Area Total | 2,149,690 sq km |
Climate | harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes |
Natural Resources | petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper |
Imports | China 15.4%, US 13.6%, UAE 6.5%, Germany 5.8%, Japan 4.1%, India 4.1%, South Korea 4% (2017) – machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, motor vehicles, textiles |
Government | absolute monarchy |
Capital | Riyadh |
Population | 33,091,113 (July 2018 est.) |
Ethnicity | Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10% |
Language | Arabic (official) |
Exports | Japan 12.2%, China 11.7%, South Korea 9%, India 8.9%, US 8.3%, UAE 6.7%, Singapore 4.2% (2017) – Exports – commodities field listing petroleum and petroleum products 90% (2012 est.) |
News about Saudi Arabia
- Saudi students win 23 awards at ISEF 2025 in Ohioon May 16, 2025
Saudi Gazette reportCOLUMBUS, Ohio — The Saudi national team secured 23 awards, including 14 grand prizes and nine special awards, at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF 2025),
- What Donald Trump did this week should terrify Benjamin Netanyahu. This is why | Jonathan Freedlandby Jonathan Freedland on May 16, 2025
The president’s Middle East tour made one thing clear – he will betray his one-time ally in a heartbeat. He is already doing it It’s come to something when the Palestinians’ best hope for relief rests on a man who dreams of emptying Gaza of its people and turning the place into a beach resort. And yet the clearest, and perhaps only, way out of the […]
- Saudi student joins global panel at ISEF 2025 for second year in a rowon May 16, 2025
Saudi Gazette reportCOLUMBUS — Saudi student Areej Abdullah Al-Qarni has been selected for the second consecutive year to participate in a high-level panel discussion with global experts in science,
- Saudi Ministry of Health launches multilingual awareness kit for Hajj 1446on May 16, 2025
Saudi Gazette reportJEDDAH — The Saudi Ministry of Health has released the Health Awareness Kit for the Hajj season of 1446 AH.The initiative supports ongoing efforts to enhance public health awareness
- Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed honors AOU startup winners advancing AI and sustainabilityon May 16, 2025
RIYADH — Arab Open University (AOU) concluded its inaugural Startup Competition 2025 at its Riyadh campus, celebrating a range of innovative student-led projects with awards presented by Prince Khaled
- SFDA starts field inspections in preparation for Hajj Season 2025on May 15, 2025
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — As part of its preparations for the Hajj Season 2025, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has commenced a series of field inspection tours across critical locations
- Saudi Arabia slams continued Israeli crimes of genocide in Gazaon May 15, 2025
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed Saudi Arabia's strong condemnation and denunciation of the continued military escalation by the Israeli occupation forces against
- Jadidat Arar border crossing welcomes first group of Iraqi pilgrimson May 15, 2025
Saudi Gazette report ARAR — The Jadidat Arar Border Crossing received on Thursday the first group of pilgrims arriving from Iraq on board 192 buses.Pilgrims were greeted with streamlined organizational
- Madinah police arrest 4 Indonesians for Hajj Hady scamon May 15, 2025
Saudi Gazette report MADINAH — Madinah police arrested four Indonesian residents for defrauding individuals by falsely claiming to offer Hajj sacrificial animal slaughter (Hady) for a fee. The suspects
- Saudi Arabia and China sign 57 deals worth over SR14 billion during visit of Minister Alfadleyon May 15, 2025
Saudi Gazette report BEIJING — The Saudi-Chinese Business Forum wrapped up in Beijing on Wednesday with clinching 57 agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) valued at over SR14 billion between
- Surgical separation of Eritrean conjoined twins successfulon May 15, 2025
Saudi Gazette report Riyadh — The medical and surgical team of the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program is successful in separating Eritrean conjoined twins Asma and Someya, who were joined at the head, at
- Inflation remains steady at 2.3% in Aprilon May 15, 2025
Saudi Gazette report Riyadh — The annual inflation rate in Saudi Arabia stood at 2.3 percent in April 2025, maintaining the same rate of the previous month of this year and the same month of 2024. Consumer
- Al-Sharaa: Mohammed bin Salman has fulfilled his promise on lifting US sanctionson May 15, 2025
Saudi Gazette report DAMASCUS — Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa said that Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman has fulfilled his promise with regard to lifting of US sanctions on
- Al-Mudaifer named NEOM CEO after months as acting chief driving progress and efficiencyon May 15, 2025
NEOM — The Board of Directors of NEOM has announced on Thursday the appointment of Eng. Aiman Al-Mudaifer as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and as a member of the Board.NEOM is
- Saudi Arabia warns of SR20,000 fine and 10-year-ban for unauthorized Hajj entryon May 15, 2025
Saudi Gazette reportMAKKAH — The Saudi Ministry of Interior has clarified that visit visas of all types and designations, with the exception of the official Hajj visa, do not entitle their holders to
- Trump: No one can break the strong relationship between US and Saudi Arabiaon May 15, 2025
Saudi Gazette report Riyadh — US President Donald Trump reiterated that no one can break the strong relationship between the United States of America and Saudi Arabia. "I have strong relationships
- ‘We were poor, but at least we were together’: families of Nepali workers killed in Saudi Arabia wait for justiceby Pete Pattisson in Siraha, Nepal on May 15, 2025
The opportunity to make money in the Gulf attracts thousands of men from Nepal’s poorest regions, but for the families of those who die in workplace accidents, compensation can be hard to come byPressure grows on Fifa as reports warn of serious risk to workers amid Saudi World Cup building boomFor years, Sitaram and Binita Das had longed for a son. The […]
- RFK Jr defends downsizing health department as protesters disrupt Senate hearing – as it happenedby Coral Murphy Marcos (now); Léonie Chao-Fong, Lucy Campbell, Tom Ambrose and Tom Bryant (earlier) on May 15, 2025
This blog has now closed. You can read more of our US politics coverage hereThe meeting between Donald Trump and Syria’s president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, in Saudi Arabia was the culmination of months of diplomacy by the Syrians, as well as their Turkish and Saudi allies, who believed face time with Trump would help end Syria’s international isolation, writes […]
- Elon Musk shows he still has the White House’s ear on Trump’s Middle East tripby Nick Robins-Early on May 14, 2025
Although Musk has pivoted from Doge, the Saudi summit shows how he’s retaining proximity to the US presidentOver the course of an eight-minute interview, Elon Musk touted his numerous businesses and vision of a “Star Trek future” while telling the crowd that his Tesla Optimus robots had performed a dance for Donald Trump and the crown prince of Saudi […]
- Trump tells Gulf leaders Iran must stop support of proxy groupson May 14, 2025
Saudi Gazette report Riyadh — United States President Donald Trump told Gulf leaders on Wednesday that he urgently wants “to make a deal” with Iran to wind down its nuclear program. "Tehran