Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a large country situated in the heart of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is the largest country in the Middle East and the fifth-largest in Asia by area. The nation's geography is dominated by arid desert, steppe, and mountainous regions, with a unique coastline along both the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. The capital and largest city is Riyadh, while other major population centers include Jeddah and the historically and religiously significant cities of Mecca and Medina. With a population of approximately 34.8 million people, Saudi Arabia is a major global energy producer and a key center for Islamic pilgrimage.