Interesting facts about Saudi Arabia, from the birthplace of Islam and a dangerous driving stunt known as “sidewalk skiing”.
Fast facts
Official name: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Capital city: Riyadh
Population: 35.9 million
Area: 2,149,690 sq km
Major languages: Arabic
Major religions: Islam
Time zone: UTC+3 (Arabia Standard Time)
Interesting facts about Saudi Arabia
1. Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the Middle East and the 13th largest in the world.
2. Saudi Arabia was part of the Ottoman Empire from 1517 to the early 20th century when the Ottoman Empire collapsed.
3. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was formally declared in September 1932 when Ibn Saud proclaimed himself as King Abdulaziz.
4. The Al Saud dynasty has ruled ever since and holds a monopoly of political power. King Abdulaziz and he has been succeeded by his descendants.
5. Saudi Arabia has long prevented women from taking on a larger role in its society. Under the Saudi guardianship system, women’s rights are severely restricted. They cannot marry, divorce, travel, get a job, or have elective surgery without permission from their male guardians.
6. Until 2018, Saudi Arabia was the world’s only country where women could not drive legally. The law was changed in 2018 following years of campaigning.
7. Saudi women were not allowed to take part in the Olympics until 2012. In 2012, two women took part in the London Games and in 2016 four women took part in the Rio de Janeiro Games.
8. Saudi motorists have developed an exciting but dangerous craze known as “sidewalk skiing”, which involves balancing a car on its side while driving.
9. Evidence suggests that modern-day Saudia Arabia has been inhabited for around 125,000 years. Ancient tools discovered in the Arabian Peninsula suggest humans migrated through the region from Africa.
10. Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of the world’s second-largest religion, Islam.
11. Saudi Arabia is home to Islam’s two holiest shrines in Mecca and Medina. Mecca is the holiest of Muslim cities where Muhammad, the founder of Islam, was born in around 570 AD.
12. Medina, the second holiest city in Islam, is where Muhammad’s body is entombed. Medina is celebrated as the place where Muhammad established the Muslim community (ummah) after he fled Mecca in 622 AD.
13. As such, the Saudi king’s official title is the “Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques”.
14. Mecca is home to one of the world’s largest annual gatherings. Every year, over 2 million Muslims make a pilgrimage to Mecca to perform the Hajj, which is considered the fifth and final Pillar of Islam. Every capable adult Muslim is expected to complete at least one hajj in their lifetime.
15. The Abraj Al Bait Towers in Mecca holds the records for the world’s tallest clock tower, the world’s tallest hotel and the world’s largest clock face at 43m in diameter.
16. Saudi Arabia is also building the world’s tallest skyscraper. When complete, Jeddah Tower will be 1,000m (3,280ft) high. Construction was paused in 2018 but is expected to recommence in 2020.
17. In 1975, King Faisal was assassinated by his nephew and succeeded by his brother Khalid.
18. Saudi Arabia is home to the King’s Cup camel race. The epic camel race sees up to 1,200 participants and races across a 20km track during the Janadriyah National Festival.
19. Saudia Arabia is an oil-rich nation, possessing around 16% of the world’s proven petroleum reserves. Based on 2019 records, the petroleum sector contributed roughly 87% of budget revenues, constituting 42% of the GDP, and representing a significant 90% of export earnings.
20. Around 95% of Saudi Arabia is desert.
21. At 2,300,000 sq km (900,000 sq mi), the Arabian Desert is the largest desert in Asia and the fourth largest on Earth. Only the Sahara in Africa is bigger.
22. The Arabian Desert incorporates the largest uninterrupted sand desert in the world, the Rubʿ al-Khali, which lies mainly within Saudi Arabia. It covers an area of around 650,000 sq km (250,000 sq mi) and translates as “Empty Quarter”.
23. 15 of the 19 hijackers involved in the 2001 9/11 attacks on the US were from Saudi Arabia.
24. Saudi Arabia’s flag consists of a green background with a white Arabic inscription and a saber. The inscription reads, “There is no god but God; Muhammad is the prophet of God.” The sabre is symbolic of the militancy of their faith and green is synonymous with Islam.
25. Saudi Arabia is one of the world’s most obese nations, with 69.7% of its population classified as overweight.
26. In 2017, archaeologists used Google Earth to uncover nearly 400 previously undocumented stone structures called “gates” in the Arabian Desert. They believe the gates were built by nomadic tribes between 2,000 and 9,000 years ago.
27. The tallest flagpole in the world is located in Saudi Arabia. At 171m (561ft), the Jeddah Flagpole was erected in 2014.
28. Saudi Arabia has the death penalty and is the world’s third-highest executor. In 2019, Saudi Arabia put 184 people to death, including a mass execution of 37 people for terror offenses.
29. Saudi Arabia has the ninth-highest annual CO2 emissions in the world. To understand the ‘footprint’ of the average person in the country, it registers 18.2 metric tons per capita.
30. Saudi Arabia does not have any rivers, which makes it the world’s largest country without a river.
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Caitriona Maria is an education writer and owner of The Facts Institute. A teacher for seven years, she has been committed to providing students with the best learning opportunities possible, both domestically and abroad. Dedicated to unlocking students' potential, Caitriona has taught English in several countries and continues to explore new cultures through her travels.