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The Masmak fort was used by Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman bin Faisal al-Saud (Ibn Saud) as a base to unite the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the present-day country. It is now used as a museum, but it is one of the most historic sites in the country.

Saudi Arabia at a Glance

Total Land Area

830,000 square miles

Climate

Harsh, dry desert with great temperature variances

Natural Resources

Petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper

Land Use

Agricultural land: 80.7 percent (1.5 percent arable land, 0.1 percent permanent crops, 79.1 percent pasture); forest: 0.5 percent; other: 18.8 percent

Urban Population

83 percent of total population (2018)

Major Urban Areas

Riyadh (6.907 million); Jeddah (4.433 million); Mecca (1.967 million); Medina (1.43 million); Dammam (1.197 million)

Geography

Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen

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