Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is a large country in West Asia that covers most of the Arabian Peninsula. It is the fifth-largest country in Asia and the largest in the Middle East. The country has a coastline along both the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf and is mostly desert with some mountains and lowlands. The capital and largest city is Riyadh, and other important cities include Jeddah, Mecca, and Medina.

Islam began in what is now Saudi Arabia in the early seventh century, and the country has a rich history tied to the growth of the Islamic world. Saudi Arabia as a modern country was founded in 1932 by King Abdulaziz, who united different regions into one nation.

Today, Saudi Arabia is known for its huge oil reserves and is one of the world's largest oil producers and exporters. The country has a high-income economy and provides free university tuition and health care for its citizens. Saudi Arabia is also a member of many international groups, including the United Nations and OPEC.

Etymology

See also: House of Saud and Arab (etymology)

In 1932, a leader named Abdulaziz brought together two areas called Hejaz and Nejd. He named the new country "al-Mamlaka al-ʿArabiyya as-Suʿūdiyya," which means "the Saudi Arab Kingdom." The word "Saudi" comes from the name of the royal family, Al Saud, which means "family of Saud." This family has led the country for a long time.

History

Prehistory

There is evidence that people lived in the Arabian Peninsula as far back as about 125,000 years ago. A study from 2011 found that the first modern humans to move east across Asia left Africa about 75,000 years ago through a place called Bab-el-Mandeb, connecting the Horn of Africa and Arabia. The Arabian Peninsula is very important for understanding how humans evolved and spread out.

During the Neolithic period, cultures like Al-Magar, centered in modern-day southwestern Najd, thrived. Al-Magar is known for being one of the first places where people widely kept animals, especially horses. They made statues from stone, which were likely placed in important buildings used for social and religious activities.

In 2017, scientists found old drawings in northwestern Saudi Arabia that show images of dogs, possibly the earliest known pictures of dogs in the world.

Pre-Islamic

The earliest known settlement in Saudi Arabia dates back to a time called the Ubaid period at a place named Dosariyah. Later, during the Dilmun period in the early 3rd millennium, the area became more developed. Records from Uruk mention a place called Dilmun, linked to copper and woods. Tarout Island was an important port and capital of Dilmun.

By 2200 BC, the center of Dilmun moved to the island of Bahrain, where large settlements and temples were built.

Middle Ages and rise of Islam

Before Islam, much of what is now Saudi Arabia was home to nomadic tribes, with a few trading towns like Mecca and Medina. Muhammad was born in Mecca around 570 CE. In the early 7th century, he united the tribes and created a single Islamic community. After his death in 632, his followers spread Islam far beyond Arabia.

Arabs from this region founded several important caliphates, including the Rashidun, Umayyad, Abbasid, and Fatimid caliphates. For much of the 10th century, the Qarmatians were powerful in the Persian Gulf but were later defeated.

Saud dynasty and unification

The Saudi royal family began in Diriyah in 1727 when Muhammad bin Saud became emir. He joined forces with Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, who started the Wahhabi movement. Their alliance helped the Saud family grow their influence.

The Emirate of Diriyah controlled much of Saudi Arabia until it was destroyed by Ottoman forces in 1818. The smaller Emirate of Nejd was created in 1824. In 1902, Ibn Saud recaptured Riyadh, beginning the third Saudi state. With help from a tribal army called the Ikhwan, he captured more areas.

In 1916, during World War I, the Sharif of Mecca led a revolt against the Ottomans with British support. Ibn Saud continued his own battles until he united the kingdoms of Hejaz and Nejd in 1932, creating the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

20th century

The new kingdom relied on oil discoveries in 1938, which brought great wealth and development. The country saw rapid changes, especially after becoming the world’s largest oil producer by 1976.

In 1979, two big events worried the government: the Iranian Islamic Revolution and an attack on the Grand Mosque in Mecca. The government responded by enforcing stricter religious rules.

21st century

In the early 2000s, there were signs of unrest, including bombings in several cities. In 2005, King Abdullah introduced some economic reforms and allowed women to vote and run in elections starting in 2015.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is a large country that covers most of the Arabian Peninsula. It is located between certain lines of latitude and longitude and is the biggest country in the Middle East. The exact size is not known because some borders are not clearly marked.

The land in Saudi Arabia is mostly desert, with big sandy areas and mountains in some places. There are also many dry riverbeds called wadis. The country has many islands in the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. The highest point in the country is Jabal Soudah, which is almost 3,000 meters tall. Saudi Arabia has many volcanoes that are not active anymore.

The weather in Saudi Arabia is very hot in the summer and cool in the winter. Some northern areas can even see snow. Rain is rare but happens more in the southern parts during certain months.

Biodiversity

Main article: Wildlife of Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is home to many different animals and plants, even though much of the land is desert. You can find animals like wolves, hyenas, mongooses, and many types of birds. The Red Sea around Saudi Arabia has many fish and coral reefs, making it a rich place for sea life. The date palm tree is very common and is an important symbol of the country.

Government and politics

Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy, meaning one ruler holds all the power. The king must follow Islamic law, known as Sharia, and the Quran, which acts like the country’s constitution. There are no political parties or elections. Some see the government as authoritarian, meaning it doesn’t allow much freedom.

Politics mainly happen within the royal family or between the royal family and other important groups in Saudi society. People can petition the king directly through traditional meetings. Tribal identity is important, and tribal leaders have influence. The government has made small steps to include more people, like creating advisory councils and holding some elections for local positions.

The king holds legislative, executive, and judicial powers, and the royal family controls most important government positions. The government has faced accusations of corruption for many years. The religious leaders, known as the ulema, play a direct role in government and influence major decisions.

Saudi Arabia is divided into 13 regions, which are further split into governorates. The country’s foreign policy focuses on cooperation with nearby oil-exporting nations, supporting the Arab world, and promoting Islamic solidarity. It has strong alliances with the United States and has growing ties with China.

The military is large and well-equipped, with significant spending on defence. It has been involved in conflicts, such as the ongoing situation in Yemen. The country has been criticized for its human rights record, including issues related to the treatment of women, freedom of expression, and the use of the death penalty.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has a very big economy. Its total value is over $1.1 trillion when counted in the same way as many other countries, and more than $2.3 trillion when counting what people can buy with money. It is the second largest economy in the Middle East after Turkey, the largest in the Arab world, and the 18th largest in the world. The country has a lot of oil, with the second largest known amount in the world. It is also the third biggest maker of oil and the biggest seller of oil. Saudi Arabia also has a lot of natural gas.

The country's economy mainly depends on oil. Oil brings in about 63% of the money the government needs, 67% of the money it sells to other countries, and 45% of all the country's money made. Many people who work for private companies in Saudi Arabia are from other countries. The country faces challenges like making sure everyone has enough money, improving schools so young people can get good jobs, and changing the economy so it does not depend only on oil.

The group of countries that control how much oil is made, called OPEC, decides how much oil each country can sell. Saudi Arabia says it has a lot of oil, but some people think it might not have as much as it says.

From 2003 to 2013, Saudi Arabia started letting private companies run some services like water, electricity, and phone service. In 2005, it joined the World Trade Organization, which helps countries trade with each other. The country also tries to bring in businesses from other countries.

Besides oil and gas, Saudi Arabia also has gold mines, farms, and many people who come to visit for religious reasons each year. The country has plans to build new cities to create more jobs.

Saudi Arabia is working to improve its ports to help with trade between Europe and China. The country is also part of an old trade route called the Maritime Silk Road.

Statistics about how many people in Saudi Arabia do not have enough money are not available because the government does not share this information. In 2020, the country's economy faced big problems because of the COVID-19 pandemic and lower oil prices.

In 2024, Saudi Arabia started working with Chinese companies to build clean energy projects. The country wants to use more clean energy and make parts for these projects locally.

Agriculture

Main article: Agriculture in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has a dry climate and not much farmland, so most people have traditionally raised animals like camels, sheep, and goats. Farming has only been a small part of the economy. In the 1970s, the government started big projects to help farming, especially for wheat. Today, Saudi Arabia makes enough wheat, meat, milk, and eggs for itself, and it also sells dates, dairy products, eggs, fish, poultry, fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Dates are very important in Saudi Arabia and the country is one of the biggest producers in the world.

Saudi Arabia has some very modern farms for milk production. One company, Almarai, is the biggest dairy company in the Middle East.

Water supply and sanitation

Main articles: Water supply and sanitation in Saudi Arabia and Irrigation in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has very little water, so it has built many factories that turn sea water into fresh water. About half of the country's drinking water comes from these factories, while the rest comes from underground water or rivers in the southwest. The country is worried because it is using up its underground water too fast.

In 2004, about 97% of people in Saudi Arabia had clean drinking water, and 99% had good ways to handle waste water. By 2015, almost everyone had good waste water systems.

Tourism

Main article: Tourism in Saudi Arabia

In 2019, Saudi Arabia started letting people from many countries visit for tourism. Many people visit for religious reasons, but there is also growing tourism for fun. The country plans to make tourism a bigger part of its economy as part of its Saudi Vision 2030 plan. Visitors can get electronic visas to attend sports events and concerts. In 2020, people with visas from the US, UK, or certain European countries could get a Saudi visa when they arrived.

Demographics

Saudi Arabia is home to about 32 million people, making it one of the more populous countries in the Arab world. Almost half of these people are not Saudi citizens, coming mainly from other parts of the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa.

The population of Saudi Arabia has grown very fast since 1950, when it was only about 3 million. Today, more than half of all people in Saudi Arabia are under 25 years old.

Language

Arabic is the official language of Saudi Arabia. There are several different dialects spoken, including Najdi, Hejazi, Gulf, and Southern Hejaz-Tihama. Other languages spoken by foreign workers include Bengali, Tagalog, Punjabi, Urdu, and Egyptian Arabic.

Religion

Main article: Religion in Saudi Arabia

Most people in Saudi Arabia follow Islam. The majority are Sunni Muslims, with a smaller group of Shia Muslims. There are also small communities of Christians, Hindus, and others, mostly among foreign workers. The country follows Islamic laws strictly.

Education

Main article: Education in Saudi Arabia

Education is free for all children in Saudi Arabia. Schools are divided into primary, middle, and secondary levels, and they separate boys and girls. There are also special schools for skills like technology and religion. Many universities have been built recently, including some for only women. The government is working to improve education so that students learn more than just memorizing facts.

Health care

Main articles: Health in Saudi Arabia and Health care in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia provides free health care to its people through government hospitals and clinics. The government has worked hard to improve health services, and many cities have received awards for being healthy places to live. There are programs to help people eat better and exercise more. However, many people still smoke, and the government is trying to reduce this through new rules and taxes on tobacco.

Foreigners

Saudi Arabia has many foreign workers, especially from India, Pakistan, Egypt, and other nearby countries. Some of these workers face difficult conditions, and the government is working to balance the need for foreign labor with opportunities for Saudi citizens. The country has rules about who can become a citizen and how long foreigners can stay.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has deep traditions and attitudes that come from its long history and Arab roots. Important influences on its culture include Islamic beliefs, Arab customs, and its past as a trading center. The country places strong importance on family ties and traditions.

Religion plays a big role in daily life and shapes many aspects of society. The Hejaz region is home to Islam’s holy cities of Mecca and Medina, where Muslims travel for the Ḥajj pilgrimage.

Islam is the official religion of Saudi Arabia. While people of other faiths may live there, they must practice their beliefs privately. The country follows Wahhabism, a strict form of Islam that began in the 18th century. This influences many rules and customs.

For many years, women did not have the same rights as men. Recently, reforms have improved women’s rights, such as allowing them to travel, get divorces, and apply for official documents without a male guardian’s permission. Women can now also participate more in sports and other areas of public life.

Saudi Arabia has many important historic and cultural sites. Eight places are recognized by UNESCO for their cultural importance. The country works to protect its heritage and has invested money to preserve ancient relics and sites.

Traditional Saudi clothing reflects Islamic values of modesty. Men often wear a long white robe called a thawb and a head covering. Women wear a black abaya in public, often covering their heads as well.

Music, dance, and art exist in Saudi Arabia, though they have faced restrictions. Traditional music often goes with poetry, and instruments like the rabābah are used. The ardah dance is a popular national dance. Art has developed more recently with new influences.

Saudi television and media are influential across the Arab world. The government monitors media closely. The country has a high rate of internet use and is a big market for e-commerce.

Football is very popular in Saudi Arabia. The national team has achieved success in Asian competitions and has participated in the World Cup. Other sports like scuba diving, horse racing, and camel racing are also enjoyed. Women’s sports have grown more accepted in recent years, with new teams and leagues being formed.