Arabia has intrigued travellers for centuries. Its vast swathes of desert were the swaddling clothes of infant Islam and the birthplace of the Arab race and of Arabic, a language considered holy by Muslims. It's also home to two of Islam's holiest cities - Mecca and Medina - and to a host of modern, thriving, oil-rich metropolises.

Today's Saudi Arabia has held on to its mystique by being incredibly difficult to visit - there's no such thing as a tourist visa in this country. But if you can find someone to sponsor you or decide to take an expensive 'approved' tour, it's worth coming here for the desert and mountain scenery, and some of the Middle East's best archaeological sites. And, of course, there's the fascinating spectacle of a society juggling deeply conservative religious beliefs and oil-boom modernity. Foreigners should be cautious in Saudi Arabia; there have been several bombings since November 2000, some of which were motivated by anti-Western feeling and some by foreign nationals seeking to control the illegal alcohol market. Demonstrations and political gatherings are best avoided.

Full country name: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Area: 2 million sq km (1.2 million sq mi)
Population: 21.5 million
Capital city: Riyadh (pop 3 million)
People: Arabs, Bedouins, Najdis and expats from all over the world
Language: Arabic, English
Religion: Islam
Government: Monarchy
Head of State: King Fahd bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud
Head of Government: First Deputy Prime Minister Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abd al-Aziz

GDP: US$186 billion
GDP per head: US$9000
Annual growth: -9%
Inflation: 0%
Major industries: Oil, steel, cement, wheat
Major trading partners: Japan, United States, EU, India

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