What animals live in Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia is mostly desert, but some tough and clever animals make it their home! The Arabian oryx is a white antelope with long straight horns that can survive in scorching heat with very little water. Sand gazelles and Arabian wolves also roam the dunes and rocky plains. Look up and you might spot a lappet-faced vulture riding the hot air currents high overhead. Down low, there are desert monitor lizards, sand vipers, and fat-tailed scorpions tucked under rocks. The Arabian camel, called the dromedary, is probably the most famous — people have lived and traveled alongside these tough creatures for thousands of years across the great empty desert called the Rub' al Khali, or 'Empty Quarter.'

What do kids eat in Saudi Arabia?

Kids in Saudi Arabia grow up eating some really good food! A favorite is kabsa — that's spiced rice cooked with chicken or lamb, mixed with raisins and nuts. Families often eat it together from one big dish, sitting on the floor around a mat. Flatbread called khubz shows up at almost every meal, great for scooping up hummus or stew. For something sweet, kids enjoy dates — Saudi Arabia grows huge numbers of them — and a warm drink called qahwa, which is cardamom coffee that even little ones sometimes sip. Sharing food together is a big part of family life there, and families are truly important to the Saudi people.

How do people say hello in Saudi Arabia?

In Saudi Arabia, the most common greeting is 'As-salamu alaykum,' which means 'Peace be upon you.' The person you're greeting usually answers back with 'Wa alaykum as-salam,' which means 'And upon you, peace.' It's a warm and respectful way to say hello that people use all across the Arab world. Greetings in Saudi Arabia are a big deal — people often shake hands, place a hand over their heart, and ask how your family is doing before getting to any other business. It's considered rude to rush past a greeting. Herman likes to remind Rusty that learning even one word of a people's language shows them you respect them, and missionaries often start right there — with a simple, heartfelt hello.

What sports or games do kids play in Saudi Arabia?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Kids in Saudi Arabia love football — what people in North America call soccer — more than just about anything else. You will find boys kicking a ball around in neighborhoods, schoolyards, and on proper pitches all across the country. The Saudi national team has even played in the FIFA World Cup multiple times. Rusty wants to add that camel racing is a sport with deep roots in Saudi culture, and some kids grow up watching or even training for it. Traditional games like tug-of-war and a stick-and-target game called Al-Gargee'an are played during festivals too. Basketball and volleyball are getting more popular in schools, and in recent years girls have been allowed to participate in physical education and organized sports as well — something that was not permitted before.

What's the weather like in Saudi Arabia?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Saudi Arabia is one of the hottest places on earth. Most of the country is desert, and summer temperatures can reach above 120 degrees Fahrenheit — hot enough to fry an egg on the pavement. Winters are milder, but the desert can actually get quite cold at night. Rusty wants to add that sandstorms are a real part of life there. Huge walls of sand called 'haboobs' can sweep across the desert and turn the sky orange in minutes. People who live there have learned to dress in long, loose robes that protect them from both the blazing sun and the blowing sand — pretty clever design for a very tough climate.

Tell me a fun fact about Saudi Arabia.

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Saudi Arabia sits on one of the largest deserts on Earth — the Rub' al Khali, which means 'Empty Quarter.' It covers about 250,000 square miles, and some of its sand dunes are taller than skyscrapers. Rusty wants to add this: even though Saudi Arabia is mostly desert, it actually has mountains in the southwest where it can get cold and even frosty in winter. The people there have learned to live in some of the most extreme landscapes on the planet. And here is something worth thinking about — millions of people live in Saudi Arabia who have very little chance to hear about Jesus. That makes it one of the most important places in the world to pray for.

What is school like for kids in Saudi Arabia?

In Saudi Arabia, school is taken very seriously. Boys and girls go to separate schools, and the school day often starts early in the morning. Students study subjects like math, science, Arabic, and they also spend a lot of time learning about Islam, since Saudi Arabia is an Islamic country where almost everyone is Muslim. One thing that makes school in Saudi Arabia different is that the Bible and Christian teaching are not allowed in public schools there. Sharing the gospel openly can be very difficult or even dangerous. That means many kids grow up never hearing about Jesus as Savior. That is one reason missionaries and radio broadcasts and other quiet ways of sharing the good news are so important for this part of the world.

Who are the unreached people in Saudi Arabia?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Saudi Arabia is home to millions of people who have never had a real chance to hear about Jesus. The largest group is Arab Muslims — people who follow Islam and may have been taught from childhood that Jesus was just a prophet, not the Son of God who died and rose again to save us. Most of them have never met a Christian or read the Bible. Rusty wants to add that Saudi Arabia also has millions of foreign workers — people from places like India, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Ethiopia who came to work there. Some of them are Christians already, but many are not, and sharing the gospel openly in Saudi Arabia is very dangerous because it is against the law. That means most missionaries cannot simply walk in and preach — God is using quiet conversations, radio programs, and even dreams to reach people there. It is a hard place, but nothing is too hard for God.

How can I pray for the people of Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia is home to millions of people who have never had a real chance to hear about Jesus. Most people there follow Islam, and sharing the Christian faith is against the law — so Christians there face serious danger just for believing. You can pray that God opens hearts and finds ways to bring His good news to people who need it. Here are some ways to pray: Ask God to protect the small, quiet groups of believers in Saudi Arabia who worship in secret, and give them courage to keep trusting Jesus. Pray that the Bible reaches people in Arabic — the language of Saudi Arabia — and that people read it and find truth. Ask God to raise up Saudi men and women who will become bold followers of Jesus and share the gospel with their own families and neighbors.

What is a holiday or celebration in Saudi Arabia?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! One of the biggest celebrations in Saudi Arabia is Eid al-Fitr, which comes at the end of Ramadan — a month when Muslims fast from food and water during daylight hours. Families dress in new clothes, share big meals, give gifts to children, and visit relatives for several days. Rusty wants to add something important: most people in Saudi Arabia follow Islam, and their holidays center on Islamic worship and traditions. Very few people in Saudi Arabia have had the chance to hear about Jesus or read a Bible — and it can actually be dangerous there to follow Jesus openly. That's something worth thinking about and praying over, isn't it?

What language do people speak in Saudi Arabia?

Great question! The main language of Saudi Arabia is Arabic. It is one of the oldest and most widely spoken languages in the world, and it is the language the Quran was written in. Arabic has a beautiful flowing script that reads from right to left, which might feel like a puzzle at first if you are used to reading left to right. There are actually different kinds of Arabic. The Arabic used in books, schools, and official settings is called Modern Standard Arabic. But in everyday life, Saudis speak a regional version called Hejazi or Najdi Arabic, depending on where they live. Many people in Saudi Arabia also learn English, especially in cities and for business. Missionaries who want to share the gospel there often spend years learning Arabic so they can tell people about Jesus in the language of their hearts.

What's a famous place to visit in Saudi Arabia?

Herman here, with Rusty looking over my shoulder at the map! One of the most well-known places in Saudi Arabia is the ancient city of Petra — wait, that's next door in Jordan. The one right here in Saudi Arabia is Al-Ula, a desert valley filled with towering sandstone cliffs and tombs carved right into the rock thousands of years ago. It looks like a place from another world. Rusty wants to add that Saudi Arabia is also home to Mecca and Medina, two cities that are very important to Muslims around the world. Non-Muslims are not allowed to enter those cities, which tells you how seriously people there take their faith. That reminder makes us want to pray — because the people of Saudi Arabia are sincere, but the Bible teaches that Jesus is the only way to truly know God, and many Saudis have never been free to hear that good news.

Saudi Arabia — Kids Missions Explorer

Arabian Camel (Dromedary)

The one-humped dromedary camel can go up to two weeks without water and has been a trusted partner to desert travelers in Arabia for thousands of years.

Sand Cat

The sand cat is a small, secretive wild cat that lives in the Arabian desert, hunting lizards and rodents at night while its thick-padded paws keep it safe on scorching sand.

Kabsa

Kabsa is Saudi Arabia's beloved national dish — fragrant basmati rice cooked with spices like cardamom and cinnamon, topped with roasted chicken or lamb.

Dates

Dates are eaten at nearly every meal and gathering in Saudi Arabia, and the country grows hundreds of varieties ranging from soft and buttery to chewy and honey-sweet.

Shawarma

Shawarma is a popular street food of thinly shaved seasoned meat wrapped in flatbread with garlic sauce, eaten by families and workers across the country every day.

Saudi Arabia

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Life in Saudi Arabia

Missions in Saudi Arabia

Pray for Saudi Arabia