Arabia

**Arabia** (Arabic: جزيره العرب, Jaziratu al-'Arab) is a large peninsula located in the Middle East at western Asia. It is the birthplace and sacred land of the monotheist religion of Islam.

Its most powerful country is the monarchy of Saudi Arabia, surrounded by Egypt and Jordan to the northwest; Iraq to the north; Kuwait to the northeast; Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman to the east; and Yemen to the south.

In the 21st century, Saudi Arabia is the world's largest oil exporter. It is at a price war against its economic rival Russia by producing more crude oil against Russian price cuts.

 Factfile

* Official name: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
* Anthem: National Anthem of Saudi Arabia/A'ash al-Malik
* Official motto: There is no God but God, and Muhammad is His Prophet
* Capital city: Riyadh
* Official languages: Arabic
* State religion: Sunni Islam
* Government: Absolute monarchy
* King: Salman
* Climate: Mostly desert; mountainous along the west
* Population: 34,218,169
* Currency: Riyal (100 halalat)
* National Day: 23 September

## In the *Rinnarverse*

See also: Rinnarverse timeline, Arabia (Rinnarverse)

"Arabia" (most likely Saudi Arabia) is alluded to in the Rinnarverse as one of four powers that competed for global domination in the years leading to World War III, the others being "America, China, and Russia". Its other rivals included Iran, India, Australia, and Turkey. Its methods in achieving the status of a superpower include religious evangelism, profit from oil, and financial and military aid to poorer Muslim nations to win their support and influence them to adopt its strict form of Islam. Over time, it was joined by allies that sought revenge against Europe and the West, becoming more militant to achieve its goal for revenge. The leaders of Arabia and its alliance wanted revenge for the Purge of Europe and NATO's wars against their countries, so they became more hostile towards the Western world.

At times, Arabia was divided between patriots who wanted to preserve their existing nations, and warlords who sought to turn the entire Middle East into their own global empire. Furthermore, the Gulf States and Oman formed their own alliance to distance themselves from Arabia's political domination, even though they continued being allies of Arabia.

Arabia's government supported the Liberation of Palestine/Collapse of Israel. Western and Jewish accounts mentioned that thousands of Jews were slaughtered in revenge, and a dictatorship was set up to replace the Israeli regime. On the other hand, Arab accounts mentioned that there was only a safe expulsion of European Jews to various ports in America and Europe; and in the Islamic Republic of Palestine, the local Jews, Christians, Samaritans, and even the atheists were permitted to continue their beliefs without being forced into conversion, in spite of pressure from more militant officials. Regardless of whatever happened, it was followed by celebrations throughout the Muslim world, and a brief embargo by the West against Arabia and its allies. To help the strict Palestinian government rebuild, the government of the Arabian Empire sent funds, supplies, and soldiers, especially to fight the American-Israeli resistance forces at Negev.

During the 23rd century, the A-Hadd serum was invented in Iraq. Many conservative and religious governments across Eurasia and Africa, including Arabia, utilised the A-Hadd serum to eliminate behaviours that they considered "undesirable" or "deviant", making their people more docile and obedient to their leaders, and less violent. Although some variants enhanced the users' intelligence, it also led to stagnation and a lack of creativity.

In the years leading to World War III, Arabia sent soldiers to guard allied Muslim nations across Africa and Asia. In some of these countries, local leaders were overthrown and dictators friendly to Arabia were set up in their place. This led to the transformation of the Middle East into the Arabian Empire, whose dictators made their society more militaristic. They believed that they must "correct" the world with harsh force to end injustice, whether their own people liked it or not.

When World War III broke out, Arabia and its alliance also withstood attacks by Eastern European militants who sought revenge: some Middle Eastern militants retaliated by targeting Europe. The dictators of Arabia and its European enemies waged scores of battles at the eastern Mediterranean, with Turkey fortifying its southern ports to avoid European and Arabian attacks. Before the armies of Arabia and Eastern Europe were about to meet at Syria, protests broke out in the Middle East against the Arabian dictator for the exorbitant costs of maintaining the punitive expeditions towards Europe.

The last dictator of the Arabian Empire was overthrown by his own men, who later restored the nations subjugated under the empire's expansions, but disputes over certain borders led to mob attacks and clashes that persisted for a few years. The Arabian Empire was then replaced by the Arab Alliance.

Arabia managed to avoid being conquered by the Earth Union as its leaders built energy shields to protect its lands from bombardments and invasion. It managed to prosper as a venue for spaceports, tourism, and manufacturing solar power and desert glass. Nonetheless, its cities suffered great damage from the Farsider fleets, who viewed it as one of the four warmongering empires on Earth that contributed to World War III.

Some Arabs who live at the eastern part of the Milky Way formed their own alliance to create a more peaceful domain to avoid the wars breaking out everywhere. They were also very sad from Earth's tragic history, so they became more peaceful and diplomatic. A few Vetarbroitar states agreed to be their allies, but they were lated hated by the rest of their civilisations as "Terran traitors".

Among the Arabs of the Milky Way were the Haruspex Alliance (a Muslim federation) and the Kingdom of Hiwayyin, who sent fleets to protect and rebuild Earth from the Farsider bombardment. The Haruspex also fought against the Ghaznavid Empire, who attempted to slaughter them and their allies for not bowing down to its emperors.

## In the Rabydosverse

See also: Arabia (Rabydosverse)

Arabia does not exist in the Rabydosverse, but several peoples and civilisations resemble Arab people:

* The Gauvajuts, the Assuwelli ancestors, and their spacefaring Londurilli relatives were inspired by Syrian Arabs, although their culture was primarily based on that of the Hittites, who controlled parts of western Syria.
* The Rabydosians, immortals of Umbirab, and the Imdegabat people were based on Iraqis.
	+ In fact, although the Rabydosians and Umbirabians directly correspond to the historical Assyrians, their languages were also based on a mixture of Akkadian with Arabic.

## Trivia

* Malaysia's culture was somewhat influenced by Arabia. In fact, both countries share the same religion as the official faith, Islam.
* The culture, architecture, and fashion of the alien world of Rukthan were somewhat inspired by Arabian art.