The area united under him became known as Saudi Arabia. They not only re-captured Riyadh but much of the surrounding territory.Īfter that, Abdulaziz set out on a 30-year campaign of conquest. As it turned out, the invaders had been corrupt, ineffective, and abusive, so many locals joined them. Then in 1902, young Abdulaziz Ibn Saud and his army returned to re-capture their home. The Saudi family were sheiks of Nejd, the area around Riyadh, but were driven out by a neighboring dynasty, hiding with their relatives, the emirs of Kuwait. Saudi Arabia is one of two countries named for their royal families, along with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Understand "I'm telling you, you can't compare Saudi Arabia to other countries." - Al-Waleed bin Talal As a country that strictly enforces Sharia law, if you are not prepared to accept several limitations on your behaviour and freedom of expression, or if you feel uncomfortable with such adjustments, you should not travel to Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia contains the holy Muslim cities of Mecca and Medina, to which all physically and financially able Muslims are required to make a pilgrimage at least once if possible (see Hajj) and where non-Muslims are forbidden from entering. Neighboring countries include Jordan to the northwest, Iraq and Kuwait to the northeast, Bahrain and Qatar to the east, the United Arab Emirates to the southeast, and Oman and Yemen to the south. Saudi Arabia (officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia or KSA) is a Middle Eastern country that occupies most of the Arabian peninsula and has coastlines on the Persian Gulf and Red Sea. Sunni Muslim majority and a Shia minority mainly in the eastern province.ġ27 or 220V, 60Hz (US, Schuko, Type G plugs)