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Hey aspirant, welcome back to our captivating “Know your Country” series. This time, we invite you to delve into the cultural heritage, artitectural wonders, and linguistic diversity that makes Saudi Arabia truly unique. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the Arabian Peninsula.

Saudi Arabia is known as “The Land of the Two Holy Mosques". Saudi Arabia has been following a strict version of Islam where for example, men and women are segregated in universities. Before looking at different aspects, one must know the country symbols of the particular country. The country symbols of Saudi Arabia.

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:300px">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td colspan="2" style="text-align:center">Saudi Arabia</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Official Name 
			</td>
			<td>
			The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Capital
			</td>
			<td>
			Riyadh
			</td>
		</tr>
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			<td>
			Continent
			</td>
			<td>
			Asia
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Prime Minister
			</td>
			<td>
			Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Currency
			</td>
			<td>
			Saudi riyal
			</td>
		</tr>
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			<td>
			Official Language
			</td>
			<td>
			Arabic
			</td>
		</tr>
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			<td>
			Major Religion
			</td>
			<td>
			Sunni Muslims, Shia Muslims
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			National Flag
			</td>
			<td>
			<img loading="lazy" alt="National Flag of Saudi Arabia" src="https://study.kdcampus.live/admin/assets/uploads/ckeditor/National Flag of Saudi Arabia.webp" style="height:137px; width:200px">
			</td>
		</tr>
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			<td>
			National Anthem
			</td>
			<td>
			Bilady
			</td>
		</tr>
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			<td>
			National Game
			</td>
			<td>
			Football
			</td>
		</tr>
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			<td>
			National Bird
			</td>
			<td>
			Falcon
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			National Tree
			</td>
			<td>
			Phoenix Palm Tree
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			National Flower
			</td>
			<td>
			Arfaj
			</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

 

<img loading="lazy" alt="Saudi Arabia" src="https://study.kdcampus.live/admin/assets/uploads/ckeditor/Saudi Arabia.webp" style="height:284px; width:400px">

[Source: Bloomberg.com]

Now, let’s move on the first aspect of the blog i.e. History of Saudi Arabia.

<h2 id="content-id-94599-0">History of Saudi Arabia</h2>

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.

<h3>Ancient and Medieval Period:</h3>

In the mid-20th century, most of Saudi Arabia still embraced a traditional lifestyle that had changed little over thousands of years. Since then the pace of life in Saudi Arabia accelerated rapidly. The constant flow of pilgrims to Mecca and Medina had always provided the country with outside contacts, but interaction with the outside world expanded with innovations in transportation, technology, and organization. Saudi Arabia’s growing petroleum wealth also wrought irreversible domestic changes—educational and social as well as economic. 

<h3><img loading="lazy" alt="History of Saudi Arabia" src="https://study.kdcampus.live/admin/assets/uploads/ckeditor/History of Saudi Arabia.webp" style="height:266px; width:400px"></h3>

[Source: Architectural Digest India]

<h3>Modern Period</h3>

The modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was founded in 1932 by Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman, also known as Ibn Saud in Western countries. Abdulaziz united the four regions into a single state through a series of conquests beginning in 1902 with the capture of Riyadh, the ancestral home of his family. Modern methods of production have been superimposed on a traditional society by the introduction of millions of foreign workers and by the employment of hundreds of thousands of Saudis in nontraditional jobs.

Before going further we will get discuss about the Events of the country:

<h3>Here is the timeline of some key events in Saudi Arabia</h3>

<ul>
	<li>1902 - Ibn Saud takes control of Riyadh.</li>
	<li>1921- After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, Ibn Saud takes over Najd and Hijaz, the home to the Muslim holy cities of Mecca and Medina.</li>
	<li>1938 - Oil is discovered and production begins under the US-controlled Aramco.</li>
	<li>1973 - Saudi Arabia leads an oil boycott against the Western countries that supported Israel in the October Yom Kippur War with Egypt and Syria. Oil prices quadruple.</li>
	<li>1980 - Saudi Arabia takes full control of Aramco from the US.</li>
	<li>1987 - Saudi Arabia resumes diplomatic relations with Egypt, severed since 1979.</li>
	<li>1991 - Saudi Arabia is involved in both air attacks on Iraq and the land force that went on to liberate Kuwait.</li>
	<li>1993 - The Consultative Council is inaugurated. It is composed of a chairman and 60 members chosen by the king.</li>
	<li>1994 - Islamic dissident Osama Bin Laden is stripped of his Saudi nationality.</li>
	<li>1997 - King Fahd increases the members of the Consultative Council from 60 to 90.</li>
	<li>1999 - Twenty Saudi women attend a session of the Consultative Council for the first time.</li>
</ul>

The timeline showcases Saudi Arabia as a rich and diverse history in a simple way. Let’s move on to the next aspect of this blog i.e. Geographical Aspects.

<h2 id="content-id-94599-1">Geographical Aspects of Saudi Arabia</h2>

The bulk of Arabia consists of two main geomorphologic areas: the Arabian shield in the west; and sedimentary areas dipping away from the shield to the northeast, east, and southeast into the great basin consisting of lower Iraq, the Persian Gulf, and the eastern part of the Rubʿ al-Khali (“Empty Quarter”) desert. It is bordered by the Arabian Gulf, United Arab Emirates and Qatar in the east; Red Sea in the west; Kuwait, Iraq and Jordan in the north; Yemen and Oman in the south. It is a land of diverse landscapes and climates, ranging from the harsh and barren deserts to the lush oases, from the towering mountains to the coastal plains. 

<img loading="lazy" alt="Geographical Aspects of Saudi Arabia" src="https://study.kdcampus.live/admin/assets/uploads/ckeditor/Geographical Aspects of Saudi Arabia.webp" style="height:234px; width:400px">

[Source: Justins Minns Photography]

<h3>Demographical Aspects:</h3>

The total population in Saudi Arabia is forecast to amount to 37.47m inhabitants in 2024. The number of households in Saudi Arabia is forecast to amount to 6.30m in 2024. The 65-74 years old population in Saudi Arabia is forecast to amount to 1.76m in 2024. The main demographic variables that should be considered when segmenting an audience are age, gender, income, education/occupation, and family structure. Demographical information makes certain generalizations about groups to identify customers.

<h3>Soil and Vegetation:</h3>

Most of the soils in Saudi Arabia are young soils, either shallow to deep clay soils over rocks.The nature and properties of the soils in Saudi agricultural regions have been examined and the textures of such regions mostly are sand, loamy sand and sandy loam. Almost 3,500 species of plant have been recorded in the country, with nearly 1,000 species known from the southwestern region of Asir with its higher rainfall. Plants in general are xerophytic and mostly dwarf shrubs or small herbs. There are few species of tree but date palms are abundant in places.

<h3>Climate and Weather:</h3>

Saudi Arabia is characterized by a desert climate, with the exception of the southwestern part of the country, which exhibits a semi-arid climate. Summers in the central region are extremely hot and dry, ranging from 27°C to 43°C in the inland areas and 27°C to 38°C in coastal areas. The climate of Saudi Arabia is marked by high temperatures during the day and low temperatures at night. The country follows the pattern of the desert climate, with the exception of the southwest, which features a subtropical highland climate and a semi-arid climate.

Now, let’s look at the Political aspects of Saudi Arabia.

<h2 id="content-id-94599-2">Political Aspects of Saudi Arabia</h2>

Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy. According to the Basic Law of Saudi Arabia, the country's de facto constitution adopted by royal decree in 1992, the king must comply with Sharia and the Qur'an. The country is divided into 13 provinces, with a governor and deputy governor in each one. Each province has its own council that advises the governor and deals with the development of the province. Because Saudi Arabia is an Islamic state, its judicial system is based on Islamic law

<ul>
	<li>Legislature: Legislature of the Union, which is called Parliament, consists of the President and two Houses, known as Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and House of the People (Lok Sabha). Each House has to meet within six months of its previous sitting.</li>
	<li>Judiciary: The Sharia court system constitutes the basic judiciary of Saudi Arabia and its judges and lawyers form part of the ulema, the country's religious leadership. The judiciary proper is composed of about 700 judges. Qadis generally have degrees in Sharia law from an Islamic university recognized by the Saudi government with, in many cases, a post-graduate qualification from the Institute of Higher Judiciary in Riyadh.</li>
	<li>Executive: The King, who also acts as prime minister, ensures the application of the Shari'ah and the State's general policy, and supervises the protection and defense of the nation. The Crown Prince is appointed by the King. Members of the Council of Ministers assist the King in the performance of his duties.</li>
</ul>

<img loading="lazy" alt="Political Aspects of Saudi Arabia" src="https://study.kdcampus.live/admin/assets/uploads/ckeditor/Political Aspects of Saudi Arabia.webp" style="height:270px; width:400px">

[Source: Fox News]

So now, let’s look at the Culture of Saudi Arabia.

<h2 id="content-id-94599-3">Culture of Saudi Arabia</h2>

<h3>Language</h3>

The official language of Saudi Arabia is Arabic. The three main regional variants spoken by Saudis are: Najdi Arabic - about 14.6 million speakers. Hejazi Arabic - also known as Hijazi Arabic & West Arabian Arabic - about 10.3 million speakers .

<h3>Cuisine</h3>

Kabsa considered as the national dish of Saudi, Kabsa is a rice dish made with meat and vegetables. One of the most famous Saudi dishes found in most regions of the Kingdom is typically made with rice, vegetables, spices, herbs and either chicken, lamb, camel, or beef. Spices are considered the main ingredient in any Kabsa since they, alongside herbs, give it its distinctive and delicious flavor.

<h3>Festivals</h3>

Janadriyah National Festival is considered to be one of the largest festivals that celebrates the country's heritage and culture. This folk festival takes place over a course of two weeks, the activities range from folklore art shows, poetry reciting to camel races, and other cultural events.

<h3>Sporting Culture</h3>

The traditional sport of Saudi Arabia was camel racing. It used to be and still is very popular in Saudi Arabia. The history of the people is closely linked with their camels. In the recent times, Soccer is regarded as the national sport and is the most popular sport in Saudi Arabia.

<h3>Art and Craft</h3>

There are many portable art forms in Saudi Arabia. For example, there is metalware, jewelry, pottery and leatherwork. Even today, many Bedouin women weave, and they make brightly colored striped rugs, camel trapping and tents. The tents are black and are made of goat-hair, mixed with sheep's wool and camel-hair.

<img loading="lazy" alt="Culture of Saudi Arabia" src="https://study.kdcampus.live/admin/assets/uploads/ckeditor/Culture of Saudi Arabia.webp" style="height:251px; width:400px">

[Source: Arab News]

<h2 id="content-id-94599-4">Education of Saudi Arabia</h2>

Education is the second-largest sector of government spending in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia spends 8.8% of its gross domestic product on education, which is nearly double the global average of 4.6%. The educational curriculums at Saudi schools are diverse. They include a variety of subjects such as math, science, literature, history, Arabic and Islam. The Ministry of Education sets overall standards and oversees special education for the handicapped.

<h2 id="content-id-94599-5">Economy of Saudi Arabia</h2>

Saudi Arabia has since become the world's third-largest oil producer and largest oil exporter, controlling the world's second-largest oil reserves and the sixth-largest gas reserves. The kingdom is categorized as a World Bank high-income economy. It possesses about 16% of the world's proven petroleum reserves, ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC.

The official estimate for Saudi Arabia's GDP was $1.747 trillion at the end of 2023 in puchasing power partity terms. Employment Rate in Saudi Arabia decreased to 57.80 percent in the second quarter of 2023 from 58.60 percent in the first quarter of 2023.

<img loading="lazy" alt="Economy of Saudi Arabia" src="https://study.kdcampus.live/admin/assets/uploads/ckeditor/Economy of Saudi Arabia.webp" style="height:263px; width:400px">

[Source: Arab News Pakistan]

Now, let’s check out Some interesting facts about Saudi Arabia.

<h2 id="content-id-94599-6">Interesting Facts about Saudi Arabia</h2>

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.

<ol>
	<li>Rub'al Khali = The Rub' al Khali is the sand desert encompassing most of the southern third of the Arabian Peninsula. The desert covers some 650,000 km² including parts of Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. It is part of the larger Arabian Desert.</li>
	<li>Mecca and Medina = Mecca is the most important place in the Islamic religion as the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad. The nearby Medina is the second-most important place in Islam, due to the Prophet Muhammad's temporary exile there, and is also where the prophet was laid to rest at the time of his death.</li>
	<li>Hajj pilgrimage = Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest city for Muslims. Hajj is a mandatory religious duty for Muslims that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by all.</li>
</ol>

<img loading="lazy" alt="Interesting Facts of Saudi Arabia" src="https://study.kdcampus.live/admin/assets/uploads/ckeditor/Interesting Facts of Saudi Arabia.webp" style="height:237px; width:400px">

[Source: Abu Dhabi]

So, this is all for today. If you like this blog, do check out our blog on the country <a href="https://study.kdcampus.live/pdf/know-your-country-interesting-facts-about-germany-geography-polity-national-flag.pdf">Germany</a>. We will meet again with some another interesting facts about some other countries. Till then stay tuned!

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