The Kingdom of Hejaz (, Mamlakat al-Ḥijāz) was a state in the Hejaz region ruled by the Hashemite family. It became independent from the collapsing Ottoman Empire as a result of World War I when the Sharif of Mecca made a deal with the British that the Arab population would be instigated to revolt against the Turks in exchange for a unified Arab country. The Hejaz region had strategic infrastructure, particularly the Hejaz Railway, which was being used to reinforce Turkish forces in the region.