Middle
East. Area 2,240,000 sq km (864,869
sq miles). Population 25.6 million
(UN, 2005). Population Density 11.4
per sq km. Capital Riyadh (royal).
Population: 4.7 million (UN estimate 2005). Jeddah
(administrative). Population: 3,192,000 (UN
estimate 2001; including suburbs).
Flag
Government Absolute
monarchy since 1932. Recent history: In 2002,
as the American Government geared up to launch
operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Saudis made it
clear that they would prefer the Americans to move
elsewhere from their military base in Saudi Arabia. They
did, and Qatar became the main command and control
centre for these recent US military operations. The
change in the Saudi position followed from a major shift
in the country’s domestic politics. Several factors were
at work but the most important was the effective
replacement of King Fahd, who after prolonged illness
was effectively an invalid (and has since died, in
August 2005), by Crown Prince Abdullah. The Crown Prince
is generally less pro-American than Fahd. Abdullah
belongs to the generation of leaders who have governed
Saudi Arabia since the death of Abdul Aziz, all of whom
are now in their 70s: there is no clear line of
succession and there may be a debilitating power
struggle among the 6000 male descendants who make up the
House of Saud. The most likely victors are the branch of
the family descended from one of Ibn Saud’s wives, bint
Sudairi, who form a powerful clan within the group
(commonly known as the â€کSudairi Seven’). Abdullah is not
among them but all – and a number of their immediate
relatives – occupy key ministerial, administrative and
diplomatic posts. Abdullah has also taken some tentative
steps towards relaxing the royal family’s political
stranglehold, mainly to appease international opinion
and increasingly vocal domestic reformers. Plans for
municipal council elections were announced in October
2003. These elections were the first elections to a
Government body in Saudi Arabia. Polling took place
between February and April 2005. Saudi Arabia is an
absolute Monarchy with no political parties. The King
appoints a Council of Ministers to run day-to-day
affairs. A consultative council (Majlis as-Shura),
numbering about 60, has been established to advise the
Monarch; it has no formal powers. Saudi Arabia
occupies four-fifths of the Arabian peninsula. It is
bordered to the northwest by Jordan, to the north by
Iraq and Kuwait, to the east by the Gulf of Oman, Qatar,
the United Arab Emirates and Oman, and to the south by
Yemen. To the west lies the Red Sea. Along the Red Sea
coast is a narrow coastal strip (Tihama) which becomes
relatively hotter and more humid towards the south and
has areas of extensive tidal flats and lava fields.
Behind this coastal plain is a series of plateaux
reaching up to 2000m (6560ft). The southern part of this
range, Asir, has some peaks of over 3000m (9840ft).
North of these mountains, in the far north, is An Nafud,
a sand sea, and further south the landscape rises to
Najd, a semi-desert area scattered with oases. Still
further south the land falls away, levelling out to
unremitting desert, the uninhabited â€کEmpty Quarter’ or
Rub al Khali. Along the Gulf coast is a low fertile
plain giving way to limestone ridges
inland. Language Arabic. English is spoken
in business circles. Religion The majority
of Saudi Arabians follow Islam; around 90 per cent are
Sunni Muslim, but Shia Muslims predominate in the
Eastern Province. Time GMT +
3. Social Conventions Saudi culture is
based on Islam and the perfection of the Arabic
language. The Saudi form of Islam is conservative and
fundamentalist, based on the 18th-century revivalist
movement of the Najdi leader Sheikh Muhammad Ibn
Abdel-Wahhab. This still has a great effect on Saudi
society, especially on the position of women, who are
required by law only to leave the home totally covered
in black robes (abaya) and masks, although there are
regional variations of dress. The Najd and other remote
areas remain true to Wahhabi tradition, but throughout
the country this way of life is being altered by
modernisation and rapid development. For more
information, see the World of Islam appendix. Shaking
hands is the customary form of greeting. Invitations to
private homes are unusual. Entertaining is usually in
hotels or restaurants and although the custom of eating
with the right hand persists, it is more likely that
knives and forks will be used. A small gift either
promoting the company or representing your country will
generally be well received. Women are expected to dress
modestly and it is best to do so to avoid offence. Men
should not wear shorts in public or go without a shirt.
The norms for public behaviour are extremely
conservative and religious police, known as Mutawwa’in,
are charged with enforcing these standards. Customs
regarding smoking are the same as in Europe and
non-smoking areas are indicated. During Ramadan, Muslims
are not allowed to eat, smoke or drink during the day
and it is illegal for a foreign visitor to do so in
public. Photography: Strictly speaking, photography is
not permitted. However, many people do still take
photos, but are careful to ask permission of the
relevant authority before photographing people or any
building. Electricity 127/220 volts AC,
60Hz. Head of State King Abdullah since the
death of King Fahd Ibn Abd al-Aziz Al-Sa’ud on 1 August
2005.
