Discover
The identity of the nation
Saudi Arabia occupies a unique place on the world’s spiritual map: it is the birthplace of Islam, home to that faith’s two holiest cities (Mecca and Medina), and sees itself as guardian of that religious heritage. Because of this, the country maintains one of the world’s most restrictive laws regarding freedom of belief: there are no open churches anywhere in the territory, and proclaiming the Christian faith to a Muslim is prohibited by law.
Despite this, today’s Saudi Arabia is no longer entirely isolated. Millions of foreign workers, coming mainly from the Philippines, India, and other Asian countries, live and work in the country, and among them are discreet Christian communities that gather in private homes. At the same time, the government’s modernization plan, known as Vision 2030, has been opening the country to tourism, entertainment, and greater contact with the outside world, which also creates new opportunities for interaction and dialogue.
Among Saudis themselves, independent research suggests there are tens of thousands of people who secretly believe in Jesus, sustaining their faith alone or in small circles of trust, without any support from a formal church. Living out this faith comes at a high cost: it can mean losing one’s family, job, and even personal safety. Even so, these hidden believers are a sign that God is at work even in the most closed places.
The Saudi people carry strong values of hospitality, honor, and loyalty to family and clan. These same values, which today sustain barriers to the gospel, may one day become bridges: the same generosity that opens the home to offer a visitor coffee and dates may one day open the heart to the Good News. Saudi Arabia is a call to persevering prayer, quiet and full of hope.
- Pre-Islamic Najran, in the south of the region, was one of the largest Christian centers in Arabia before Islam, with martyrs in the 6th century
- 610 Muhammad receives the first revelations of Islam in Mecca, marking the beginning of the new faith
- 7th century Arabia becomes the birthplace of Islam, with Mecca and Medina as holy cities
- 1932 Abdulaziz Ibn Saud unifies the regions of Najd and Hejaz and founds the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- 1938 The discovery of vast oil reserves transforms the country's economy
- 1973 The country becomes one of the world's greatest oil powers after the oil embargo
- 2016 The government launches Vision 2030, a plan to diversify the economy and reduce dependence on oil
- 2018 Women gain the right to drive
- Today The country undergoes rapid social reforms while maintaining the state's strict religious control
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Arabicthe country's official language, spoken in regional variants such as Najdi (inland) and Hijazi (Red Sea coast)
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Englishwidely used in business, hotels, and by foreign workers
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Tagalog, Urdu, Bengali, and other languagesspoken by the millions of migrant workers from the Philippines, India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh
Saudi Arabia occupies most of the Arabian Peninsula, between the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. It is an almost entirely desert country: in the south lies the Rub' al Khali (the "Empty Quarter"), one of the largest continuous sand deserts in the world, with dunes reaching up to 250 meters in height. In the southwest, the Asir mountain range has peaks above 3,000 meters and a cooler climate. There are no permanent rivers anywhere in the country.
Major cities
- Riyadhcapital and largest city, center of government and finance
- Jeddahgateway to Mecca and Medina, an important port on the Red Sea
- MeccaIslam's holiest city, destination of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, closed to non-Muslims
- MedinaIslam's second holiest city, where Muhammad is buried
- Dammammain city of the oil-producing region, on the Persian Gulf coast
- Taifmountain city known for its mild climate and rose plantations
Climate and temperature
Kabsa
the national dish: spiced rice served with lamb, chicken, or fish and topped with raisins and nuts
Jareesh
cracked wheat slow-cooked with meat and spices, considered comforting home cooking
Sambosa
fried triangular pastry filled with ground meat or cheese, a common appetizer
Khubz
flat Arabic bread, served with nearly every meal
Dates
fruit symbolizing Arab hospitality, offered to any visitor along with coffee
Qahwa
slightly bitter Arabic coffee, flavored with cardamom, served in small handleless cups
Understand
Culture and spirituality
2a · The culture
Arab hospitality
welcoming a guest with coffee and dates is considered almost sacred
Traditional dress
men wear the thobe (a long, loose robe) and women the abaya (a long cloak); both express identity and modesty
Arabic calligraphy
used to decorate mosques and copy the Quran, one of the country's great visual traditions
Ardah dance
traditional sword dance, common at national celebrations and weddings
Historic sites of Diriyah and AlUla
ancient stone and mudbrick structures, some more than two thousand years old
Falconry
ancient tradition of hunting with trained falcons, still practiced and highly valued
- Photographing women without permission considered an invasion of privacy and a serious lack of respect
- Eating, drinking, or smoking in public during Ramadan (the Muslim month of fasting) can deeply offend those who are fasting
- Public displays of affection between couples frowned upon outside tourist areas
- Asking a man about his wife or the women in his family considered intrusive and disrespectful
- Using the left hand to eat or hand over objects seen as the "impure" hand in local culture
- Openly criticizing the royal family or religion a sensitive topic, with possible serious consequences
- Wearing tight or revealing clothing in public especially outside malls and tourist areas
2b · The field
Areas of spiritual battle and cultural captivity to cover in prayer. Tap each point to understand:
the Islamic faith is intertwined with the country's laws and national identity, making it hard to separate culture from religion
leaving Islam is seen as betrayal of family, clan, and nation, with risk of rejection and violence
loyalty to clan and tribe often outweighs the pursuit of truth
fear of shaming the family shapes personal decisions more than conscience does
oil wealth feeds the sense that security and worth come from possessions, not from God
women face strong social control, even with recent reforms
constant fear of being watched stifles freedom of faith and expression
pride in being guardian of Islam's holy sites reinforces resistance to the gospel
shopping malls and displayed wealth can replace genuine spiritual seeking
the religious tourism of Hajj and Umrah generates billions but can empty their spiritual meaning
In Saudi Arabia, following Jesus after having been born Muslim is treated as betrayal of family, clan, and national identity. Islamic law (sharia) prescribes the death penalty for those who leave Islam, though there are no recent records of executions specifically for that reason; in practice, the most common punishment comes from the family and community itself, who may reject, assault, or expel from home anyone who converts. The country ranks among the worst in the world for religious freedom in Open Doors’ annual reports.
Visible churches are banned throughout the country. Christians, mostly foreign workers from the Philippines, India, and other countries, can only meet in small groups, discreetly, inside homes. When one of these gatherings is discovered, participants risk arrest and deportation. Independent studies estimate there are tens of thousands of Saudis who secretly believe in Jesus, sustaining their faith alone or in very small, highly trusted networks, without any support from a formal church.
The persecution score runs from 0 to 100: the higher it is, the greater the pressure on Christians.
Saudi Arabia has 57 distinct people groups, most of them Saudi Arabs (Najdi, Hijazi, and Gulf) along with communities of foreign workers from Asia. Of these 57 groups, 43 (75.4%) are still considered unreached with the gospel, representing 90.4% of the country's entire population. Saudi Arabs themselves, the majority people and devoted to Islam, remain among the least reached groups in the world.
- 31.2M Unreached 90.4%
- 2M Minimally reached 5.9%
- 85K Superficially reached 0.2%
- 980K Partially reached 2.8%
- 226K Significantly reached 0.7%
- 43 Unreached 75.4%
- 4 Minimally reached 7%
- 3 Superficially reached 5.3%
- 5 Partially reached 8.8%
- 2 Significantly reached 3.5%
Source of people group data: Joshua Project (joshuaproject.net). Estimates, may vary.
Swahili Frontier
Bedouin Arab Frontier
Hindi
Southern Baloch Frontier
Western Punjabi Frontier
Punjabi
Pashtun Frontier
Source: Joshua Project. Estimates, may vary.
Source: Joshua Project and Progress.Bible. Estimates, may vary.
Standard Arabic Official
Najdi Arabic
Hijazi Arabic
Gulf Arabic
Levantine Arabic
Western Punjabi
Rohingya
Pray
Intercede for this nation
Send and sustain
Not everyone goes, everyone takes part
Not everyone goes. Everyone takes part.
Behind every worker among these peoples stands a network of people who pray without ceasing, care for the family left behind, and faithfully sustain the work. Sending is mission too.
Start with your church: introduce this nation, adopt it in ongoing prayer, and walk alongside those God is raising up to go.
Go
Practical details for those who want to go
Local time
Cost of living
equivalent to a fast-food combo
Cost by city
Reference values (source: Numbeo). Confirm before traveling.
Practical points for those who go
- The local currency is the Saudi riyal (SAR); international cards are accepted in most major cities
- During the five daily prayer times, many shops close for 15 to 20 minutes; be patient
- Wear modest clothing, covering shoulders and knees, even outside religious sites
- Ride-hailing apps are the most practical way to get around in major cities
- Avoid discussing politics or religion with strangers in public spaces
- The local weekend is Friday and Saturday, not Saturday and Sunday