The Arabian Peninsula encompasses the state of Saudi Arabia and several other Arab states (Oman, Yemen, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates), as well as a small part of the territory of Iraq and Jordan. It is the largest peninsula in the world.
Almost all of its territory was filled with deserts (more than 80%), so the lands of the Arabian Peninsula are often compared with the landscapes of East Africa. The most extensive is the desert of Rub al-Khali. It is on the list of the largest deserts in the world (its territory covers more than 650 sq. Km). The local climate is one of the hottest and driest in the world. The air temperature in summer reaches 50 degrees, and in winter ranges from 8 to 20 degrees.
The desert is filled with moving sands, forming dunes.
Within the Arabian Peninsula is also the Nefood Desert. Rather, Nefood is a few deserts, united in a single whole: Big Nefud, Small Nefud and Nefud-Dakhi. On deserted lands, channels of dried rivers have been preserved as evidence that this area used to have a completely different climate - more humid and not so hot.
The unusual and interesting places in Nefud include the city of Riyadh. There you can visit museums, see fortresses, get acquainted with the ancient culture of Islam. It is also worth noting the unusual red sand covering the land of Big Nefud.
The Arabian Peninsula is washed in the west by the Red Sea, in the east by the Persian and Gulf of Oman. The Arabian Sea as well as the
Gulf of Aden border the peninsula in the south. The sea is part of the Indian Ocean and washes the shores of India. The sea in India splashes off the coasts of the most popular resort areas: Goa, Kerala, Karnataka.
The Arabian Peninsula has a rather diverse and rich wildlife, which is not typical for desert territories. On the sands of the peninsula ungulates run: antelopes, gazelles. You can also meet other herbivorous animals, for example, hares or wild donkeys. The predatory world is represented by such animals as wolves, foxes, jackals, hyenas. The avifauna of the peninsula is quite rich. Key representatives: eagles, kites, larks, bustards, quail, vultures, falcons, pigeons. A large number of rodents and reptiles live in the sands of deserts: gophers, snakes, gerbils, lizards, turtles, jerboas. It is worth noting the rich water world. Coastal waters are home to many species of coral, including rare ones (black coral). There are 10 protected areas organized on the peninsula. In the tourism sector, Asir National Park, which is located in Saudi Arabia, is especially popular.
The Arabian Peninsula is inhabited mainly by Arabs. Although there are a small number of foreigners. These are mainly Indians, Filipinos, Egyptians, Pakistanis and only a few Europeans. When talking about the population of the Arabian Peninsula, often refers to the population of Saudi Arabia, since the country occupies its main territory. The population of Saudi Arabia is more than 28 million people.