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The Country & People of Saudi Arabia |
This page contains links to sites in Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia related sites.
For Middle East, North Africa, Arab and regional information visit Arab Countries
Saudi Arabia, officially Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, kingdom (1995 est. pop. 18,730,000), 829,995 sq mi (2,149,690 sq km), SW Asia, occupying most of the Arabian peninsula, bounded by Jordan, Iraq, and Kuwait (N), the Persian Gulf, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (E), Yemen and Oman (S), and the Red Sea (W). Riyadh is the capital, Jidda the principal port. Saudi Arabia has five major physical regions: the great Rub al-Khali, a sand desert occupying the entire south and southeast; the Nejd, a vast, barren plateau in the center; the Hejaz and Asir, along the Red Sea, with mountains rising from an arid coastal plain; and the Eastern Province, along the Persian Gulf, site of the country's rich oil resources. The climate is usually hot and dry, although the humidity along the coasts is high. Saudi Arabia has at least one quarter of the world's oil reserves, and the oil industry dominates the economy. Huge revenues from oil exports have been used to diversify the industrial base; metals, chemicals, plastics, cement, and fertilizer are now produced. Irrigation projects have reclaimed many acres of desert, and grains, dates, citrus fruits, and vegetables are grown. Nomadic Bedouins raise camels, sheep, goats, and horses. Income is also derived from Muslim pilgrims who travel from all parts of the world to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. The overwhelming majority of the population are Arabs who adhere to Islam, but 27% of the population consists of resident foreigners. Arabic is the official language.
History
Arabia has been inhabited for thousands of years by nomadic Semitic tribes. With the birth (AD 570) of Muhammad, in Mecca, Arabia was briefly the center of Islam, but by the end of the 7th cent. the area was disunited. Modern Saudi Arabia owes its existence to Ibn Saud, an adherent of the Wahhabi Muslim sect. Beginning in 1902 he conquered the Nejd, Al Hasa, and Hejaz regions, and in 1932 he proclaimed himself king of a united Saudi Arabia. Oil was discovered in 1936; commercial production began in 1938. Ibn Saud died in 1953 and was succeeded by his eldest son, Saud. In 1964 Saud was deposed by Faisal, who secured (1974) an agreement giving the Saudis a 60% majority ownership of foreign oil concessions in their country. In 1975 Faisal was assassinated; he was replaced by Khalid, who inaugurated a program of industrialization and social welfare. In the conflict with Israel, Saudi Arabia has generally supported the Arab states, although as a friend of the U.S. it is a somewhat moderating force. Its moderating influence has also been felt in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), in which it usually has acted to stabilize petroleum prices. Khalid died in 1982 and was succeeded as king by Fahd. Military clashes, oil-policy disputes, and rioting Iranian pilgrims in Mecca led Saudi Arabia to sever diplomatic relations with Iran in 1989.
In 1990 the kingdom joined the coalition that opposed Iraq's forcible annexation of Kuwait, and the forces of the coalition were largely based in N Saudi Arabia. In 1992 King Fahd decreed a new constitution; among its features were an appointed national council (est. 1993) with the right to review, but not overrule, government acts. However, the royal family's power was basically undiminished. In the late 1990s, Crown Prince Abdullah, the king's half-brother and heir to the throne, effectively became the country's ruler due to King Fahd's poor health. Under the crown prince, the country has been more openly frustrated with and critical of U.S. support for Israel. A treaty with Yemen that ended border disputes dating to the 1930s was signed in 2000, and early the next year both nations withdrew their troops from the border area in compliance with the pact.
The Saudi government restricted the use of American bases in the country during the U.S.-led invasions of Afghanistan (2001) and Iraq (2003), and by Sept., 2003, all U.S. combat forces were withdrawn from the country. Also in 2003, the king issued a decree giving the Shura the authority to propose new laws without first seeking his permission. The move was perhaps prompted in part by rare protests in favor of government reform; the kingdom also was shaken by violent incidents, including a massive car bomb attack against a residential compound in Riyadh, involving Islamic militants. Such terror attacks continued into 2004.
Copyright (c) 2003 Columbia University Press.
Used by permission of Columbia University Press.
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About Saudi Arabia
General Information Also see Travel
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Prophet's mosque, history, landmarks, personalities....
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One of the admirable and fantastic place of Arabic Island
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A small island off the coast of Qateef oasis
Business and Economy
General, Economy, Reports & Statistics
Eastern Province
Hail
Jeddah
Concerned with joint interests of Saudi Commercial and Industrial Chambers
The most comprehensive database: statistical, economic and social
Management of many departments and customs ports throughout the Kingdom
Overview, news & events, data & statistics, publications & reports, development topics, projects & programs, Public Information Center
Serving the needs of the nation and its citizens
A global leader in exploiting technology to serve business needs
Formed to take over the existing branches of Citibank
Professionalism and superior customer service
A full range of personalized and professional banking services
Companies, quotes, other markets, strategies
Free classified ads
Jobs advertisment gate
Comparing old & new investment laws, license applications
To promote Saudi Arabia as a destination for profitable investment
To promote Saudi non-oil exports by all possible means
Providing financing and insurance to facilitate the development of non-oil exports
Art, Culture & Sport
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Traditional dresses, swords & daggers, silver & silver alloy, framed antiques, Arabian jewelry
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The Art & Handicraft shop. Paintings, porcelain....
Artists and their work
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General club: cultural & social
To contribute to spreading health awareness and guidance among athletes and youths
Of major importance to all health professionals, the public and suppliers
Football
Follows soccer teams standing in the league....
A fan's tribute to Saudi Arabia's Player of the Century and Asia's greatest striker
Extensive info about soccer in KSA
Urge sports clubs, bodies and private centers to take interest in the Karate game
Spread moral and ethical values
Education
Schools, Colleges, Academies, Universities & Polytechnics
Riyadh
Encourage school home cooperation
Riyadh
Model schools that seek no profit
Hassa
Model schools that seek no profit
Programs in business administration and information systems
Jeddah - Bridges the gap between education and commercial market
Butaydah
Jeddah - To bridge the gap between engineers and the skilled laborers
Riyadh
Riyadh
To achieve Islamic unity in theory and in practice
Jubail - To attract and develop qualified Saudis to replace foreign manpower
Model schools that seek no profit
Prepare for employment at supervisory and managerial levels
Taif
Knowledge to students who come from different parts of the world
Higher education for the growing number of Jeddah's secondary school graduates
Engineering programs, mathematics and the sciences....
Enhance topportunities for career advancement
IT, computer & networking sciences
Programs to prepare well-qualified trainers in various job activities
Various training programs
Technical Education and Vocational Training
To prepare candidates for professional qualifications in banking & finance
A certificate that is a definite asset in finding employment
Information for students, teachers and schools. Schools directory....
To educate and train the Saudi workforce, males and females
A unique Co-op Employment Program (Educational & Job)
Highly-specialized courses in order to develop the skills and abilities
UK & Ireland
Hajj education and research
Jeddah's most comprehensive on-line educational directory
Scientific tools, programs, forums....
Scientific research on desert development and resistance to desertification
Encouraging scientific research in the fields of Sunna and Contemporary Islamic Studies
In the field of education attainment and scientific research
Developing an interactive science center
Development of education in the Riyadh's area
To provide an information environment, scientific content, and direct educational sources for students and teachers
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To achieve these aims MIRA uses all peaceful legitimate means....
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Online news updated daily
Coverage of Saudi, Arabic and international news and other issues
Serve as the national wire-service responsible for the collection and distribution of news....
Articles and news from different sources
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To administer and collect zakat from Saudi and GCC entities and collect tax from non-Saudi entities
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To advise the King on issues of importance to the nation
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Establishing the concept of computational society in both public and private sectors
Statistics, information and documents
Oversee the Kingdom's financial and monetary policies
Information needed by the local as well as the foreign visitors
Judiciary work organizational process with the Shari’ah rules and principles
To execute the general policy related to oil, gas and minerals
Collects information and undertakes research on the tourism sector
Implement plans to preserve wildlife in its natural ecology
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To implement the infrastructure required for the development of Jubail and Yanbu as industrial cities
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To ensure the minimum acceptable limit of safety and public sanitation
Financing of development projects in developing countries and to support national non-crude-oil exports
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To develop an organizational structure and management system
Information office, Saudi US relations, Saudi information and links....
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Services at affordable prices
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Has the capability to operate continuously
Responsible for desalinating sea water also the second largest electric power producer in KSA
The largest steel producer in the ME The world's premier producer and exporter of crude oil
The sole standardization body in the Kingdom
Its location near the Suez Channel makes it an excellent access to European markets
About the hospital, diseases, articles - Hadaa
Provides the highest quality of healthcare services
Charity to provide for the poor, orphans, prisoners' families, patients....
Managing information online and to have a centralized data
Housing for the needy
To promote the engineering profession, develop and upgrade its standards and those practicing it
To develop, activate and publish the scientific civil engineering concepts
Technology transfer mechanisms, absorption and localization
Mecca
Awareness programs and field trips
To improve the quality of life for persons with disabilities
Promoting the local management services provided for stroke victims
Providing viable organs
Dedicated to the continuing professional development of dentistry in KSA
To develop different branches of pharmacy profession
Works toward the evolution of this profession to higher levels
Riyadh
provides much needed rehabilitation services for the disabled and injured
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US mission, consular services (Riyadh, Jeddah, Dhahran), latest news, US policy, journals, articles....
United Nations Development Programme
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Gateways to Saudi Arabia
Jeddah search engine, sreet maps, news, forums, TV guide, business....
Aiding shoppers to find all the stores that carry any product they are looking for and other local info....
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