Asia

Saudi Arabia

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the largest country on the Arabian Peninsula. It borders Jordan on the north, Iraq on the north and north-east, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates on the east, Oman on the south and south-east, and Yemen on the south, with the Persian Gulf to its north-east and the Red Sea to its west. It is called "the land of the two holy mosques", a reference to Mecca and Medina, Islam's two holiest places...Saudi Arabia Gernal Introduction.

Full country name: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
National name: Al-Mamlaka al-'Arabiya as-Sa'udiya
Area: 756,981 sq mi (1,960,582 sq km)
Population: 26,417,599 (growth rate: 2.3%); birth rate: 29.6/1000; infant mortality rate: 13.2/1000; life expectancy: 75.5; density per sq mi: 35
Capital City: Riyadh, 3,724,100
Language: Arabic
Ethnicity/race: Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%
Literacy rate: 79% (2003 est.)
Religion: Islam 100%
Government: Saudi Arabia was an absolute monarchy until 1992, at which time the Saud royal family introduced the country's first constitution. The legal system is based on the sharia (Islamic law).
Head of State: King Abdullah (2005)

History of Saudi Arabia

The Saudi state began in central Arabia in about 1750. A regional ruler, Muhammad bin Saud, joined forces with an Islamic reformer, Muhammad Abd Al-Wahhab, to create a new political entity. Over the next one hundred and fifty years, the fortunes of the Saud family rose and fell several times as Saudi rulers contended with Egypt, the Ottoman Empire, and other Arabian families for control on the peninsula. The modern Saudi state was founded by the late King Abdul Aziz Al-Saud (known internationally as Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud). In 1902 Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud captured Riyadh, the Al-Saud dynasty's ancestral capital, from the rival Al-Rashid family. Continuing his conquests, Abdul Aziz subdued Al-Ahsa, Al-Qatif, the rest of Nejd, and the Hijaz between 1913 and 1926. On 8 January 1926 Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud became the King of Hijaz. On 29 January 1927 he took the title King of Nejd (his previous Nejdi title was Sultan). By the Treaty of Jedda, signed on May 20, 1927, the United Kingdom recognized the independence of Abdul Aziz's realm, then known as the Kingdom of Hijaz and Nejd. In 1932, these regions were unified as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia....More on Saudi Arabia History.

Overview of Saudi Arabia's Economy

GDP: $310.2 billion
GDP per capita: $12,000
Annual Growth: 5%
Inflation: 0.8%
Unemployment: 25% (unofficial estimate)
Major Industries: crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals, ammonia, industrial gases, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), cement, construction, fertilizer, plastics, commercial ship repair, commercial aircraft repair.
Major Trading Partners: U.S., Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Germany, UK, France (2003).
Exports: $113 billion (f.o.b., 2004 est.): petroleum and petroleum products 90%.
Imports: $36.21 billion (f.o.b., 2004 est.): machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, motor vehicles, textiles.
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper.

Also Read: A Brief insight in the Economy of Saudi Arabia

Political System of Saudi Arabia

- Government of Saudi Arabia
- Foreign Relations of Saudi Arabia
- Political of Saudi Arabia

Climate, Vegetation and Fauna

- Languages of Saudi Arabia : Arabic is the official language of Saudi Arabia. It is the language of the Qur’an (the holy book of Islam). Through its eloquence and the spread of Islam, Arabic has become one of the most widely used languages of the world. English is also used in the Kingdom, most frequently in conducting business, health care, commerce and international affairs and the hotel industry.more..
- Population of Saudi Arabia : Estimates of the population holding Saudi citizenship have varied widely. Official figures published by the Saudi government indicated a population...Population of Saudi Arabia .
- Culture : Saudi Arabian culture revolves almost entirely around the religion of Islam...Culture of Saudi Arabia
- People: Saudi Arabia's 2003 population is estimated to be about 24.3 million, including about 5.6 million resident foreigners.More...


Facts for the Traveler

Visas: To apply for a non-immigrant visa, each applicant is required to complete an application form (DS-156) for each traveler.More...
Health risks: Anyone arriving in Saudi Arabia from a country infected with yellow fever requires a vaccination certificate for entry. Not compulsory, but definitely advisable, is vaccination against meningococcus, hepatitis A and typhoid fever. There is a malaria risk in the south and parts of the western region of the country and visitors should take advice on anti-malarial precautions at least four weeks before leaving; an outbreak of cerebral malaria has occurred in Jizan. Food poisoning is a risk outside the good hotels. Visitors should only drink bottled water. The standard of medical care and facilities in Saudi Arabia is high, but treatment is expensive, therefore health insurance is strongly advised for all travellers.
Time: GMT +3.
Electricity: 125 volts, 50Hz, but 215 volts, 60Hz in some (more remote) areas.
Money:The Saudi currency is the Riyal (SR), divided into 100 halala. Foreign currency can be changed at banks and exchange bureaux. Banking hours are generally Saturday to Wednesday from 8am to 12pm and 4pm to 8pm. All major credit cards are accepted at shops, hotels and restaurants in Saudi Arabia. Travellers cheques are also accepted and ATMs are widely available. There are no taxes in Saudi Arabia, so shopping is good value.
Communications:Saudi Arabia has a good telephone network. The country code is +966 and the outgoing international code 00. Two mobile telephone service providers operate GSM 900 networks and there are internet facilities in most cities. Email is accessible from hotels and internet cafes.

Geography

The kingdom occupies eighty percent of the Arabian Peninsula. Most of the country's boundaries with the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Yemen are undefined, so the exact size of the country remains unknown. The Saudi government's estimate is 2,217,949 square kilometers. Other reputable estimates vary between 2,149,690 square kilometers and 2,240,000 square kilometers. More...

What to See in North Korea

Major Tourist Attractions in North Korea
- The Najd: The Najd is a stony desert plateau at the heart of Saudi Arabia, somewhat isolated from the rest of the peninsula. It was from here that Ibn Saud led his tribe of nomads out to create a new kingdom through conquest. Despite oil wealth, some Najdis still lead a semi-nomadic life, tending camels and sheep, but many have settled in the same towns they once milked for tribute with threats of violence. Watchtowers, standing guard on all the high points in Najd, are a reminder of this age-old conflict between nomad and farmer.
- Riyadh:The royal capital, Riyadh (Ryad), is a modern city built on the site of the first town captured by Ibn Saud, when he stormed the Musmat Fort in 1902 (a spearhead embedded in the main door is said to be the one with which Ibn Saud killed the Turkish governor). Apart from the fort and a few traditional Najdi palaces near Deera Square, little trace of the old town remains. The King’s Camel Races are held near the city in April or May. Other places of interest in Najd are Al-Hair, Aneyzah, Diriya, Hail, Qassim, Shaib Awsat, Shaib Laha, Towqr, Tumair, Wadi-al-Jafi and Wadi Hanifa.
-Hasa (Eastern Region):Fertile lowland coastal plains inhabited by the kingdom’s Shia minority, who have traditionally lived by fishing, diving for pearls, raising date palms and trading abroad and with the interior. All of Saudi Arabia’s vast stocks of oil lie under Hasa or beneath the Gulf, and the locals are now outnumbered by foreign oil workers from all over the world. Places retaining some flavor of old Hasa include Hofuf, a lively oasis with Turkish influence and a camel market; Jebel-al-Qara, where the potteries have been worked by eight generations of the same family; Abqaiq, which has a 5000-year-old saltmine, still in operation; the ruined customs house at Uqair, once an important Portuguese port and caravan terminus; and Tarut Island, site of the oldest town on the peninsula, now a picturesque settlement of fishermen and weavers.

Other Tourist Attractions in Saudi Arabia More...

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