Saudi Arabia — books & literature

The story of Saudi Arabia

The Arabian Peninsula's story stretches back to ancient caravan routes and oasis kingdoms, but its central turning point came in the 7th century CE, when Mecca and Medina became the birthplace and first home of Islam. In 1744, the religious reformer Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab allied with tribal leader Muhammad bin Saud in the town of Diriyah, founding the first Saudi state and fusing religious reform with political rule , a partnership that still shapes the country today. That state and a second one rose and fell under Ottoman and rival pressure, until Abdulaziz Ibn Saud recaptured Riyadh in 1902 and spent three decades reuniting the peninsula's regions, completing the conquest of the Hejaz (home to Mecca and Medina) in 1925. On 23 September 1932, he proclaimed the unified Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The 1938 discovery of oil at Dammam transformed a mostly desert economy into one of the world's leading energy powers. Today, under the Vision 2030 reform program launched in 2016, Saudi Arabia is diversifying its economy and opening culturally while remaining the custodian of Islam's two holiest cities.

Timeline — key moments

1. circa 610

   Islam begins in Mecca; the Hejaz becomes the faith's spiritual center.

2. 1744

   Muhammad bin Saud and Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab found the first Saudi state at Diriyah.

3. 1818

   The first Saudi state falls to an Ottoman-Egyptian campaign.

4. 1824

   The second Saudi state (Emirate of Nejd) is established.

5. 1902

   Abdulaziz Ibn Saud recaptures Riyadh, beginning the modern unification.

6. 1925

   Conquest of the Hejaz, bringing Mecca and Medina under Saudi rule.

7. 1932

   Kingdom of Saudi Arabia proclaimed on 23 September under King Abdulaziz.

8. 1938

   Commercial oil discovered at Dammam, transforming the economy.

9. 1960

   Saudi Arabia becomes a founding member of OPEC.

10. 2016-2018

    Vision 2030 launched (2016); ban on women driving lifted (2018).

Top 10 things to know about Saudi Arabia

1. Saudi Arabia is home to Islam's two holiest cities, Mecca and Medina.
2. It is the largest country in the Middle East by land area and one of the largest in the world without a permanent river.
3. The modern kingdom was proclaimed in 1932 by King Abdulaziz after three decades of unification.
4. It holds among the largest proven oil reserves in the world and was a founding OPEC member in 1960.
5. Arabic is the official language and Islam the official religion.
6. The Saudi riyal has been pegged to the US dollar at a fixed rate since 1986.
7. The Rub' al Khali (Empty Quarter) is the largest contiguous sand desert on Earth.
8. The annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca is one of the largest peaceful gatherings of people anywhere in the world.
9. Vision 2030, launched in 2016, drives sweeping economic diversification and social reform, including new giga-projects like NEOM.
10. Saudi Arabia is a G20 member and the largest economy in the Arab world.

Famous people from Saudi Arabia

Say it in Saudi Arabia's language

Did you know?

• ★Saudi Arabia has no permanent rivers or lakes.
• ★The Rub' al Khali (Empty Quarter) covers a larger area than France.
• ★The Saudi riyal has held the same fixed exchange rate to the US dollar since 1986.

Saudi Arabia culture

• The Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages to Mecca are central to national and religious life.
• Traditional dress includes the thobe for men and the abaya for women.
• Arabic coffee (qahwa) served with dates is a core ritual of hospitality.
• The Ardah, a traditional sword dance performed to drumming and chant, features at celebrations and National Day.

Why read Saudi Arabia's books

Saudi literature spans classical Arabic poetry, Islamic scholarship centered on the Hejaz, and a fast-growing modern novel tradition that has earned international prizes. Reading Saudi Arabia's books opens a window onto a society balancing deep religious heritage with rapid social change.