Saudi Arabia
At a glance
- Official language
- Arabic
- Currency
- Saudi riyal (๏ทผ)
- Government
- Islamic theocracy
- Legislature
- Government of Saudi Arabia
- Time zone
- UTC+03:00
- Driving side
- Right
- Calling code
- +966
- Internet TLD
- .sa, AlSaudiah
- ISO 3166
- SA
- Established
- 1727
- Highest point
- Jabal Sawda (3,133 m (10,279 ft))
- National anthem
- Chant of the Saudi Nation
Facts via Wikidata.
Economy and developmentHigh income
Ranks are among sovereign countries with data; โ marks a top-5% finish. Sources: World Bank Open Data and Our World in Data (UNDP, UN, V-Dem; CC BY 4.0). Each figure is the most recent year available.
Alliances & Organisations7 full memberships
Security
Political & Economic
Regional
Full memberDashed border = Candidate / ApplicantItalic = Dialogue / Observer
Leadership History27 leaders ยท click to expand
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
๐ King Salman bin Abdulazizโฆ Current
2015โPresentKing
๐ King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz
2005โ2015King
๐ King Fahd bin Abdulaziz
1982โ2005King
๐ King Khalid bin Abdulaziz
1975โ1982King
๐ King Faisal bin Abdulaziz
1964โ1975King
๐ King Saud bin Abdulaziz
1953โ1964King
๐ King Abdulaziz ibn Saud
1932โ1953King
| Name | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| ๐ King Salman bin Abdulazizโฆ Current | King | 2015โPresent |
| ๐ King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz | King | 2005โ2015 |
| ๐ King Fahd bin Abdulaziz | King | 1982โ2005 |
| ๐ King Khalid bin Abdulaziz | King | 1975โ1982 |
| ๐ King Faisal bin Abdulaziz | King | 1964โ1975 |
| ๐ King Saud bin Abdulaziz | King | 1953โ1964 |
| ๐ King Abdulaziz ibn Saud | King | 1932โ1953 |
Unification (Third Saudi State)
๐ Abdulaziz ibn Saud (Ibn Saud) โ King of Hejaz and Nejd
1926โ1932Monarch
๐ Abdulaziz ibn Saud (Ibn Saud) โ Sultan of Nejd
1921โ1926Monarch
๐ Abdulaziz ibn Saud (Ibn Saud) โ Emir of Nejd
1902โ1921Monarch
| Name | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| ๐ Abdulaziz ibn Saud (Ibn Saud) โ King of Hejaz and Nejd | Monarch | 1926โ1932 |
| ๐ Abdulaziz ibn Saud (Ibn Saud) โ Sultan of Nejd | Monarch | 1921โ1926 |
| ๐ Abdulaziz ibn Saud (Ibn Saud) โ Emir of Nejd | Monarch | 1902โ1921 |
Second Saudi State (Emirate of Nejd)
๐ Abdul Rahman bin Faisal (second reign)
1889โ1891Monarch
๐ Abdullah bin Faisal (third reign)
1876โ1889Monarch
๐ Abdul Rahman bin Faisal (first reign)
1875โ1876Monarch
๐ Saud bin Faisal (second reign)
1873โ1875Monarch
๐ Abdullah bin Faisal (second reign)
1871โ1873Monarch
๐ Saud bin Faisal (first reign)
1871โ1871Monarch
๐ Abdullah bin Faisal (first reign)
1865โ1871Monarch
๐ Faisal bin Turki (second reign)
1843โ1865Monarch
๐ Abdullah bin Thunayan
1841โ1843Monarch
๐ Khalid bin Saud
1838โ1841Monarch
๐ Faisal bin Turki (first reign)
1834โ1838Monarch
๐ Mishari bin Abdul Rahman
1834โ1834Monarch
๐ Turki bin Abdullah
1824โ1834Monarch
| Name | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| ๐ Abdul Rahman bin Faisal (second reign) | Monarch | 1889โ1891 |
| ๐ Abdullah bin Faisal (third reign) | Monarch | 1876โ1889 |
| ๐ Abdul Rahman bin Faisal (first reign) | Monarch | 1875โ1876 |
| ๐ Saud bin Faisal (second reign) | Monarch | 1873โ1875 |
| ๐ Abdullah bin Faisal (second reign) | Monarch | 1871โ1873 |
| ๐ Saud bin Faisal (first reign) | Monarch | 1871โ1871 |
| ๐ Abdullah bin Faisal (first reign) | Monarch | 1865โ1871 |
| ๐ Faisal bin Turki (second reign) | Monarch | 1843โ1865 |
| ๐ Abdullah bin Thunayan | Monarch | 1841โ1843 |
| ๐ Khalid bin Saud | Monarch | 1838โ1841 |
| ๐ Faisal bin Turki (first reign) | Monarch | 1834โ1838 |
| ๐ Mishari bin Abdul Rahman | Monarch | 1834โ1834 |
| ๐ Turki bin Abdullah | Monarch | 1824โ1834 |
First Saudi State (Emirate of Diriyah)
๐ Abdullah bin Saud
1814โ1818Monarch
๐ Saud bin Abdulaziz (Saud the Great)
1803โ1814Monarch
๐ Abdulaziz bin Muhammad
1765โ1803Monarch
๐ Imam Muhammad bin Saud
1727โ1765Monarch
| Name | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| ๐ Abdullah bin Saud | Monarch | 1814โ1818 |
| ๐ Saud bin Abdulaziz (Saud the Great) | Monarch | 1803โ1814 |
| ๐ Abdulaziz bin Muhammad | Monarch | 1765โ1803 |
| ๐ Imam Muhammad bin Saud | Monarch | 1727โ1765 |
Power over timeThe Power Atlas โ
The powerline is the headline share of world power, running from the stateโs first ranked year (benchmark estimates with wide error bars before 1816). Latent power is material mass a state could mobilise (population, manpower, heavy industry). Recognised power is what the system actually treats it as (military spending, productive economy, reach, and status such as a Security Council seat or nuclear arsenal). When latent runs above recognised, a power is rising or under-rated; when recognised runs higher, it is punching above its weight or coasting on prestige. Material sub-indices run 1816 through 2016.
Conflicts since 19453 interstate wars ยท click to expand
| Conflict | Years | Against | Combat deaths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Persian Gulf War | 1990โ1991 | โ | |
| Six-Day Warโ | 1967 | Israel | 12,336โ19,264 |
| 1948 ArabโIsraeli Warโ | 1948โ1949 | Israel | 13,073โ26,373 |
Bold = principal belligerent. Source: Wikipedia, โList of interstate wars since 1945.โ
Billionaires11 ยท $50.2B combined ยท click to expand
| # | Name | Net worth | Industry |
|---|---|---|---|
| 129 | Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud | $21.2B | Finance & Investments |
| 341 | Sulaiman Al Habib | $9.8B | Healthcare |
| 1598 | Abdullah bin Sulaiman Al Rajhi(inherited) | $2.6B | Finance & Investments |
| 1650 | Emad Al Muhaidib(inherited) | $2.5B | Diversified |
| 1763 | Essam Al Muhaidib(inherited) | $2.4B | Diversified |
| 1763 | Sulaiman Al Muhaidib(inherited) | $2.4B | Diversified |
| 1880 | Abdullah Al Othaim(inherited) | $2.2B | Fashion & Retail |
| 1957 | Ibrahim Al Muhaidib(inherited) | $2.1B | Real Estate |
| 2035 | Abdullah Amer Al Nahdi | $2.0B | Healthcare |
| 2517 | Mohammad Abunayyan(inherited) | $1.6B | Diversified |
| 2881 | Ajlan bin Abdulaziz Al-Ajlan(inherited) | $1.3B | Diversified |
Source: Forbes real-time billionaires (via the rtb-api project). Net worth as of the latest monthly snapshot.
National Teams
Saudi Arabia on the international stage. Click a card for the full record.
National Teams Champions
Every major championship won by Saudi Arabia's national teams, newest first. 3 in total.
| Year | Date | Champion | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 1996-12-21 | Saudi Arabia | AFC Asian Cup |
| 1988 | 1988-12-18 | Saudi Arabia | AFC Asian Cup |
| 1984 | 1984-12-16 | Saudi Arabia | AFC Asian Cup |
Saudi Arabia metro footprint
23 metrosPolygons shaded by composite tier. Hover for rank, click to open the metro page. Boundaries derived from Overture Maps administrative divisions; metros without source coverage are omitted.
23 tracked metros
| Rank | Metro | State | Population | Score | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #67 | Riyadhโ Capitalโฒ Largest | Riyadh | 7.2M | 37.4 | Major Metro |
| #121 | Jeddah | Mecca | 3.8M | 24.0 | Major Metro |
| #199 | Dammam | Eastern | 2.7M | 14.4 | Regional Hub |
| #303 | Mecca | Mecca | 2.4M | 8.6 | Established Metro |
| #724 | Al Hofuf | Eastern | 1.1M | 2.7 | Emerging Metro |
| #867 | Al Majma'ah | Riyadh | 152K | 2.1 | Emerging Metro |
| #871 | Ar Rass | Al-Qassim | 121K | 2.0 | Emerging Metro |
| #969 | Tabuk | Tabuk | 624K | 1.7 | Emerging Metro |
| #1106 | Abha | Asir | 422K | 1.4 | Emerging Metro |
| #1183 | Buraidah | Al-Qassim | 678K | 1.2 | Emerging Metro |
| #1496 | Jubail | Eastern | 505K | 0.8 | Local Metro |
| #1557 | Medina | Medina | 1.5M | 0.7 | Local Metro |
| #1950 | Najran | Najran | 422K | 0.4 | Local Metro |
| #1990 | Ha'il | Ha'il | 499K | 0.4 | Local Metro |
| #2069 | Yanbu | Medina | 360K | 0.4 | Local Metro |
| #2302 | Taif | Mecca | 913K | 0.3 | Local Metro |
| #2885 | Khamis Mushait | Asir | 709K | 0.2 | Local Metro |
| #2976 | Hafar Al-Batin | Eastern | 467K | 0.2 | Local Metro |
| #3036 | Al-Kharj | Riyadh | 373K | 0.1 | Local Metro |
| #3169 | Sakakah | Al-Jawf | 237K | 0.1 | Local Metro |
| #3188 | Sabya | Jazan | 223K | 0.1 | Local Metro |
| #3219 | Al-Qunfudhah | Mecca | 205K | 0.1 | Local Metro |
| #3675 | Al Bahah | Al-Bahah | 91K | 0.0 | Local Metro |