Saudi Arabia, monarchy of the Middle East, occupying most of the Arabian Peninsula, and bordered on the north by Jordan, Iraq, and Kuwait; on the east by the Persian Gulf and Qatar; on the south-east by the United Arab Emirates and Oman; on the south by the Republic of Yemen and on the west by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba. Boundaries in the south-east and south are not precisely defined. Saudi Arabia has an area of about 2,240,000 sq km (864,869 sq mi). The capital and largest city is Riyadh.

Population
        18,426,000
        (1996 official estimate)
Population Density
        8 people/sq km
        (21 people/sq mi)
        (1996 estimate)
Urban/Rural Breakdown
        80% Urban
        20% Rural
Largest Cities
        Riyadh2,500,000
        Jiddah1,800,000
        Mecca1,500,000
        Medina600,050
        (1994 estimates)
Ethnic Groups
        90% Saudi Arab
        10% Other
        including Africans, Pakistanis, and other Asians
Languages
National Language
        Arabic
Religions
        99%Islam
        mainly Sunni 
        1%Other
        including Christianity