Saudi Arabia

One of the largest nations in the world, Saudi Arabia is known for its vast reserves of oil and controversial human rights record. In large part due to the oil industry, nearly a third of the country’s population is comprised of expatriates. Despite this, Saudi Arabia is also home to a number of sites of deep importance to the Islamic religion, most notably the Al-Masjid al-Haram in Mecca and the Al-Masjid an-Nabawi in Medina. These are the two most significant pilgrimage sites in Islam. The pilgrimage to Mecca is one of the ‘Five Pillars of Islam’, with all Muslims having to complete it during their lifetime. It is believed that 5 million people make the pilgrimage every year.