Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is a massive nation in West Asia. It sits at the heart of the Middle East. The country covers most of the Arabian Peninsula. It is the largest country in the Middle East. It is also the fifth-largest country in Asia.

The land is very large, covering about 2,150,000 square kilometers. This makes it the twelfth-largest country in the whole world. It is unique because it has coastlines on two different bodies of water. To the west, it meets the Red Sea. To the east, it borders the Arabian Gulf.

The landscape is mostly made of dry and harsh environments. You would see vast deserts, lowlands, and steppes. There are also many mountains across the region. The country is bordered by several neighbors. To the north, it touches Jordan, Iraq, and Kuwait. To the east, it is near Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. To the south, Yemen borders it. Oman is located to the southeast. In the northwest, the Gulf of Aqaba separates the country from Egypt and Israel.

Human history in this region is incredibly deep. Evidence shows people lived here 125,000 years ago. This makes the peninsula central to understanding how humans moved across the world. In the Neolithic period, a culture called Al-Magar flourished in the Najd area. They were among the first to domesticate animals like horses. Archaeologists also found rock engravings in the northwest. These carvings show dogs and are 8,000 years old. They are the earliest known depictions of dogs in the world.

In the early seventh century, a major religious change occurred. The religion of Islam emerged in this territory. The prophet Muhammad united the tribes of the Arabian Peninsula. He created a single religious polity, which is a group organized by religion. After his death in 632, his followers expanded Muslim rule. They moved into North Africa, Central Asia, South Asia, and Iberia. Many famous dynasties began here. These include the Rashidun, Umayyad, Abbasid, and Fatimid caliphates. These states ruled across Asia, Africa, and Europe.

The modern state was formed in 1932. King Abdulaziz led several military and political campaigns starting in 1901. He united regions like Hejaz, Najd, and Asir. He officially named the new state the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The country is an absolute monarchy. This means it is ruled by the House of Saud. The government follows a Basic Law. This law defines the nation as a sovereign Arab Islamic state. Arabic is the official language, and Islam is the official religion.

A major turning point happened in 1938. This was the year petroleum was discovered in the country. Petroleum is a type of oil used for fuel. This discovery changed the global economy. Saudi Arabia is now the world's second-largest oil producer. It is also the leading oil exporter. The country holds the world's second-largest oil reserves. It also has the sixth-largest gas reserves. Because of this, it is a high-income economy. It is the only Arab country in the G20, a group of major global economies.

Life in Saudi Arabia is very modern and diverse. The capital city is Riyadh, which is also the largest city. Other important cities include Jeddah, Mecca, and Medina. Mecca and Medina are the two holiest cities in Islam. The population is nearly 32.2 million people. Many people move there to work. About 40% of the population is foreign-born. This makes it the third-largest immigrant population in the world. The population is also very young. About half of all residents are under 25 years old. The government provides free university tuition and free universal health care.