If you’re still picturing Saudi Arabia as just a vast, empty sandbox with some oil wells poked into the ground, you’re basically living in 1990. Things are moving fast. Like, dizzying fast. I'm talking about a country that’s trying to build a 170-kilometer-long mirrored city in the desert while simultaneously opening up its doors to international tourists for the first time in basically forever.
People have a lot of assumptions. Some are true, sure, but most are just outdated leftovers from a pre-2016 world. Understanding the important facts about Saudi Arabia requires looking past the headlines and seeing the weird, ambitious, and often contradictory reality of the Kingdom today. It’s a place where you can find ancient Nabataean tombs that rival Petra, but you can also find a burgeoning gaming scene and some of the best specialty coffee on the planet.
Honestly, the pace of change is the most jarring thing for visitors.
The geography isn't what you think
Most people assume the whole place is a furnace. Not quite. While the Rub' al Khali (the Empty Quarter) is indeed a massive, shifting sea of sand, Saudi Arabia is home to mountains that actually get snow. In the Aseer province, specifically around Abha, the altitude hits over 3,000 meters. It’s green. There are juniper forests. There are even wild baboons that will absolutely try to steal your snacks if you aren't looking.
Then you have the Red Sea coastline. It’s one of the last great "untouched" reef systems. While the Great Barrier Reef is struggling with bleaching, the northern Red Sea corals have shown a weird, scientific resilience to rising temperatures. It’s become a massive point of study for marine biologists globally.
Water is more valuable than oil
It sounds like a cliché, but it’s a literal fact. Saudi Arabia is one of the most water-stressed nations on earth. They don't have permanent rivers. Zero. Every drop of water you drink in a Riyadh hotel probably came from a massive desalination plant on the coast and was pumped hundreds of miles inland. This is one of those important facts about Saudi Arabia that dictates their entire national security strategy. They are currently the world’s largest producer of desalinated water. It’s an energy-intensive, expensive process that they are trying to pivot toward solar power.
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Vision 2030 and the end of the "Oil Gift"
For decades, the social contract was simple: the government provides everything—no taxes, free healthcare, subsidized fuel—and in return, the oil keeps flowing. That's over. Or rather, it's being dismantled. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s "Vision 2030" is the blueprint for this. It’s not just a PR slogan; it’s an aggressive, sometimes ruthless restructuring of the entire economy.
They introduced VAT (Value Added Tax) which was a massive shock to the system. They started charging for expatriate dependents. Why? Because the Kingdom realized that if they didn't diversify away from crude oil, the math just wouldn't work for their massive youth population.
The youth bulge is the real story
Over 60% of Saudis are under the age of 30. That is a staggering statistic. These aren't the same people who grew up in the 70s. They are hyper-connected. They are on TikTok, they play League of Legends, and they are hungry for jobs that aren't just "government administrator." This demographic pressure is what’s driving the social liberalisation. You can't have a modern economy if half the population (women) can't drive to work or if there's nothing for young people to do on the weekends but go to the mall.
What's actually happening with social norms?
Look, let’s be real. The "religious police" (the Haia) are gone. You won't see them patrolling the streets anymore, shouting at people to go to prayer. That’s a massive shift that happened almost overnight in 2016. Today, music is played in cafes. Women are driving, working in every sector from construction to tech, and no, they don't all wear the face-covering niqab. While the abaya (the long cloak) is still common, it's no longer legally mandated for tourists, and even many local women in cities like Jeddah opt for colorful, open versions or forgo them entirely for modest Western clothing.
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But don't mistake this for a Western-style democracy. It's still a conservative, absolute monarchy. The social change is top-down. It’s a "liberalization of lifestyle" rather than a "liberalization of politics." Understanding that distinction is key if you want to understand the modern Kingdom.
Neom and the "Mega-Projects"
You’ve probably seen the renders of The Line. It looks like something out of a sci-fi movie—two parallel skyscrapers 500 meters tall, running for miles across the desert. Is it a bit crazy? Yeah, probably. But it's part of a broader strategy of "Giga-projects" that include:
- Diriyah: Restoring the mud-brick ancestral home of the Al Saud family into a luxury cultural destination.
- Qiddiya: A massive entertainment city outside Riyadh that will house a Six Flags with the world’s fastest roller coaster.
- The Red Sea Project: A luxury regenerative tourism destination on an archipelago of over 90 islands.
These aren't just vanity projects. They are desperate attempts to create a tourism industry from scratch. Saudi Arabia wants tourism to contribute 10% of its GDP by 2030. Considering they only started issuing tourist visas in 2019, that's a wild ambition.
The Coffee Culture is intense
One of the smaller, but very important facts about Saudi Arabia is how much they love coffee. It’s not just the traditional "Saudi coffee" (which is light, spiced with cardamom and saffron, and served in tiny cups). The "Third Wave" specialty coffee scene in Riyadh and Jeddah is genuinely world-class. You will find Saudis sitting in high-end cafes at 1:00 AM on a Tuesday, debating the flavor notes of a Yemeni anaerobic roast. It’s the primary social lubricant in a country where alcohol is strictly prohibited.
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The Archaeological Frontier
For a long time, the Kingdom kept its pre-Islamic history a bit quiet. That’s changed. Hegra (AlUla) was the first UNESCO World Heritage site in Saudi Arabia. It was the southern capital of the Nabataean Kingdom—the same people who built Petra in Jordan. Because it was closed off for so long, the tombs are in incredible condition.
Archaeologists from the University of Western Australia and other global institutions are currently surveying the AlUla region. They are finding "mustatils"—massive stone structures that are older than the pyramids. We are basically watching a new chapter of human history being mapped out in real-time because the country finally decided to let the world in.
Navigating the Kingdom: Practical Realities
If you’re planning to visit or do business, keep a few things in mind.
First, the weekend is Friday and Saturday. Friday is the holy day; most things won't open until the afternoon. Second, prayer times still matter. While many shops now stay open during the five daily prayers, some smaller ones still close their doors for 20 minutes. It pays to check an app.
Third, the hospitality is aggressive. If a Saudi invites you for coffee or dinner, "no" isn't always an easy answer. The concept of Hafawah (hospitality) is deeply baked into the culture. You will be fed until you can't move.
Essential Next Steps for Understanding or Visiting
- Check the Visa: Most Western citizens can get an eVisa in about 5 minutes online. It's surprisingly efficient.
- Download the Apps: You'll need 'HungerStation' for food delivery and 'Kaiian' or 'Uber' for getting around. Public transport is growing (Riyadh Metro is a massive project), but cars are still king.
- Respect the Modesty: You don't need a headscarf, but keep your shoulders and knees covered. It’s just common sense and shows respect for the local culture.
- Learn the Calendar: Avoid visiting in the dead of summer (June-August) unless you want to experience 45°C heat. The "Riyadh Season" in the winter is when the city comes alive with events and concerts.
- Ditch the Stereotypes: Go in with an open mind. The Kingdom is a place of massive contradictions, immense wealth, ancient history, and a younger generation that is very much in a hurry to define their own future.