Saudi Arabia, officially known as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is the largest country in the Middle East, located on the Arabian Peninsula and bordered by Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE, Oman, and Yemen, with coastlines along the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf. Its capital is Riyadh, and it has a population of around 36 million people. Arabic is the official language, Islam is the state religion, and the nation is home to the two holiest cities of Islam—Makkah and
Saudi Arabia, officially known as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is the largest country in the Middle East, located on the Arabian Peninsula and bordered by Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE, Oman, and Yemen, with coastlines along the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf. Its capital is Riyadh, and it has a population of around 36 million people. Arabic is the official language, Islam is the state religion, and the nation is home to the two holiest cities of Islam—Makkah and Madinah—making it a spiritual center for Muslims worldwide. The country is largely desert, including the Rub’ al Khali (Empty Quarter), the largest sand desert in the world, but also features mountain ranges in the southwest. Governed as an absolute monarchy under the Al Saud family, it has long been a global energy leader, being the world’s top oil exporter. Under its Vision 2030 plan, Saudi Arabia is diversifying its economy beyond oil, investing in tourism, infrastructure, and futuristic projects like NEOM. Rich in Bedouin traditions, culture, and Islamic heritage, the country attracts millions of pilgrims annually for Hajj and Umrah, while also opening up to leisure tourism with modern cities, heritage sites, and luxury developments.