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| Country |
Saudi |
| Capital |
Riyadh |
| Location |
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen. 25 00 N, 45 00 E |
| Area |
1,960,582 sq km |
| Population |
25,795,938 |
| Currency |
Saudi Riyal (SAR) |
| Time Zone |
GMT + 3 hrs |
| Language |
Arabic |
| Calling Code |
+966 |
| Religion |
Muslim |
| Climate |
Harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes. |
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Introduction to Saudi
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia comprises almost four-fifths of the Arabian Peninsula, an area approximately one-third the size of the continental United States. Geographically, it is situated in the southwestern part of Asia. The eastern part of Saudi Arabia is a plateau that begins with the great Nafud desert in the north, continues along the Arabian Gulf and culminates in the world's largest sand desert, the Rub Al-Khali (Empty Quarter), in the south. To the west of this plateau is the Najd, the heartland of the peninsula, known for its spectacular escarpments and gravel and sand deserts.
The capital city of Riyadh is located in Najd. The Hijaz region along the Red Sea contains the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah, the port city of Jeddah and the summer capital of Taif.
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Jeddah
Hyperbolically known as the Paris of Arabia, Jeddah is one of the few cities in the region to have built around, rather than over, its times gone by. Although it's definitely a modern metropolitan area, Jeddah (which is mid-way down the country's Red Sea coast) is also the most interesting and friendly of Saudi Arabia's big cities. Jeddah is centered on Al-Balad, the strip of buildings along its coastline road and the old city directly behind them.
Jeddah, the largest city in Saudi Arabia's Western Province, once located sleepily on the shores of the Red Sea, with no sign of its prestigious future. Today it bustles, dazzles and resounds with industry, technology and cosmopolitan human life.
The origin of the city's name poses an interesting dilemma for etymologists. Juddah (pronounced Jiddah) in Arabic means seashore, which seems logical enough, but the school of thought which prefers Jaddah or grandmother, is given credibility by the traditional location of Eve's tomb within the city. Jeddah is, in fact, incorrect, but is popularly used by most non-Saudis living there.
Jeddah has some great museums, including the Municipality Museum. Located in a 200-year-old restored traditional house built from Red Sea coral, the museum has interesting photos of the development of Jeddah, along with rooms done up in traditional style. The Museum of Abdel Raouf Hasan Khalil houses 10,000 items jam-packed into 4 mock-Arab Disney-style buildings. The museum is a spectacularly badly organized clutter of tasteless exhibits, but there are a few real gems among the debris. The Jeddah Museum, the regional museum of archaeology and ethnography, covers the same turf as the Riyadh Museum.
Jeddah has one of the best souks (markets) in the kingdom, the spectacular Souk Al-Alawi, which winds its way through the old city. Although some sections of it have been paved over, and others fitted with bizarre green and white columns, it's still a great place to spend hours strolling and browsing. Jeddah's 3 reconstructed old city gates are also worth a look, as are the several good examples of traditional Jeddah architecture found around the North City Gate.
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Riyadh
Riyadh, capital city of Saudi Arabia located in Najd Province, in an oasis in the east-central part of the country. Also called Ar Riyad, it is a commercial, administrative, and educational center and is served by an international airport and by railroad and highway connections to the Persian Gulf coast. Manufactures include construction materials, refined petroleum, and processed food. In the city are the University of Riyadh (1957); the Islamic University of Imam Muhammad ibn Saud (1953); the King Abdulaziz Military Academy (1955); public administration, teaching, and technical institutes; and the National Library. Points of interest include the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography, the royal palace, and the mosque of Jamida. In 1824 the city, situated on a route to Mecca, became the seat of the Saud dynasty. Abdul Aziz ibn Saud, later the first king of Saudi Arabia, began his conquest of most of the Arabian Peninsula from Riyadh in 1902 by organizing the Wahhabis, an Islamic reform group centered here since the early 19th century. The city was made the capital of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932. Beginning in the 1940s some of the country's great income from foreign sales of petroleum has been used to transform Riyadh from a relatively isolated city to an expansive, cosmopolitan metropolis with many large, modern buildings. Population (1995 estimate) 2,576,000.
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The Holy City of Makkah
The Holy City of Makkah, which lies inland 73 kilometers east of Jiddah, is the place where the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, was born - the place where God's message was first revealed to him and the city to which he returned after the migration to Madinah in 622 AD.
Makkah is the holiest city on earth to Muslims. Five times each day, the world's one billion Muslims, wherever they may be, turn to the Holy City of Makkah to pray. And at least once in their lives, all Muslims who are not prevented by personal circumstance perform the Hajj, the pilgrimage to Makkah. Thus each year the Holy City of Makkah is host to some two million hajjis (pilgrims) from all over the world.
The Holy Mosque in Makkah houses the Ka'aba, in the corner of which is set the Black Stone which marks the starting point for the seven circumambulations of the Holy Mosque which every hajji must complete.
The Holy City is served by the seaport and international airport of Jeddah.
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Madinah, al Madina al Monawara
It currently has a population of more than 1,300,000 people (2006). Madina is located at 24.28° N 39.36° E. Madina was originally known as Yathrib, but later the city's name was changed to Madina al-Nabi ("city of the prophet") or Al Madinah al Munawwarah ("the enlightened city" or "the radiant city"), while the short form Madina simply means "city". Madina is the second holiest city of Islam, after Mecca (Makkah).
Medina's importance as a religious site derives from the presence there of the 'Tomb of Prophet Muhammad' inside 'Masjid-e-Nabawi' or 'The Mosque of The Prophet'. The tomb later became part of the mosque when it was expanded by the Umayyad Caliph Al-Walid I. The first mosque of Islam is also located in Medinah and is known as Masjid Quba, (the Quba Mosque).
Like Mecca, the city of Medina only permits Muslims to enter. Both cities' numerous mosques are the destination for large numbers of Muslims on their annual pilgrimage. Hundreds of thousands of Muslims come to Medina annually to visit the 'Tomb of Prophet' and to worship at mosques in a unified celebration. Muslims believe that praying once in the Mosque of the Prophet is equal to praying at least 1000 times in any other mosque.
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