Discover the Fascinating Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Study Notes

Saudi Arabia is governed by an absolute monarchy and struggles to adapt to the demands of the new millennium.
The country has a very conservative religious infrastructure and is located in the birthplace of the Arab people and of the Islamic faith.
Saudi Arabia has the largest share of the world's proven petroleum reserves and a dominant role in OPEC.
The country's territory is mostly desert, with over half being uninhabitable.
Clean water is rare in Saudi Arabia, with no permanent rivers, streams, or lakes.
The ongoing water crisis has forced the government to invest billions of dollars in massive desalinization plants, producing about one-fourth of the entire world's desalinized water.
The country has a major role in promoting fundamentalist Wahhabi Islam.
Saudi Arabia shares borders with eight countries: Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Yemen.
The largest desert in Saudi Arabia is the southeastern Rub Al Khali, or Empty Quarter, making up approximately a quarter of the country's territory.
Less than 2% of the land is arable, and only a tiny percentage of the total soil supports sustained agricultural activity.

Description

Test your knowledge about the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with this quiz! From its absolute monarchy and conservative religious infrastructure to its dominance in the global oil industry and ongoing water crisis, this country is full of interesting facts and complexities. See how much you know about its geography, borders, and cultural and political influence. Keywords: Saudi Arabia, absolute monarchy, petroleum reserves, desert, water crisis, desalinization, Wahhabi Islam, borders, Rub Al Khali, arable land.