The Kingdom of Hejaz, on the Arabian Peninsula, was granted international recognition and had an estimated area of and a population of about 750,000. The main cities were the Holy Places of Makka, with a population of 80,000, and Medina, with a population of 40,000. Under the Ottomans, it had been the vilayet of Hejaz, but during the war, it became an independent kingdom under British influence.