Saudi Arabia was unified in 1932 under the leadership of King Abdulaziz Al Saud. It is the birthplace of Islam and home to Mecca and Medina. The economy has been dominated by oil production, though recent reforms aim to diversify its industries and modernize the country.
Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is a country in Western Asia constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula. It shares borders with Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Yemen, and has coastlines along the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. Covering approximately 2.15 million square kilometers, it has a population of about 35 million as of 2023. The capital and largest city is Riyadh. The official language is Arabic. Saudi Arabia operates as an absolute monarchy, with the King serving as both head of state and government. The economy is heavily reliant on oil, possessing the second-largest proven petroleum reserves globally, along with significant natural gas reserves. Saudi Arabia is known for its cultural and religious significance as the birthplace of Islam and the location of the two holiest cities, Mecca and Medina. The country is a member of international organizations such as the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
