Saudi Arabia
Kingdom of petroleum
Saudi Arabia is a kingdom occupying most of the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East, bordered by the Red Sea and Persian Gulf.
It holds the world's second-largest proven oil reserves and is home to Islam's two holiest cities, Mecca and Medina, making it central to both global energy markets and the Muslim faith.
The country is named for the House of Saud, the ruling royal family since its founding in 1932.
Islam's most sacred city
- MedinaSacred Arabian burial site
- HajjIslamic pilgrimage obligation
- KaabaSacred cube in Mecca
- QuranIslam's central scripture
Wahhabi · abaya · niqab · prayer · Ramadan · Eid · Sharia · Islamic law
Saudi diversification strategy
- diversificationExpanding into varied areas
- tourismLeisure travel sector
- entertainmentAgreeable diversion of attention
- megaprojectsVast, costly infrastructure initiatives
privatization · stock exchange · foreign investment · economic reform
Male crowned ruler
- crown princeMale successor to throne
- royal familyReigning monarch's relatives
- absolute monarchyUnrestricted single-ruler government
- successionFollowing in order
Mohammed bin Salman · princes · palace · royal decree · Abdullah · dynasty · throne · sovereign
Natural underground hydrocarbon liquid
- AramcoSaudi national oil corporation
- crudeUnpolished, raw state
- OPECPetroleum exporters' coalition
- reservesResources held back
barrels · export · refinery · petrodollars · energy · hydrocarbons · oil wealth · drilling
Middle Eastern nomadic herder
- hospitalityGenerous treatment of guests
- datesCalendar numbers or courtship
- coffeeBrewed bean beverage
- camelHumped desert mammal
falcon · falconry · poetry · thobe · sword dance · incense · oud · henna
Saudi Arabia's capital
- JeddahMajor Saudi coastal city
- desertTo leave behind completely
- Red SeaAfrican-Arabian saltwater inlet
- Persian GulfInlet between Iran and Arabia
sand dunes · oasis · wadi · arid · Tropic of Cancer
Mecca
Islam's most sacred city
Quran · Wahhabi · abaya · niqab · prayer · Ramadan · Eid · Sharia · Islamic law · Sunni
Vision 2030
Saudi diversification strategy
- diversificationExpanding into varied areas
- tourismLeisure travel sector
- entertainmentAgreeable diversion of attention
megaprojects · privatization · stock exchange · foreign investment · economic reform
king
Male crowned ruler
- crown princeMale successor to throne
- royal familyReigning monarch's relatives
- absolute monarchyUnrestricted single-ruler government
Mohammed bin Salman · succession · princes · palace · royal decree · Abdullah · dynasty · throne · sovereign · heir apparent
petroleum
Natural underground hydrocarbon liquid
reserves · barrels · export · refinery · petrodollars · energy · hydrocarbons · oil wealth · drilling · upstream
Bedouin
Middle Eastern nomadic herder
- hospitalityGenerous treatment of guests
- datesCalendar numbers or courtship
- coffeeBrewed bean beverage
camel · falcon · falconry · poetry · thobe · sword dance · incense · oud · henna · tribal
Riyadh
Saudi Arabia's capital
- JeddahMajor Saudi coastal city
- desertTo leave behind completely
- Red SeaAfrican-Arabian saltwater inlet
Persian Gulf · sand dunes · oasis · wadi · arid · Tropic of Cancer
Saudi ArabiaSweden
Scandinavian country, capital Stockholm
Norway · Denmark · Netherlands · Iceland · New Zealand
Saudi ArabiaIsrael
Middle Eastern nation
Vatican City · Czech Republic · France · Estonia · Japan