[23 september] Happy birthday Saudi Arabia!

Day 3,595, 11:23 • Published in Saudi Arabia Romania • by VampireA
Saudi Arabia


General information

Population : 33 milion people (40th in the World, 16th in Asia)
Total Area : 2,149,640km^2 (12th in the World,5th in Asia)
Official language : Arabic
Official currency : Saudi riyal(SAR)
Capital : Riyadh
Population density : 15 people/km^2 (216th in the World,46th in Asia)
Top 5 biggest cities : Riyadh, Jeddah, Mecca, Medina, Al-Ahsa
Saudi Arabia is divided into 13 regions (Arabic: مناطق إدارية‎‎; manatiq idāriyya, sing. منطقة إدارية; mintaqah idariyya). The regions are further divided into 118 governorates (Arabic: محافظات‎‎; muhafazat, sing. محافظة; muhafazah). This number includes the 13 regional capitals, which have a different status as municipalities (Arabic: أمانة‎‎; amanah) headed by mayors (Arabic: أمين‎‎; amin). The governorates are further sudivided into sub-governorates (Arabic: مراكز‎‎; marakiz, sing. مركز; markaz).

National sport : Football



National animal : Camel(Camelus dromedarius)

National instrument : Double reeded ney(Zummara)



The significance of the 23rd of September

The 23rd of September celebrates the establishment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932 under its first king, Abdulaziz “Ibn Saud”.He reconquered his family's ancestral home city of Riyadh in 1902, starting three decades of conquests that made him the ruler of nearly all of central Arabia. He consolidated his control over the Najd in 1922, then conquered the Hejaz in 1925. He extended his dominions into what later became the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932. As King, he presided over the discovery of petroleum in Saudi Arabia in 1938 and the beginning of large-scale oil production after World War II. He fathered many children, including 45 sons,[5] and all of the subsequent kings of Saudi Arabia.
*Coat of arms






Saudi Arabia is one of the two regional powers in the Middle East,along with Iran.It is the leading power among Sunni Islam countries, in contrast to Iran, which is a Shi’a Islam country. As you may know, religion is an important aspect of life in Saudi Arabia, as the country hosts the sacred city of Islam: Mecca. When praying, muslims have to turn towards Mecca,no matter where they are on the planet.In addition, Saudi Arabia is also the home of the ultraconservative religious movement knows as Wahhabi Islam, which dominates Saudi culture, and is financed by the oil and gas trade.
Al-Masjid al-Haram Mosque in Mecca
Ka’bah in Mecca



As far as folklore is concerned, the best source for Arabian folk tales and legends is the Middle Eastern collection One Thousand and One Nights, also known as Arabian Nights.Ironically, this work was not widely accepted as serious literature by the elite of the Islamic world, because of the Qur’an condemnation of fictional texts.

Surprisingly enough, the most famous stories in this collection are not part of the original Arabic version, and were interpolated by European editors in the 18 and 19th centuries. I am talking about Aladdin,The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor and Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.
Sinbad the Sailor
The story of an adventurer and his seven fantastic voyages.
Aladdin
Famous story of the boy who discovers the magic lamp that contains a genie that grants him 3 wishes.
Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves
The story of a poor woodcutter who discovers a thieves’s den which opens with the phrase:”Open Sesame”.



Places to visit


Al Masjid an-Nabawi



Can not be visited by non-muslims,along with Central Medina and the city of Mecca.

Jannat al Baqi



This cemetery contains around 7000 small tombs, dedicated to the initial followers of the Prophet Muhammad.

Madain Saleh



This ancient city was once the trading link between Saudi Arabia and the ancient city of Petra.

Quba Mosque



Oldest mosque in the world, dates back to the time of the Prophet.

Mountain and Cave of Hira



Believed to be the first site where the Prophet Muhammad received his first revelations.

National Museum of Saudi Arabia




Arabic Inventions
*Because of the utter lack of sources and images for specifically Saudi inventions, I will enumerate some Arabic inventions, from the Golden Age of Islam.

Surgery - Al Zahrawi




Coffee - 9th century AD , Yemen



Optics - Ibn al-Haitham




Hospitals - 872 AD
Ahmad Ibn Tulun Hospital, now a mosque




Famous Saudi Arabians

King Salman (born in 1935) - current king of Saudi Arabia

Al-Waleed bin Talal (born in 1955) - business magnate,owner of Kingdom Holding Company

King Abdullah (1924-2015) - former king of Saudi Arabia , gave women the right to vote for municipal councils and to participate in the Olympics

King Abdulaziz"ibn Saud" (1876-1953) - established the country of Saudi Arabia, presided over the discovery of oil and establishment of the petrol and oil industry



Traditional food

Jereesh



Made of groats(a type of grain) and accompanied by chicken,onions,red peppers and tomatoes.

Margoog



Liquid sauce that contains meat,vegetables and a type of flour paste.

Kabsa



Number one dish in the country.Consists of meat,vegetables and rice.

Mathlotha



Prominent in the south of the country. It is a dish mixed with kabsa,jereesh and gursan.



Interesting facts about Saudi Arabia:

1.Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the world without a river.
2.Saudi Arabia is a prohibition state, and it is not legal to drink alcohol in the kingdom.
3.Non-Muslims are not allowed to have Saudi citizenship, and non-Muslim places of worship are not allowed in Saudi Arabia.
4.Over 95% of Saudi Arabia is desert or semi-desert, and the country is home to some of the largest desert areas in the world, including Al Nafud (Nafud Desert) in the north and Rub al-Khali (Empty Quarter) in the south.
5.Saudi Arabia follows the Islamic Lunar Calendar, with a starting date of A.D. 622, the year the Prophet Muhammad fled from Mecca to Medina, an event known as the hejira. Islamic years are noted as Anno Hejira, or AH, similar to Anno Domini, the Latin phrase meaning years following the birth of Jesus Christ.


My 5 words when I hear about Saudi Arabia:
#Islam,#Mecca,#Pilgrimage,#Desert,#Waterpipe


What are your 5?



Waiting for feedback , comments , opinions and if there is anyone that thinks I missed something , I could do something better or just wants to help me with this project , PM me !


Hope you enjoyed and see you next time!

P.S. Article 14/74!


P.S.2. Don't forget to push the flags !