Saudi Arabia, referred to as The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is the largest country in the Middle East and one of the leading nations in the Islamic world. Saudi Arabia has an incredible cultural base, immense oil wealth, and an ambitious vision for the future. As it goes through a period of rapid change and modernization, it remains firmly rooted in its traditions.
Location and People
Saudi Arabia occupies the majority part of the Arabian Peninsula with borders consisting of Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Yemen. Saudi Arabia has shores on both the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf. The capital city is Riyadh which a rapidly expanding urban area and is the capital of Saudi Arabia.
In 2025, the estimated population of Saudi Arabia is approximately 36 million, which includes a large expatriate community from Asia, Africa, and the West.
Historical Background
Saudi Arabia was established in 1932 by King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud who united many tribes and regions into a single kingdom. Since its creation in 1932, the Al Saud royal family has ruled the country. Saudi Arabia is home to the two holiest cities in Islam, Mecca and Medina, making the country a destination for millions of Muslim pilgrims every year.
Political Structure
Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy governed by King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. His heir and his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), has been an instrumental leader in the reforms many believe to be behind the current Vision 2030 plan for the country and its future.
Economy
Traditionally, Saudi Arabia's economy is heavily reliant on oil reserves and is one of the biggest producers and exporters of petroleum products in the world. The national oil company, Saudi Aramco, is one of the most valuable companies in the world.
To reduce reliance on oil, the kingdom has set out a plan with its strategic Vision 2030 to diversify its economy by focusing on investment in tourism, entertainment, infrastructure, renewable energy and technology.
Attracting global attention are mega-projects such as the futuristic NEOM, the Red Sea Project, and the entertainment city, Qiddiya.
Religion and Culture
Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and has steadfast religious identity. For Muslims, the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, and millions of pilgrims partake every year. Saudi Arabia’s overwhelming religious identity is based on Sunni Islam, and Islamic law (Sharia) is significant in the legal system as it is influenced by Islamic beliefs.
Culturally, the kingdom embraces traditions involving poetry, music, calligraphy and hospitality, though more recently the kingdom is becoming more open to new public cultural events, cinema, music festivals and sporting events, as the society is changing.
Reforms and Social Change
Saudi Arabia has undergone unprecedented social reforms under Crown Prince MBS.
- Women now have rights to drive, work in a variety of fields, and travel without a man guardian.
- Tourism has opened, with new visa systems in place for visitors coming from across the globe.
- Public entertainment is alive and well in the Kingdom with more public concerts, film festivals, and sporting events than can be counted.
That being said, the government still has much ground to cover relating to human rights, freedom of expression, and dissent.
International Relations
Saudi Arabia is both a regional and global power player. The Kingdom is a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), OPEC, and the G20. Saudi Arabia has established itself as a key ally to western countries, specifically the US, unified to keep order in the Middle East while protecting mutual interests.
In addition to launching social reforms, Saudi Arabia has been at the center of complex regional conflicts such as the war in Yemen, navigating via diplomacy and economic partnerships to normalize relations with several countries.
Challenges and Looking to the Future
Saudi Arabia faces a number of challenges:
• Reducing reliance on oil revenue
• Unemployment among young people
• Climate and water scarcity challenges
• Deal with tradition and modernisation
But given the young population, strong leadership and vast resources, the kingdom is in a position to take a leading role for the future of the Middle East and the world.
Conclusion
Saudi Arabia is a place of contradictions — ancient traditions and fantasies for the future, spiritual power and financial power. As Saudi Arabia continues to evolve with the Vision 2030 framework, the rest of the world will be watching how this influential country proceeds into the future.
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