Israel vs Saudi Arabia
Israel
Saudi Arabia
| Metric | Israel | Saudi Arabia |
|---|---|---|
| Capital | Jerusalem | Riyadh |
| Population | 9,517,181 | 34,566,328 |
| Area (km²) | 22,072 | 2,149,690 |
| Population density (/km²) | 431 | 16 |
| GDP per capita (USD) | $60,300 | $34,500 |
| Region | Western Asia | Western Asia |
| Currency | ILS | SAR |
| Languages | Hebrew, Arabic | Arabic |
| Main religions | Judaism, Islam, Christianity | Islam |
| Time zone | UTC+2 | UTC+3 |
Green highlights the higher value (or higher GDP per capita). Figures are approximate.
At a glance
Israel and Saudi Arabia are both located in Asia (both in Western Asia). Saudi Arabia has the larger population — about 3.6× the population of Israel, while Saudi Arabia covers more land area.
For full geographic detail, see the Israel map and the Saudi Arabia map.
Geography
Saudi Arabia covers most of the Arabian Peninsula, while Israel is a narrow country on the eastern Mediterranean. The two come closest at the Gulf of Aqaba. The Israeli port of Eilat sits at its northern tip, Jordan lies between them, and Saudi Arabia's coast runs down the eastern shore. The Red Sea islands of Tiran and Sanafir, at the mouth of the gulf, were transferred from Egypt to Saudi Arabia under a 2016 agreement.
Israel designates Jerusalem as its capital, but the city's status is disputed internationally and most countries keep their embassies in Tel Aviv. Saudi Arabia's capital is Riyadh, and its holy cities of Mecca and Medina make it central to the Muslim world.
No formal relations
Saudi Arabia has never recognised Israel. In 2002 it put forward the Arab Peace Initiative, which offered normalisation in return for Israel's withdrawal to the 1967 lines and a Palestinian state. In 2020 the Abraham Accords saw the UAE and Bahrain, followed by Morocco and Sudan, agree to normalise ties with Israel. Saudi Arabia did not join, although in 2022 it opened its airspace to civilian flights to and from Israel.
US-mediated talks on Saudi–Israeli normalisation were reported to be advancing in 2023 but stalled after the Hamas-led attack of 7 October 2023 and the war in Gaza. As of 2026, Saudi officials continued to say a credible path to a Palestinian state was a precondition, and no agreement had been announced.
Contrasting economies
Saudi Arabia is the Arab world's largest economy, and it is built on oil. Saudi Aramco is one of the world's most valuable companies, and the Vision 2030 programme aims to grow tourism, industry and finance. Israel has few natural resources apart from offshore gas, and its economy rests on technology start-ups, defence, pharmaceuticals and research.
People and religion
Saudi Arabia is an Arabic-speaking, overwhelmingly Muslim monarchy with a large migrant workforce. Israel is a parliamentary democracy where most people are Jewish and speak Hebrew, and about a fifth of citizens are Arab. Saudi Arabia's population is roughly three to four times Israel's. The future of the Palestinian territories is the main issue shaping their relationship. See also Israel vs Iran.
Frequently asked questions
- Do Israel and Saudi Arabia have diplomatic relations?
- No. Saudi Arabia does not recognise Israel. Normalisation talks were reported in 2023 but stalled, and Saudi officials say a path to a Palestinian state is a precondition.
- Is Saudi Arabia part of the Abraham Accords?
- No. The 2020 Abraham Accords involved the UAE and Bahrain, later joined by Morocco and Sudan. Saudi Arabia has not signed.
- Can flights to Israel use Saudi airspace?
- Yes. Since 2022 Saudi Arabia has allowed civilian flights to and from Israel to cross its airspace.