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Facts About Saudi Arabia

1 surprising fact — verified and shareable

Whether you're planning a visit or just curious about the world, Saudi Arabia is full of surprising details. In Saudi Arabia, there’s a city called AlUla that predates Petra. SmartAss Facts collects the most interesting and shareable saudi arabia facts — each one verified and clearly labeled TRUE or FAKE. Browse the facts below and discover what makes Saudi Arabia stand out from the rest.

Saudi Arabia is the world's second-largest country by area without a river and the largest country in the world to be almost entirely desert — approximately 95% of its land area is desert or semi-desert. It contains the Rub' al Khali ("Empty Quarter"), the largest continuous sand desert in the world at approximately 650,000 square kilometres. Saudi Arabia holds approximately 17% of the world's proven petroleum reserves and has been the world's largest oil exporter for most of the past 50 years. The country contains Islam's two holiest cities — Mecca and Medina — and hosts approximately 2–3 million pilgrims annually for the Hajj pilgrimage.

Saudi Arabia is also the world's largest exporter of crude oil and home to Ghawar, the largest conventional oil field ever discovered, with estimated reserves of approximately 170 billion barrels. The country's Vision 2030 reform programme, launched in 2016, represents one of the most ambitious economic diversification efforts undertaken by a resource-dependent state.

Saudi Arabia is the birthplace and custodian of Islam's two holiest sites — Masjid al-Haram in Mecca and Al-Masjid an-Nabawi in Medina — giving the Kingdom a unique geopolitical and religious significance.