Did you know? Seven interesting facts about Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam, home to two of the most important Muslim cities in the world – Mecca and Medina. It’s also a country with a population of over 30 million people, making it one of the largest countries in the Middle East.
The official language of Saudi Arabia is Arabic, but English is widely spoken. It is the second most commonly spoken foreign language in the country.
This article will reveal seven curious facts about Saudi Arabia. Are you ready? Because we are!
7 Saudi Arabia is home to two of the most important Islamic cities in the world
You might wonder why there are so many mosques in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is a highly religious country that follows Wahhabism, a strict form of Sunni Islam. Therefore, it makes sense that there would be a lot of mosques in the country.
Wahhabism teaches that Muslims should live under Sharia law. That means everything a person does must be done according to Allah’s (God’s) rules.
Mosques are significant in every aspect of life in Saudi Arabia. For example, mosques serve as schools, hospitals, police stations, courts, and prisons.
6 Saudi Women Have Full Freedom When Driving Cars
If you thought men were the only ones who could drive cars in Saudi Arabia, think again. Saudi Arabian women have complete freedom when it comes to driving cars.
Women don’t need a man’s permission to get behind the wheel. They have to pass a test given by the government. If they fail, they can retake the test until they succeed.
They can even take the test alone without having a husband or a male relative.
Saudi Arabian women are allowed to drive cars because the country wants to encourage gender equality. It also helps to reduce traffic accidents since women aren’t forced to rely on men for transportation needs.
5 More than 80% of all mosques are located in Mecca
Mecca is the holiest place in the Muslim religion. Many Muslims believe that visiting Mecca will bring them closer to God.
Mecca is the second-largest city in Saudi Arabia. However, only around 2 million people live there. This is less than 1 percent of the total population of Saudi Arabia. Because of this, most of the mosques in Mecca are empty. Therefore, there is no way for non-Muslims to visit these places unless a resident invites them.
However, some mosques in Mecca do have minarets. These minarets allow Muslims to call out to other believers during prayer time.
4 Saudi Arabia has one of the oldest universities in the Middle East
Saudi Arabia is home to Imam Muhammad ibn Saud University. This university was founded in 1953. It is located in Riyadh. Riyadh is the capital of Saudi Arabia.
This university offers programs worldwide, such as medicine, engineering, business administration, education, and agriculture.
The school of dentistry at this university is one of the oldest dental schools in the world.
3 Most of Saudi Arabia’s oil wealth goes towards charity
Saudi Arabia is rich! Its oil money goes to charity most of the time.
According to Forbes, Saudi Arabia is ranked number four in wealth. The kingdom has 1 trillion dollars in reserve. Much of that money goes towards helping low-income families and providing healthcare services.
For example, the Saudi Fund for Development provides financial assistance to developing countries. It focuses on improving living conditions for children and mothers.
2 Saudi Arabia is a haven for people who want to study Islam
People who want to study Islam in Saudi Arabia can do so easily. There are many Islamic universities in Saudi Arabia. Some of the best-known ones include Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, King Abdulaziz University, and Prince Naif University.
These universities offer courses like Arabic, Sharia law, and Islamic studies.
Students can choose from full or part-time classes. They usually take three years to complete a bachelor’s degree. Many students go abroad after graduation, but others stay in Saudi Arabia and work in an affiliated mosque.
1 Saudi Arabia is big business when it comes to tourism.
Last year, tourists spent USD 32 billion just in the country. That’s equal to nearly half of the entire economy of France. The majority of that spending went to hotels and restaurants. Hotels were trendy among visitors.
Saudi Arabia also attracts religious pilgrims. More than five million Muslim men travel to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah every year.
Do you need a visa to enter Saudi Arabia?
Yes. If you are interested in the culture and visiting this wonderful country, you must have the [Tourist e-Visa for Saudi Arabia]. Check out the instructions to get the visa in just a few minutes. It will be the first step before traveling and feeling worry-free. Now, getting this document is more accessible.
