00:07What comes to your mind when you hear the name Saudi Arabia?
00:11Endless deserts? Towering skyscrapers? Oil wealth?
00:14Or perhaps the spiritual home of more than a billion Muslims around the world?
00:19The truth is, Saudi Arabia is far more than any single image.
00:23It is a country where ancient traditions live alongside futuristic cities.
00:28A place where history stretches back thousands of years,
00:31while ambitious projects are shaping the future at an incredible pace.
00:36In this documentary, we'll explore Saudi Arabia's geography, history, people, culture, economy,
00:42and some fascinating facts that make this nation one of the most influential countries in the Middle East.
00:48Let's begin.
00:49Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the Middle East, covering around 2.15 million square kilometers.
00:56It occupies most of the Arabian Peninsula and shares borders with Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman,
01:06and Yemen.
01:06To the west lies the Red Sea, while the Persian Gulf borders the country in the east.
01:12These coastlines have played an important role in trade and transportation for centuries.
01:17Much of Saudi Arabia is covered by vast deserts.
01:20The Rub al-Khali, also known as the Empty Quarter, is the largest continuous sand desert in the world.
01:27Yet beyond the dunes, the country also has mountains, fertile valleys, volcanic fields, and beautiful coastal regions.
01:35Despite its dry climate, Saudi Arabia offers landscapes that surprise many first-time visitors.
01:41Saudi Arabia has a population of more than 38 million people.
01:45Most citizens live in major cities such as Riyadh, Jeddah, Maka, Medina, and Damam.
01:51Millions of expatriates from Asia, Africa, Europe, and other parts of the world also live and work here,
01:58making Saudi Arabia one of the most diverse societies in the Gulf region.
02:02Arabic is the official language, while English is widely spoken in business, education, and tourism.
02:10Saudi Arabia's story began long before the discovery of oil.
02:14The Arabian Peninsula has been home to ancient civilizations and important trade routes connecting Asia, Africa, and Europe.
02:22In the 7th century, Islam emerged in Maka, forever changing world history.
02:27The cities of Maka and Medina became the spiritual center of the Muslim world and continue to welcome millions of
02:34pilgrims every year.
02:35The modern kingdom of Saudi Arabia was officially established in 1932 by King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud after unifying different regions
02:44of the peninsula.
02:45Everything changed again in 1938, when large oil reserves were discovered.
02:50That discovery transformed Saudi Arabia into one of the world's leading energy producers and helped shape its modern economy.
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