What is Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Arabic: المملكة العربية السعودية, lit. 'The Saudi Arabian Kingdom'), is a country in Western Asia. It is the largest country in the Arabian Peninsula and is bordered by Jordan and Iraq to the north, Kuwait to the northeast, Qatar and Bahrain to the east, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Yemen to the south, and the Red Sea to the west. Saudi Arabia also shares maritime borders with Egypt and Eritrea.

Saudi Arabia is the second-largest Arab state in the Middle East by land area (after Algeria) and the most populous Arab state. It is the 12th-largest country in the world by land area and the 21st-most populous country. With an estimated population of over 34.8 million people, the vast majority of whom are Saudi nationals, Saudi Arabia is the 2nd-most populous Arab state and 42nd-most populous country in the world.

The modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was founded in 1932 by Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud, who united the four regions of Najd, Hejaz, Asir, and Al-Hasa into a single state. The country has since become one of the most influential countries in the Arab world and has played a key role in international politics, particularly due to its significant oil reserves and its role in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Saudi Arabia is also home to the two holiest sites in Islam, Mecca and Medina, and is thus considered the birthplace of the religion. As a result, Saudi Arabia has significant religious and political influence in the Muslim world.