Land Size Saudi Arabia is one fourth the size of the United States Deserts cover much of the east and south There are mountain ranges in the southwest There are no rivers or lakes The Red Sea borders the west and the Persian Gulf borders the east

Landscape Vast Deserts Bordering Mountains High Daily Temperatures The Arabian Peninsula has these characteristics: Vast Deserts Bordering Mountains High Daily Temperatures Low Nightly Temperatures Limited Rainfall and Water Desert Oasis Locations Fertile Land Near Rivers Landscape

Climate The Arabian Peninsula has an arid climate. Saudi Arabia has intense heat each day. 70 degrees is the coldest temperature reached and they have lots of sandstorms. High temperatures can easily reach 120 degrees.

Nomads Many people of Arabia were, and still are, Bedouins. Bedouins are nomadic groups. Hospitality is an important part of their culture. Bedouins belong to specific tribes

Food Arabian food has a great deal of variety due to the many regional differences in farming, fishing, and trading. Even so, certain items are shared in common. Rice is popular every where, similarities in climate support similar fruits (lemons, grapes, etc.),and sheep and goats, who can handle the environment, are used for meat and milk

Government Monarchy is a form of government with a king or queen in charge Saudi Arabia is a Monarchy Oman is a Monarchy Yemen Constitutional Republic Qatar is a Monarchy United Arab Emirates is a Monarchy

OPEC Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries

Purpose OPEC has considerable influence in determining the price per barrel of petroleum by restricting output. OPEC does this by setting quotas on how much oil each country can produce. This can cause inflation with regard to oil.