Saudi Arabia and its 66 important Details for UPSC, PSC and Other Competitive Exams

Saudi Arabia and its Details Like , Capital, GDP, Currency, Geography, Economy, Defence, Culture, Natural resources, Habitat, Sports and all you want to know for UPSC, PSC and Other Competitive Exams.

Saudi Arabia and its Basic Details :

Category	Information
Name of the Country	Saudi Arabia
Capital	Riyadh
Independence Day	September 23, 1932
Major Religions	Islam (Officially Sunni Islam)
Currency	Saudi Riyal (SAR)
Continent	Asia
Top 5 Famous Cities	Riyadh, Jeddah, Mecca, Medina, Dammam
Top 10 Famous Persons	King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Ibn Saud, Ibn Baz, Ibn Taymiyyah, King Fahd, Osama bin Laden, King Faisal, Tariq Ramadan, Omaima Al-Najjar
Type of Government	Absolute Monarchy
Main Wars Fought	Gulf War (1990-1991), Yemeni Civil War (2015-Present)
GDP	Approximately $793 billion (2021)
Popular Tourist Places	1. Mecca and Medina, 2. Riyadh, 3. Jeddah, 4. Al Khobar, 5. Abha

Geography of Saudi Arabia :

Category	Information
Geography	Saudi Arabia is primarily a desert country with some mountain ranges, plateaus, and coastal areas.
Area (Square Kilometers)	Approximately 2,150,000 square kilometers
Population	Approximately 35 million people (as of the knowledge cutoff in 2022)
Main Mountain Ranges	1. Asir Mountains 2. Sarawat Mountains 3. Hijaz Mountains 4. Najd Plateau 5. Tuwaiq Mountains
Main Mountain Peaks	1. Jabal Sawda 2. Jabal Shada Al A’la 3. Jabal Al-Lawz 4. Jabal Al-Luwaybid 5. Jabal Al-Nour
Main Rivers	There are no major permanent rivers in Saudi Arabia.
Main Lakes	There are no major natural lakes in Saudi Arabia.
Deserts	1. Rub’ al Khali (Empty Quarter) 2. Nafud Desert 3. Dahna Desert
Plateaus	Najd Plateau
Volcanoes	There are no active volcanoes in Saudi Arabia.
Main Crops and Vegetation	1. Dates 2. Wheat 3. Barley 4. Citrus fruits 5. Olive trees
Main Beaches	1. Half Moon Bay 2. Jeddah Corniche 3. Al Fanateer Beach 4. Abha Beach 5. Farasan Islands
Neighboring Countries	Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen
Nearby Seas and Oceans	Red Sea, Arabian Gulf (Persian Gulf)
Length of Coastline	Approximately 2,640 kilometers
Top 5 Natural Resources	1. Oil 2. Natural Gas 3. Phosphates 4. Gold 5. Copper

Economy of Saudi Arabia :

Field	Information
Economy	Saudi Arabia has a mixed economy, heavily reliant on oil.
Major Industries	1. Oil and Petrochemicals 2. Construction 3. Banking and Finance 4. Agriculture 5. Information Technology
Revenue Sources	1. Oil Exports 2. Taxes 3. Investment Income 4. Non-oil Revenues 5. Fees and Charges
Top 10 Companies	1. Saudi Aramco 2. SABIC (Saudi Basic Industries Corporation) 3. Saudi Telecom Company (STC) 4. National Commercial Bank (NCB) 5. Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden) 6. Saudi Arabian Fertilizer Company (SAFCO) 7. Al Rajhi Bank 8. Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) 9. Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) 10. Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Aramco)
Per Capita Income	Approximately $32,500 (as of the knowledge cutoff in 2023)
Top 5 Imports	1. Machinery 2. Vehicles 3. Electronics 4. Foodstuffs 5. Chemicals
Top 5 Exports	1. Crude Oil 2. Refined Petroleum 3. Petrochemicals 4. Non-oil Products 5. Plastics
Total Gold Reserves	Approximately 323.1 metric tons (as of the knowledge cutoff in 2022)

Defence Power of Saudi Arabia :

Category	Details
Defence Policy	Active defense policy
Defence Budget	$83.7 billion
Total Army Personnel	240,000 active personnel
Total Air Force Personnel	70,000 active personnel
Total Navy Personnel	30,000 active personnel
Total Defence Imports	$12.4 billion (2021)
Total Defence Export	$2.2 billion (2021)

Cultural of Saudi Arabia :

Category	Details
Culture	Saudi Arabian Culture
Main Festivals	1. Eid al-Fitr 2. Eid al-Adha 3. Janadriyah Festival 4. Riyadh International Book Fair 5. Saudi National Day
Main Religious Places	1. Masjid al-Haram (The Grand Mosque) 2. Al-Masjid an-Nabawi (The Prophet’s Mosque) 3. Quba Mosque 4. Qiblatain Mosque 5. Mount Uhud
Main Arts and Dances	1. Ardha (Traditional Sword Dance) 2. Al Mizmar (Traditional Music) 3. Al-Hijaziyat (Traditional Poetry) 4. Al-Ayyala (Traditional Dance) 5. Hakhayma (Traditional Tent Art)
Main Languages	Arabic
Famous Food and Cuisines	1. Kabsa 2. Shawarma 3. Mandi 4. Falafel 5. Jareesh
UNESCO Protected Buildings	1. At-Turaif District in ad-Diriyah 2. Historic Jeddah, the Gate to Makkah 3. Rock Art in the Hail Region 4. Madain Saleh (Al-Hijr) 5. Historic Town of Bani Saad

Sports in Saudi Arabia :

Category	Details
Sports	Sports in Saudi Arabia
National Game	Football (Soccer)
Main Sports	1. Football (Soccer) 2. Athletics 3. Camel Racing 4. Equestrian Sports 5. Basketball
Top Athletes	1. Yasser Al-Qahtani (Football) 2. Hadi Soua’an Al-Somaily (Athletics) 3. Sultan Al-Dawoodi (Camel Racing) 4. Ramzy Al-Duhami (Equestrian) 5. Khalid Abdel-Gadir (Basketball)
Top Sports Achievements	1. Winning the AFC Asian Cup in 1984 2. Participation in multiple Olympic Games 3. Success in international athletics competitions 4. Achievements in camel racing 5. Competing in FIBA Asia Cup

Natural Habitat and wild life of Saudi Arabia :

Category	Details
Natural Habitat and Wildlife	Desert, mountains, forests, and coastal areas. Diverse wildlife including Arabian leopards, wolves, gazelles, and oryx. Saudi Arabia boasts a diverse array of natural habitats, from the vast deserts of the Empty Quarter to the lush Asir Mountains. The country is home to a rich variety of wildlife, including the majestic Arabian leopard, the elusive sand cat, and the graceful Arabian gazelle.
National Animal	Arabian Camel
National Bird	Saker Falcon
Main Forests	1. Asir National Park 2. AlUla National Park 3. Harrat AlUla
Main Recognized Natural Habitats	1. Nafud Desert 2. Empty Quarter 3. Red Sea Coral Reefs

Biggest in the Saudi Arabia :

Category	Name	Description
Biggest City	Riyadh	Capital and most populous city in Saudi Arabia, with a population of over 7 million people.
Richest Man	Prince Alwaleed bin Talal	Saudi businessman and investor, with a net worth of over $18.0 billion (as of October 26, 2023).
Biggest Company	Saudi Aramco	Largest oil and gas company in the world, with a market capitalization of over $2.4 trillion.
Tallest Building	Kingdom Centre Tower	Tallest building in Saudi Arabia and the fourth-tallest in the world, with a height of 302 meters (990 feet).
Largest Mosque	Masjid al-Haram	Largest mosque in the world, located in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It can accommodate up to 4 million pilgrims during Hajj.
Biggest Bridge	King Fahd Causeway	Longest bridge in the Middle East, connecting Saudi Arabia with the island nation of Bahrain. It spans 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) across the Persian Gulf.
Tallest Mountain	Jabal Sawda	Highest mountain in Saudi Arabia, located in the Asir Mountains. It has a peak elevation of 3,133 meters (10,279 feet).
Longest River	Wadi Hanifah	Longest river in Saudi Arabia, flowing for over 120 kilometers (75 miles) through Riyadh.
Biggest Forest	Asir National Park	Largest protected area in Saudi Arabia, covering over 10,000 square kilometers (3,861 square miles). It boasts diverse landscapes, including juniper forests, valleys, and mountains.
Largest Salt Lake	Umm Sabkha	Largest salt lake in Saudi Arabia, located in the eastern part of the country. It covers an area of over 7,000 square kilometers (2,703 square miles).

Brief History Of Saudi Arabia :

A brief history of this country, covering its ancient, medieval, modern, and recent history:

Ancient Saudi Arabia:

• The history of this country dates back to ancient times when it was home to various Arabian tribes.
• In the 7th century, Islam was founded in the Arabian Peninsula, and this region played a significant role in the spread of the religion.
• The cities of Mecca and Medina became central to Islamic history as the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad and the locations of important Islamic sites.

Medieval Period:

• In the 18th century, the Al Saud family, led by Muhammad ibn Saud, formed an alliance with the religious leader Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab. This alliance laid the foundation for the modern Saudi state.
• The early 19th century saw the establishment of the First Saudi State, which briefly unified much of the Arabian Peninsula under the Al Saud rule.
• The Ottomans defeated the First Saudi State in the 19th century, leading to a period of Ottoman rule in the region.

Modern Era:

• In the early 20th century, Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, commonly known as Ibn Saud, embarked on a campaign to unify the Arabian Peninsula. He succeeded in establishing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932.
• The discovery of oil in the 1930s transformed this country’s economy and positioned it as a major player in the global oil industry.
• Saudi Arabia became an ally of Western countries, particularly the United States, due to its vast oil reserves.
• The late 20th century saw significant modernization efforts, including the development of infrastructure, education, and healthcare systems.

Recent History:

• In 2015, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud ascended to the throne and initiated a series of economic and social reforms, known as “Vision 2030,” aimed at reducing the country’s dependency on oil and diversifying its economy.
• In 2017, this country lifted the ban on women driving, marking a significant social change.
• The country has played a role in regional politics and conflicts, including the ongoing conflict in Yemen and diplomatic disputes with neighboring countries like Qatar.
• In 2021, Saudi Arabia celebrated its 91st National Day, highlighting its progress and cultural heritage.

Saudi Arabia’s history is rich and complex, shaped by its ancient roots, Islamic heritage, political developments, and economic transformation over the centuries. Today, it stands as a nation at the crossroads of tradition and modernity, striving for socio-economic reforms and a diversified future.

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