Saudi Arabia, monarchy of the Middle East, occupying most of the Arabian Peninsula, and bordered on the north by Jordan, Iraq, and Kuwait; on the east by the Persian Gulf and Qatar; on the south-east by the United Arab Emirates and Oman; on the south by the Republic of Yemen and on the west by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba. Boundaries in the south-east and south are not precisely defined. Saudi Arabia has an area of about 2,240,000 sq km (864,869 sq mi). The capital and largest city is Riyadh.

Population
	18,426,000
	(1996 official estimate)
Population Density
	8 people/sq km
	(21 people/sq mi)
	(1996 estimate)
Urban/Rural Breakdown
	80% Urban
	20% Rural
Largest Cities
	Riyadh2,500,000
	Jiddah1,800,000
	Mecca1,500,000
	Medina600,050
	(1994 estimates)
Ethnic Groups
	90% Saudi Arab
	10% Other
	including Africans, Pakistanis, and other Asians
Languages
National Language
	Arabic
Religions
	99%Islam
	mainly Sunni 
	1%Other
	including Christianity