Interesting Facts about Saudi Arabia (2024)

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What are 5 interesting facts about Saudi Arabia? ›

Sections of Saudi Arabia and neighbouring countries formed a part of the Roman Empire. The world's second-largest religion, Islam, emerged in what is now Saudi Arabia. In the early 7th century, the Islamic prophet Muhammad united the population of Arabia and created a single Islamic religious polity.

Saudi Arabia is famous for oil, to be the origin of Islam, Arabian horses, the world's largest sand desert (Rub' Al Khali), the world's largest oasis (Al-Ahsa), Arabian coffee, oil, countless palaces, veiled women, countless mosques, Bedouins on horses, Bedouins on camels, Bedouins with falcons, sword-wielding dance ...

Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam, and in particular Wahhabism based on the teachings of Mohammed ibn Abd-al-Wahhab. The cultural clothing of Saudi Arabia, the thobe (for men) and the abaaya (for women), is unique to this country. One of the world's ancient cities, Mada'in Saleh, is located here.

Almost all of Saudi Arabia's land is flat desert. The Rubʿ al-Khali desert in the southeast is the longest stretch of sand in the world. Its name means “empty quarter.” A steep wall of mountains rises in the west. Most of Saudi Arabia has little rainfall, very hot summers, and mild winters.

Saudi Arabia is famous for its religious values and culture. The Wahhabi Islamic movement was started in Saudi Arabia, which believes in strictly adhering to the teachings of the Quran. The movement has had a significant impact on the legal and religious system of Saudi Arabia.

The history of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia begins properly on September 23, 1932, when by royal decree the dual kingdom of the Hejaz and Najd with its dependencies, administered since 1927 as two separate units, was unified under the name of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Apart from petroleum, the Kingdom's other natural resources include natural gas, iron ore, gold, and copper. The national currency is the riyal. The Sovereign is the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, HM King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud.

Arabic is the official language of Saudi Arabia. English is widely spoken and incorporated into daily transactions and functions.

How old is Saudi Arabia? ›

Since King Abdulaziz Al-Saud established the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932, its transformation has been astonishing. In a few short decades, the Kingdom has turned itself from a desert nation to a modern, sophisticated state and a major player on the international stage.

Saudi Arabia possesses approximately 17 percent of the world's proven petroleum reserves and ranks as one the largest net exporters of petroleum. Saudi Arabia has the second-largest proven oil reserves in the world.

Close consultations between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia have developed on international, economic, and development issues such as the Middle East peace process and shared interests in the Gulf. The U.S. is Saudi Arabia's largest trading partner, and Saudi Arabia is the largest U.S. export market in the Middle East.

The Saudi economy is highly reliant on its petroleum sector. Oil accounts on average in recent years for approximately 40% of Saudi GDP and 75% of fiscal revenue, with substantial fluctuations depending on oil prices each year.