SaudiArabia

Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in the Middle East occupying most of the Arabian Peninsula. It borders Jordan and Iraq to the north; Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman to the east; Yemen to the south; and has coastlines on the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. The capital is Riyadh, the official language is Arabic, and Islam is the state religion. The modern state was founded in 1932 by Abdulaziz Ibn Saud after unifying the kingdoms of Nejd and Hejaz.

Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy. The king serves as head of state and government, with the royal family controlling major institutions. The current ruler is King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, while Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman leads many reform initiatives. The country maintains a system based on Sharia law and a consultative Shura Council, with policymaking concentrated in the royal court and security establishments.

The economy has the world’s largest proven oil reserves and is a leading oil exporter. Oil and gas provide a large share of government revenue and export earnings. Under Vision 2030, the government seeks to diversify into non-oil sectors such as mining, tourism, entertainment, and renewable energy, and to expand private-sector participation and foreign investment. Social and cultural reforms in recent years have expanded women’s rights and relaxed some restrictions, while preserving conservative norms.

Saudi Arabia plays a central role in regional politics as a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council and OPEC. Its foreign policy emphasizes security in the Arabian Peninsula, involvement in the Yemen conflict, and regional diplomacy. The country faces challenges related to energy transition, water scarcity, and climate change, and is investing in solar and other renewable projects and in international infrastructure.