8 MORE Facts about Saudi Arabia you probably didn’t know!

Ben Crowley

Nov. 13, 2022

A few months ago we came up with 7 facts about Saudi Arabia that we thought were pretty weird, interesting, unexpected, and most importantly, you probably weren't that likely to know. But we just kept thinking of more! So here's the next instalment, another 8 facts about Saudi Arabia that we reckon most people wouldn't realise.

1. The Saudi Flag can never be lowered to half mast

The flag of Saudi Arabia is the only flag of any UN member state that cannot be flown at half mast. This has now changed as the Iraqi flag also cannot be flown at half mast. The flag of Taliban Afghanistan is the same but is not yet the internationally recognized government and flag. The most important reason for this is that on the flag itself is the Shahada, which translates to “There is no god but Allah, and Mohammed is his messenger”.

This has caused problems with merchandise such as t-shirts, as the flag shouldn’t be put on items such as this. At the FIFA world cup, a ball with all the competing countries flags on it was used but had to be withdrawn as the Saudis found it unacceptable to kick around the name of Allah.

If you'd like to read more about the flag of Saudi Arabia, check out our Saudi Arabia Flag page .

2. During Hajj, the population of Mecca more than doubles

The population of the holy city of Mecca is roughly 2 million. During the Hajj pilgrimage, the most important pilgrimage in Islam, the city swells to a population of over 4.5 million!

3. There are strange things you can’t take into Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has a large list of things you cannot take into the country. Many of them are normal such as weapons and drugs, some of them expected such as alcohol and pornography, while some of them are weird. All pork and pork products are banned from import into Saudi Arabia, used tyres are banned, as is second hand clothing. Distillery and brewing equipment are banned, and finally certain sculptures are forbidden from import, although the Saudi government websites don’t say which sculptures.

4. Saudi Arabia has the tallest fountain in the world

The King Fahd Fountain in Jeddah is the tallest in the world, spraying a jet of water 312 metres into the sky, taller than many countries' tallest buildings. The water travels at a speed of 350 km/h and is located in the Red Sea just off the coast from the Jeddah Promenade.

5. Saudia Arabia exports more oil than any other country and petrol is cheaper than water

This isn’t as far fetched as it might seem. As most people know, Saudi Arabia has a lot of oil, but did you know they are the number one exporter in the entire world and have 16 percent of the entire globe's oil reserves?! Oil was first discovered in Saudi Arabia in 1938 near Dammam on the Persian Gulf (Arabian Gulf). The really crazy thing in Saudi Arabia, which has no rivers, is that water is more expensive per litre then petrol is!

6. Saudis love big things

More big things that you probably didn’t know existed in Saudi Arabia include the largest working clock face in the world. Located in the Abraj Al Bait Towers in Mecca, the clock is 601 metres high and has a diameter of 43 metres, which is 6 times bigger than Big Ben.

King Fahd Airport in Dammam in Eastern Saudi Arabia is the world's largest airport, covering an area of 776 square kilometres, making it larger than the entire country of Bahrain! And not only that, but King Khalid airport in Riyadh is the world's second largest airport.

Giving Turkmenistan a run for their money on the big things competitions!

7. Saudia Arabia is home to the largest sandy desert in the world

Saudi Arabia has the largest sandy desert, which at 650,000 square kilometres, is bigger than France, Belgium and the Netherlands combined. The desert is called Rub Al Khali and covers 95% of the Arabian peninsula.

8. The population of Saudi Arabia is young, male and single

More than 66% of Saudi Arabia’s population is under the age of 35, with most of them having never been married, at almost 70% being unmarried between 18 and 35. Over 30% of the population is under 14 years old. Saudi Arabia is also one of the few countries that has a majority of males, making up 51% of the population.

Fancy joining us in Saudi Arabia? Check out all our upcoming tours here .