Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and home to Islam's two holiest shrines in Mecca and Medina. The king's official title is the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The modern Saudi state was founded in 1932 by ABD AL-AZIZ bin Abd al-Rahman AL SAUD (Ibn Saud) after a 30-year campaign to unify most of the Arabian Peninsula. A male descendent of Ibn Saud, his son ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz, rules the country today as required by the country's 1992 Basic Law. Following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Saudi Arabia accepted the Kuwaiti royal family and 400,000 refugees while allowing Western and Arab troops to deploy on its soil for the liberation of Kuwait the following year. The continuing presence of foreign troops on Saudi soil after the liberation of Kuwait became a source of tension between the royal family and the public until all operational US troops left the country in 2003. Major terrorist attacks in May and November 2003 spurred a strong on-going campaign against domestic terrorism and extremism. King ABDALLAH has continued the cautious reform program begun when he was crown prince. To promote increased political participation, the government held elections nationwide from February through April 2005 for half the members of 179 municipal councils. In December 2005, King ABDALLAH completed the process by appointing the remaining members of the advisory municipal councils. The country remains a leading producer of oil and natural gas and holds approximately 25% of the world's proven oil reserves. The government continues to pursue economic reform and diversification, particularly since Saudi Arabia's accession to the WTO in December 2005, and promotes foreign investment in the kingdom. A burgeoning population, aquifer depletion, and an economy largely dependent on petroleum output and prices are all ongoing governmental concerns.

Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen
25 00 N, 45 00 E
Middle East
total: 2,149,690 sq km ; land: 2,149,690 sq km ; water: 0 sq km
slightly more than one-fifth the size of the US
total: 4,431 km ; border countries: Iraq 814 km, Jordan 744 km, Kuwait 222 km, Oman 676 km, Qatar 60 km, UAE 457 km, Yemen 1,458 km
2,640 km
territorial sea: 12 nm ; contiguous zone: 18 nm ; continental shelf: not specified
harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes
mostly uninhabited, sandy desert
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m ; highest point: Jabal Sawda' 3,133 m
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper
arable land: 1.67% ; permanent crops: 0.09% ; other: 98.24% (2005)
16,200 sq km (2003)
2.4 cu km (1997)
Total: 17.32 cu km/yr (10%/1%/89%) ; Per capita: 705 cu m/yr (2000)
frequent sand and dust storms
desertification; depletion of underground water resources; the lack of perennial rivers or permanent water bodies has prompted the development of extensive seawater desalination facilities; coastal pollution from oil spills
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution ; signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Sea provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through Persian Gulf and Suez Canal
27,601,038 ; note: includes 5,576,076 non-nationals (July 2007 est.)
0-14 years: 38.2% (male 5,369,285/female 5,162,585) ; 15-64 years: 59.4% (male 9,316,694/female 7,089,370) ; 65 years and over: 2.4% (male 348,827/female 314,277) (2007 est.)
total: 21.4 years ; male: 22.9 years ; female: 19.6 years (2007 est.)
2.06% (2007 est.)
29.1 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
2.55 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
-5.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female ; under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female ; 15-64 years: 1.314 male(s)/female ; 65 years and over: 1.11 male(s)/female ; total population: 1.196 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
total: 12.41 deaths/1,000 live births ; male: 14.24 deaths/1,000 live births ; female: 10.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
total population: 75.88 years ; male: 73.85 years ; female: 78.02 years (2007 est.)
3.94 children born/woman (2007 est.)
0.01% (2001 est.)
NA
NA
noun: Saudi(s) ; adjective: Saudi or Saudi Arabian
Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%
Muslim 100%
Arabic
definition: age 15 and over can read and write ; total population: 78.8% ; male: 84.7% ; female: 70.8% (2003 est.)


conventional long form: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ; conventional short form: Saudi Arabia ; local long form: Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah ; local short form: Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
monarchy
name: Riyadh ; geographic coordinates: 24 38 N, 46 43 E ; time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
13 provinces (mintaqat, singular - mintaqah); Al Bahah, Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah, Al Jawf, Al Madinah, Al Qasim, Ar Riyad, Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern Province), 'Asir, Ha'il, Jizan, Makkah, Najran, Tabuk

23 September 1932 (unification of the kingdom)
Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)
governed according to Islamic law; the Basic Law that articulates the government's rights and responsibilities was promulgated by royal decree in 1992
based on Shari'a law, several secular codes have been introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
21 years of age; male
chief of state: King and Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 1 August 2005); Heir Apparent Crown Prince SULTAN bin Abd al- Aziz Al Saud (half brother of the monarch, born 5 January 1928) note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government ; head of government: King and Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 1 August 2005) ; cabinet: Council of Ministers is appointed by the monarch every four years and includes many royal family members ; elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; note - a new Allegiance Commission created by royal decree in October 2006 established a committee of Saudi princes that will play a role in selecting future Saudi kings, but the new system will not take effect until after Crown Prince Sultan becomes king
Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (150 members and a chairman appointed by the monarch for four-year terms); note - though the Council of Ministers announced in October 2003 its intent to introduce elections for half of the members of local and provincial assemblies and a third of the members of the national Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura, incrementally over a period of four to five years, to date no such elections have been held or announced
Supreme Council of Justice
none
none
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, BIS, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
green, a traditional color in Islamic flags, with the Shahada or Muslim creed in large white Arabic script (translated as "There is no god but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God") above a white horizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist side); design dates to the early twentieth century and is closely associated with the Al Saud family which established the kingdom in 1932
chief of mission: Ambassador Adil al-Ahmad al-JUBAYR ; chancery: 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 ; telephone: [1] (202) 342-3800 ; FAX: [1] (202) 944-3113 ; consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, New York
chief of mission: Ambassador Ford FRAKER ; embassy: Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh ; mailing address: American Embassy, Unit 61307, APO AE 09803-1307; International Mail: P. O. Box 94309, Riyadh 11693 ; telephone: [966] (1) 488-3800 ; FAX: [966] (1) 488-7360 ; consulate(s) general: Dhahran, Jiddah (Jeddah)





Saudi Arabia has an oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. It possesses more than 20% of the world's proven petroleum reserves, ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC. The petroleum sector accounts for roughly 75% of budget revenues, 45% of GDP, and 90% of export earnings. About 40% of GDP comes from the private sector. Roughly 5.5 million foreign workers play an important role in the Saudi economy, particularly in the oil and service sectors. High oil prices have boosted growth, government revenues, and Saudi ownership of foreign assets, while enabling Riyadh to pay down domestic debt. The government is encouraging private sector growth - especially in the power generation, telecom, natural gas, and petrochemical industries - to lessen the kingdom's dependence on oil and to increase employment opportunities for the swelling Saudi population. Unemployment is high, with a large youth population - 40% are under 15 years old- lacking technical skills the private sector needs. Riyadh has substantially boosted spending on job training and education, infrastructure development, and government salaries. As part of its effort to attract foreign investment and diversify the economy, Saudi Arabia acceded to the WTO in December 2005 after many years of negotiations. The government has announced plans to establish six "economic cities" in different regions of the country to promote development and diversification.
$572.2 billion (2007 est.)
$302.3 billion (2007 est.)
4.7% (2007 est.)
$20,700 (2007 est.)
agriculture: 3% ; industry: 61.8% ; services: 35.2% (2007 est.)
6.488 million ; note: more than 35% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2007 est.)
agriculture: 12% ; industry: 25% ; services: 63% (1999 est.)
13% among Saudi males only (local bank estimate; some estimates range as high as 25%) (2004 est.)
NA%
lowest 10%: NA% ; highest 10%: NA%

3.4% (2007 est.)
18.8% of GDP (2007 est.)
revenues: $193.7 billion ; expenditures: $122.2 billion (2007 est.)
22.6% of GDP (2007 est.)
wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons, dates, citrus; mutton, chickens, eggs, milk
crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals; ammonia, industrial gases, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), cement, fertilizer, plastics; metals, commercial ship repair, commercial aircraft repair, construction
0.2% (2007 est.)
165.6 billion kWh (2005)
fossil fuel: 100% ; hydro: 0% ; nuclear: 0% ; other: 0% (2001)
146.9 billion kWh (2005)
0 kWh (2005)
0 kWh (2005)
11.1 million bbl/day (2005 est.)
2 million bbl/day (2005)
8.554 million bbl/day (2004)
0 bbl/day (2004)
266.8 billion bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
68.32 billion cu m (2005 est.)
68.32 billion cu m (2005 est.)
0 cu m (2005 est.)
0 cu m (2005)
6.568 trillion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
$88.89 billion (2007 est.)
$215 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
petroleum and petroleum products 90%
Japan 17.7%, US 15.8%, South Korea 9%, China 7.2%, Taiwan 4.6%, Singapore 4.4% (2006)
$82.77 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
US 12.3%, Germany 8.6%, China 8%, Japan 7.3%, UK 4.9%, Italy 4.8%, South Korea 4.1% (2006)
since 2000, Saudi Arabia has committed $307 million for assistance to the Palestinians; pledged $230 million to development in Afghanistan; pledged $1 billion in export guarantees and soft loans to Iraq; pledged $133 million in direct grant aid, $187 million in concessional loans, and $153 million in export credits for Pakistan earthquake relief; pledged a total of $1.59 billion to Lebanon in assistance and deposits to the Central Bank of Lebanon in 2006 and pledged an additional $1.1 billion in early 2007
$34 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
$52.89 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
$NA
$NA
$326.9 billion (2006)
Saudi riyal (SAR)
SAR
Saudi riyals per US dollar - 3.745 (2007), 3.745 (2006), 3.747 (2005), 3.75 (2004), 3.75 (2003)
calendar year
$26.29 million (2005)
4.5 million (2006)
19.663 million (2006)
general assessment: modern system ; domestic: extensive microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, and fiber-optic cable systems; mobile-cellular subscribership has been increasing rapidly ; international: country code - 966; landing point for the international submarine cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) and for both the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable networks providing connectivity to Asia, Middle East, Europe, and US; microwave radio relay to Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Yemen, and Sudan; coaxial cable to Kuwait and Jordan; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (3 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region)
AM 43, FM 31, shortwave 2 (1998)
6.25 million (1997)
117 (1997)
5.1 million (1997)
.sa
18,369 (2007)
22 (2003)
4.7 million (2006)

213 (2007)
total: 77 ; over 3,047 m: 32 ; 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15 ; 1,524 to 2,437 m: 26 ; 914 to 1,523 m: 2 ; under 914 m: 2 (2007)
total: 136 ; over 3,047 m: 1 ; 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 ; 1,524 to 2,437 m: 73 ; 914 to 1,523 m: 39 ; under 914 m: 15 (2007)
8 (2007)
condensate 212 km; gas 1,880 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,183 km; oil 4,531 km; refined products 1,150 km (2006)
total: 1,392 km ; standard gauge: 1,392 km 1.435-m gauge (with branch lines and sidings) (2006)
total: 152,044 km ; paved: 45,461 km ; unpaved: 106,583 km (2000)

total: 59 ships (1000 GRT or over) 847,094 GRT/1,059,026 DWT ; by type: cargo 5, chemical tanker 15, container 4, passenger/cargo 8, petroleum tanker 16, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 8 ; foreign-owned: 10 (Egypt 1, Greece 2, Kuwait 6, UAE 1) ; registered in other countries: 63 (Bahamas 15, Comoros 1, Dominica 1, France 1, Liberia 24, Marshall Islands 4, Norway 3, Panama 14) (2007)
Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Jiddah, Yanbu' al Sinaiyah

Land Forces (Army), Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, National Guard, Ministry of Interior Forces (paramilitary)
18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2004)
males age 18-49: 7,648,999 ; females age 18-49: 5,417,922 (2005 est.)
males age 18-49: 6,592,709 ; females age 18-49: 4,659,347 (2005 est.)
males age 18-49: 247,334 ; females age 18-49: 234,500 (2005 est.)
10% (2005 est.)

Saudi Arabia has reinforced its concrete-filled security barrier along sections of the now fully demarcated border with Yemen to stem illegal cross-border activities; Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue discussions on a maritime boundary with Iran
refugees (country of origin): 240,015 (Palestinian Territories) (2006)
death penalty for traffickers; improving anti-money-laundering legislation and enforcement
current situation: Saudi Arabia is a destination country for workers from South and Southeast Asia who are subjected to conditions that constitute involuntary servitude including being subjected to physical and sexual abuse, non-payment of wages, confinement, and withholding of passports as a restriction on their movement; domestic workers are particularly vulnerable because some are confined to the house in which they work unable to seek help; Saudi Arabia is also a destination country for Nigerian, Yemeni, Pakistani, Afghan, Somali, Malian, and Sudanese children trafficked for forced begging and involuntary servitude as street vendors; some Nigerian women were reportedly trafficked into Saudi Arabia for commercial sexual exploitation ; tier rating: Tier 3 - Saudi Arabia does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so
