السعودية

The kingdom that is custodian of Islam's birthplace, one of the world's largest oil producers, and home to the largest oasis on Earth.

Satellite view of the Arabian Peninsula
The Arabian Peninsula seen from space, dominated by the deserts of Saudi Arabia. · SeaWiFS Project, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center · Public domain

المملكة العربية السعودية دولة ذات سيادة تشغل معظم شبه الجزيرة العربية، ودينها الإسلام ودستورها القرآن الكريم والسنة النبوية، ولغتها العربية وعاصمتها مدينة الرياض. وتقوم مكانتها على ما لها من مكانة بوصفها القائمة على رعاية مهبط الإسلام، وعلى كونها واحدة من أكبر منتجي النفط في العالم. وقد وحّدها الملك عبد العزيز آل سع…

Timeline

15 January 1902

Riyadh is recovered

The modern history of Saudi Arabia begins with the recovery of Riyadh by the Founding King Abdulaziz Bin Abdulrahman Al Saud.1 The unification of the country's regions and cities would span thirty-two years, beginning in 1902.1

1932

The kingdom is unified

The Kingdom of Hejaz and Sultanate of Nejd, controlled by Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud (Ibn Saud), were unified under the name Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.2

1938

Oil is found at Dammam

Oil is discovered in commercial quantities in Dammam City, in the east of the Kingdom.1

1948

Al-Ghawar is discovered

Al-Ghawar, the world's largest conventional oil field, is discovered in the northeastern part of the Rub' al-Khali, extending some 260 km east of Riyadh.3

1972

Control of Aramco begins to shift

Saudi Arabia gained control of 20% of Aramco, lessening US control over Saudi oil.2

1973

The oil boycott

Saudi Arabia led an oil boycott against Western countries that supported Israel in the October Yom Kippur War; oil prices quadrupled.2

1979

The Grand Mosque seizure

Extremists seized the Grand Mosque of Mecca; the government regained control after 10 days and those captured were executed.2

2008

Hegra becomes Saudi Arabia's first World Heritage site

Hegra Archaeological Site (al-Hijr / Mada'in Salih) becomes the first World Heritage property inscribed in Saudi Arabia.4

January 2015

King Salman ascends the throne

Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud became king following the death of his half-brother Abdullah.2

June 2017

Mohammed bin Salman becomes heir-apparent

King Salman made his son Mohammed bin Salman heir-apparent; he now controls the major levers of power.2

2018

Al-Ahsa inscribed by UNESCO

The Al-Ahsa Oasis, the largest oasis in the world with 2.5 million date palms, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.5

May 2022

The 2022 census

The Kingdom's fifth census is conducted in May 2022; it counts a population of 32,175,224, with a median age of 29.6

Knowledge graph

المصادر والاستشهادات

كل معلومة في هذا المقال مستمدة من المصادر أدناه، والأرقام بين قوسين في النص تشير إلى المصدر المقابل.

  1. 1
    Saudi Arabia (national encyclopedia entry)Saudipedia — Saudi Encyclopediaمرجعتاريخ الاطلاع 2026-09-17Saudipedia terms of use
  2. 2
    Saudi Arabia country profileBBC Newsتاريخ الاطلاع 2026-09-17Editorial citation
  3. 3
    Rubʿ al-KhaliEncyclopaedia Britannicaمرجعتاريخ الاطلاع 2026-09-17Britannica terms of use
  4. 4
    Hegra Archaeological Site (al-Hijr / Madā'in Ṣāliḥ)UNESCO World Heritage Centreمصدر أوليتاريخ الاطلاع 2026-09-17UNESCO terms of use
  5. 5
    Al-Ahsa Oasis, an Evolving Cultural LandscapeUNESCO World Heritage Centreتاريخ الاطلاع 2026-09-17UNESCO terms
  6. 6
    Saudi Arabia Census Shows Total Population of 32.2 Million, of Which 18.8 Million are SaudisSaudi Press Agency (SPA) — official announcement of GASTAT 2022 census resultsمصدر أوليتاريخ الاطلاع 2026-09-17Official government statement
  7. 7
    World Bank Open Data — Saudi Arabia country indicatorsWorld Bankتاريخ الاطلاع 2026-09-17CC BY 4.0
  8. 8
    OPEC Annual Statistical Bulletin 2025Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)مصدر أوليتاريخ الاطلاع 2026-09-17OPEC terms of use
  9. 9
    Saudi Arabia — States Parties profileUNESCO World Heritage Centreمصدر أوليتاريخ الاطلاع 2026-09-17UNESCO terms of use