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Alumni of Aligarh Muslim University (India)
About Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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Today's modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was united by King Abdul Aziz in 1930. It has an estimated area of 2,240,000 square kilo meter. Saudi Arabia is the unique country which adhere the strict Islamic cultural and moral values and implemented the Islamic Sharia law and at the same time adopted the most modern approach for the development of the country. The country has most advanced and world largest road network. The industrial growth is very high with world's best available technology. Internet is easily available but in the best interest of the society the pornographic and other immoral web sites are blocked. This is birth place of Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon Him). It houses the Islam's two most highly respected cities, Makkah, and Madinah. The Makkah is the location of the Holy Kaaba (the first place of worship on earth) and Madinah is the location of Prophet Mohammed's (PBH) mosque and grave. Saudi Arabia is a founding member of the Arab League (1945) and of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (1971). The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the world largest oil producer country and has world highest oil reserve. The petroleum has wrought irreversible domestic changes in educational, social and economic. Modern industrial skills, technology, and methods of organization have modernized the traditional way. To full fill the highly skilled jobs, tens of thousands of Saudi students have studied abroad, mostly in the United States. There are over 3 million expatriate worker mainly form India, Egypt, Pakistan, Philippine, Sri Lanka, US and Europe . Because of strong and effective security and judiciary system, the Saudi Arabia has very low crime rate. The capital punishments are given publicly. The shops and business houses are closed at prayer time. Friday is the weekly holiday for general business and commercial offices but shops and market places are kept open after 4 pm. Government offices are closed on Thursdays and Fridays. In Ramadhan most of the shops are open for the whole night and most of the business offices are also open from 8pm to 12am. The country have only two holidays in a year (Eid holidays and Hajj holidays). There is one Arabic and one English television channel. The radio broadcast programs in several languages. Most modern highways, airways and railways are available for transportation. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The population of Saudi Arabia is mainly composed (90 per cent) of native Arabs. A substantial minority consists of Yemenis and other Arabs, Africans, and Asians. Nomads, known as Bedouins, make up a declining proportion (27 per cent) of the population, and the number of settled cultivators has also decreased. Over 80 per cent population is urban. The country has a relatively high birth rate, and about 40 percent of the population is younger than 15 years of age. Saudi Arabia has a population (1996 official estimate) of 18,426,000. The average density is about 8 people per sq km. Life expectancy at birth in 1996 was 68 years for men and 71 years for women. Its all population is Muslim. Arabic is the official language but most of the people can easily understand and speak English. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The capital of Saudi Arabia is Riyadh (1994 estimate, 2,500,000). Important cities, with their estimated populations in the early 1990s, include Riyadh, Jiddah (1,800,000), a port city on the Red Sea; the holy city Mecca (1,500,000); Medina (600,050), a holy city and cultural center of Islam; and Ad Dammam (128,000), an oil center on the Persian Gulf. In the 1980s, two large new industrial centers, Al Jubail, on the Persian Gulf, and Yanbu al-Bahr, on the Red Sea, were built at an estimated cost of more than US$45 billion. |
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| Education in Saudi Arabia is free. In 1994 the country had approximately 10,700 elementary schools with a total annual enrolment of 2,114,700 pupils and 6,300 intermediate and secondary schools with almost 2 million students. In recent decades, teacher-training institutes have been established with the aim of reducing the country’s great dependence on other Arab countries for teachers. King Saud University was founded as the University of Riyadh in 1957; the Islamic University, in Medina, in 1961; King Abdul Aziz University, in Jiddah, in 1967; King Faisal University, in Ad Dammam, in 1975; and Umm al-Qura University, in Mecca, in 1979. Founded in Riyadh in 1953, the Islamic University of Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud attained university status in 1974. Three other institutions of advance learning are the Technical Institute (1964), at Riyadh, the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (1963), at Dhahran, and a college of Islamic studies, founded in 1933, at Mecca. Additional institutes for religious training are located in Riyadh and other cities and towns. Instruction at the higher levels is frequently in English, which, after Arabic, is the principal language. Altogether, some 155,000 students were enrolled in 1994 in institutions of higher education in Saudi Arabia. Every year many qualified young Saudis enroll for advanced study in Europe, the United States, and elsewhere. In 1994, 6.4 per cent of the country’s gross national product (GNP) was spent on education. In year 2001 budget 24.7 % of total budget was allocated to spent on education. In 1995 the male literacy rate was 73 % and female 53 % and over all adult literacy rate is 63 per cent. Some of the largest libraries of Saudi Arabia are situated in Riyadh; the King Saud University libraries contain more than 1 million volumes. Collections of religious materials are housed in libraries in Mecca and in Medina. The Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography, which was founded in Riyadh in 1978, features displays and exhibits on a wide variety of topics. |
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| Agriculture and stock-raising have historically been the basic economic activities of Saudi Arabia, but since the development of the oil industry, the government has sought to diversify its industrial base and improve its basic economic structure, developing roads, airports, seaports, and the power industry. With the income of oil, the government set about transforming its economy at an accelerated rate almost without precedent in modern history. Saudi Arabia has the largest reserves of petroleum (26 per cent) in the world. It ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). During the 1970s and early '80s the state gradually acquired complete ownership of the Arabian American Oil Company (ARAMCO), which produces all Saudi petroleum. Government control over Aramco is exercised by the General Petroleum and Mineral Organization (Petromin), which is also responsible for exploring, refining, and marketing. Significant quantities of natural gas are produced by ARAMCO. Other minerals exploited include gold, limestone, marble, gypsum, clay, and salt. Saudi Arabia has a developing mixed economy in which both public and private sectors are important. The production and export of petroleum constitute the largest sector of the country's economy. Saudi Arabia's development has been guided by five-year plans since 1970. The gross national product (GNP) per capita is similar to those of a number of developed countries.
The balance budget for year 2001was announced on December 18, 2000. The revenues and expenditure were projected at SR 215 billion. The budget allocated SR 53.3 billion for education and training; SR 7.6 billion allocated for universities; SR 21.9 billion for health services and social development, SR 11.2 billion for infrastructure, industry and agriculture; SR 6.3 billion for development fund to give soft loan; SR 5.8 billion for transport and communication; SR 8.7 billion for municipal and water authority; 800 new school and 30 new hospital to be constructed. The main markets for Saudi Arabia's petroleum are the United States, Japan, Singapore, and France. In 1981 Petromin completed construction of Petroline, a trans-Arabian crude-oil pipeline from the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea that shortened the export route to western Europe and North America by 2,220 miles (3,570 km). Saudi Arabia's imports include a wide variety of manufactured goods and foodstuffs. The major suppliers are the United States, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Italy. |
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| Saudi Arabia’s manufacturing sector has been diversified since the 1970s. Saudi Arabia’s oil-associated industries are among the world’s most advanced. Most of the industries are located in Dammam, Jubail, Riyadh, Jeddah and Yambu. Major products include refined petroleum, petrochemicals, plastics, processed food, clothing, carpet, furniture, fertilizer, and cement. The Kingdom encourages, supports and assists investment, both local and foreign. The oil industry, is the largest single sector contributor to the country's wealth, composing 40 per cent of the country's economy. Apart from government-owned industries, the private sector is also encouraged to prosper and develop. The Government offers a verity of aid to such enterprises through schemes of finance, land, technology, resourcing, etc. |
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| In 1995 the country electricity power generation was about 66 billion kWh. Most of the power is generated through steam turbine while small power plant are using gas turbine. Saudi Electricity Company is the main organization for electricity nation wide. The minimum electricity charge is 5 hlala (0.05 Riyal) per unit. |
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| The monetary unit of Saudi Arabia is the Riyal of 100 hlala (3.75 Riyal = US$1). Coins are of denominations, 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 Halalas, while notes are of values 1, 5, 10,20, 50, 100,200 and 500 Saudi Riyals. The Saudi Riyal is backed by gold reserves and is totally convertible to other currencies. With the country's free economy system and free trade policy, there is no restriction whatsoever on amounts for expatriation or importation to the Kingdom.. The Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency controls the currency and manages the country's vast foreign assets. More than one-half of Saudi Arabia's commercial banks are joint ventures with majority Saudi participation. There are several merchant banks that function abroad. The major national banks are National Commercial Bank, Arab National Bank, Al-Rajhi Banking & Investment Corporation and Riyadh Bank and they are well equipped with modern technology. The use of ATM card is very common and the ATM machines are easily available everywhere. All major shops and shopping centers have the facility of POS through which the customer can directly pay their bill using ATM card. |
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| Saudi Arabia has adopted the most modern method of forming. Saudi Arabia’s leading crops in 1995 (with annual output in tonnes) were wheat, 2 million; barley, 1.2 million; dates, 566,000; tomatoes, 445,000, and watermelons, 400,000. Other major crops are sorghum, dairy products, onions, grapes, and citrus fruit. The Saudi company Al-Safi is the world largest company in dairy. With the application of modern technology good variety of vegetables are also grown. Various fruit trees, notably the date palm, and a wide variety of grains and vegetables thrive in the oases and in other areas where water is available. Indigenous wildlife includes the hyena, fox, wildcat, panther, wolf, antelope, wild cow, ibex, ostrich, bustard, quail, pigeon and a few larger animals, such as the gazelle, leopard, and mountain sheep. |
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| Saudi Arabia has an expanding transport network. In the early 1990s the country had about 127,700 km of roads. Saudi Arabian Public Transport Co. (SAPTCO) is main company providing the public transport in the Kingdom. SAPTCO also provide transport services from Saudi Arabia to near by countries like Egypt, Sirya, Jordon, Iraq, Kwait, Bahrain, Yamen, UAE and Oman. Saudi Arabia has railway track around 875 km operated between Riyadh and Dammam passing through Al-Hassa and Abqiq. Saudi Arabian airlines, the national career provides domestic and international flights. All the major cities and town are connected by domestic airline. Major airports are at Dammam, Jeddah, and Riyadh. The ports of Jeddah and Yanbu al Bahr are on the Red Sea, and Jubail, Dammam, and Ras Tanura are major oil-exporting ports on the Persian Gulf.
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| Saudi Arabia was an absolute monarchy until 1992, at which time the government introduced the country's first constitution. The head of state and chief executive is the king, who is chosen by the princes of the royal family. The King is the head of state assisted by the Crown Prince and First Premier, the Second Premier and the Council of Ministers In 1992 Consultative Council (Shura) was constituted whose members are selected from the public. The prime objective of the Shura is to advise the Council of Ministers and have the power to initiate legislation and review the government's policies. The king governs in accordance with the law of Islam, the Shari'ah, and tries to govern with the consensus of the royal family, the ulama, the principal tribal leaders, the armed forces, and the bureaucracy. The king appoints a Council of Ministers, or Cabinet, to help him formulate policy and direct the bureaucracy. The Saudi judicial system is based on the Islamic Shari'ah law. |
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| The government's social-welfare system covers all workers and provides benefits for unemployment, work injury, sickness, maternity, disability, and old age. The system also offers free medicine and medical care to all citizens. Saudi physicians have access to some of the world's most advanced medical equipment at the King Faisal Medical City, located on the outskirts of Riyadh. Health and sanitary conditions in Saudi Arabia is quite good. Government provide long term interest free loan for housing and marriage. The government also provides free education to all students. The educational system consists of six-year elementary schools, three-year intermediate schools, and three-year secondary schools. Saudi institutions of higher learning encompass two-year technical and commercial colleges and four-year universities. Some Saudi students are given scholarships for university study abroad; virtually all of these return to assume jobs in Saudi Arabia. There are private schools managed by expatriate workers for their children. |
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| There are a good number of newspapers, magazines and periodicals of high standard, published within the Kingdom. While Arabic publications are more numerous, English publications are also widely read. Publications of other countries are also readily available, especially at major bookstores, libraries, airports and hotels. The are several daily news paper in Arbaic, English, Urdu & Malyam. Leading among them are in Arabic Okaz, Almadina, Alnadwah, Al-Bilad and al-Watatn; in English Arab News, Saudi Gazette, Riyadh Daily, in Urdu Urdu News and in Malyalam Malyalam News. |
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| The nation's cultural activity is dominated by strict adherence to Islam. Poetry, formal prose, and oratory have been among the highest of arts since pre-Islamic days, and poets and peripatetic storytellers abound. Perhaps the most important Saudi writer has been 'Uthman ibn Bishr, a historical chronicler of the late 19th century. Literary works now appear in newspapers and periodicals, though nomads and villagers still have their own body of folk literature. Visual arts like geometric, floral, and abstract designs and calligraphy are very popular. With the strong Islamic base and clubbed with Arab culture, being basically one of hospitality, fosters a sense of peace and security, courtesy and friendliness. The traditional values of family life and mutual respect for one another are prevalent everywhere. Respect for senior citizens and adherence to their values and principles are maintained to a very high degree. People from all part of the world are living with peace and harmony. |
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| Considerably more than half the area of Saudi Arabia is desert. Rub al’Khali, known in English as the Great Sandy Desert and as the Empty Quarter, extends over much of the south-east and beyond the southern frontier. Largely unexplored, Rub al’Khali has an estimated area of about 777,000 sq km (300,000 sq mi). An extension of the Syrian Desert projects into northern Saudi Arabia, and extending south-east from this region is an-Nafud, an upland desert of red sand covering an area of about 56,980 sq km (22,000 sq mi). Ad Dahna’, a narrow extension of this desert, links an-Nafud and Rub al’Khali. A central plateau region, broken in the east by a series of uplifts, extends south from an-Nafud. Several wadis (watercourses), dry except in the rainy season, traverse the plateau region. The western limits of the latter are delineated by a mountain range extending generally north-west and south-east along the eastern edge of Al Hijaz and Asir regions. The highest point in Saudi Arabia, Jabal Sawda’ 3,133 m (10,279 ft), is located in the south-western portion of the country. Between the range, which has an average elevation of about 1,220 m (4,000 ft), and the Red Sea is a narrow coastal plain. In the east, along the Persian Gulf, is a low-lying region known as Al Hasa. It is underlain by great petroleum deposits. |
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| Saudi Arabia has mainly two season summer and winter. In summer the weather is extremely hot dry. The eastern region have high humidity in August and September. The temperatures in winter season (December to March) varies between 10° C to 20° C. In May to July temperature varies between 35° C to 50° C. The average temperatures in Jiddah varies between 20° C to 35° C in all the season. The Al-Baha region is green and hilly, the temperature in this region never go beyond 30° C in summer. Saudi Arabia also receive some rain in winter season. Average annual precipitation in Riyadh and Jeddah is 81 mm (3 in) and 61 mm (2 in), respectively. Saudi Arabia has no permanent rivers but there are several dam to collect and store the rain water. |
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| Fertile oases, many of which are the sites of towns and villages, are scattered through the Saudi Arabian deserts north of Rub al’Khali, and larger tracts of pasturage are in Ad Dahna’ and the plateau region. The great Saudi Arabian oilfields are located in the coastal area adjoining the Persian Gulf. Saudi Arabia's estimated petroleum reserves represent one-fourth of the world's total reserves. The country's estimated reserves of natural gas represent approximately 4 percent of the world total. Saudi Arabia also has reserves of high-grade iron ore, as well as bauxite, gold, copper, and lead. |
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The population of Saudi Arabia is mainly composed (90 per cent) of native Arabs. A substantial minority consists of Yemenis and other Arabs, Africans, and Asians who have come to Saudi Arabia since the 1950s because of the economic opportunities the country offers. Nomads, known as Bedouins, make up a declining proportion (27 per cent) of the population, and the number of settled cultivators has also decreased. By the early 1990s, 77 per cent of the population was urban. The figure is now 80 per cent. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
