|
|
Modern states /
Saudi Arabia
The Saudi Arabian Kingdom
Arabic:
'al-mamlaka 'al-¢arabiyya 'as-sa¢ūdiyya
Independent monarchy in Asia with 24.9 million inhabitants (2005 estimate), covering a total area of 2,240,000 km˛ and divided into 13 provinces. The capital of Saudi Arabia is Riyadh, situated in the interior and very centre of the country.
About 5.8 million non-nationals also live in Saudi Arabia, making up 23% of the population.
Saudi Arabia is by no means a democracy, power rests with the royal family. Abdullah ibn Abdulaziz as-Saud is king as well as prime minister. Several princes have great influence on politics of the nation, 5 out of 7 ministers of state are princes. There is minimal political freedom, and the royal family that effectively owns the country, is facing opposition groups that work on overthrowing them.
National holiday is September 23, 1932, commemorating the unification of the kingdom.
Geography
Population density: 11 per km˛
Arable land: 1.7%
A few parts of Saudi Arabia's territory is undecided; the territory indicated above includes Saudi Arabia's share of neutral zones towards Kuwait and Iraq, with respectively about 2,800 km˛ and 3,500 km˛.
The total border is 4,431 km. To Yemen it is 1,458 km, to Oman 676 km, UAE 457 km, Qatar 60 km, Kuwait 222 km, Iraq 814 km, and Jordan 744 km.
The coastline is 2,640 km, facing the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba in the west, and the Persian Gulf in the east.
Highest point: Sawda Mt. at 3,133 m
Almost all of Saudi Arabia consists of semi-desert and desert with oases, where half of the total surface is uninhabitable desert. All over the country there is very little rain. Most of the western parts of Saudi Arabia is plateau, the east is lowland, with very hot climate. The southwest has mountains as high as 3000 metres. This area also has the greenest and freshest climate in the entire country.
Likewise, the climate is dry and hot. Riyadh, the capital, has an average temperature in July of 42ēC and in January of 14ēC, while Jedda on the coast has 31ēC and 23ēC. Annual precipitation both places is below 100 mm. There are no permanent rivers and lakes in Saudi Arabia.
Vegetation is scant, consisting mostly of xerophytic herbs and shrubs. Animal life includes ibex, wildcats, baboons, wolves, and hyenas in the highlands. Small birds are found in the oases.
Life
Considering its economic potentials, Saudi Arabia performs poorly on the Human Development Index where it comes in as no. 59 of the 182 states that are ranked in the world. On a scale with 1 as maximum, Saudi Arabia gains 0.843 points.
Currency are Riyals (SAR), a currency which is fixed to the US dollar at 1 Riyal=US$0.27; and US$1=3.75 Riyals.
Saudi Arabia's GDP/capita is at US$20,700 (2008 estimate)
(2002 estimate), with no official unemployment rates, estimates range between 9 and 25%. There is no figures showing how many live below the poverty line.
Saudi Arabia is a fairly rich country, but one where a large part of the wealth is distributed between a small elite in the society.
Saudi Arabia's population growth rate is as high as 3.3%, reflecting that traditional values has survived well into the modern ages. Saudi Arabia's health care system is very good in large towns and cities, but limited in rural areas.
Whereas Saudi Arabia has some of the best universities in the Arab world, the general access to education is more limited than in many other MENA countries.
Most of Saudi Arabia's population are Arabs, a large minority are Bedouins. Nearly a quarter of the population are non-nationals, and Saudi Arabia has no policy of granting citizenship.
Among the indigenous population, only Arabic is spoken in Saudi Arabia. Non-nationals share a great number of languages, but between them, it is mainly English that is used.
Islam dominates in Saudi Arabia, then mainly in its Sunni form. There are large Shi'i communities too, as well as a large group of Isma'ilis. Christians are all in all non-nationals.
The history of Saudi Arabia is a proud one, being the home of Islam. Saudi Arabia's history is still brief, the emergence of urban centres largely belong to the 20th century.
© Copyright 1996-2009 LookLex Ltd. All rights reserved
By: Tore Kjeilen
|
|
|
