Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia

By Sarita Ballakur, Nadja Arifovic, By Sarita Ballakur, Nadja Arifovic, Ronan Maye, Tracy SunRonan Maye, Tracy Sun

• Estimated population of 28.08 million in 2011

• Ethnic group

Afro-Arabs Descendants of Africans, primarily from East Africa and of Sunni faith

Baharna Indigenous people of the Eastern Province — of Shia faith

Huwala Arabized Sunni Persians Tribal

Najdis Sunni Arabs from Najd in central Arabia. These are people whose ancestors were traders, etc. Most of the Sunni population is Najdi

• Religious group:

Islam 90-95%

Christianity significant populations of Roman Catholics, primarily non-citizens from a variety of countries

Hinduism Hindus are not permitted to worship in Saudi Arabia.

Population

• 80 percent of the Arabian peninsula

• Dominated by the Arabian Desert and associated semi-desert and shrubland

•Rub' al Khali (“Empty Quarter”) in the southern part of the country, the world’s largest contiguous sand desert

•The southwest province of Asir is mountainous, and contains the 3,133 m (10,279 ft) Mount Sawda, which is the highest point in the country.

• 2,250,000 km2

• world's 13th largest state

Geography

Border countries:

•North: Jordan, Iraq

• East: Qatar, UAE, Oman, Kuwait, and the Persian Gulf

•South: Yemen and Oman

•The western border is formed by the Red Sea

Geography (cont)

Important cities:

Ar-Riyadh

5,328,228

Jeddah

3,456,259

Makkah

1,675,368

Al-Madinah

1,180,770

HistoryHistory Ancient Trade CenterAncient Trade Center In 19In 19thth century, Al-Saud family had century, Al-Saud family had

political control over central Arabia. political control over central Arabia. Towards the end of the century, the Towards the end of the century, the Ottoman Empire teamed with the Al-Ottoman Empire teamed with the Al-Rashid family overthrew them. Al-Saud Rashid family overthrew them. Al-Saud moved to Kuwaitmoved to Kuwait

1902 Abdulaziz Al-Saud retook the 1902 Abdulaziz Al-Saud retook the country.country.

King Abdulaziz Al-Saud established the King Abdulaziz Al-Saud established the modern kingdom of Saudi Arabia on modern kingdom of Saudi Arabia on September 23, 1932.September 23, 1932.

At the center of dealing with many At the center of dealing with many different conflicts. different conflicts.

The Government of Saudi ArabiaThe Government of Saudi Arabia

The modern kingdom of Saudi Arabia was The modern kingdom of Saudi Arabia was established by the late King Abdulaziz bin established by the late King Abdulaziz bin Abdelrahman Al-Saud on September 23, 1932Abdelrahman Al-Saud on September 23, 1932

Monarchy based on IslamMonarchy based on Islam Ruled by King who is also commander in chief Ruled by King who is also commander in chief

of the militaryof the military

The Government of Saudi Arabia The Government of Saudi Arabia (continued)(continued)

The king is advised by a legislative body called The king is advised by a legislative body called the Consultative Council which proposes laws the Consultative Council which proposes laws and amends existing onesand amends existing ones

Council members are appointed for four year, Council members are appointed for four year, renewable terms by the Kingrenewable terms by the King

Saudi Arabia is an Islamic state and its Saudi Arabia is an Islamic state and its laws are based on Islamic Law: Shari’ah laws are based on Islamic Law: Shari’ah LawLaw

EconomyEconomy Has an oil-based economyHas an oil-based economy Largest exporter of Largest exporter of

petroleumpetroleum Petroleum sector accounts Petroleum sector accounts

for roughly 80% of budget for roughly 80% of budget revenues, 45% of GDP, and revenues, 45% of GDP, and 90% of export earnings 90% of export earnings

About 80% of the labor force About 80% of the labor force is non-national is non-national

Labor Force:Labor Force:- agriculture: - agriculture: 6.7%6.7%- industry: - industry: 21.4%21.4%- services: - services: 71.9%71.9%

U.S.-Saudi RelationsU.S.-Saudi Relations

The two nations established full diplomatic The two nations established full diplomatic relations in 1940relations in 1940

Saudi Arabia owns the world’s largest Saudi Arabia owns the world’s largest reserves of oil and is important to the U.S.reserves of oil and is important to the U.S.

The U.S. has sold weapons to and helped The U.S. has sold weapons to and helped train the Saudi militarytrain the Saudi military

Both nations belong to the UN, the IMF, Both nations belong to the UN, the IMF, the WTO, and the World Bank. the WTO, and the World Bank.

BibliographyBibliography "Central Intelligence Agency." "Central Intelligence Agency." CIACIA. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2012. . N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2012.

<https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/>. <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/>. "Government." "Government." GovernmentGovernment. Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, n.d. . Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, n.d.

Web. 20 Nov. 2012. <http://www.saudiembassy.net/about/country-Web. 20 Nov. 2012. <http://www.saudiembassy.net/about/country-information/government/>. information/government/>.

"U.S. Relations With Saudi Arabia." "U.S. Relations With Saudi Arabia." U.S. Department of StateU.S. Department of State. U.S. . U.S. Department of State, 29 June 2012. Web. 20 Nov. 2012. Department of State, 29 June 2012. Web. 20 Nov. 2012. <http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3584.htm>.<http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3584.htm>.

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107947.htmlhttp://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107947.html http://wikitravel.org/en/Saudi_Arabiahttp://wikitravel.org/en/Saudi_Arabia http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1012.htmlhttp://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1012.html https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/

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