road. Emergency services can be reached at 911 for police, 997 for fire, and 911 or 920 for ambulance services, though numbers can vary by region and it is advisable to confirm locally. The climate is best suited to travel between October and March, when temperatures in Riyadh and the interior are moderate. The Asir region in the southwest has a cooler, greener climate year-round. The currency is the Saudi riyal (SAR), and cash remains widely used alongside card payments in major cities.