7 Things To Know About The History of Saudi

Apart from its current developments, Vision 2030, extravagant landscapes and booming economy. You might be surprised how Saudi Arabia started out. 

From the pre-Islamic Arabia, the Dilmun Civilisation, Nabatean Kingdom all the way too the Middle Ages- Saudi is rich in vast history, and there’s these 10 facts and wonderful photos to prove it:

1. Before it was a kingdom, Saudi Arabia was called ‘Arabia’ or ‘Jazeeratul Arab’ 

Before the 18th century (the time Mohammed Ibn Saud founded what is now Saudi Arabia), the country was not unified as one, but had the land of Hejaz and Nejd. 

This changed on the 23rd of September back in 1932 when the two separate areas were unified and was now called al-Mamlakah al-ʻArabīyah as-Suʻūdīyah or The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The word ‘Saudi’, deriving from the royal family Al-Saud’s name. 

2. The Kingdom was one of the biggest trade routes in the Dilmun civilisation

Dilmun is one of the world’s oldest civilisations and areas of settlement can be traced around Bahrain and the Eastern provinces in Saudi, formerly Hejaz and Kindah kingdoms.

3. Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) was born in Mecca 

Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) was born in Mecca around 570 and moved to Medina, making those two areas one of the most important places in the Muslim world, wherein pilgrims could visit Mecca on an excursion.

4. During the Umayyad and Abassid periods, Mecca was home to poets and musicians

Between 661- 750, the Umayyad period was a thriving time for artists, poets and musicians alike. This was also the time that Islamic art was in its developmental stage. 

5. Saudi dynasty entered the scene in 1744

The first Saudi state was introduced this year in a place around modern-day Riyadh when Mohammed ibn-Saud and Muhammed ibn- Abd Al Wahhab colluded an alliance that helped expand Saudi and retain the Saudi dynastic rule until date.

6. A historic ‘handshake’ between the US and Saudi was made in February 1945 and hasn’t been broken since

Saudi Arabia’s founder, King Abdul Aziz, met President Franklin Roosevelt aboard a ship in the Suez Canal in 1945. At this time, a historic handshake between the two leaders meant Saudi supplying US with oil in exchange for protection. Until date.

7. Eve’s Tomb is supposedly in Jeddah

Some Muslims consider that the tomb or grave of Eve (from Adam and Eve) is in Jeddah. Prince Faisal, then the Viceroy of Hejaz, had it destroyed in 1928. However, it still exists in the same area.