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Geography
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History
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Government
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People
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Economy
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Communications
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Transportation
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Military
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Financial
system
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Major
Cities
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Saudi
National Anthem
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Government
Agencies in Saudi Arabia
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Ministerial
Functions and Addresses
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History
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The history of the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia dates back to about 1747 when the ruler of the central Arabian
Peninsula, Muhammad Bin Saud, formed an alliance with the Muslim scholar
and reformer Muhammad Bin Abdul Wahab, a partnership that led to the
founding of the modern state.
The Al-Saud family ruled much of the
Arabian Peninsula throughout the 19th century. In 1902, Abdul Aziz Bin
Abdul Rahman Al-Saud succeeded in recapturing Riyadh from the Al-Rashid
and in the following thirty years united the numerous and disparate tribes
into one nation.
The foundation of the modern Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia took place on September 23, 1932, a day that is commemorated
as National Day.
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Geography
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Location: Middle East, bordering the Arabian Gulf and the Red
Sea, north of Yemen
Geographic coordinates: 25 00 N, 45 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:
total: 1,960,582 sq km
land: 1,960,582 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly more than one-fifth the size
of the US
Land boundaries:
total: 4,415 km
border countries: Iraq 814 km, Jordan 728 km, Kuwait 222 km, Oman 676 km, Qatar 60
km, UAE 457 km, Yemen 1,458 km
Coastline: 2,640 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 18 nm
continental shelf: not specified
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: harsh, dry desert with great extremes of temperature
Terrain: mostly uninhabited, sandy desert
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Arabian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal Sawda' 3,133 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold,
copper
Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 56%
forests and woodland: 1%
other: 41% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 4,885,000 hectares
under cultivation, and a further 53 million hectares that could be prepared for
cultivation.
Natural hazards: frequent sand and dust storms
Environment—current issues: 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
Environment—international agreements:
party to: Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography—note: extensive coastlines on Arabian Gulf and
Red Sea provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through Persian Gulf and
Suez Canal
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People
and Health Services
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Population (est):
22,023,506 ( 16,662,980 Nationals est.)
note: includes 5,360,526 non-nationals (July
2000 est.)
Population:
19,895,232
note: includes 14, 872,804 Nationals,
5,022,428 non-nationals (Year 1999)
men numbered 5,022,824. There are also 3,347,776 non-Saudi men present in the
country.
Source: according to the latest census studies conducted by the Statistical
Department, a subsidiary of the Planning Ministry, based on the studies of 1999.
Age structure:
0-14 years:
43% (male 4,781,695; female 4,607,038)
15-64 years: 55% (male 7,093,567; female 4,969,848)
65 years and over: 2% (male 309,638; female 261,720) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.28% (2000 est.)
Birth rate:
37.47 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate:
6.02 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate:
1.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio:
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.43 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.18 male(s)/female
total population: 1.24 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
52.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
67.77 years
male: 66.11 years
female: 69.51 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.3 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Saudi(s)
adjective: Saudi or Saudi Arabian
Ethnic groups:
Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%
Religions:
Muslim 100%
Languages:
Arabic
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 62.8%
male: 71.5%
female: 50.2% (1995 est.)
Health Services:
The number of the
hospitals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia amounted to 314 and the total number of
beds at these hospitals amounted to 45,730 - 27,800 at the hospitals of the
health ministry and 8,761 beds at the hospitals of the private sector. In
addition to these, the Kingdom has 1,756 health centers (Press
Statement by
Minister of Health Dr Usama Shobokshi Oct
2001)
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Government
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Country name:
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
Internet code: SA
Government type: Monarchy
National capital: Riyadh
(Estimated population February 1998: 3.1 million)
Administrative divisions:
13 provinces (mintaqah,
singular—mintaqat); Al
Bahah, Al Hudud Ash Shamaliyah, Al
Jawf, Al
Madinah, Al Qasim,
Ar Riyad, Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern Province), 'Asir, Hail,
Jizan,
Makkah,
Najran,
Tabuk
Independence: 23 September 1932 (unification)
National holiday: Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September
(1932)
Constitution: governed according to Shari'a (Islamic law);
the Basic Law that articulates the government's rights and responsibilities was introduced
in 1993
Legal system: based on Islamic law, several secular codes
have been introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees.
Executive branch:
chief of state: King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 13 June
1982); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud
(brother to the king, heir to the throne since 13 June 1982); note—the king is both
the chief of state and head of government.
cabinet: Council of Ministers
is appointed by the king .
Legislative branch: a consultative council
(90 members and a
chairman appointed by the king for four-year terms)
Judicial branch: Supreme Council of Justice
International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD,
AL, AMF, BIS (pending member), CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO,
ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador BANDAR bin Sultan bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud
chancery: 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 342-3800
consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Ambassador, Robert Jordan
DCM, Margaret Scobey
Econ Counselor, Alice Dress
Political/Military Counselor, Martin Adams
Commercial Counselor, Charles Kestenbaum
Administrative Counselor, Lawrence S. Blackburn
Consul General, Kenneth Sackett
Bilateral Programs Counselor, Bruce Johnson
Regional Security Officer, Greg Hays
Public Affairs Counselor, John Burgess
Political Counselor, Matthew Tueller
Defense Attaché, Colonel Bernard J. Dunn,USA
Agricultural Counselor, Quinton Gray
Legal Attaché, Wilfred Rattigan
embassy: Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh
Mailing address: American Embassy-Riyadh, 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, Jeddah
Flag description: green with large white Arabic script (that
may be translated as There is no God but God and Muhammad is the Messenger of God) above a
white horizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist side); green is the traditional color
of Islam. The sword was added in 1906, symbolizing the military successes of
Islam and of Ibn Saud, founder of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia .
Anthem: "Sarei
Lil Majd Walaya"
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Economy
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Economy—overview: This is an oil-based economy with strong
government controls over major economic activities. Saudi Arabia has the largest
reserves of petroleum in the world (26% 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. Roughly 4
million foreign workers play an important role in the Saudi economy, for
example, in the oil and service sectors. 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 problems. 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.
GDP: purchasing power parity—
GDP IS ESTIMATED TO GROW BY 15.5 PER CENT
IN CURRENT PRICES(4.11) PER CENT IN CONSTANT PRICES IN 2000, REACHING SR 618
BILLION ($164.8) COMPARED TO SR 535 ($142.667) BILLION IN 1999. ONE OF THE MAJOR
FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THIS GROWTH IS THE INCREASE IN OIL PRICES AS WELL AS THE
QUANTITIES PRODUCED. AS A RESULT, THE OIL SECTOR IS EXPECTED TO GROW BY 39.4 PER
CENT IN CURRENT PRICES. PRIVATE SECTOR
GDP IS ESTIMATED TO GROW BY 3.13 PER CENT IN CURRENT PRICES. IN PARTICULAR,
NON-OIL INDUSTRIAL SECTOR IS ESTIMATED TO GROW BY 7 PER CENT, CONSTRUCTION
SECTOR BY 3 PER CENT, ELECTRICITY, GAS AND WATER SECTOR BY 4 PER CENT AND
TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION SECTOR BY 3 PER CENT IN CURRENT PRICES.
THE NON-OIL GDP DEFLATOR IS ESTIMATED AT 0.75 PER CENT WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH
THE SMALL DECLINE IN THE COST OF LIVING INDEX
GDP—real growth rate:
15.5% IN CURRENT PRICES(4.11%) IN CONSTANT
PRICES IN 2000, GDP—per capita: purchasing power
parity—$9,890 (2000 est.)
GDP—composition by sector:
agriculture:
6%
industry: 47%
services: 47% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by
percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): -1.2% (1999)
Labor force: 7 million
note: 35% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July
1998 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Agriculture 12%, industry 25%, services 63% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $66.13 billion SR 248 BILLION IN (2000 est.)
TOTAL REVENUES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2001 ARE PROJECTED AT SR 215 BILLION.
expenditures: $54.13 billion, SR 203 BILLION (2000 est.) GOVERNMENT
EXPENDITURE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
2001 IS BUDGETED AT SR 215 BILLION.
Industries: crude oil production,
petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals, cement, two small steel-rolling mills,
construction, fertilizer, plastics.
Industrial production growth rate:
PRIVATE SECTOR GDP IS ESTIMATED TO GROW BY 3.13 PER CENT IN CURRENT PRICES. IN
PARTICULAR, NON-OIL INDUSTRIAL SECTOR IS ESTIMATED TO GROW BY 7 PER CENT,
CONSTRUCTION SECTOR BY 3 PER CENT, ELECTRICITY, GAS AND WATER SECTOR BY 4 PER
CENT AND TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION SECTOR BY 3 PER CENT IN CURRENT PRICES.
THE NON-OIL GDP DEFLATOR IS ESTIMATED AT 0.75
PER CENT WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH THE SMALL DECLINE IN THE COST OF LIVING INDEX.
Electricity—Production:
110.132 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity—production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption:
105 Billion kWh (1999), 102.423 billion kWh (1998)
Length of electric power transmission lines:
17,000 kilometers (1998)
The length of distribution networks: 103,000kms.
The lengths of lines delivering low voltage
power to subscribers: 106,000kms
The number of cities, provinces and centers
having electricity: 7,357 (1999)
The number of subscribers: 3,518 million
(1999)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity
most recent report issued on Feb 18-2001 Water
Desalination projects in Saudi Arabia Desalination
stations: 27 Stations(1999) Desalinated
water production: 775 million cubic meters, providing more that 70 per cent
of the required drinking water.(1999) Electricity
generation capacity: 22.3 million megawatts(1999) Agriculture—products: wheat, barley,
tomatoes, melons, dates, citrus; mutton, chickens, eggs, milk
statistical
statement on agriculture and water for the year 2000
Exports: $48 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports—commodities: petroleum and
petroleum products 90%
Exports—partners: Japan 17%, US 15%,
South Korea 11%, Singapore 8%, India 4%, France 4% (1998)
Imports: SR 105 billion, $28 billion
(f.o.b., 1999)
Imports—commodities: machinery and
equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, motor vehicles, textiles
Imports—partners: US 21%, UK 9%,
Japan 9%, Germany 6%, France 5%, Italy 4% (1998)
Debt—external: $28 billion (1998
est.)
Economic aid—donor: pledged $100
million in 1993 to fund reconstruction of Lebanon; since 1993, Saudi Arabia has
committed $208 million for assistance to the Palestinians
Currency: 1 Saudi riyal (SR) = 100
halalah
Exchange rates: Saudi riyals (SR) per
US$1—3.7450 (fixed rate since June 1986)
Fiscal year: calendar year
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Communications
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Telephones: 2,881,312 up to the month
of Rabea Althani of the year 1421AH.(2000), 3 Million at the end of SHAABAN
(November, 2000).
Mobile phones: At present there are more than 2.7 million mobile phone subscribers in the
Kingdom. The number increases by 130,000 monthly.
Finnish company Nokia and Sweden’s Ericsson have won contracts worth SR2.85
billion to implement the Kingdom’s fifth mobile expansion project, which will
add three million mobile lines to the present network that covers more than 100
cities, towns and major highways. Related Story
TELEX LINES: 3,501 (2000)
Pager service: 603,000 subscribers.
Public phone and cabin lines: 51,752
including 2,399 for card-phone lines, 6,697 for special cabin lines, 39,518 for
public cabin lines and 3,138 for telecommunications cabins.(2000)
special service lines ( Leased circuits ): 34,609
Lines.
Read latest
Statement issued on Sept 2001
Telephone system: modern system
domestic: extensive microwave radio relay and coaxial and fiber-optic cable systems
international: microwave radio relay to Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Yemen,
and Sudan; coaxial cable to Kuwait and Jordan; submarine cable to Djibouti, Egypt and
Bahrain; satellite earth stations—5 Intelsat (3 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 1
Arab sat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region)
Internet: In 1999, the Internet service
became available in the Kingdom, with all the connections routed through a state
server (Internet Service Provider), sited at the King Abdul Aziz City for
Science and Technology. The Ministry of Post, Telegraph and Telephones provides
the external means to access the Internet and the service is available for the
public.
Radio broadcast stations: AM 43, FM 31,
short-wave 2 (1998)
Radios: 6.25
million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 117
(1997)
Televisions: 5.1
million (1997)
Internet
Service Providers (ISPs): 27 (2000)
SAUDI TELECOMMUNICATION HAS 23,748 EMPLOYEES
AND THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ITS TRAINEES REACHED 17,436. (during the year 2000)
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Transportation
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Railways:
total: 1,390 km
standard gauge: 1,390 km 1.435-m gauge (448 km double track) (1992)
Highways:
The total length of the Kingdom's roads until 1998, reached about 152,000 kilometers
of asphalt and paved roads including more than 45,500 kms of asphalt roads,
comprised of highways, dual-track and single-track roads and about 106,000 kms
of the paved agricultural roads. (1998 est.)
Some important roads are:
The 421km Makkah-Madinah road, the 60km Jeddah-Makkah road, the 317km
Sodair-Qasim road, the 383km Riyadh-Dammam road, the 161km Dammam-Abu Hadriah
road, the 750km Riyadh-Taif road, the dual-track 613km Abu Hadriah-Hafr
Albatin-Rafha road, the 725km Jeddah-Allaith-Jazan road, the 560km
Riyadh-Kharj-Dalam-Alsolail road, the 680km Madinah-Tabuk road and the 305km
Qasim-Hail road.
Pipelines: crude oil 6,400 km; petroleum products 150 km;
natural gas 2,200 km (includes natural gas liquids 1,600 km)
Ports and harbors: Ad
Dammam, Al
Jubayl, Duba, Jiddah,
Jizan,
Rabigh, Ra's al Khafji, Al Mishab, Ras Tanura, Yanbu' al Bahr, Yanbu' al Sinaiyah
Read the
latest report issued on the 5th Nov 2001
Merchant marine:
Total:
70 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,071,003 GRT/1,388,802 DWT
ships by type: cargo 12, chemical tanker 7, container 5, liquefied gas 1,
livestock carrier 3, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 17, refrigerated cargo 4,
roll-on/roll-off 12, short-sea passenger 8 (1999 est.)
Airports:
205 (1999 est.)
More
Information
Airports—With paved runways:
Total:
72
over 3,047 m: 31
2,438 to 3,047 m: 13
1,524 to 2,437 m: 23
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports—With unpaved runways:
total:
133
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 77
914 to 1,523 m: 39
under 914 m: 13 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 4 (1999 est.)
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Military
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Military branches:
Land Force (Army), Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, National Guard, Ministry
of Interior Forces (paramilitary)
Military manpower - military age: 17
years of age
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 5,786,089 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military
service:
males age 15-49: 3,225,809 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age
annually:
males: 221,026 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$18.1 billion (FY97)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
12% (FY97)
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Sources
CIA world fact book, SPA, The Department of Statistics at the Ministry of
Planning and Ministry of Finance and National Economy and other sources.
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