Saudi Arabia is the 13th Largest Country in the World
Saudi Arabia spreads across 2,149,690 square kilometers of land. In contrast to other countries, it is the largest in the Middle East, about the size of Western Europe and one-quarter the size of the United States.
National Day is Always September 23
King Abdulaziz is the founder of modern Saudi Arabia and he led and participated in all major events leading to the unification of the country on September 23,1932.
Saudi Arabia is the Cradle of Islam
The Holy Quran was revealed to the Prophet (PBUH) in Makkah and Madinah, beginning about 610 AD. This alone made the Kingdom a very important location for the Islamic community, and a yearly destination for Hajj and the cradle of Islam.
Largest Oil Producer, to this Day
From the mid-20th century, the discovery of vast oil deposits propelled it into a key economic and geopolitical role. Saudi Arabia is the world’s largest repository of petroleum, having about one third of the world reserves of it. This made the Kingdom into one of the most important allies in the world.
King Faisal Abolished Slavery
Some of the major accomplishments of Saudi Royalties include King Faisal’s abolition of slavery in 1962. He also took a stand for women and the importance of education.
We Went to Space
Museums
Al Amriyah Gallery, located in Khobar, is the life-long collection of the late treasure hunter, Mohammed Al Amer. The gallery is home to various historical artifacts distributed across 21 halls. Also check out the Al Ahsa National Museum, a smaller yet just as interesting collection of items from different time periods.
Castles and Palaces
Tarut Castle is one of the most popular historical ruins in Qatif. Also be sure to check out Qasr Darin, another historical castle famous for pearl trade. In the area of Al Ahsa, there is the Ibrahim Palace, now converted into a mosque and museum. Another popular spot is the Sahod Palace.
In 1985, Prince Sultan Bin Salman became the first Saudi, first Arab, and first Muslim to travel in space when he rode aboard the U.S. space shuttle Discovery for a seven-day mission.
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