Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the world without permanent rivers.
Saudi Arabia covers about 2.15 million square kilometres on the Arabian Peninsula. Its arid climate means it has no year-round naturally flowing rivers. Instead, seasonal waterways called wadis carry water after rainfall, sometimes producing sudden floods.
The country’s landscape includes the Rubʿ al-Khali, or Empty Quarter, one of the world’s largest sand deserts, as well as rocky plateaus and mountain ranges in the west and southwest. Groundwater, desalination and intermittent surface flows are therefore important to settlement and water supply.
Countries without permanent rivers are not necessarily completely waterless. Seasonal streams, springs, underground aquifers and human-built canals can still support communities. Saudi Arabia’s large area makes it the leading example of a riverless country by total territory.