Saudi Arabia

About Saudi Arabia

Capital

Riyadh

Continent

Independence Date

September 23, 1932

Official Language	Arabic
Second Language	English
Population	36 million
Passport Color	Green
Passport Rank	#46
Dialing Code	+966
Country TLD	.sa

Saudi Arabia Overview

Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the Arabian Peninsula, located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Jordan and Iraq to the north, Kuwait to the northeast, Bahrain and Qatar and United Arab Emirates to the east, Oman to the southeast, and Yemen to the south. The country has coastlines along the Red Sea to the west and the Arabian Gulf to the east. The capital and largest city is Riyadh.

Established as a unified kingdom in 1932, Saudi Arabia is home to Islam’s two holiest cities—Makkah and Madinah—and plays a central role in the Islamic world. The economy is among the largest in the Middle East, historically driven by energy exports and increasingly diversified through national transformation initiatives in tourism, logistics, technology, and entertainment.

Saudi geography ranges from the vast Rub’ al Khali (Empty Quarter) desert to the western Hijaz and Asir mountain ranges, with cooler highland climates near Abha and Taif. Modern landmarks include Kingdom Centre and Jeddah Corniche, while heritage highlights include AlUla, Diriyah, and traditional oases.

Saudi Arabia welcomes millions of visitors annually for Hajj and Umrah as well as growing leisure and business travel, supported by expanding infrastructure, giga-projects, and a rapidly developing events scene.

Quick Facts About Saudi Arabia

Coordinates	23.8859° N, 45.0792° E
Bordering Countries	Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain (maritime), Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen
Region / Continent	Asia (Middle East)
Total Area	~2,149,690 sq km
Population Density	~15–18 people per sq km
Highest Point	Jabal Sawda (Asir) – ~3,000+ m
Major Waterways	Wadi Al-Rummah, Wadi Hanifa (seasonal wadis)
Climate Type	Arid desert; cooler highlands in the west/southwest
Famous For	Hajj & Umrah, energy resources, heritage sites, giga-projects
Major Landmarks	Makkah (Masjid al-Haram), Madinah (Al-Masjid an-Nabawi), AlUla, Diriyah, Kingdom Centre
Official Language	Arabic
Currency	Saudi Riyal (SAR)
Government Type	Unitary Monarchy
Time Zone	UTC+3 (no daylight saving)
Major Exports	Crude oil, refined products, petrochemicals, plastics, metals
Visitor Entry	eVisa (tourism) for eligible nationalities; Umrah/Hajj permits; business visas