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The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a country on the Arabian Peninsula.
It borders Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen, with the Persian Gulf to its north-east and the Red Sea to its west.
History
Main article: History of Saudi Arabia
The Saudi state began in central Arabia in about 1750. A local ruler, Muhammad bin Saud, joined forces with an Islamic reformer, Muhammad Abd Al-Wahhab, to create a new political entity. Over the next one hundred and fifty years, the fortunes of the Saud family rose and fell several times as Saudi rulers contended with Egypt, the Ottoman Empire, and other Arabian families for control on the peninsula. The modern Saudi state was founded by the late King Abdul Aziz Al-Saud (known internationally as Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud).
In 1902 Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud captured Riyadh, the Al-Saud dynasty's ancestral capital, from the rival Al-Rashid family. Continuing his conquests, Abdul Aziz subdued Al-Ahsa, the rest of Nejd, and the Hijaz between 1913 and 1926. On January 8, 1926 Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud became the King of Hijaz. On January 29, 1927 he took the title King of Nejd (his previous Nejdi title was Sultan). By the Treaty of Jedda, signed on May 20, 1927, the United Kingdom recognized the independence of Abdul Aziz's realm (then known as the Kingdom of Hijaz and Nejd). In 1932, these regions were unified as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The discovery of oil in March 1938 transformed the country economically, and has given the kingdom great legitimacy over the years. Today Saudi Arabia enjoys a close relationship with the many western nations who purchase Saudi oil.
Politics
Main article: Politics of Saudi Arabia
The central institution of Saudi Arabian Government is the monarchy. The Basic Law adopted in 1992 declared that Saudi Arabia is a monarchy ruled by the sons and grandsons of King Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, and that the Holy Qur'an is the constitution of the country, which is governed on the basis of Islamic law (Shari'a). The formation of political parties is forbidden, and no national elections take place.
The king's powers are theoretically limited within the bounds of Shari'a and other Saudi traditions. He also must retain a consensus of the Saudi royal family, religious leaders (ulema), and other important elements in Saudi society, but his decrees are not subject to democratic approval or accountability. The state's ideology is Wahhabism. This sect of Islam is attempting to gain adherents by funding the building of mosques and Qur'an schools around the world. The leading members of the royal family choose the king from among themselves with the subsequent approval of the ulema.
The House of Saud rules the nation, which is named after it.
The current king, Fahd, is largely incapacitated and ill. Current rule of the kingdom is in the hands of his younger brother Crown Prince Abdullah who acts as regent.
Human rights
Main article: Human rights in Saudi Arabia
The human rights record of Saudi Arabia has been widely criticised by Amnesty International and many other human rights advocacy groups. Public beheadings and other capital punishments are carried out on an almost weekly basis and there have been over 1000 public executions in the last 20 years. Prior to 1990, only men were publicly decapitated whereas women were executed by shooting. But that year, laws permitting the public decapitation of women were passed. The beheading of women is a relatvely rare occurance in comparison to the beheading of men. Capital offenses under Saudi law include: murder, rape, apostasy, sodomy and drug trafficking. Saudi Arabia is widely condemned for its practice of punitive amputations by human rights groups. Under Saudi law, convicted robbers may have hands or feet amputated as a sentence. The Saudi government insists that beheadings and amputations are a part of Islamic Law.
Many who have been held in Saudi jails claim that torture and mistreatment are widespread. Amnesty International alleges that confessions are often forced using torture. It is also alleged that criminal suspects are not given access to defense lawyers and that they are subject to an unfair legal system. The Saudi Arabian government categorically denies these accuasations.
Many individuals and organizations allege that the world has been reluctant to pressure Saudi Arabia to reform its political and human rights situation because of the importance of Saudi oil to the world econonomy. (See Sources)
Provinces
Main article: Provinces of Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is divided into 13 provinces (mintaqat, singular - mintaqah).
- Al Bahah
- Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah
- Al Jawf
- Al Madinah
- Al Qasim
- Ar Riyad
- Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern Province)
- 'Asir
- Ha'il
- Jizan
- Makkah
- Najran
- Tabuk
Geography
Main article: Geography of Saudi Arabia
The kingdom occupies eighty percent of the Arabian Peninsula. Most of the country's boundaries with the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Yemen are undefined, so the exact size of the country remains unknown. The Saudi government estimate is 2,217,949 square kilometers. Other reputable estimates vary between 2,149,690 square kilometers and 2,240,000 square kilometers. Less than 1 percent of the total area is suitable for cultivation, and in the early 1990s population distribution varied greatly among the towns of the eastern and western coastal areas, the densely populated interior oases, and the vast, almost empty deserts.
- See also : Rub' al Khali(desert), Arabian Desert and East Sahero-Arabian xeric shrublands
The climate is harsh, dry desert with great extremes of temperature and the terrain is mostly uninhabited, sandy desert. Saudi Arabia is considered to be one of the fifteen countries that comprise the so-called "Cradle of Humanity."
In most parts of the country, vegetation is limited to weeds and shrubs. The coastal area of the Red Sea, especially the coral reefs, have a rich marine fauna.
Economy
Main article: Economy of Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has an oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. Saudi Arabia is first in the world in proven reserves of petroleum (24% of the proved total), ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC. The petroleum sector accounts for roughly 75% of budget revenues, 40% of GDP, and 90% of export earnings. About 35% of GDP comes from the private sector. Saudi Arabia was a key player in the successful efforts of OPEC and other oil producing countries to raise the price of oil in 1999 to its highest level since the Gulf War by reducing production. Although oil prices are expected to remain relatively high in 2000, Riyadh expects to have a $7.5 billion budget deficit in part because of increased spending for education and other social programs. The government in 1999 announced plans to begin privatizing the electricity companies, which follows the ongoing privatization of the telecommunications company. The government is expected to continue calling for private sector growth to lessen the kingdom's dependence on oil and increase employment opportunities for the swelling Saudi population. Shortages of water and rapid population growth will constrain government efforts to increase self-sufficiency in agricultural products.
In recent years, Saudi Arabia has experienced a significant contraction of oil revenues combined with a high rate of population growth. Per capita income has fallen from $25,000 in 1980 to $8,000 in 2003, up from about $7000 in 1999. The decline in inflation-adjusted per-capita income from 1980 to 1999 set a record, being by far the worst such decline suffered by any nation-state in history.
Demographics
Main article: Demographics of Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia's 2003 population is estimated to be about 24.3 million, including about 6.4 million resident foreigners. Until the 1960s, most of the population was nomadic or seminomadic; due to rapid economic and urban growth, more than 95% of the population now is settled. Some cities and oases have densities of more than 1,000 people per square kilometer.
Most Saudis are ethnically Arab. Some are of mixed ethnic origin and are descended from Turks, Iranians, Indonesians, Indians, Africans, and others, most of whom immigrated as pilgrims and reside in the Hijaz region along the Red Sea coast. Many Arabs from nearby countries are employed in the kingdom. There also are significant numbers of Asian expatriates mostly from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and the Philippines. There are less than 100,000 Westerners in Saudi Arabia.
Exact religious demographics for Saudi Arabia are difficult to calculate, because the government reports 100% of citizens as Muslim.
Culture
Main article: Culture of Saudi Arabia
Culture has only very narrow avenues of expression and is heavily censored. It has to be "traditional" and has to serve Islam.
Public theatres and cinemas are prohibited, as the ruling family clan believes those institutions to be incompatible with Islam. However, in some cities such as Dhahran, Ras Tanura, Abqaiq, and Udhailiya, public theaters and cinemas are not prohibited.
The cultural heritage is celebrated at the annual Jenadriyah Cultural festival.
More specific information about the culture:
Saudi Arabian culture revolves almost entirely around Islam - two of Islam's holiest sites are in the country, and it considers itself the birthplace of the religion. A monotheistic religion, Islam's holy book is the Qur'an, and Friday is its sabbath day. Every day, five times a day, Muslims are called to prayer from the minarets of mosques which dot the country. Islam derives from the same monotheistic roots as Judaism and Christianity, and Muslims generally regard Christians with respect - in Islam, Jesus is regarded as one of the Prophets of Allah, and Jews and Christians are considered fellow 'people of the Book'. Mohammed was the last Prophet, and it was to him that Allah dictated the Qur'an. The Qur'an is Saudi Arabia's constitution, and Shari'ah (Islamic law) is the foundation of its legal system.
One of Saudi Arabia's most compelling folk rituals is the Ardha, the country's national dance. This sword dance is based on ancient Bedouin traditions: drummers beat out a rhythm and a poet chants verses while sword-carrying men dance shoulder to shoulder. Al-sihba folk music, from the Hijaz, has its origins in Arab Andalusia, a region of medieval Spain. In Mecca, Medina and Jedda, dance and song incorporate the sound of the al-mizmar, an oboe-like woodwind instrument.
Saudi Arabian dress is strongly symbolic, representing the people's ties to the land, the past and to Islam. The predominantly loose, flowing garments reflect the practicalities of life in a desert country as well as Islam's emphasis on keeping it all covered up. Traditionally, men usually wear an ankle-length shirt woven from wool or cotton (known as a thawb), with a ghutra (a large square of cotton held in place by a cord coil) worn on the head. For those rare days when it gets a bit chilly, Saudi men chuck a camel-hair cloak (bisht) over the top. Women's clothes are decorated with tribal motifs, coins, sequins, metallic thread and appliques. Unfortunately, only their family gets to see them in all their glory, as Saudi women must wear a long black coat (abaya) and veil (niqab) when they leave the house, to protect their modesty.
Islamic law forbids eating pig and drinking alcohol, and this law is followed pretty strictly throughout Saudi Arabia. Arabic unleavened bread, or khobz, is eaten with almost everything. The other staples are grilled chicken, felafel (deep-fried chickpea balls), shwarma (spit-cooked sliced lamb), and fuul (a paste of fava beans, garlic and lemon). Traditional coffee houses (where everyone drinks tea) used to be ubiquitous, but they're now being displaced by food-hall style cafes.
Miscellaneous topics
Bibliography
- Baer, Robert Sleeping With The Devil: How Washington Sold Our Soul for Saudi Crude (Crown, 2003) ISBN 1400050219
- Mackey, Sandra The Saudis: Inside the Desert Kingdom (Houghton Mifflin, 1987) ISBN 0395411653
External links
Sources
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