| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| ISO 3166 alpha-2 | SAISO 3166 [2024] |
| ISO 3166 alpha-3 | SAUISO 3166 [2024] |
| Capital | RiyadhGeoNames [2024] |
| Continent | AsiaGeoNames [2024] |
| Common name | Saudi ArabiaCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Official name | Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Local name | Al Arabiyah as SuudiyahCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Etymology | named after the ruling dynasty of the country, the House of Saud; the name Arabia can be traced back at least as far as the ancient Romans, who referred to the peninsula as "Arabia Felix" (Arabia the Fortunate)CIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Government type | Absolute monarchyCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Independence | 23 September 1932 (unification of the kingdom)CIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| National holiday | Saudi National Day (Unification of the Kingdom), 23 September (1932)CIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Head of state | SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (King & Prime Min.)CIA World Leaders [2025] |
| Currency code (ISO 4217) | SARISO 4217 Currency Codes [2026] |
| Currency | Saudi RiyalISO 4217 Currency Codes [2026] |
| Administrative subdivisions | 13ISO 3166-2 Subdivisions [2026] |
| Subdivision names | 'Asīr / Al Bāḩah / Al Jawf / Al Madīnah al Munawwarah / Al Qaşīm / Al Ḩudūd ash Shamālīyah / Ar Riyāḑ / Ash Sharqīyah / Jāzān / Makkah al Mukarramah / Najrān / Tabūk / Ḩā'ilISO 3166-2 Subdivisions [2026] |
| Historical overview | "Research completed December 1992." Supercedes the 1984 ed. of Saudi Arabia : a country study, edited by Richard F. Nyrop. Includes bibliographical references (p. 303-324) and index. Also available in digital form.LoC FRD Country Studies [2026] |
| National symbols | palm tree over two crossed swordsCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| National anthem | title: "Aash Al Maleek" (Long Live Our Beloved King); lyrics/music: Ibrahim KHAFAJI/Abdul Rahman al-KHATEEB; history: music adopted 1947, lyrics adopted 1984CIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| National colors | green, whiteCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Citizenship rules | citizenship by birth: no; citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Saudi Arabia; a child born out of wedlock in Saudi Arabia to a Saudi mother and unknown father; dual citizenship recognized: no; residency requirement for naturalization: 5 yearsCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
named after the ruling dynasty of the country, the House of Saud; the name Arabia can be traced back at least as far as the ancient Romans, who referred to the peninsula as "Arabia Felix" (Arabia the Fortunate)
description: green (traditional Islamic color) with the Shahada, or Muslim creed, in large white Arabic script that translates as, "There is no god but God; Muhammad is the messenger of God;" the text is above a white horizontal saber pointing to the left history: design dates to the early 20th century and is closely associated with the Al Saud family that established the kingdom in 1932; the flag has different sides so that the text reads correctly from right to left and the saber points in the same direction on both sides
Source: CIA World Factbook (Historical Archive — final edition) · CC0 · Edition 2026-05
