Kingdom of Saudi Arabia(Arabic المملكة العربية السعودية al-Mamlaka al-Arabiya al-Saudiya) is the largest state on the Arabian Peninsula. It borders with Jordan in the north, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates in the east, Oman and Yemen in the south. It is washed by the Persian Gulf in the northeast and the Red Sea in the west.
Saudi Arabia is often referred to as the "Land of the Two Mosques", referring to Mecca and Medina, the two main holy cities of Islam. The short name of the country in Arabic is as-Saudiya (arab. السعودية). Saudi Arabia is currently one of three countries in the world named after the ruling dynasty (the Saudis). (Also the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Principality of Liechtenstein)
Saudi Arabia, with its colossal oil reserves, is the main state of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. From 1992 to 2009, it ranked first in the world in terms of oil production and export. Oil exports account for 95% of exports and 75% of the country's income, making it possible to maintain a welfare state.
Story
ancient history
The territory of present-day Saudi Arabia is the historical homeland of the Arab tribes, which originally lived in the northeast, and in the II millennium BC. e. occupied the entire Arabian Peninsula. At the same time, the Arabs assimilated the population of the southern part of the peninsula - the Negroids.
From the beginning of the 1st millennium BC. e. in the south of the peninsula, the Minean and Sabaean kingdoms existed, and the most ancient cities of the Hijaz - Mecca and Medina - arose as their transit trade centers. In the middle of the 6th century, Mecca united the surrounding tribes and repelled the Ethiopian invasion.
At the beginning of the 7th century, a new religion was created in Mecca - Islam, which strengthened the feudal system and the state of the Arabs - the caliphate with its capital in Medina (since 662).
Spread of Islam
After the resettlement of the Prophet Muhammad in Yathrib, later called Madinat al-Nabi (City of the Prophet) in 622, an agreement was signed between the Muslims, led by the Prophet Muhammad, and the local Arab and Jewish tribes. Muhammad failed to convert local Jews to Islam, and after some time relations between Arabs and Jews took on an openly hostile character.
In 632, with the capital in Mecca, the Arab Caliphate was founded, covering almost the entire territory of the Arabian Peninsula. By the time of the beginning of the reign of the second caliph Umar ibn Khattab (634), all Jews were expelled from the Hijaz. By the same time, there is a rule according to which non-Muslims do not have the right to reside in Hijaz, and today in Medina and Mecca. As a result of the conquests, by the 9th century the Arab state spread over the territory of the entire Middle East, Persia, Central Asia, Transcaucasia, North Africa, and also Southern Europe.
Arabia in the Middle Ages
In the 16th century, Turkish rule began to be established in Arabia. By 1574, the Ottoman Empire, led by Sultan Selim II, had finally conquered the Arabian Peninsula. Taking advantage of the weak political will of Sultan Mahmud I (1730-1754), the Arabs began to make their first attempts to build their own statehood. The most influential Arab families in the Hejaz at that time were Sauds and Rashidis.
First Saudi state
The origin of the Saudi state began in 1744 in the central region of the Arabian Peninsula. The local ruler Muhammad ibn Saud and the Islamic preacher Muhammad Abdul-Wahhab united to create a single powerful state. This alliance, concluded in the 18th century, marked the beginning of the ruling Saudi dynasty to this day. After some time, the young state came under pressure from the Ottoman Empire, which was concerned about the strengthening of the Arabs near its southern borders. In 1817, the Ottoman Sultan sent troops under the command of Muhammad Ali Pasha to the Arabian Peninsula, who defeated the relatively weak army of Imam Abdullah. Thus, the First Saudi State lasted 73 years.
Second Saudi State
Despite the fact that the Turks managed to destroy the beginnings of Arab statehood, just 7 years later (in 1824) the Second Saudi State was founded with its capital in Riyadh. This state existed for 67 years and was destroyed by the old enemies of the Saudis - the Rashidi dynasty, originally from Hail. The Saudi family was forced to flee to Kuwait.
Third Saudi State
In 1902, 22-year-old Abdel Aziz from the Saud family captured Riyadh, cracking down on the governor from the Rashidi family. In 1904, the Rashidis turned to the Ottoman Empire for help. They brought in their troops, but this time they were defeated and withdrew. In 1912, Abdel Aziz captured the entire Najd region. In 1920, using the material support of the British, Abdel Aziz finally defeated Rashidi. Mecca was occupied in 1925. On January 10, 1926, Abdulaziz al-Saud was proclaimed king of the Hejaz. A few years later, Abdel Aziz captured almost the entire Arabian Peninsula. On September 23, 1932, Nejd and Hijaz were merged into one state, called Saudi Arabia. Abdulaziz himself became the king of Saudi Arabia.
In March 1938, colossal oil fields were discovered in Saudi Arabia. Due to the outbreak of World War II, their development began only in 1946, and by 1949 the country already had a well-established oil industry. Oil has become a source of wealth and prosperity for the state.
The first king of Saudi Arabia pursued a rather isolationist policy. Under him, the country never became a member of the League of Nations. Before his death in 1953, he left the country only 3 times. However, in 1945 Saudi Arabia was a founding member of the UN and the Arab League.
Abdel Aziz was succeeded by his son Saud. His ill-conceived domestic policy led to a coup d'état in the country, Saud fled to Europe, power passed into the hands of his brother Faisal. Faisal made a huge contribution to the development of the country. Under him, the volume of oil production increased many times, which made it possible to carry out a number of social reforms in the country and create a modern infrastructure. In 1973, by removing Saudi oil from all trading floors, Faisal provoked an energy crisis in the West. His radicalism did not find understanding among everyone, and 2 years later Faisal was shot dead by his own nephew. After his death, Saudi Arabia's foreign policy became more moderate under King Khalid. After Khalid, the throne was inherited by his brother Fahd, and in 2005 by Abdullah.
Political structure
The state structure of Saudi Arabia is determined by the Basic Government Document adopted in 1992. According to him, Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy ruled by the sons and grandsons of the first king, Abdel Aziz. The Quran is declared the constitution of Saudi Arabia. The law is based on Islamic law.
The head of state is the king. Currently, Saudi Arabia is led by the son of the founder of the country, King Abdullah ibn Abdulaziz al-Saud. Theoretically, the power of the king is limited only by Sharia law. The most important state decrees are signed after consultation with the ulama (a group of religious leaders of the state) and other important members of Saudi society. All branches of government are subordinate to the king. The Crown Prince (heir) is elected by the Committee of Princes.
The executive power in the form of the Council of Ministers consists of the prime minister, the first prime minister and twenty ministers. All ministerial portfolios are distributed among the king's relatives and appointed by him.
Legislative power is represented in the form of a kind of parliament - the Consultative Assembly (Majlis ash-Shura). All 150 members (all men) of the Consultative Assembly are appointed by the King for a four-year term. There are no political parties.
The judiciary is a system of religious courts where judges are appointed by the king on the recommendation of the Supreme Judicial Council. The Supreme Judicial Council, in turn, consists of 12 people, also appointed by the king. The independence of the judiciary is guaranteed by law. The king acts as the highest court with the right to grant amnesty.
local elections
Until 2005, even local authorities in the country were not elected, but appointed. In 2005, the authorities decided to hold the first municipal elections in more than 30 years. Women, as well as military personnel, are excluded from voting. In addition, not all of the local councils were elected, but only half. The other half is still appointed by the government. On February 10, 2005, the first round of municipal elections took place in Riyadh. Only men aged 21 and older were allowed to participate in them. The second stage was held on March 3 in five regions in the east and south-west of the country, the third - on April 21 in seven regions in the north and west of the country. In the first round, all seven seats on the Riyadh council were won by candidates who were either imams of local mosques, or teachers of traditional Islamic schools, or employees of Islamic charitable organizations. The same alignment of forces was repeated in other regions.
Law and order
Criminal law is based on Sharia. Oral or written discussion of the existing political system is prohibited by law. The country strictly prohibits the use and circulation of alcohol and drugs. For theft, cutting off the brush is due. Extramarital sex is punishable by whips. Murder and certain other crimes carry the death penalty. Decapitation is used as the ultimate punishment. However, it should be noted that the application of all penalties is possible only if many conditions are met. In particular, a thief can only be punished if there are at least two witnesses who saw the crime with their own eyes (and there is no doubt about their honesty). Also, if it is established that the one who committed theft did it in extreme necessity (hunger, etc.), then this is also an excuse. In general, there is a presumption of innocence, that is, until guilt is reliably proven, a person is not considered a criminal. According to Sharia, it is better not to punish the criminal than to punish the innocent.
Administrative divisions of Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is divided into 13 provinces (mintaqat, singular - mintaqah):
- El Baha
- El Hudud ash Shamaliyya
- El Jauf
- El Madina
- El Qasim
- Riyadh
- Ash Sharqiya
- Ha'il
- jizan
- Mecca
- Najran
- Tabuk
88% of Saudi Arabia's population is concentrated in cities. The largest city, the capital of the kingdom, the economic and political center is Riyadh with a population of 4260 thousand people. Jeddah is the second largest city, the most important port on the Red Sea. Mecca and Medina, being one of the largest cities in the country, are the symbols of Saudi Arabia and the holy cities of Islam. As a rule, during the Hajj period, the population in Mecca can double. The most important role in the country's economy is played by the ports on the Persian Gulf: Dammam, Jubail and Khafji. The main oil refining capacities are concentrated in these cities.
Geography
Saudi Arabia occupies about 80% of the territory of the Arabian Peninsula. Due to the fact that the national borders of the state are not clearly defined, the exact area of Saudi Arabia is unknown. According to official data, it is 2,217,949 km², according to others - from 1,960,582 km² to 2,240,000 km². One way or another, Saudi Arabia is the 14th largest state in the world.
In the west of the country, along the coast of the Red Sea, the Al-Hijaz mountain range stretches. In the southwest, the height of the mountains reaches 3000 meters. The Asir resort area is also located there, attracting tourists with its greenery and mild climate. The east is occupied mainly by deserts. The south and southeast of Saudi Arabia is almost completely occupied by the Rub al-Khali desert, through which the border with Yemen and Oman passes.
Most of the territory of Saudi Arabia is occupied by deserts and semi-deserts, which are inhabited by nomadic Bedouin tribes. The population is concentrated around a few large cities, usually in the west or east near the coast.
Relief
According to the structure of the surface, most of the country is a vast desert plateau (height from 300-600 m in the east to 1520 m in the west), slightly dissected by dry riverbeds (wadis). In the west, parallel to the coast of the Red Sea, the Hijaz (Arab. "barrier") and Asir (Arab. "difficult") mountains stretch 2500-3000 m high (with the highest point of An-Nabi-Shuaib, 3353 m), passing into coastal lowland Tihama (5 to 70 km wide). In the mountains of Asir, the relief varies from mountain peaks to large valleys. There are few passes through the Hijaz mountains; communication between the hinterland of Saudi Arabia and the shores of the Red Sea is limited. In the north, along the borders of Jordan, the rocky desert of El Hamad stretches. The largest sandy deserts are located in the northern and central parts of the country: Big Nefud and Small Nefud (Dehna), known for their red sands; in the south and southeast - Rub al-Khali (Arabic "empty quarter") with dunes and ridges in the northern part up to 200 m. Indefinite borders with Yemen, Oman and the United Arab Emirates lie through the deserts. The total area of deserts reaches approximately 1 million square meters. km, including Rub al-Khali - 777 thousand square meters. km. Along the coast of the Persian Gulf stretches in places swampy or saline lowland El-Khasa (up to 150 km wide). Seashores are predominantly low, sandy, and slightly indented.
The climate in Saudi Arabia is extremely dry. The Arabian Peninsula is one of the few places on Earth where temperatures consistently exceed 50°C in summer. However, snow falls only in the Jizan mountains in the west of the country, and not every year. The average temperature in January is between 8°C and 20°C in desert towns and between 20°C and 30°C along the Red Sea coast. In summer, the temperature in the shade ranges from 35 °C to 43 °C. At night in the desert, you can sometimes encounter temperatures close to 0 ° C, as the sand quickly gives off the heat accumulated during the day.
The average annual rainfall is 100 mm. In the center and east of Saudi Arabia, it rains exclusively in late winter and spring, while in the west it rains only in winter.
Vegetable world
White saxaul and camel's thorn grow in places on the sands, lichens on hamads, wormwood, astragalus on lava fields, solitary poplars, acacias, and tamarisk in more saline places; along the coasts and solonchaks - halophytic shrubs. A significant part of the sandy and rocky deserts are almost completely devoid of vegetation. In spring and in wet years, the role of ephemera in the composition of vegetation increases. In the mountains of Asir - areas of savannas, where acacias, wild olives, almonds grow. In the oases there are groves of date palms, citrus fruits, bananas, cereals and horticultural crops.
Animal world
The fauna is quite diverse: antelope, gazelle, hyrax, wolf, jackal, hyena, fennec fox, caracal, wild donkey, onager, hare. There are many rodents (gerbils, ground squirrels, jerboas, etc.) and reptiles (snakes, lizards, turtles). Among the birds - eagles, kites, vultures, peregrine falcons, bustards, larks, sandgrouse, quail, doves. Coastal lowlands serve as breeding grounds for locusts. There are more than 2,000 species of corals in the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf (black coral is especially valued). About 3% of the country's area is occupied by 10 protected areas. In the mid-1980s, the government established the Asir National Park, which preserves nearly extinct wildlife species such as the oryx (oryx) and the Nubian ibex.
Economy
Advantages: Huge oil and gas reserves and an excellent associated processing industry. Well-controlled surplus and stable current income. Big income from 2 million pilgrims to Mecca a year.
Weaknesses: underdeveloped professional education. High subventions for food. Imports of most consumer goods and industrial raw materials. High youth unemployment. The dependence of the country's welfare on the ruling family. Fear of instability.
Saudi Arabia's economy is based on the oil industry, which accounts for 45% of the country's gross domestic product. 75% of budget revenues and 90% of exports are exports of petroleum products. The proven oil reserves are 260 billion barrels (24% of the proven oil reserves on Earth). Moreover, unlike other oil-producing countries, in Saudi Arabia this figure is constantly increasing, thanks to the discovery of new fields. Saudi Arabia plays a key role in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, through which it regulates world oil prices.
In the 1990s, the country experienced an economic recession associated with falling oil prices and, at the same time, a huge population growth. Because of this, GDP per capita fell from $25,000 to $7,000 in a few years. In 1999, OPEC decided to drastically cut oil production, which led to a jump in prices and helped to correct the situation. In 1999, extensive privatization of electricity and telecommunications enterprises began.
In December 2005, Saudi Arabia joined the World Trade Organization.
International trade
Export - 310 billion dollars in 2008 - oil and oil products.
The main buyers are the USA 18.5%, Japan 16.5%, China 10.2%, South Korea 8.6%, Singapore 4.8%.
Imports - $108 billion in 2008 - industrial equipment, food, chemicals, cars, textiles.
The main suppliers are the USA 12.4%, China 10.6%, Japan 7.8%, Germany 7.5%, Italy 4.9%, South Korea 4.7%.
Transport
Railways
Rail transport consists of several hundred kilometers of 1435 mm standard gauge railways linking Riyadh with major ports on the Persian Gulf.
In 2005, the North-South project was launched, which provides for the construction of a 2,400 km long railway line at a cost of over $2 billion. and worth $ 800 million. Already in May 2008, the results of the tender were canceled, and the president of Russian Railways, Vladimir Yakunin, called this decision a political one.
In 2006, a decision was made to build a 440-kilometer branch line between Mecca and Medina.
Car roads
The total length of motor roads is 152,044 km. Of them:
With a hard surface - 45,461 km.
Without hard coating - 106,583 km.
It is believed that in terms of the quality of roads, Saudi Arabia occupies one of the last places among neighboring oil-exporting countries. However, roads in unsatisfactory condition are found only in the regions. In large cities, primarily in Riyadh, the roads are among the best in the world. The asphalt there has a special composition designed to reduce the amount of heat absorbed, thus saving the townspeople from the heat.
Saudi Arabia remains the only country in the world where women (of any nationality) are banned from driving. This rule was adopted in 1932 as a result of a conservative interpretation of the provisions of the Koran.
Air Transport
The number of airports is 208, of which 73 have concrete runways, 3 have international status.
Pipeline transport
The total length of pipelines is 7,067 km. Of these, oil pipelines - 5,062 km, gas pipelines - 837 km, as well as 1,187 km of pipes for the transportation of liquefied gas (NGL), 212 km - for gas condensate and 69 km - for the transportation of petroleum products.
Military establishment
The armed forces of Saudi Arabia are subordinate to the Ministry of Defense and Aviation. In addition, the ministry is responsible for the development of the civil (along with the military) aviation sector, as well as meteorology. The post of Minister of Defense since 1962 has been occupied by the King's brother Sultan.
224,500 people (including the national guard) serve in the ranks of the armed forces of the kingdom. The service is contractual. Foreign mercenaries are also involved in military service. Every year, 250,000 people reach military age. Saudi Arabia is among the top ten countries in terms of military funding, in 2006 the military budget amounted to 31.255 billion US dollars - 10% of GDP (the highest among the Gulf countries). Mobilization reserves - 5.9 million people. The number of armed forces is constantly growing, so in 1990 they numbered only 90 thousand people. The main supplier of weapons for the kingdom is traditionally the United States (85% of all weapons). The country produces armored personnel carriers of its own design. The country is divided into 6 military regions.
Structure
Troop types:
- Ground troops
- Rocket troops
- Naval Forces
- Royal Air Force
- Air Defense Forces
- Paramilitaries
The Border Guard Corps (1050 people) in peacetime is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Coast Guard: number - 4.5 thousand people. has 50 patrol boats, 350 motor boats, a royal yacht.
Security forces - 500 people.
Domestic policy. Judicial system
Executions in Saudi Arabia occur, on average, more than twice a week. So on Fridays on Justice Square in the center of Riyadh, opposite the main mosque of the city, a lot of people gather. On the pedestal, those condemned to death are beheaded.
Foreign policy and international relations
Saudi Arabia's foreign policy is focused on maintaining the kingdom's key positions in the Arabian Peninsula, among Islamic states and oil exporting states. Saudi diplomacy protects and promotes the interests of Islam around the world. Despite allied relations with the West, Saudi Arabia is often criticized for leniency towards Islamic radicalism. It is known that Saudi Arabia was one of two states that recognized the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. Saudi Arabia is the home of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, as well as many warlords and mercenaries who fought against federal troops in Chechnya. Many militants have taken refuge in this country since the end of hostilities. Difficult relations are also developing with Iran, since both Saudi Arabia and Iran, being the centers of the two main branches of Islam, claim informal leadership in the Islamic world.
Saudi Arabia is a key member in such organizations as the League of Arab States, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.
In 2007, diplomatic relations were established between Saudi Arabia and the Holy See.
Population
According to the 2006 census, the population of Saudi Arabia was 27.02 million, including 5.58 million foreigners. The birth rate is 29.56 (per 1000 people), the death rate is 2.62. The population of Saudi Arabia is characterized by rapid growth (1-1.5 million / year) and youth. Citizens under the age of 14 make up almost 40% of the population. Until the 1960s, Saudi Arabia was predominantly inhabited by nomads. Due to economic growth and rising prosperity, cities began to grow, and the share of nomads decreased to only 5%. In some cities, the population density is 1000 people per km².
90% of the country's citizens are ethnic Arabs, there are also citizens of Asian and East African origin. In addition, 7 million migrants from various countries, including: India - 1.4 million, Bangladesh - 1 million, Philippines - 950,000, Pakistan - 900,000, Egypt - 750,000. 100,000 migrants from Western countries live in closed communities.
The state religion is Islam.
Education
In the initial period of its existence, the Saudi state could not give all its citizens a guarantee of education. Only the ministers of mosques and Islamic schools were educated. In such schools, people learned to read and write, and also studied Islamic law. The Saudi Ministry of Education was founded in 1954. It was headed by the son of the first king, Fahd. In 1957, the first university in the kingdom, named after King Saud, was founded in Riyadh. By the end of the 20th century, a system was established in Saudi Arabia that provided all citizens with free education - from pre-school to higher education.
Today, the education system in the kingdom consists of 8 universities, over 24,000 schools and a large number of colleges and other educational institutions. More than a quarter of the state annual budget is spent on education. In addition to free education, the government provides students with everything they need to study: literature and even medical care. The state also sponsors the education of its citizens in foreign universities - mainly in the USA, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, Malaysia.
The culture of Saudi Arabia is strongly associated with Islam. Every day, five times a day, the muezzin calls devout Muslims to prayer (prayer). Serving another religion, distributing other religious literature, building churches, Buddhist temples, synagogues is prohibited.
Islam forbids the consumption of pork and alcohol. Traditional food includes grilled chicken, falafel, shawarma, kebab, kussa mahshi (stuffed zucchini), as well as unleavened bread - khubz. In almost all dishes, various spices and spices are abundantly added. Among the favorite drinks of the Arabs are coffee and tea. Their drinking is often ceremonial. Arabs drink black tea with the addition of various herbs. Arabic coffee is famous for its traditional strength. It is drunk in small cups, often with the addition of cardamom. Arabs drink coffee very often.
In clothing, the inhabitants of Saudi Arabia adhere to the national traditions and canons of Islam, avoiding excessive frankness. Men wear long shirts made of wool or cotton (dishdasha). The traditional headdress is the gutra. In cold weather, a bisht is worn over the dishdashi - a cape made of camel wool, most often in dark colors. Women's traditional clothes are richly decorated with tribal signs, coins, beads, threads. When leaving home, a Saudi woman is required to cover her body with an abaya and her head with a hijab. Foreign women are also required to wear an abaya (with trousers or a long dress underneath).
Public theaters and cinemas are banned as they are against the principles of Islam. However, in communities where predominantly western workers live (eg Dhahran), there are such establishments. Home video is very popular. Western-made films are practically not subject to censorship and are readily bought up by the population.
Public holidays are Thursday and Friday.
Sport
Sports are popular among young people. Women rarely play sports; if they do it, then in enclosed spaces, where there are practically no men. The most popular game is football, although the national team of the kingdom also takes part in the championships in volleyball, basketball, as well as in the Summer Olympics. The Saudi Arabia national football team is considered one of the strongest teams in Asia. Saudi Arabia has won the Asian Cup three times - in 1984, 1988 and 1996.
Extremely popular among young people is drifting (from the English to drift - to drift, slide) - a technique for driving a car in a controlled skid. Such competitions are prohibited by law. Often they are not without victims, but they invariably gather crowds of motorists, spectators and onlookers. In May 2007, the country's government announced that recklessness, which would result in the death of a person in the event of an accident, would be considered premeditated murder and punished accordingly - beheading.
Religion
The official and only religion of Saudi Arabia is Islam. The majority of the population professes Salafi. 10% of Shiites are concentrated in the eastern provinces of the country. The Saudi authorities allow people of other religions to enter the country, but they are prohibited from worshiping.
The religious police (muttawa) operate in the country. Soldiers of the Sharia Guard constantly patrol the streets and public institutions in order to suppress attempts to violate the canons of Islam. If a violation is found, the perpetrator shall be punished accordingly (from a fine to beheading).
According to the results of the study of the international charitable Christian organization "Open Doors" for 2010, Saudi Arabia ranks 3rd in the list of countries where the rights of Christians are most often oppressed.
"The country of two mosques" (Mecca and Medina) - this is how Saudi Arabia is often called differently. The form of government of this state is an absolute monarchy. Geographic information, a brief history and information about the political structure of Saudi Arabia will help to get a general idea about this country.
General information
Saudi Arabia is the largest state on the Arabian Peninsula. It borders Iraq, Kuwait and Jordan to the north, UAE and Qatar to the east, Oman to the southeast, and Yemen to the south. It owns more than 80 percent of the peninsula, as well as several islands in the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea.
More than half of the country's territory is occupied by the Rub al-Khali desert. In addition, in the north is part of the Syrian desert, and in the south is An-Nafud - another large desert. The plateau in the center of the country is crossed by several rivers, which usually dry up during the hot season.
Saudi Arabia is exceptionally rich in oil. The profit from the sale of "black gold" is partly invested by the government in the development of the country, partly invested in industrialized countries and used to provide loans to other Arab powers.
The form of government in Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy. Islam is recognized as the state religion. Arabic is the official language.
The name of the country was given by the ruling dynasty in it - the Saudis. Its capital is the city of Riyadh. The population of the country is 22.7 million people, mostly Arabs.
Early history of Arabia
In the first millennium BC, the Minean kingdom was located on the shores of the Red Sea. On the east coast was Dilmun, which was considered the political and cultural federation in the region.
In 570, an event occurred that determined the further fate of the Arabian Peninsula - Muhammad, the future prophet, was born in Mecca. His teaching literally turned the history of these lands, subsequently influenced the features of the form of government of Saudi Arabia and the culture of the country.
The followers of the prophet, known as caliphs (caliphs), conquered almost all the territories of the Middle East, bringing Islam. However, with the advent of the caliphate, whose capital was first Damascus, later Baghdad, the significance of the prophet's homeland gradually lost its importance. At the end of the 13th century, the territory of Saudi Arabia was almost entirely under the rule of Egypt, and two and a half centuries later these lands were ceded to the Ottoman Porte.
Rise of Saudi Arabia
In the middle of the 17th century, the state of Nazhd appeared, which managed to achieve independence from the Porte. In the middle of the 19th century, Riyadh became its capital. But the civil war that broke out a few years later led to the fact that the weakened country was divided among the neighboring powers.
In 1902, the son of the sheikh of the Dirayah oasis, Abdul-Aziz ibn Saud, managed to take Riyadh. Four years later, almost all of Nazhd was under his control. In 1932, emphasizing the special significance of the royal house in history, he officially gave the country the name Saudi Arabia. The form of government of the state allowed the Saudis to achieve on its territory.
Since the middle of the last century, this state has become the main ally and strategic partner of the United States in the Middle East region.
Saudi Arabia: form of government
The constitution of this state officially proclaims the Koran and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad. However, in Saudi Arabia, the form of government and the general principles of power are determined by the Basic Nizam (law), which came into force in 1992.
This act contains a provision that Saudi Arabia is a sovereign system of power in which it is monarchical. country is based on Sharia law.
The king from the ruling family of the Saudis is also the religious leader and the highest authority in relation to all kinds of power. At the same time, he holds the post of supreme commander of the army, has the right to make appointments to all important civil and military posts, and to declare war in the country. He also oversees that the overall political direction meets the norms of Islam and supervises the implementation of Sharia principles.
Government departments
The executive power in the state is exercised by the Council of Ministers. The king holds the post of its chairman, it is he who is engaged in its formation and reorganization. The Nizams, approved by the Council of Ministers, enact royal decrees. The ministers head the respective ministries and departments, for the activities of which they are responsible to the king.
It is also carried out by the king, under which there is an Advisory Council with deliberative rights. The members of this council express their opinion on the draft Nizams adopted by the ministers. The Chairman of the Advisory Council and sixty of its members are also appointed by the King (for a term of four years).
The Supreme Judicial Council is at the head of the judiciary. On the recommendation of this council, the king appoints and removes judges.
Saudi Arabia, whose form of government and state structure is based on the almost absolute power of the king and the veneration of the Islamic religion, officially does not have any trade unions or political parties. Serving a religion other than Islam is also prohibited here.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, whose population dates back to the second millennium BC (it was then that the indigenous Arab tribes occupied the entire Arabian Peninsula), is today the main member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. The state ranks second in the world in the extraction and export of oil and oil products. In addition, referring to Mecca and Medina - the main holy cities of Islam - Saudi Arabia is called the Land of the Two Holy Mosques. It is the rich deposits of black gold and the penetration of religion into many areas of life that distinguish the kingdom.
General information about Saudi Arabia
The state from which Islam spread occupies about 80% of the territory of the Arabian Peninsula. Most of the country is occupied by desert areas, foothills and mountains of medium height, so that less than 1% of the land is suitable for cultivation. The Arabian Peninsula is one of the few places on Earth where the air temperature constantly exceeds 50 degrees in summer.
The capital of Saudi Arabia is Riyadh. Other major cities are Jeddah, Mecca, Medina, Em Dammam, Al Hofuf. There are 27 settlements with a population of more than 100 thousand people, and four cities with a population of one million. The capital of Saudi Arabia is traditionally not only the administrative, but also the political, scientific, educational and business center of the country. Religious and cultural centers, shrines of the state - Mecca and Medina.
The official symbols are the flag of Saudi Arabia, the coat of arms and the anthem. The flag is a green cloth with a sword, symbolizing the victories of the founder of the state, and an inscription - the Muslim creed (shahada). Interestingly, the flag of Saudi Arabia is never flown at half mast for mourning. Also, the image cannot be applied to clothes and souvenirs, since the shahada is considered sacred to Muslims.
The king of Saudi Arabia, who today rules the state, is a direct descendant of the first king, Abdulaziz. The power of Salman ibn Abdul-Aziz Al Saud of the Saudi dynasty is actually limited only by Sharia law. Important government decisions are made by the king in consultation with a group of religious leaders and other respected members of Saudi society.
Current demographic situation
The population of Saudi Arabia as of 2014 was 27.3 million people. About 30% of them are visitors, while the indigenous population are Saudi Arabs. After a brief stabilization of demographic indicators in 2000 at around 20 million people, the population of Saudi Arabia began to grow again. In general, there are no sharp jumps in population in the dynamics of the population of the kingdom.
Other relevant demographics for Saudi Arabia are as follows:
- birth rate - 18.8 per 1000 people;
- mortality - 3.3 per 1000 people;
- total fertility rate - 2.2 children per woman;
- natural population growth - 15.1;
- migration growth of the population - 5.1 per 1000 people.
Density of inhabitants and nature of settlement
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia covers an area of 2,149,610 square kilometers. By territory, the state is the 12th in the world and the first among the countries of the Arabian Peninsula. These data, as well as a rough estimate of the population for 2015, allow us to calculate the population density. The figure is 12 people per square kilometer.
Most of the people of Saudi Arabia are concentrated in cities. Firstly, the relief and climate of the Arabian Peninsula make it possible to comfortably exist only within the oases around which the largest cities of the state were once formed. Secondly, a significant proportion of the urban population is due to the structure of the economy, where agriculture takes a very small part, due to the meager percentage of land suitable for growing plants and livestock.
The urbanization rate in the kingdom is 82.3% and the corresponding rate is 2.4% per annum. More than five million people live in the capital of Saudi Arabia. The total population of the remaining three million-plus cities is another six million Saudis. Thus, in the four largest cities of the kingdom, eleven million people out of 31.5 (estimated for 2015), which is approximately 35% of the country's inhabitants, live.
Religious affiliation of the population
Saudi Arabia, whose population is highly religious, is officially an Islamic state. Islam as the state religion is enshrined in the first article of the Basic Law of the State. Muslims are 92.8% of the population of Saudi Arabia. By the way, non-Islamic tourists are banned from entering Mecca and Medina.
Christianity is the second most followed religion in the kingdom. The number of Christians is about 1.2 million, the majority of whom are foreigners. Quite often, cases of harassment of adherents of other religions (non-Muslims) are recorded in the country - Saudi Arabia is in sixth place among the states where the rights of Christians are most often harassed.
Atheism in the kingdom is considered a grave sin and is equated with terrorism, so it is impossible to estimate the exact number of unbelievers in the country. The American Institute of Public Opinion, based on polls, cites the following data: 5% of Saudis are convinced atheists, about 19% call themselves unbelievers. Profile publications publish smaller numbers, indicating only 0.7% in the column "atheists and non-believers".
Sex and age structure of the population
Saudi Arabia, whose population is mostly of working age, has a progressive (or growing) type of sex and age pyramid. This is better seen in a simplified scheme, where only three categories of citizens are distinguished: children and adolescents (up to the full age of 14), the working-age population (from 15 to 65 years old) and the elderly (over 65 years old).
The working-age population is about 22 million people, which is 67.6% of the total number of Saudis. There are 9.6 million or 29.4% of children and adolescents in the state, only 3% fall to the share of elderly people, this group is 0.9 million people. In general, the dependent part of the citizens (children and pensioners who are supported by the adult population) has 32.4% of Saudis. Such indicators form a not particularly significant social burden on society.
Saudi Arabia, whose population traditionally oppresses the fair sex, is distinguished by an almost equal gender structure of the population. The country has 55% men and 45% women.
Women's rights in Saudi Arabia
Women's rights are severely restricted in a country like Saudi Arabia. The population is deeply religious, so it follows all religious norms. Thus, women are prohibited from driving a car, voting, using public transport without being accompanied by a husband or male relative, or communicating with men (with the exception of relatives and a husband). The fair sex is required to wear long dark robes, and in some regions only the eyes are allowed to be left open.
The quality of education for women in Saudi Arabia is worse than for men. In addition, female students receive smaller scholarships than their male counterparts. And in general, the fair sex does not have the right to study, work or travel outside the country, unless their husband or close male relative has allowed them to do so. Even for rape in Saudi Arabia, a woman can be punished, not a criminal. In this case, the victim is charged with “provocation to rape” or violation of the dress code.
Saudi Arabia, whose population gives the main prerogative to men, adheres to the principles of sexual segregation. So, for example, houses have separate entrances for women and men, restaurants are divided into several zones (women's, men's and family), celebrations are held with separation, and studies for students of different sexes are held at different times so that boys and girls do not intersect .
The King of Saudi Arabia has repeatedly announced the imminent empowerment of women with certain rights. For example, he said that he would allow the fair sex to drive as soon as the Saudi society was ready for this step. Of course, it will take a long time to wait for equal rights for women and men in Saudi society (and this simply contradicts the norms of Islam), but there are already some indulgences for the fair sex.
The literacy rate of the inhabitants of the kingdom
Saudi Arabia, whose population is fairly literate (94.4% of citizens over the age of 15 can read and write), has different literacy rates for women and men. Thus, 97% of men and 91% of women can read and write, which is associated with the traditional oppression of the rights of the fair sex. However, among young people (from 15 to 24 years old), literacy rates are approximately equal: in Saudi Arabia, 99.4% and 99.3% of literate young people and girls, respectively.
Culture in Saudi Arabia
The culture of the kingdom is closely connected with the state religion. Muslims are forbidden to consume pork and alcohol, so mass festivities are practically excluded. In addition, cinemas and theaters are banned in the country, but such establishments exist in areas populated mainly by foreigners. Home video viewing is very common in Saudi Arabia, and Western films are largely uncensored.
The structure of the state economy
The country has 25% of the world's oil reserves, which determines the basis of the economy of a state like Saudi Arabia. Oil provides almost all export earnings (90%). In the last thirty years, industry, transport, and trade have also developed, while the share of agriculture in the economy is very small.
The currency of Saudi Arabia is the Saudi rial. The exchange rate of the monetary unit is pegged to the US dollar at a ratio of 3.75 to 1. In conclusion, information for tourists on how the currency of Saudi Arabia is converted in terms of the currencies of other countries: 100 rials is 1,500 rubles, 25 euros, 26.6 dollars United States of America.
Basic moments
Saudi Arabia is one of the few monarchies in the world named after a ruling dynasty. The head of state is the Al Saud royal family. Thanks to the colossal oil reserves and the pragmatism of the rulers from this dynasty, over the past half century, literally before the eyes of one generation, the country has turned from a desert outskirts of the Middle East region into one of the richest powers on the planet.
More recently, a Muslim country with an ancient original culture and amazing landscapes was closed for mass tourism of non-Christians. Today, tourist visas have already been introduced here, opening up wide opportunities for travelers. Introducing visa innovations, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Russia expressed the hope that regular flights will be established between Riyadh and Moscow in the near future.
An excellent tourist infrastructure has been created in the kingdom, sea resorts, luxury hotels and restaurants, entertainment and huge shopping centers await guests. On the territory of the country there are amazing natural attractions, many unique monuments of antiquity, among which are 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
History of Saudi Arabia
The Arabian Peninsula is the historical homeland of the Arabs. The tribes of this ethnic group settled in this area at least from the second half of the 2nd millennium BC. e. But the oldest artifacts testify to the presence of primitive people here 600,000 years ago. The hard-to-reach regions of Arabia keep many secrets; amazing discoveries await historians and archaeologists. Only a few decades ago, well-equipped international expeditions of scientists appeared in a previously closed country that amazed the world with their findings.
In the middle of the 20th century, menhirs were discovered in the Tihama Valley on the Red Sea coast - giant Neolithic buildings made of stone slabs weighing up to 20 tons. Here, the researchers unearthed the remains of settlements, ceramics and copper tools dating back to about 2400 BC. e. And in 2017, in the hilly region of Shuwaymis, in the north-west of the Arabian Peninsula, a Stone Age “picture gallery” was found - rock paintings with hunting scenes, where people armed with spears and bows are accompanied by hounds on leashes. These are the oldest images in the world that testify to the domestication of dogs, they date back to about 8000 BC. e. The local Bedouins have known about these drawings since time immemorial, but for Western explorers, the study of Arabia is just beginning. Numerous karst caves, where primitive people lived, and sand dunes of deserts, under which ancient cities are buried, protect their secrets.
Lost on the far outskirts of Eurasia, desert Arabia twice influenced the global development of the history of human civilization. In the 7th century, here, in the obscure town of Mecca, the world religion was born - Islam, which is now practiced by 1.8 billion believers, that is, every fourth inhabitant of the planet. And since the middle of the 20th century, the discovery of countless oil and gas fields has allowed Saudi Arabia to advance to a key role in the global distribution of energy resources and determine the direction of the vectors of world politics.
After the rapid Islamic expansion in the Early Middle Ages, the political centers of the Muslim world moved from Arabia to Damascus, Baghdad and Cairo. On the "mother" peninsula, several small Arab principalities were formed, conquered in the 16th century by the Turkish Sultan Selim I, who captured Mecca and declared himself the guardian of Islam.
The beginning of the statehood of Saudi Arabia was laid by Emir Muhammad ibn Saud, who ruled in the middle of the 17th century in the tiny principality of Diriyah, located in the center of the Arabian Peninsula - where the capital city of Riyadh is now located. Making an alliance with the religious leader Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, the emir vowed to free Arabia from Ottoman rule. In 1744, Ibn Saud's troops won their first victory over the Turks. Thus, a powerful Saudi dynasty emerged on the political arena, based on a new trend in Islam - Wahhabism, which professes a return to the ancient sources of the religious teachings of the Prophet Muhammad and denies later innovations in the interpretation of the Koran. The struggle for the independence of Arabia continued until the beginning of the 20th century. In the political arena, the Arabs were supported by France and Great Britain, who fought the Ottomans during the First World War.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was established within its present borders in 1934. A few years later, colossal oil reserves were discovered on the Arabian Peninsula. Since 1945, black gold has been mined with the participation of American oil corporations.
In the second half of the 20th century, the country took a leading position in the world energy market, which gave a powerful impetus to its development and prosperity. Since that time, the word "sheikh", originally denoting the head of the clan and the leader of a nomadic tribe, in all languages of the world has become synonymous with a fabulously rich person and a minion of fate, surrounded by unprecedented luxury.
Geography
Saudi Arabia is located in Southwest Asia, in the region known as the Middle East. The country occupies most of the Arabian Peninsula, washed by the waters of the Red Sea and the shallow Persian Gulf of the Indian Ocean. The southern and southeastern limits of the kingdom border on Yemen and the Sultanate of Oman, in the northwest is the kingdom of Jordan, in the northeast - the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Iraq. In the waters of the Persian Gulf lies the border with Iran, and the narrow and deep Red Sea separates Saudi Arabia from Egypt, Sudan and Eritrea.
According to the UN, the area of the kingdom is about 2.25 million km², but this figure varies significantly in various sources, since there are vast border desert territories in the south of the country, the ownership of which has not yet been determined. The country is divided into 13 districts, each of which is ruled by an emir - a member of the royal family, which is why the districts are often called emirates.
In 2019, the population of Saudi Arabia exceeded 34.2 million inhabitants. More than 7 million people live in the country's capital, Riyadh. The city is crossed by two trans-Arabian highways running from north to south and from east to west. Riyadh has a railway junction and a major international airport.
The relief of the country is a vast desert plateau with a high mountain range rising in the west of the peninsula. Water in Arabia is of great value. In this sun-scorched land, the rivers disappeared thousands of years ago, only countless wadis, deep dusty channels cutting through the rocks, now speak of their existence. But it happens that heavy winter and spring showers fill the wadis with moisture for several days, and then these gorges turn into muddy streams that sweep away everything in their path. However, there are regions where not a drop of precipitation falls for years.
The longest 950-kilometer wadi, Er-Rumma, is located in the north of the kingdom. Here is the flourishing region of El Qasim, where cereals, dates, fruits and vegetables are grown. About 10,000 years ago, a large river flowed through its territory, flowing into the Persian Gulf. Several times a century, heavy rains revive the water flow. In 1818, the wadi of Er-Rumma was filled with life-giving moisture for 40 days, and in 1838, the channel, covered with sand, overflowed with water. A lake with an area of 520 km² was formed in the floodplain, which existed for two years. Waterfowl even settled in the reservoir, but gradually the lake evaporated.
Aquifers have been discovered under the parched land of Arabia. They feed green oases and entire areas in the valleys where agriculture is developed. Among the palm groves, springs with brackish water come to the surface. There are hot mineral springs with sulfur inclusions.
Many caves have been discovered under the rocky deserts. Especially many natural underground labyrinths are located on the Samman limestone plateau. Large sinkholes up to 90 meters in diameter are located southeast of the capital. These natural wells, over 100 meters deep, are filled with potable water. But there was not enough water for the needs of the population and industry. Modern technologies have come to the rescue: in Saudi Arabia, powerful installations have been created that desalinate sea water that enters the water supply systems of cities.
Climate
The Arabian Peninsula has a hot and arid desert climate, with meteorologists distinguishing several climatic zones. The Arabian coast of the Red Sea in the Tihama region belongs to the hottest places on the planet. The air temperature here often exceeds +45 °С, and the sea water warms up to +29...+30 °С. Evaporation so saturates the atmosphere that at 90% humidity it is difficult to breathe, and a wet beach towel does not dry out in the sun.
In the interior regions of the peninsula, deserts are surrounded by mountain ranges. Here the humidity is close to zero. The average temperature in the summer months is +30 °С, and in January it drops to +10 °С. In winter, showers often occur, filling the beds of dry rivers.
In the northern mountainous regions of Saudi Arabia, January night temperatures reach -11 ... -10 ° С, snow sometimes falls on the high mountain plateaus.
A special climate with sharp temperature changes during the day is inherent in the Rub al-Khali desert. The usual daytime temperature here is about +35 °С, while at night the air rapidly cools down to +6...+8 °С. In this desert, deadly sandstorms occur, they are brought by a destructive east wind - simoom. A formidable rumble warns travelers about the approach of trouble. In the blink of an eye, millions of tons of hot sand cover the desert with a yellow-red haze. The ambient temperature reaches +50 °С. From the smallest dust penetrating into the lungs, linen masks and capes do not save travelers, engines and car devices fail. The lack of moisture in the air and extreme temperatures cause extremely life-threatening rapid dehydration of the body of people and animals.
Tradition and modernity
The strict patriarchal traditions that reign in this Sunni country severely restrict the freedom of women. In public places, they are required to wear loose and black robes - abayas, unattractive baggy robes that hide the figure from head to toe. Another obligatory element of women's clothing is hijabs covering the face with a narrow slit for the eyes. However, under the abaya are hidden beautiful fashionable outfits in which beauties flaunt at home.
Unmarried members of the fair sex are forbidden to go outside without being accompanied by a close relative, and married women are allowed to walk only accompanied by their spouse. Wealthy men are often followed by 3-5 wives and many daughters.
In Saudi Arabia, in all spheres of religious and civil life, the traditional lunar calendar and the Muslim chronology are used, which created certain problems in busy contacts with the Western world - for example, in coordinating the date and time of departure of aircraft. Since 2016, for international civil contacts, the country has joined the world community living according to the Gregorian calendar, but for internal use, the traditional time calculation has been unshakably preserved.
In 2017, the world press was full of reports that the 32-year-old heir to the Saudi throne, Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, decided to diversify the country's budget revenues from oil exports. The Prince announced an ambitious program of transformation for the next decade - Vision 2030. An important role in it is assigned to the creation of the entertainment industry and the promotion of international tourism. In the next decade, $64 billion is planned to be invested in this area. The plans of the prince-reformer are already being realized. In 2018, a large-scale construction of a mega-entertainment center the size of Las Vegas was launched near Riyadh. Theme parks, attractions and sports complexes are being built here. Recently, the authorities announced plans to create resorts with luxury hotels on fifty islands and coastal locations in the Red Sea.
Conservative traditions were also revised. So, in April 2018, cinemas opened in the kingdom after a thirty-five-year ban. The first opera house in the history of the kingdom is being built in Jeddah. In April 2018, 47 Saudi girls took part in the first women's cycling race, and in June of that year, women were allowed to drive without male supervision. Interestingly, there was no direct law on such a ban in Saudi Arabia, it was just that women were never given the right to drive a car. Since August 1, 2019, Saudi women have been allowed to travel independently to foreign countries. In the same year, segregation in restaurants and cafes was officially abolished. Previously, the halls of these establishments were divided by screens into two parts - male and female.
The milestone event took place on September 27, 2019. On that day, foreign diplomatic missions of Saudi Arabia announced the acceptance of applications for the issuance of tourist visas. True, the gates of a conservative Islamic state did not open for everyone. The list includes only 49 countries whose citizens have the opportunity to use the new service. During the first 10 days alone, 24,000 tourists applied for visas, most of all who wanted to visit Arabia turned out to be among the citizens of China, the USA and Great Britain.
However, experts believe that a massive influx of Western tourists to the exotic country of the East is not expected yet. In particular, diametrically different views on many everyday aspects serve as an obstacle. For example, half-naked women in bikinis on the beaches and even men in shorts and T-shirts walking the streets will cause a real shock to true Saudis. In addition, no one in Arabia is going to abolish the harsh penalties for drinking alcohol, which invariably accompanies the rest of uninhibited Europeans and Americans. Here, for a sip of whiskey, you can end up in jail; a tipsy tourist, at best, is immediately deported from the country. Most likely, time will put everything in its place, but for now, tour operators are preparing individual programs for travelers focused on getting to know the historical sights of Arabia.
Visa to Saudi Arabia
Travelers from 49 countries, including Russia, have the opportunity to obtain tourist visas through Saudi embassies and consulates, as well as apply for entry via the Internet or by presenting a passport directly upon arrival in the kingdom. Minor tourists must be accompanied by their parents (guardians). On the spot, visas are issued at the four largest airports in the country, located in Riyadh, Medina, Jeddah and Dammam (Ed-Dammam).
A visa can also be obtained when entering Saudi Arabia by land from Bahrain through a checkpoint on a bridge named after King Fahd. On the border with the UAE, there is a visa center at the Al-Bata checkpoint.
To apply for e-visas yourself, please visit the Visit Saudi portal. The visa fee is $118, there may be additional costs for administrative services. The cost of the visa includes medical insurance in the amount of $26,000. The visa is valid for multiple entries in the country during the year, while the total duration of stay is 90 days.
In order not to cause unnecessary questions, in the appropriate column of the entry form, indicate your belonging to any religion, even if you are a convinced atheist. You shouldn't put a dash here: in Saudi Arabia, denying God is punishable by law, and you will have to enter into unnecessary discussions with local border guards.
Currency
All payments in Saudi Arabia are made in the national currency - the riyal (SAR). 1 riyal is equal to 20 kurush or 100 halal. There are banknotes in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 riyals, as well as change coins denominated in halal or kurush. You can exchange currency at any bank, at points at hotels, supermarkets or at the airport: exchange rate fluctuations in exchangers will amount to only hundredths of a percent. As of December 2019, 1 Saudi riyal is equal to 16.75 Russian rubles.
Security
Saudi Arabia is recognized as one of the safest countries on the planet, the level of street crime here is reduced to zero. Despite the fact that the kingdom is home to millions of immigrants who came here to work from the poorest countries in Asia and Africa, no one dares to break the harsh laws. The court here is quick, and crimes are punished effectively, spectacularly and terribly: as a warning to citizens, public executions and executions are periodically held in one of the squares of Riyadh. The executioner cold-bloodedly cuts off the hands of petty thieves, and those who have committed serious crimes are publicly deprived of their heads. Therefore, in Saudi Arabia, no one will touch a wallet forgotten by an absent-minded tourist on a street cafe table, and a taxi driver will definitely return an iPhone dropped in a car.
Unrest on Saudi Arabia's borders with Iraq and Yemen. Travel companies recommend excluding border areas in the north of the province of El Hudud al-Shamaliya and in the southeast of the provinces of Jizan, Asir and Najran from plans to inspect the country.
Connection
The international dialing code for Saudi Arabia is +966. Mobile services in the country are provided by Saudi Telecom Company (STC), Mobily and Zaine. Roaming with them is available to Russian mobile operators. SIM-cards of local operators at a price of 40-50 riyals are sold at branded customer service offices, airports, hotels, shopping centers, gas stations. You can also buy cards for using street pay phones to call any country.
In cities and towns, in oases there is high-speed Internet, users have access to international social networks. In desert regions, the signal is weak or non-existent.
Rules and prohibitions
The people of Saudi Arabia are hospitable and friendly, but in this still very conservative Muslim country, there are many rules and prohibitions that tourists should not break. First of all, they concern public manifestations of affection of men and women, as well as the appearance of tourists. No need to wear shirts, t-shirts, caps with ambiguous inscriptions or obscene images. Travelers are obliged to chastely hide their forms under long clothes and not attract male attention with bright cosmetics.
Exclude from your baggage pork products, alcohol, any weapons, and drugs that could arouse the suspicion of customs officers. You should not take with you the Bible, religious or anti-Muslim literature. Big problems can arise even because of a magazine or newspaper with candid photographs of models - whether they are women or men. For a pinch of the lightest drug, you can go to jail and even to the chopping block. Smoking in public places is not allowed. It is forbidden to smoke during fasting before Ramadan.
The kingdom has a Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, as well as a vigilant vice police. The local press and the Internet are subject to strict censorship. Thousands of video cameras are installed on the streets, in shopping centers and other public buildings, disguised police officers vigilantly monitor the order, immediately stopping any suspicious actions. For example, a man who turns to an unfamiliar woman walking along a crowded street will most likely be detained. Attract the attention of the vice police and a tourist in defiant clothes.
To avoid trouble, in Saudi Arabia, you should not photograph people without their consent, especially the military or police. Fines ranging from 100 to 6,000 riyals have been set for violating public order.
Regions of Saudi Arabia
On the territory of Saudi Arabia, there are historical regions of Nejd, Hijaz, Asir, Al-Khasa and others, which make up three large regions - central, western and eastern. In the central part of the Arabian Peninsula, the Nejd Plateau extends. The Shammar Mountains rise to the northwest, their ranges delineating the fertile and densely populated Batina Valley. Further on, the Big Nefud desert with 100-meter red sand dunes stretches for 610 thousand km². In the south, the huge Rub al-Khali desert stretches for 1200 km. There is a lifeless region of Bahr es-Safi, covered with quicksands that make strange sounds in windy weather. According to legend, once these sands swallowed up the whole army of the legendary Arabian king Safi.
central region
A major cultural event for the entire Arab world is the annual Al-Jenadriyah National Heritage Festival, which is held at numerous venues in the vicinity of Riyadh and lasts for two weeks. This holiday attracts hundreds of thousands of guests. Within the framework of the festival, concerts, exhibitions and fairs, camel races and horse races, colorful ethnic shows are organized.
The range of entertainment is constantly expanding. Since 2019, the Kingdom has been running the Saudi Seasons national program all year round. Within its framework, festivals are held monthly in different parts of the country, designed to demonstrate to tourists the culture, customs and cuisine of the inhabitants of Arabia.
Purchases
In the big cities of Saudi Arabia, huge shopping centers are built, where goods from all over the world are offered. Multi-storey modern malls and traditional bustling bazaars are located in Riyadh, Jeddah and Mecca. A huge market (suk), located southeast of Mecca, on the way to the city of Taif, is very popular among tourists. This fair has been known since the time of the Prophet Muhammad. There are about 200 shops and many stalls with a variety of goods - from spices and incense to consumer electronics.
As a memento of visiting Saudi Arabia, tourists often purchase chased metal dishes, coffee sets, jugs, and dishes. Good decorative items made of mother-of-pearl, shells of sea turtles. A richly decorated hookah can serve as an exotic decoration for your living room interior. The jewelry stores offer a huge selection of beautiful products made of gold and silver. Collectors will find curious antiques in the markets.
As a present, rosaries made of black coral, jewelry made of pearls mined in the waters of the Persian Gulf, a bottle of water from the sacred well of Zamzam in Mecca are popular. Muslims will definitely bring a gift edition of the Koran, wall panels and dishes with Arabic script of sacred sayings, silk prayer rugs from here.
Tourists should take into account that all shops are closed during the afternoon prayers. In large shopping malls and supermarkets, buyers are warned of the approaching hour of prayer through an internal broadcast, messages are in Arabic and English.
Saudi Arabian Cuisine
Saudi cooking is based on three pillars - the centuries-old Bedouin food culture, the instructions of the Koran and spices. The use of pork, animal blood, and the use of alcohol are strictly prohibited.
The list of the main traditional ingredients of Arabian cuisine, dating back to the modest diet of nomads, is small: cereals, lamb, chicken, vegetables, dates, milk yogurts and spices. In different regions, the recipes of dishes are replenished with local seasonal products. Smoking incense sticks are often lit for dinner parties, and guests are served rose water to wash their hands.
A very tasty dish called "mandi" is cooked on coals of black saxaul or acacia wood, blazing in an underground clay oven, reminiscent of a Central Asian tandoor with a massive lid. In a ceramic pot, pilaf is cooked from selected basmati rice with spices, then lamb is hung in the oven and languishing over gradually cooling coals for about 8 hours. In restaurants of national cuisine, mandi is ordered in advance. This dish is served at weddings and other celebrations.
In the oases, you can try another old Bedouin holiday treat: a whole camel is roasted in an underground oven, inside it is a lamb, which, in turn, is stuffed with chicken. This combination is stuffed with rice, nuts, spices. Hummus, a thick spicy chickpea sauce seasoned with tahini, pepper and garlic, is popular.
In the south of Saudi Arabia, you should try agdu - Yemeni lamb roast with vegetables, baked in a pot. In the coastal regions, there is a wide choice of seafood caught by local fishermen, as well as all kinds of vegetables and fruits delivered on ships from distant countries. For dessert, fruit drinks with ice, halva, puff pastry with almonds and other sweets are served.
Centuries-old traditions are associated with Arabic coffee. Pilgrims coming to Mecca and Medina carried them all over the world. In Saudi Arabia, coffee is prepared extremely strong, rich and bitter, depending on preferences, spices are added - cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, saffron. The drink is served in miniature fragile cups without handles (they are called “fengjan”), or in beautiful metal jugs called “della”. Sugar is not added; instead, coffee is often accompanied by dates, dried fruits, candied fruits, nuts, or other desserts. When receiving guests, the owner personally grinds the roasted beans and brews coffee - this is a demonstration of hospitality and generosity. The Arabs say about the hospitable house: "Coffee is prepared here from morning to night."
The progenitors of Arab coffee houses were resting places in Bedouin tents and cells of Sufi monks, where men had conversations over a cup of coffee, played board games and sipped fragrant hookah. UNESCO experts have recognized the traditions of Arabic coffee as an intangible cultural heritage of mankind.
For a taste of Saudi cuisine in Riyadh, check out the restaurant at the luxurious Ritz Carlton Hotel, which accepts pre-orders for mandi. You can enjoy real Arabic coffee, for example, in Five Elephants boutique cafe, where gourmet desserts will be served with the drink. In the capital's Nojoud shopping center, which is opposite the InterContinental Riyadh hotel, you can eat at Tao Bistro, where they are treated to delights of Mediterranean cuisine. To get started, order a meze and you will be served a dozen small portions of a variety of appetizers - fried halloumi, pickled olives, hummus, falafel, thinly sliced shawarma and other treats.
Dishes prepared from recipes from all over the world are offered by restaurants in multicultural Jeddah. Known as the "gateway to Mecca", this port city hosts millions of pilgrims from dozens of countries every year, and a host of restaurants strive to cater to their needs. The average check for a dinner for two will be about 100 reais. However, individual dishes can be quite expensive. For example, a large lobster with a vegetable side dish will cost 120-130 reais.
The huge number of pilgrims forced Saudi Arabia to create its own fast food chains. The menu of these establishments includes shawarma, sandwiches, fried kufta, seafood, pieces of chicken fillet with tahini sauce, crispy spiral curls of french fries and juicy lamb kebabs. The Albaik Express eatery chain serves fried chicken and shrimp with various sauces. This company organized the world's largest fast food kitchen in Mecca, capable of feeding hundreds of thousands of pilgrims on the days of the Hajj. Western fast food is prepared at Kudu and Herfy eateries. The cost of lunch in fast food restaurants is within 40 riyals.
Where to stay
Until recently, hotels in Saudi Arabia focused on two main categories of guests - foreign businessmen flying here on business, and pilgrims arriving to visit Mecca. In large cities, 4-5-star hotels of world chains have been built, the cost of living in them ranges from 600 to 2500 riyals per day.
The best hotels in the capital of the kingdom include Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya, Ritz-Carlton Riyadh, Burj Rafal Hotel. The luxurious Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh is located in the Kingdom Center skyscraper. The rooms here are expensive - 1600-5050 riyals), but the service is impeccable, and the restaurants serve truly royal dishes. A large shopping complex is attached to the hotel.
In Dammam, judging by the reviews of tourists, among the best is the Park Inn by Radisson Dammam 4 * hotel. The cost of living is from 683 riyals. In the resort town of Al Khobar, there is a constant demand for rooms in Sofitel Al Khobar Corniche 5 * and Dana Beach Resort 5 * hotels.
Radisson Blu Hotel Jeddah is popular in Jeddah, the price range for accommodation is 280-398 riyals. The hotel is located near the newly built promenade with beaches and entertainment. In city hotels of the 3 * category, you can stay for 130-150 riyals per day. Modest guest houses, designed for pilgrims and families of workers who came here to earn money, offer rooms with private bathrooms and kitchenettes for 35-40 riyals per day.
Transport
The most common mode of transport in Saudi Arabia is private cars. This is the main means of transportation for local residents, so there is no need for public transport. In the business centers of large cities, the layout of the streets is subject to the convenience of motorists, often there are no sidewalks for pedestrians, and parking lots are located in their place.
Taxis are available in all cities. There is an extensive network of intercity bus routes. However, buses are mainly used by visiting low-income immigrant workers and unpretentious pilgrims.
315,000 km of roads have been laid for road communication in the country, of which about 4,000 km are high-speed multi-lane highways. On some highways speed up to 140 km/h is allowed. These highways include 8-lane highways Mecca - Medina, Riyadh - Dammam.
1380 km of railways have been laid in the kingdom, a line for high-speed trains is being built. The subway operates in Riyadh and Mecca, the construction of subway lines continues.
Saudi Arabia has 13 international airports connected to the largest cities and capitals of the world, all of which are capable of receiving airliners of any class. It is curious that, by agreement with NASA, the vast Riyadh airport, located 35 km from the city, served as one of the alternate landing sites for the American Space Shuttle reusable space shuttles.
The country also has regional air harbors for domestic flights. Wealthy travelers use the service of light-engine air taxis; helipads are equipped in all regions.
Car rent
Airports and major cities in Saudi Arabia have branches of the world's largest car rental companies. A daily rental of an economy class car such as Toyota Yaris, Chevrolet Spark or Hyundai Elantra will cost about 130 riyals, executive cars - from 260 riyals, SUVs - from 320 riyals. You can get the keys to a premium car, such as a BMW 5 Series, for 750 riyals per day. For renting a luxury limousine, for example, a luxurious Mercedes-AMG S-Class, you need to pay 3000 riyals.
How to get there
There are no flights from Russian cities with Saudi Arabia yet. You can get into the kingdom with a transfer at one of the airports of foreign countries connected with it by direct flights, for example, through Turkey, the United Arab Emirates or Bahrain. Direct flights to Riyadh Airport are carried out by airliners departing from London.
Saudi Arabia, the map of which is presented below, is a country in the southwestern part of Asia, covering about 80% of the area. The origin of its name is associated with the Saudi royal family, which founded the state and continues to rule it to this day.
general description
The area of Saudi Arabia is 2.15 million square kilometers. The state borders on Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, UAE, Qatar, Yemen and Oman. In addition, it is washed by the waters of the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba. Its capital is Riyadh, which is home to over five million people. Other major cities in Saudi Arabia are Jeddah, Mecca and Medina. Their population exceeds one million people.
Political structure
In March 1992, the first documents regulating the state and the basic principles of its management were adopted. Based on them, the country of Saudi Arabia is a theocratic absolute monarchy. Its constitution is based on the Koran. The Saudi dynasty has been in power since 1932. The King has full legislative, executive and judicial power. Its powers are only theoretically limited by local traditions and Shariah norms. The government in its current form has been functioning since 1953. It is headed by the king, who determines the main directions of its activities. There is also a Council of Ministers in the country, which is entrusted not only with executive, but also with legislative functions. All decisions taken by this authority are approved by decree of the king of the country of Saudi Arabia. The population of the state is obliged to comply with them. Administratively, the country is divided into thirteen provinces.
Economy
The local economy is based on private free enterprise. At the same time, it is impossible not to note the fact that control over the key ones is carried out by the government. The state boasts the largest oil reserves on the planet. It accounts for about 75% of his income. In addition, Saudi Arabia is the world leader in the export of black gold and plays one of the leading roles in OPEC. The country also has reserves of zinc, chromium, lead, copper and
Population
The first census of local residents was carried out in 1974. From that time to the present day, the population of Saudi Arabia has almost tripled. Now almost 30 million people live in the country. The vast majority of local residents are Arabs, a significant part of which has retained the tribal organization. Now there are more than 100 tribal associations and tribes in the country. It should also be noted that approximately one-fifth of the population is made up of foreign workers. Based on official UN statistics, as of 1970, the infant mortality rate in the country was 204 babies for every thousand newborns. Now there has been a significant positive shift in this indicator. In particular, due to the improvement of living standards and medical care in the state, out of a thousand newborns, only 19 children die.
Language
Arabic is the official language in a country like Saudi Arabia. The population in everyday life uses mainly the Arabian dialect, which comes from el-fushy. Within it, several dialects that are close to each other stand out at once. At the same time, city dwellers and descendants of nomads speak differently. Literary and spoken languages have minor differences between themselves. In a religious context, mainly the classical Arabic dialect is used. Common languages among immigrants from other countries are English, Indonesian, Urdu, Tagalog, Farsi and others.
Religion
Saudi Arabia is considered the center of the Islamic world. Almost the entire population of the country professes this particular religion. According to various estimates, up to 93% of local residents are Sunnis. The rest of the representatives of Islam are predominantly Shiites. As for other religions, about 3% of the country's inhabitants are Christians, and 0.4% are other confessions.
Education
Higher education in the country, although free, is not compulsory. A good job and a comfortable life in Saudi Arabia are possible without him. Be that as it may, there are a number of programs operating here, the main goal of which was to reduce the level of illiteracy of local residents. Currently, there are 7 universities and 16 higher educational institutions in the country. All of them are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Higher Education. Approximately 30 thousand students study abroad every year. In the past few decades, the government has significantly increased spending on education. At the same time, the state needs a general reform in this area, which should form a new balance between modern and traditional teaching methods.
The medicine
Saudi Arabia is one of the most advanced countries in the world in terms of medicine. The population of the state has the right to receive free services related to it. This applies to both residents of megacities and representatives of the Bedouin tribes who roam in the desert. Every year, the government allocates about 8% of the local budget for health care, which is simply a gigantic amount. Mandatory immunization of newborns is fixed at the legislative level. The epidemiological control system, which was created in 1986, made it possible to completely defeat and eliminate such terrible diseases as plague and cholera.
Demographic Issues
According to scientists, if the current number of inhabitants in the country continues (over the past 30 years they have been about 4% of the inhabitants per year), then by 2050 the population of Saudi Arabia will reach 45 million. In other words, very soon the country's leadership will have to solve the problem of not only providing citizens with jobs, but also ensuring a decent old age for the Saudis who are currently working. This task is not so easy even for a state with such impressive oil reserves. The emergence of such problems is associated primarily with positive changes in the areas of nutrition and medical care, as well as with the improvement of living conditions in the country.
