1. Where in the World?
Look around, and you will see pilgrims. From all over the world, Muslims come to Mecca. Key responsibilities for Muslims are known as the “Five Pillars of Islam,” and they include a declaration of faith, daily prayers, paying a special tax, fasting, and the hajj – an annual pilgrimage to Mecca. An estimated 2 million hajj pilgrims come each year, and two-thirds of them arrive by plane. At the busiest time, this means a flight arrives at the rate of one every minute. Mecca and Medina are the two holiest cities in all of Islam. They are both here in this hot desert country, which also happens to contain many of the world’s biggest oil fields.

2. Where on Earth are you? Can you find your place?
Saudi Arabia

3. Welcome to Saudi Arabia

4. Occupying 80% of the Arabian Peninsula, Saudi Arabia contains many kinds of deserts, including the largest sand desert in the world. France, Belgium, and the Netherlands combined could fit into this desert. At about the same time the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was created – 1932 – American prospectors discovered oil in the country. Today, Saudi Arabia is one of the richest countries in the world, using its billions of dollars from oil revenues to build modern cities and provide modern services to its people.

5. Thirty-five million years ago, when Saudi Arabia began to break away from the African continent, the ocean flooded the northern Great Rift Valley to form what sea?
The Red Sea. The Red Sea reaches a depth of 9,350 feet (2,850 m) in contrast to the Persian Gulf (bordering the eastern side of Saudi Arabia) whose average depth is 112 feet (35m) and deepest point is 332 feet (100m). Saudi Arabia is still moving away from Africa today, but so slowly it is virtually unnoticeable.

6. Why are Mecca and Medina so important?
Mecca is the birthplace of Islam. The Prophet Muhammad was born in Mecca, and the city contains the Ka’aba shrine, the most sacred place in Islam. Islam was started in the 7th century, and today approximately one-seventh of the world’s population is Muslim. This means over 1 billion people from more than 70 different countries face Mecca to pray every day! Medina is the city where the Prophet Muhammad took refuge to escape persecution. The Prophet’s tomb is in Medina.

7. How is oil formed?
A mixture of hydrocarbons, oil is a fossil fuel formed over millions of years ago from incompletely decayed plant and animal remains buried under thick layers of rock.

8. Why were windows in many traditional houses in Saudi Arabia covered with carved wooden screens??
It allowed the women to look out without being seen. Women in Saudi Arabia today are still expected to remain covered.

9. Foreigners who work in Saudi Arabia are not allowed to stay permanently, but they make up about 50% of the work force. Why?
People go where they can earn money. Saudis can afford to hire workers because of their oil.

10. FAST FACTS – Saudi Arabia
33,595,496 people live in Saudi Arabia (data July 2018).
King Mohammad Bin Salman Al Saud is the current leader of Saudi Arabia.
Arabic is the official language here.
The capital of Saudi Arabia is Riyadh.
There are 756,985 square miles.
All people in Saudi Arabia are Muslim.
People in Saudi Arabia can expect to live to be 74.8.
79 percent of adults can read.
There are no rivers in Saudi Arabia making is the largest country in the world without a natural river.
The Saudi riyal is the currency used here.

11. Where in the World?
It’s your turn: Complete your “Where in the World?” page. 1 – fill in the country and continent. 2 – write a paragraph about Saudi Arabia with at least 5 interesting details (important details). 3 – colour in Saudi Arabia on the world map.