A Brief Description

The founder of modern Saudi Arabia, Abd al-Aziz, captured Riyadh at the turn of the 20th century, and began his efforts to unify the many factions on the Arabian Peninsula. It took many decades but he enjoyed a large measure of success.

One of his many sons, Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, rules the country today, and in fact, irrevocable Saudi law dictates that the throne of Saudi Arabia must remain in the hands of the sons and grandsons of the founder.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the largest country in the Middle East, is 95% desert, including the Rub' Al Khali, the biggest mass of sand on the planet.

In 1937 (near Riyadh) large oil reserves were discovered, and today, the country is the world's largest producer and exporter of oil.

Saudi Arabia (to its credit) still uses much of the profits from that industry to improve the infrastructure of the country and the lives of its people.

As an example; with an overall lack of rain and fresh water, it successfully (and very expensively) constructed the world's largest desalination plant on the shores of the Persian Gulf.

It's a strictly Muslim land and home to both Medina and Mecca, Islam's holiest cities, and each year an estimated two-million Muslims take part in the Hajj pilgrimage.

The Hajj is one of the five pillars, or duties, of the Islamic faith, requiring all able-bodied Muslims to make the journey to Mecca, the birthplace of the Prophet Mohammed (P.B.U.H), at least once in their lifetime.

Facts and Figures

Name: Saudi Arabia

(long form) Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Population: 26,417,600

Capital City: Riyadh (3.2 million)

Currency: Saudi Riyal (SAR)

Languages: Arabic

National Day: September 23

Religions: Muslim (100%)

Geographic Coordinates

Latitude/Longitude (Capital City)
24º 39' N, 46º 46' E

Relative Location Saudi Arabia, located directly on the Tropic of Cancer, is in both the northern and eastern hemispheres. It's positioned in the Middle East, a recognized geographical region of southwestern Asia. The country is bordered by Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen, and the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba.

Land Statistics

Coastline 1,640 miles (2,640 km)

Land Areas

(land) 756,985 sq miles (1,960,582 sq km)

(water) 0 sq miles (0 sq km)

(TOTAL) 756,985 sq miles (1,960,582 sq km)

Landforms Saudi Arabia is for the most part an uninhabited desert land, which includes the Rub' Al Khali Desert, the biggest mass of sand on the planet, and the An-Nafud Desert - where sand dunes often exceed 100 ft. in height.

The land (desert) rises into hills and mountains in the west and southwest, along the edges of the Red Sea. Mountain ranges include the Hejaz in the northwest, and the Azir in the southwest.

There are no perennial lakes or rivers.

Highest Point Jabal Sawda' - 10,279 ft. (3,133 m)

Lowest Point Persian Gulf - (0 ft.) (0 m)

Land Divisions 13 provinces, including: Al Bahah, Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah, Al Jawf, Al Madinah, Al Qasim, Ar Riyad, Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern Province), 'Asir, Ha'il, Jizan, Makkah, Najran and Tabuk.

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