Saudi Arabia: Largest Petroleum Reserves Between Red Sea & Persian Gulf

The country between the Red Sea (west) and the Persian Gulf (east) with the largest known petroleum reserves is Saudi Arabia.

Key Facts:

• Proven Oil Reserves: ~267 billion barrels (2023 OPEC) — 2nd largest globally after Venezuela (~304B bbl).
• Production: ~12M bpd (world's largest exporter).
• Geography: Occupies ~80% of the Arabian Peninsula. Red Sea coast: 1,760 km. Persian Gulf coast: 560 km.
• OPEC Founder: 1960 founding member; de facto leader.
• Major Fields: Ghawar (world's largest conventional), Safaniya (largest offshore), Khurais, Manifa, Shaybah.

Neighbors in the same Red Sea–Persian Gulf corridor: Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Oman, Yemen—but none approach Saudi reserves. Iran (Persian Gulf only) has ~209B bbl (3rd). Iraq (Persian Gulf only) ~145B bbl (5th).

Saudi Arabia's oil wealth underpins its economy, geopolitics, and global energy influence.