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Modern states /
Saudi Arabia
The Saudi Arabian Kingdom
Arabic:
'al-mamlakatu l-¢arabiyyati s-sa¢ūdiyya
Play national anthem
Search 'Saudi Arabia'
MAJOR CITIES
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| Riyadh |
4.0 million |
| Jedda |
2.3 million |
| Mecca |
1.4 million |
| Madina |
870,000 |
| Dammam |
690,000 |
| At Ta'if |
590,000 |
| Tabuk |
350,000 |
| Buraydah |
350,000 |
| Hofuf |
320,000 |
| Mubarraz |
310,000 |
| Khamis Mushayt |
300,000 |
| Ha'il |
250,000 |
| Kharj |
220,000 |
| Jubail |
200,000 |
| Khobar |
200,000 |
| Hafar al-Batin |
190,000 |
| Thuqbah |
180,000 |
| Yanbu |
170,000 |
| Abha |
160,000 |
| Ar'ar |
150,000 |
| Qatif |
140,000 |
| Najran |
130,000 |
| Unayzah |
130,000 |
| Hawiyah |
130,000 |
| Dhahran |
105,000 |
| Qurayyat |
100,000 |
All figures are 2003 estimates.
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STATUS
| Independent monarchy, divided into 13 provinces (mitaqa(t)).
Day of independence: September 23, 1932 (unification of the kingdom).
| GOVERNMENT
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Head of state: King Abdullah ibn Abdulaziz as-Saud.
Prime minister: The king is also the prime mininster.
The government is made up of 23 ministeries, in addition there are 7 ministers of state. 5 of the ministers are Sa'udi princes.
National Assembly: No assembly as such, but a consultative council, the Majlis ash-Shura, with 90 members. Their influence on politics is limited.
| GEOGRAPHY
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Inhabitants: 24.9 million (2005 estimate).
Includes 5.8 million non-nationals.
Population growth rate: 3.3%
Total area: 2,240,000 km˛
Density: 11 per km˛
Includes Saudi Arabia's share of neutral zones towards Kuwait and Iraq, with respectively about 2,800 km˛ and 3,500 km˛.
Border: 4,431 km (Yemen 1,458 km, Oman 676 km, UAE 457 km, Qatar 60 km, Kuwait 222 km, Iraq 814 km, Jordan 744 km).
Coastline: 2,640 km.
Highest point: Jabal Sawda 3,133 m
Arable land: 1.7%
Capital: Riyadh
| HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX
| World rank (of 177): 76
Index (1.0 max): 0.777
Explanation
| DEMOGRAPHY
| Ethnic groups: Arabs, Africans, Asians.
Languages: Arabic.
Religions: Sunni Islam, Shi'i Islam, Christianity, Hinduism.
| ECONOMY
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Currency: Riyals (SAR)
1 Riyal=US$0.27. US$1=3.75 Riyals (fixed)
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Climate and Geography
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.
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.
There is minimal political freedom, and the royal family that effectively owns the country, is facing opposition groups that work on overthrowing them.
© Copyright 1996-2009 LookLex Ltd. All rights reserved
By: Tore Kjeilen
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