Modern Saudi Arabia was founded in 1932 by King Abdulaziz bin Abdelrahman Al-Saud. The nation experienced remarkable growth over a short period, spurred by the discovery of oil in the 1930s. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia enjoys a long and rich history that traces its roots back to the earliest civilizations of the Arabian Peninsula. The region's ancient nomadic peoples developed a deep love for the land as well as a strong sense of independence. With the advent of Islam in the 7th century, tribes and clans were unified under one religion.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is situated in the southwestern part of Asia and comprises almost four-fifths of the Arabian Peninsula, an area about one-third the size of Western Europe. The eastern part of Saudi Arabia is a plateau that begins with the great Nafud desert in the north, continues along the Arabian Gulf and culminates in the south in the world's largest sand desert, the Rub Al-Khali (Empty Quarter). To the west of this plateau is the Najd, the heartland of the peninsula, known for its spectacular escarpments and gravel and sand deserts. The capital city of Riyadh is located in the Najd. A chain of mountains in western Saudi Arabia runs parallel to the Red Sea. The Hijaz region along the Red Sea contains the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah, the port city of Jeddah and the summer capital of Taif. 

Early History

The Middle East, of which Saudi Arabia is an integral part, is the birthplace of civilization. It is in this area that man first settled in farming communities, developed agriculture, domesticated livestock, perfected trade and invented writing, setting the stage for the rise of civilizations such as Babylon, Nineveh, Phoenicia and Egypt. On its perimeter, and at a later stage, other great civilizations, such as Greece and Rome, would flourish, benefiting from the social and economic systems pioneered by the people of the region.

The inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula developed a civilization of their own that defied outside conquest. They interacted economically and culturally, trading with communities in the Fertile Crescent, which stretches from what, is present-day Iraq through Syria to Turkey, as well as with Egypt, the Roman Empire and other peoples beyond their immediate area.Cities along the western and northern edge of the Arabian Peninsula were located on a major overland trade route. Evidence of extensive commercial trade dating from 3,000 BC has been discovered along this route. Early trade commodities included agricultural products, spices, textiles, gold and frankincense.

The lifestyle of the early Arabs was deeply influenced by the desert, which fostered a strong sense of independence and adaptability to a challenging environment. Some Arabs turned to agriculture, forming settlements around a well or in an oasis, while others became nomads, traveling with their flocks across the desert in search of water and grazing land. Caravan cities formed along the western Red Sea coastal region of the peninsula. Although the desert environment was difficult to endure, it provided isolation and protection for the Arabs throughout the centuries.

Modern History

In the early 18th century, Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab, the son of a religious judge, called on Muslims to return to the original form of Islam. Initially persecuted, he later found protection in the town of Diriyah, which was ruled by Muhammad bin Saud, a member of the prominent Al-Saud family. The partnership between these two men eventually led to the foundation of Saudi Arabia.By the early 1800s, the Al-Saud family ruled much of the Arabian Peninsula. This rise to power alarmed the Ottoman Empire, which sent forth its armies to contain the influence of the Al-Saud. The Ottomans ultimately captured Diriyah, thus ending the first phase of the Al-Saud reign in 1818. By 1824, the Al-Saud regained political control of central Arabia and once again ruled the region from their new capital of Riyadh, located close to Diriyah. A period of unrest and tribal warfare began in 1865 and resulted in the Al-Rashid family, with Ottoman support, extending its power over the Saudi state. The Al-Saud, under the leadership of Abdelrahman, were forced into exile in 1891. They lived on the borders of the Empty Quarter before settling in Kuwait.Twenty-one-year-old Abdulaziz bin Abdelrahman Al-Saud left Kuwait in 1901, determined to recapture all of the territory once held by his forefathers and to extend his protection over the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. In a daring battle he recaptured Riyadh in 1902. This event marks the beginning of the formation of the modern state of Saudi Arabia. After establishing Riyadh as his headquarters, Abdulaziz proceeded, over the following decades, to unite the different regions into one nation.

On September 23, 1932, the country was named the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as an Islamic state, with Arabic designated as the national language and the Holy Qur'an as its constitution.