Saudi Arab DNA
Genetic origins and closest populations · Saudi Arabia · West Asia
Saudi Arabia covers most of the Arabian Peninsula, from the Red Sea coast of the Hejaz, home of Mecca and Medina, to the central plateau of Najd. For the Saudi Arab average, our model assigns 52.8% to Natufians, with 24.0% Levantine Neolithic farmer, 20.0% Iranian Neolithic farmer and 3.2% steppe. Ancient genomes from the Arabian Peninsula are still scarce, mainly because DNA survives poorly in hot climates, so the Natufian hunter-gatherers of the Levant serve here as the nearest available stand-in for the deep ancestry of Arabia. Compared with Gulf populations such as the Qataris (24.0% Iranian Neolithic, 6.6% steppe), the Saudi average sits further toward this Arabian end of the range. The closest modern averages are Emiratis, Saudis from Najd, Yemenite Jews and Yemenis from Al Jawf. The closest ancient groups are medieval people from Socotra, the island off Yemen (0.0218 and 0.0225). The fit (0.0457) is typical for Arabian populations.
- Largest ancient components in our model: Natufian hunter-gatherers (Levant) 52.8%, Levantine Neolithic farmers 24.0%, Iranian Neolithic farmers 20.0%
- Closest modern population in our data: Emirati Arab (Arabian Profile), distance 0.0109
- Closest ancient group in our data: Yemen Socotra High Medieval, distance 0.0218
Where does Saudi Arab DNA sit on the genetic map of the world? To answer, we take the averaged Global25 (G25) coordinates of the Saudi Arab individuals sampled in Saudi Arabia, listed in the G25 sheet as "Saudi_Arab" and compare them with deep ancestral reference populations, with other modern groups and with ancient genomes. It is one of 335 populations in our atlas.
Ancient make-up of the Saudi Arab average
In a model built from deep ancestral reference populations, the largest share of the Saudi Arab average, 52.8%, goes to Natufian hunter-gatherers (Levant), ahead of Levantine Neolithic farmers (24.0%) and Iranian Neolithic farmers (20.0%). The Natufian hunter-gatherers (Levant) component reflects the early farmers of the Levant and the Natufian foragers who came before them.
Smaller traces of Steppe herders (Yamnaya) (under 5%) also appear. At that level they can reflect real minor ancestry, but also simple model noise, so they should not be over-read. The fit is loose (fit distance 0.046), which usually means that none of the available reference populations is a close stand-in for part of this ancestry, so read the percentages as rough. The model draws on West Eurasian ancient genomes, with modern West African and East Asian stand-ins.
Closest modern populations to Saudi Arab
Among the modern populations in the G25 data, the closest to the Saudi Arab average is Emirati Arab (Arabian Profile), at a distance of 0.011 (very close). Next come Saudi Arab (Najd) at 0.012 and Saudi (Najd) at 0.012. Leaving aside the other regional samples listed under the same name in the G25 sheet, the nearest other populations are Emirati Arab (Arabian Profile) (0.011), Yemenite Jewish (0.015) and Yemenite (Al Jawf) (0.015). Even the tenth closest, Yemeni Arab (Al Bayda), is only 0.020 away: Saudi Arab belongs to a dense cluster of related populations, so small differences inside that cluster should not be over-interpreted.
| # | Population | Distance | Closeness |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emirati Arab (Arabian Profile) | 0.0109 | Very close |
| 2 | Saudi Arab (Najd) | 0.0115 | Very close |
| 3 | Saudi (Najd) | 0.0117 | Very close |
| 4 | Yemenite Jewish | 0.0149 | Very close |
| 5 | Yemenite (Al Jawf) | 0.0150 | Very close |
| 6 | Bedouin (Negev) | 0.0160 | Very close |
| 7 | Yemenite (Ma'rib) | 0.0164 | Very close |
| 8 | Bedouin (Jordan) | 0.0171 | Very close |
| 9 | Yemeni Arab (Ma'rib) | 0.0191 | Very close |
| 10 | Yemeni Arab (Al Bayda) | 0.0202 | Very close |
Distances are Euclidean distances between averaged G25 coordinates. On our scale, below 0.025 is very close, below 0.050 close, below 0.080 moderate, and beyond that distant.
Closest ancient populations to Saudi Arab
If we search ancient DNA for the best match to Saudi Arab, Yemen Socotra High Medieval (High Medieval, c. 1000-1300 AD) comes first, at 0.022, with Yemen Socotra Early-High Medieval next. That is a very close match, which suggests strong genetic continuity between those ancient people (or close relatives of theirs) and the modern population. A close ancient match is not proof of direct descent: it means those individuals carried a similar overall mix of ancestry.
| # | Ancient sample or group | Period | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yemen Socotra High Medieval | High Medieval, c. 1000-1300 AD | 0.0218 |
| 2 | Yemen Socotra Early-High Medieval | Early to High Medieval, c. 500-1300 AD | 0.0225 |
| 3 | Israel Late Medieval-Early Modern Tell el-Hesi | Late Medieval to Early Modern, c. 1300-1800 AD | 0.0238 |
| 4 | Yemen Socotra Early Medieval | Early Medieval, c. 500-1000 AD | 0.0243 |
| 5 | Yemen Socotra Early-Late Modern | Modern era, c. 1500-1950 AD | 0.0302 |
| 6 | Syria High Medieval Tell Masaikh (Arabian Profile) | High Medieval, c. 1000-1300 AD | 0.0321 |
| 7 | Syria Early Medieval Islamic Era Tell Qarassa | Early Medieval, c. 500-1000 AD | 0.0405 |
| 8 | Jordan EBA 'Ain Ghazal (Levant EBA South) | Early Bronze Age | 0.0491 |
| 9 | Egypt Late Period Abusir-el Meleq | Late Period Egypt, c. 660-330 BC | 0.0588 |
| 10 | Iraq MBA Old Babylonian Bakr Awa (Levantine Profile) | Middle Bronze Age | 0.0640 |
Compare yourself with Saudi Arab
Paste your G25 coordinates (scaled, one line, with or without a name in front) and we compute your genetic distance to the Saudi Arab average and to its closest neighbours, right in your browser. Nothing is uploaded or stored.
| # | Population | Your distance | Closeness |
|---|
This list only covers Saudi Arab and its neighbours. To find out which of our reports actually fits your DNA, run the free Report Finder: it runs the same fit test that every report uses before an order.
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About these numbers
A word of caution: these figures describe the average of the Saudi Arab individuals who were sampled, not every person who identifies as Saudi Arab. Individuals vary around that average, and identity is about history, language and family, not about a genetic score. Read this page as a map of deep ancestry, not as a definition.
Method: averaged G25 coordinates, Euclidean distances to other modern and ancient averages, and a non-negative least-squares model against deep ancestral reference populations (data generated 2026-10-01). Read the full method.
Go deeper than the average
This page describes the Saudi Arab average. For your own DNA, Advanced Ancestry Report (16€) gives a full ancestry breakdown with no regional focus, in a personal PDF report.
Comprehensive DNA analysis comparing your genetics to over 2,000 modern reference populations.
More populations from West Asia
Frequently asked questions
What is the ancient genetic make-up of Saudi Arab?
Modelled with deep ancestral reference populations, the Saudi Arab average is about 52.8% Natufian hunter-gatherers (Levant), 24.0% Levantine Neolithic farmers and 20.0% Iranian Neolithic farmers. These proportions are model estimates for a group average, not exact values for any one person.
Which populations are genetically closest to Saudi Arab?
Leaving aside other regional samples listed under the same name in the G25 sheet (such as Saudi Arab (Najd)), the closest modern populations to the Saudi Arab average are Emirati Arab (Arabian Profile), Yemenite Jewish and Yemenite (Al Jawf). The closest ancient matches are Yemen Socotra High Medieval, Yemen Socotra Early-High Medieval and Israel Late Medieval-Early Modern Tell el-Hesi.
Can a DNA test tell me if I am Saudi Arab?
No DNA test can confirm an ethnicity or a nationality. What DNA can show is how similar your genome is to the sampled Saudi Arab average and to its neighbours. If you have G25 coordinates, paste them in the comparison box on this page to check that for free.
Which ExploreYourDNA report suits Saudi Arab ancestry?
None of our regional reports is built for Saudi Arab ancestry, so the full Advanced Ancestry Report (no regional focus) is the better choice. The DNA Mega-Analysis adds Neanderthal %, traits and closest ancient populations. The free Report Finder checks every report against your own DNA first.
Where does the data on this page come from?
From the averaged Global25 (G25) coordinates of the sampled individuals: genetic distances to other modern and ancient population averages, and a non-negative least-squares model against deep ancestral reference populations. The full method is described at https://www.exploreyourdna.com/populations#method.