Saudi Arabia is a country located on the Arabian Peninsula, belonging to the region of Western Asia. The Arab state is one of the largest in Asia and borders with Yemen, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq and Jordan and also has an access to the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia covers the total area of more than 2.1 million square kilometres and has a population reaching around 30 million people (from which nearly 8 million people are foreigners). The official language is Arabic and the national religion is Sunni Islam.
Saudi Arabia’s capital city is Riyadh. Riyadh is also the largest city and urban centre of the country, with population over 7 million people. Mainly thanks to the sources of petroleum, Saudi Arabia belongs to some of the largest oil producers worldwide and has a high-income economy with high human development and significant regional power.
Although the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia officially exists since 1932, the history reaches much, much further – almost three centuries back. The unification of multiple regions in the area in the beginning of the 20th century led to the formation of the modern history of Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia is often called the “Land of the Two Holy Mosques” which comes from the privilege to be home to two most sacred places for Islam religion – Mecca (Al-Masjid al-Haram) and Medina (Al-Masjid an-Nabawi. Both places belong to the biggest tourist attractions in the country, even though Saudi Arabia can be hard to reach for many.
The modernity and ancient charm are mixed together in a pleasant blend of colours, creating a real treasure Saudi Arabia represents today. The World Heritage Site Diriyah and its Saad ibn Saud Palace are a must see. On the top of it all, the superior coast of the Red Sea offers not only luxurious holiday, but also plenty of top-class diving possibilities.