Saudi Arabia is located in the Arabian Peninsula, in the Middle East. It has an area of ​​2,149,690 km2, mainly sandy deserts and a population of 28,146,656 inhabitants. About 90% of the population are Arabs, while 10% are of Afro-Asian origin Type of regime: Monarchy. Religion: Almost entirely Sunni Muslims. Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and in its territory there are the two holiest mosques of this religion, Mecca and Medina. The official title of the king is “Keeper / guardian of the two holy mosques”.

Saudi Arabia was founded in 1932 by King Abdulaziz al-Saud, after a 30-year campaign to unite most of the Arabian Peninsula. One of his male descendants rules the country today, based on the country’s basic law of 1992. Incumbent King Salman bin Abd al-Aziz ascended the throne in January 2015. For the first time he passed the line of descendants to the throne to the generation of grandchildren of the founder of the kingdom, appointing as prince of the crown, first his nephew and then his son, Muhammad bin Salman.

Saudi Arabia is the most important Arab state, both politically and economically. It is a founding

member of the United Nations, which signed the UN Charter in 1945. Saudi Arabia plays an important role in the International Monetary Fund, in the World Bank, in Arab and Islamic financial institutions, but also in development and aid funds. It is one of the largest aid donors in the world, contributing to a large number of Arab, African and Asian countries. The headquarters of the Islamic Development Bank (IBD) and the headquarters of the Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) are located in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia remains a leading producer of oil and natural gas and has more than 16% of the world proven oil reserves. Its main concerns remain: the economy’s dependence on oil and its prices.

OVERVIEW

The diplomatic relations between the Republic of Albania and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were established on December 2, 1992. The two countries have opened embassies to each other. We have an honorary consul in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: Sheikh Abdulaziz Muhammad Al Noaiser.

Political relations between our two countries are considered very good. We appreciate the role of Saudi Arabia in terms of regional security and stability, its important position in the Arabian Peninsula, as well as its strong investment and economic potential.

BILATERAL RALATIONS

Political relations between our two countries are considered very good with exchanges of high level visits. In February 2019, Prime Minister Rama paid an official visit to Saudi Arabia, while in September 2021, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud visited Tirana. We appreciate the role of Saudi Arabia in terms of regional security and stability, its important position in the Arabian Peninsula, as well as its strong investment and economic potential.

The level of economic cooperation and trade exchanges between our country and Saudi Arabia has the potential for further development. For this purpose, in March 2022, the Fourth Session of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission Albania-Saudi Arabia was held in Riyadh, during which the possibilities of economic cooperation between the two countries were evaluated and the main directions were determined according to the respective fields for the future.