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The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a country on the Arabian
Peninsula. It borders Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen, with the Persian Gulf to its north-east and the Red
Sea to its west.
History
Main article: History of Saudi Arabia
The Saudi state began in central Arabia in about 1750. A local 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 January 8, 1926 Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud became the King
of Hijaz. On January 29, 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.
The discovery of oil in March 1938
transformed the country economically, and has given the kingdom great legitimacy over the years. Today Saudi Arabia enjoys a
close relationship with the many western nations who purchase Saudi
oil.
Politics
Main article: Politics of Saudi
Arabia
The central institution of Saudi Arabian Government is the monarchy. The Basic
Law adopted in 1992 declared that Saudi Arabia is a monarchy ruled by the sons and
grandsons of King Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, and that the Holy
Qur'an is the constitution of the country, which is governed on the basis of Islamic
law (Shari'a). The formation of political parties is forbidden, and no national elections take place.
The king's powers are theoretically limited within the bounds of Shari'a and other Saudi traditions. He also must retain a
consensus of the Saudi royal family, religious leaders (ulema), and other important
elements in Saudi society, but his decrees are not subject to democratic approval or accountability. The state's ideology is
Wahhabism. This sect of Islam is attempting to gain adherents by funding the
building of mosques and Qur'an schools around the world. The leading members of the royal family choose the king from among
themselves with the subsequent approval of the ulema. The House of Saud
rules the nation, which is named after it.
The current king, Fahd, is largely incapacitated and
ill. Current rule of the kingdom is in the hands of his younger brother Crown Prince Abdullah who acts as regent.
On February 10, 2005, the first in a series of three planned municipal elections were held. Women were not allowed to vote
(social pressures, the government tried to encourage women to vote), although some announced candidacies before the ban. Only a
minority of seats on the councils were on the ballot. The rest of the council seats remained royal appointments. It was the first
time in over 40 years that any kind of election was held in Saudi Arabia.
Provinces
Main article: Provinces of Saudi
Arabia
Saudi Arabia is divided into 13 provinces (mintaqat, singular - mintaqah).
- Al Bahah
- Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah
- Al Jawf
- Al Madinah
- Al Qasim
- Ar Riyad
- Eastern Province
- 'Asir
- Ha'il
- Jizan
- Makkah
- Najran
- Tabuk
Geography
Main article: Geography of Saudi
Arabia
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 estimate is 2,217,949 square kilometers. Other reputable estimates vary between 2,149,690
square kilometers and 2,240,000 square kilometers. Less than 1 percent of the total area is suitable for cultivation, and in the
early 1990s population distribution varied greatly among the towns of the eastern and western coastal areas, the densely
populated interior oases, and the vast, almost empty deserts.
- See also : Rub' al Khali(desert), Arabian Desert and East Sahero-Arabian xeric shrublands
The climate is harsh, dry desert with great extremes of temperature and the terrain is mostly uninhabited, sandy desert. Saudi
Arabia is considered to be one of the fifteen countries that comprise the so-called "Cradle of Humanity."
In most parts of the country, vegetation is limited to weeds and shrubs. The coastal area of the Red Sea, especially the coral reefs, have a rich marine
fauna.
Economy
Main article: Economy of Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has an oil-based economy with strong government controls over
major economic activities. Saudi Arabia is first in the world in proven reserves of petroleum (24% of the proved total), ranks as
the largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC. The petroleum sector accounts for roughly 75% of budget
revenues, 40% of GDP, and 90% of export earnings. About 35% of GDP comes from the private sector. Saudi Arabia was a key player
in the successful efforts of OPEC and other oil producing countries to raise the price of
oil in 1999 to its highest level since the Gulf
War by reducing production. Although oil prices are expected to remain relatively high in 2000, Riyadh expects to have a $7.5 billion budget deficit in part because of increased spending for education and
other social programs. The government in 1999 announced plans to begin privatizing the
electricity companies, which follows the ongoing privatization of the telecommunications company. The government is expected to
continue calling for private sector growth to lessen the kingdom's dependence on oil and increase employment opportunities for
the swelling Saudi population. Shortages of water and rapid population growth will constrain government efforts to increase
self-sufficiency in agricultural products.
In recent years, Saudi Arabia has experienced a significant contraction of oil revenues combined with a high rate of
population growth. Per capita income has fallen from $25,000 in 1980 to $8,000 in 2003, up from about $7000 in 1999. The decline
in inflation-adjusted per-capita income from 1980 to 1999 set a record, being by far the worst such decline suffered by any
nation-state in history.
Demographics
Main article: Demographics of Saudi
Arabia
Saudi Arabia's 2003 population is estimated to be about 24.3 million, including about 6.4 million resident foreigners. Until
the 1960s, most of the population was nomadic or seminomadic; due to rapid economic and urban growth, more than 95% of the
population now is settled. Some cities and oases have densities of more than 1,000 people per square kilometer.
Most Saudis are ethnically Arab. Some are of mixed ethnic origin and are descended from
Turks, Iranians, Indonesians, Indians, Africans,
and others, most of whom immigrated as pilgrims and reside in the Hijaz region along the
Red Sea coast. Many Arabs from nearby countries are employed in the kingdom. There
also are significant numbers of Asian expatriates mostly from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and the Philippines. There are less than 100,000
Westerners in Saudi Arabia.
Exact religious demographics for Saudi Arabia are difficult to calculate, because the government reports 100% of citizens as
Muslim.
Culture
Main article: Culture of Saudi Arabia
The cultural heritage is celebrated at the annual Jenadriyah Cultural festival.
More specific information about the culture:
Saudi Arabian culture revolves almost entirely around Islam - two of Islam's holiest sites are in the country, and it
considers itself the birthplace of the religion. A monotheistic religion, Islam's holy book is the Qur'an, and Friday is its
sabbath day. Every day, five times a day, Muslims are called to prayer from the minarets of mosques which dot the country. Islam
derives from the same monotheistic roots as Judaism and Christianity, and Muslims generally regard Christians with respect - in
Islam, Jesus is regarded as one of the Prophets of Allah, and Jews and Christians are considered fellow 'people of the Book'.
Mohammed was the last Prophet, and it was to him that Allah dictated the Qur'an. The Qur'an is Saudi Arabia's constitution, and
Shari'ah (Islamic law) is the foundation of its legal system.
One of Saudi Arabia's most compelling folk rituals is the Ardha, the country's national dance. This sword dance is based on
ancient Bedouin traditions: drummers beat out a rhythm and a poet chants verses while sword-carrying men dance shoulder to
shoulder. Al-sihba folk music, from the Hijaz, has its origins in Arab Andalusia, a region of medieval Spain. In Mecca, Medina
and Jedda, dance and song incorporate the sound of the al-mizmar, an oboe-like woodwind instrument.
Saudi Arabian dress is strongly symbolic, representing the people's ties to the land, the past and to Islam. The predominantly
loose, flowing garments reflect the practicalities of life in a desert country as well as Islam's emphasis on keeping it all
covered up. Traditionally, men usually wear an ankle-length shirt woven from wool or cotton (known as a thawb), with a ghutra (a
large square of cotton held in place by a cord coil) worn on the head. For those rare days when it gets a bit chilly, Saudi men
chuck a camel-hair cloak (bisht) over the top. Women's clothes are decorated with tribal motifs, coins, sequins, metallic thread
and appliques. Unfortunately, only their family gets to see them in all their glory, as Saudi women must wear a long black coat
(abaya) and veil (niqab) when they leave the house, to protect their modesty.
Islamic law forbids eating pig and drinking alcohol, and this law is followed pretty strictly throughout Saudi Arabia. Arabic
unleavened bread, or khobz, is eaten with almost everything. The other staples are grilled chicken, felafel (deep-fried chickpea
balls), shwarma (spit-cooked sliced lamb), and fuul (a paste of fava beans, garlic and lemon). Traditional coffee houses (where
everyone drinks tea) used to be ubiquitous, but they're now being displaced by food-hall style cafes.
Miscellaneous topics
Bibliography
- Baer, Robert Sleeping With The Devil: How Washington Sold Our Soul for Saudi Crude (Crown, 2003) ISBN 1400050219
- Mackey, Sandra The Saudis: Inside the Desert Kingdom (Houghton Mifflin, 1987) ISBN 0395411653
External links
Sources
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