If you’re traveling to Saudi Arabia, there are a few excellent, fun, and interesting facts about this country that you want to know. From the birthplace of Islam to the largest sand desert in the world, read on for some incredible details about this Middle Eastern country.
Saudi Arabia is a rich country with a lot of history. It is also the birthplace of Islam and home to its two holiest cities, Mecca and Medina.
It Has The Biggest Airport in The Entire World
The biggest airport in the world is King Khalid Airport. It covers a staggering 192,000 acres of land, or roughly 300 square miles, in surface area. The airport is in the Saudi Arabian city of Dammam.
It has two parallel runways measuring 4,260 meters (13,980 feet) in length, five passenger terminals with eight aerobridges each, a covered and open parking lot for 11,600 vehicles, a Royal Terminal for VIP visitors, state leaders, and the Saudi Royal Family, one of the tallest central control towers in the world, and a mosque. 5,000 worshipers can fit inside the KKIA Mosque, and an additional 5,000 can gather outside in the plaza. Travelers will find Saudi Arabia to be an easy and rewarding destination. Applying for a visa online only takes a few minutes. So make sure you pass all the Saudi visa requirements to experience Western Asia’s largest state, home of the biggest airport in the entire world.
It is The Birthplace of Islam
With a dedication to upholding Islamic tradition, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a pioneer in global Islamic solidarity. Islam guides the life and policies of the Kingdom, and Shari’ah (Islamic law) governs all aspects of its political, economic and social life.
It is the birthplace of Islam and a major religious pilgrimage destination for Muslims worldwide. Millions of Muslims travel to Mecca yearly to perform the hajj, a ritual pilgrimage to the Kaaba shrine that marks one of the most significant events in a Muslim’s life.
This is a significant event for Muslims, and the annual pilgrimage has always been a priority in Saudi Arabia. The government allocates funds to ensure that the two holy mosques in Mecca are well maintained and that Muslim pilgrims can experience the fullness of their religion.
While the pilgrimage is a major highlight of a Muslim’s life, it is not the only way they practice their faith. They also follow five daily prayers, pray in mosques, and participate in religious festivals like Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr.
Muslims are committed to a monotheistic religion based on Muhammad’s teachings and the Qur’an. They believe Allah is the only god and recite the creed “There is no God but God, and Muhammad is the messenger of God.”
The religion is very much a central part of Saudi Arabia’s social and political life, with members of the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (or CPV) patrolling streets enforcing rules on dress, salat (prayer) during prayer times, investigating reports of witchcraft and other practices it believes are commanded or forbidden by Islam.
The country’s strict religious laws have recently been loosened dramatically by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS), who has pledged to return to moderate Islam. These include allowing women to drive, reintroducing cinemas and curbing the sweeping powers of the CPV.
However, it is essential to remember that these changes have not removed the high restrictions on Muslims in Saudi Arabia. The country has been ranked among the world’s most restrictive countries for religious freedom, according to a 2017 Pew Research Center report.
It is The Largest Sand Desert in The World
While some might think of deserts as lifeless places, it’s important to remember that they are filled with many unique plants and animals. There are also human communities that have adapted to living in the sand for centuries.
The Arabian Desert, which spans most of Saudi Arabia and portions of Oman, Yemen, and the United Arab Emirates, is the largest sand desert in the world. It’s also home to the Rub al-Khali, a vast desert extending to about a third of the Arabian Peninsula.
The fact that this desert is one of the driest in the world—i.e. it doesn’t get much rain—is one of its most exciting features. This means that people can survive in the sand without drinking water or other resources like food and shelter, making this area very dangerous to visit.
In addition to the Desert, Saudi Arabia is home to other fascinating features, including some incredible mountain ranges. In particular, the Air Mountains, Ahaggar Mountains, Saharan Atlas and Red Sea Hills are stunningly beautiful.
Besides this, the Saudi desert is a prominent oil-producing region. It has some of the world’s largest conventional oil fields. The biggest of these is Al-Ghawar, situated in the northeastern part of the Rub al-Khali desert and extends for 160 miles (260 km) east of Riyadh.
Another exciting feature of this desert is its home to some fantastic dunes. The highest dune in the world is located in this area, and it’s called Dune 7 after its height.
When most people hear the word sand, they picture a desert land with large sandy drifts that reach several hundred feet in height. The Arabian Desert’s sands are so tall that they make it difficult for humans to move through them, but that doesn’t mean people can’t live in these areas.
A great way to see these dunes is by taking a guided tour. This is very important because if you enter this area of the desert without a guide, you might die from exposure to the sand.
