The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was created in the 1920s by the Wahhabi sect and the army based on it, led by King Ibn Saud, who managed to form a large independent state back in the colonial era, and in 1932 became the first King of Saudi Arabia.

This led to the still extremely high authority of the Saudi dynasty in the general population. In fact, it was not so much the absolute power of the monarch himself that developed, but the absolute power of the clan, which historically stood out as the ruling one. The king here acts as the personified bearer of the power of the clan, recognized as the dominant tribe. In addition, in the absence of opposition parties and organizations that could threaten domestic political stability, and
a significant increase in the well-being of the population, directly related to oil revenues, the formation of capitalist relations took place more calmly and did not cause drastic changes in the sphere of power and management.

The King of Saudi Arabia is not only the head of state, but also the spiritual head (leads the Wahhabi sect), and also performs the functions of prime minister, commander-in-chief of the armed forces and supreme judge. The government is formed from members of the royal family appointed by the King.

The government of Saudi Arabia is determined by the Basic Law of the Kingdom, called the Basic Rule of Government of Saudi Arabia, which was adopted in 1992. According to him, Saudi Arabia is ruled by the sons and grandsons of the first king, Abdel Aziz. The law is based on Islamic law. Theoretically, the power of the king is limited only by Sharia law. Western experts are most often inclined to recognize this fundamental law as a real constitution.

In accordance with the feudal-patriarchal principle of "shura" (council), which has long been proclaimed one of the foundations of Islamic government, the Kingdom has an Advisory Council under the monarch, consisting of 40 representatives of the ruling and noble aristocratic families, a Legal Council of 20 ulema, especially revered experts on the Koran, as well as councils under the governors, acting like traditional tribal councils under the sheikh.

From the foregoing, it becomes clear that the parliament and constitution in the monarchy of the Persian Gulf are more of a decorative, ornamental character. Although, of course, the systems of power, state and political institutions are fully represented. For example, the Council of Ministers, where most often the prime minister is the ruling monarch, and his brothers hold the largest posts, especially power ministers. All branches of government are subordinate to the king. The heir to the throne is appointed by the king after being elected by the "Council of Allegiance", established in accordance with the law of 2006, while the succession to the throne occurs from brother to brother (among the sons of King Abd al-Aziz), and only after there is not one of them, to the eldest of the next generation. The female line of succession does not count.

It is important to mention that the principles of succession to the throne are not enshrined in law anywhere. They are based on tribal customs and traditions.

Monarchies don't have to "die". We see this both in the West and in the East. They can transform, which is what they are trying to do now. Question: with what success? The country in question does this for the sole purpose of maintaining the ruling regime.

The new social strata and political forces, progressive in relation to the traditional population, feel extremely uncomfortable in the conditions of the monarchical press, strict religious and medieval regulations, and demand a fair distribution of social wealth. But such people are an absolute minority. The main framework of the Saudi monarchy today is a kind of unspoken social contract, according to which the population gives up a significant part of their political rights in exchange for a generous state redistribution of income from, broad state programs to support the local population in the fields of economy and education.
Those. The power of the royal dynasty is based on the following pillars:

• The authority of the monarch among the population
• Power in the country is based on the principles of clan government, and not on the pure monarchical tradition (more archaic form)
• The unshakable authority of the king in religious affairs due to his status as the spiritual head of state
• Laws are based solely on Sharia
• All branches of government are in the hands of the monarch
• Weak acquaintance of the population with democratic principles and tendencies and its amorphousness caused by a comfortable existence within the ruling regime

The strategy is to widely sponsor the population with "oil" money, a rigid apparatus of suppression, constant references to religion and the significance of the ruling dynasty in the history of the kingdom.

A large, oil-rich Middle Eastern country that borders Yemen, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq and Jordan, Saudi Arabia is the most influential power in the Arabian Peninsula. Saudi Arabia - " Land of two holy places”, home of the oldest Islamic cities, and one of the few states with an absolute monarchy.

The Kingdom once armed entered the civil war in Yemen, supporting the government against the Houthi militants. But outside help does not rule out problems of its own: declining oil prices, internal political divisions, and attempts to diversify the economy. In the understanding of the West, this country is an anachronism, where the fundamentalist interpretation of Islam is the absolute law, and where a woman is forbidden to drive a car. But on the other hand, here are the roots of a great history and culture, to which millions of Muslims annually flock for the pilgrimage hajj and huge oil fields.

Here 15 Surprising Facts About the Oil Kingdom of Saudi Arabia:

15. No elections, parliament, political parties and dissent

An absolute monarchy reigns here, there are no national elections, political parties and a representative parliament, there is only a symbolic council body, the Majlis ash-Shura, or Consultative Assembly, which does not have the power to make laws and enforce them. This open disregard for democratic norms has been going on for decades. Along with the most brutal dictatorial countries, Saudi Arabia regularly receives the lowest civil and political freedom scores from think tanks like freedom house.

Nor is there a constitution, although a charter known as the Basic Law of Saudi Arabia, adopted by royal decree in 1992, obliges the monarch to rule by observing the Shariah and the Koran instead of the Constitution. Criticism and dissent are strictly prohibited: Activists are regularly imprisoned and sentenced to cruel punishments.

Examples: Abd al-Karim, who demanded a transition to a constitutional monarchy and received 8 years in prison for this, and blogger Raif Badawi, who received 1,000 lashes for calling for freedom of speech.

14. Home of the holiest Islamic cities

Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and the most sacred religious places - Mecca and Medina. At 13 meters high, the Kaaba is the holiest site in the Great Mosque of Mecca, Islam's holiest mosque. All Muslims send their prayers to her. One of the five pillars of Islam requires every Muslim to make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in his life, if he has the strength and.

Approximately two million people visit Saudi Arabia every year. It is easy to guess that a large gathering of pilgrims in one place can lead to serious problems, such as the stampede in 2015, which killed and injured, according to some reports, more than 2,000 people.

13. There are not enough executioners for all executions

The death penalty is widespread in Saudi Arabia. In 2015, the authorities saw them off every other day. The country ranks 4th in the world in terms of the number of executions, they are committed for reasons such as adultery and rejection of Islam. In most cases, the execution is carried out by cutting off the head with a scimitar.

The Kingdom may be the only country that suffers from a shortage of executioners: in early 2013, the government thought about changing the method of execution due to the lack of executioners. The method of execution is considered in priority.

In addition, Saudi Arabia is one of four countries where public executions remain. Diera Square in the center of Riyadh is a famous place of public beheadings, locally known as " chop-chop square».

12. Huge oil reserves

What words come to mind when you think of Saudi Arabia? Since the Kingdom is the largest exporter of crude oil, its name is synonymous with everything related to oil and gas. More than half of GDP comes from the profits of the oil industry. Oil reserves are simply unrealistic: the largest Gavar field can accommodate 4,770,897 Olympic pools. It is estimated that even after decades of pumping oil per eq, there are still about 75 billion barrels left.

Saudi Arabia holds 22% of the world's oil reserves, only Venezuela has more. In 1960, the Kingdom was a founding member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. Due to the large-scale oil industry, 30% of the country's population are foreign workers.

11. The largest country without a single river

With an area of ​​more than 2 million square kilometers, Saudi Arabia ranks 13th in the world in terms of territorial size. More than 95% are deserts and semi-deserts, many of which are the largest on earth (Great Nefud in the north and Rub al-Khali in the south). Due to the abundance of deserts and an average temperature of about 45 degrees Celsius, there are no rivers and lakes in Saudi Arabia, but underground reservoirs flow.

This is the largest country in the Middle East, it makes up most of the Arabian Peninsula and is the world's largest territorial entity without a single river on the map.

10 The Royal Family Is Worth $14 Trillion

As heads of the House of Saud, the monarch and thousands of his royal relatives hold every important office in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The kingship of this country would have been the object of the desire of any medieval court; King Salman's net worth is estimated at more than $17 billion, and more than 7,000 family princes (according to some estimates, about 30,000 members of the royal nobility) hold important posts, while more talented candidates remain " overboard because of the wrong last name.

9. Severe punishments

We have already mentioned the cruel laws of Saudi Arabia, what about punishments? It turns out that they are no better: the legal system uses the same ultra-conservative and traditionalist Hanbali school as the foundations of jurisprudence, as does the terrorist Islamic State. Litigation takes place solely on the basis of a particular interpretation of Islamic law.

Among the punishments of the authorities are chopping off hands and feet for theft, whipping and stoning for adultery and other acts, beheading for riots, political crimes, drug smuggling and witchcraft. Death sentences are also passed for blasphemy, homosexuality and robbery by violence. Saudi Arabia has not responded to ever-increasing pressure to liberalize its legal system and has consistently applied penalties and the death penalty.

8. Dangerous quirk "Sidewalk Skiing"

This is quite a bold entertainment, fraught with " funny" danger". The trick consists of driving on two wheels on one side of the car along the roadway, during which a person climbs onto the car and stands on top of it in the course of the entire movement. Fans of this entertainment treat it with purely sporting interest, but this is one of the most useless and dangerous inventions that humanity has ever given out.

In one video, a team of like " stuntmen» gets out of the car to change his tire. All this happens on the go. To tell " Don't try this at home', to say nothing.

7. Tent settlement

Initially, pilgrims took tents with them on their journey and set them up on the plains of Mina. In the 1990s, the Saudi Arabian government made housing easier for religious tourists by setting up campsites with regular cotton tents. But in 1997, a fire broke out in the settlement, which claimed the lives of 350 pilgrims.

After that, a new camp was organized with fire-resistant tents. Mina city has 100,000 neat fireproof tents with air conditioning, kitchen and bathroom. In fact, this is a modern residential complex.

The state-of-the-art tents can accommodate about 3 million people. About 5 days a year they are occupied by pilgrims, and the rest of the time they are empty. The kingdom has received a barrage of global criticism after refusing to host Syrian refugees there.

6. The problem with women's underwear

Women are effectively prohibited from working outside the home. This causes embarrassing situations, such as when the clerk in the lingerie department is a man. Embarrassed women who could not make intimate purchases because of this made an attempt to change the legislation. They were heeded, and in 2012 a decree was issued banning men from working in lingerie stores.

But the decree was contrary to Sharia, which is why about a hundred stores ignored the innovation. A few months after the entry into force of the law, they were closed. The decree is still in effect, and various inspections regularly monitor its implementation. If a male salesperson is found, the shops are threatened with closure.

5 They Have The Magic Police

In Saudi Arabia, everything that is directly or indirectly related to magic, witchcraft and magic is banned. This is considered a serious crime, people were even beheaded for supposedly practicing magic. The government takes the magical threat so seriously that it even banned the Harry Potter books and created special anti-witchcraft police squads.

Established in 2009, the Anti-Witchcraft Group is a member of the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Disorder of the Saudi Religious Police. They are tasked with apprehending sorcerers and preventing their spells. Since 2009, more than 500 people have been prosecuted for practicing magic.

People supposedly whispering spells, performing rituals, or caught with talismans can get into very serious trouble. But the question of witchcraft is very delicate, because the original and generally recognized features of witches are as follows: they have a broom on which they fly. Saudi Arabia's legal code leaves the decision to the judge, who must conclude whether a person is guilty of witchcraft and whether he will receive the death penalty. No wonder Saudi Arabia is included in the rating of 15 countries in which they still believe in witchcraft.

4. In the future, the country with the tallest building in the world

The most long-awaited event for all people of the globe is the construction of " The tallest building in the world". The position is currently held by the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. In 2018, the Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia, also known as the Royal Tower, will proudly take the title. It will be the first building in history to reach a kilometer in height and will be the gleaming centerpiece of Saudi Arabia's new coastal city.

To imagine what it would look like, imagine the World Trade Center in New York (541 meters) - that's just over half the estimated height of the King's Tower. When completed, the tower will have a hotel, an observatory, offices, and obscenely expensive penthouses. The preliminary cost is $ 1.2 billion. Now the project is called " the limit of engineering possibilities».

3. Women's Rights Are Worse Than You Thought

Before traveling to Saudi Arabia, it is highly recommended that you familiarize yourself with its laws. Recently, women's rights in the Persian Gulf have been the subject of social opposition. It is now the last country on earth where women are not allowed to drive. This fact attracts representatives of the media everywhere.

This is just the tip of the iceberg, without the permission of a man, women are prohibited from leaving the house, making purchases, opening a bank account, getting a job, attending school, acting as a legal and other official, and agreeing to an operation.

Until recently, women could not vote and sit in the advisory chamber, making Saudi Arabia the latest country to give women the right to vote. Before his death, King Abdullah gave a fifth of the council chamber to women and allowed them to vote, but this was more of a symbolic gesture that did not really affect the lives of Saudi women.

2. One of the largest military budgets in the world

For a country of 33 million people, Saudi Arabia's military spending is enormous. The Kingdom usually ranks 4th in the world in terms of military spending, behind the United States, China and Russia, and all superpowers have a population and territory many times larger. In 2015, it was in 3rd place, raising the budget from $80 billion to over $87 billion.

By the way, Saudi Arabia is one of the few countries that has one of the most advanced tanks in the world - M1 Abrams. There are about several hundred of them. In 2010-14, the Kingdom was the world's second largest arms importer.

1. Import sand and camels from Australia

Yes that's right: Sand country actually buys sand from Australia. What for? It turns out that not a single type of Saudi sand is suitable for construction. Construction of buildings requires special alluvial sand without silica (it often generates a lot of dust and difficulties for workers during sandblasting). The Kingdom receives sand with the necessary properties in bulk from Australia.

Now about camels. In Saudi Arabia, they are used to transport people and goods, and sometimes for racing. Australia is happy to export its camels, which are wild and vicious. Ironically, camels were first imported to Australia from Arabia, India and Afghanistan in the 19th century.

In this video, you will learn where Saudi Arabia got its name from, how you can pay off your sins, and why there is practically no public transport there.

The official name is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Al Mamlaka al Arabiya as Saudiyya, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia). Located in southwest Asia, it occupies most of the Arabian Peninsula. The area is 2240 thousand km2, the population is 23.51 million people. (2002). The official language is Arabic. The capital is the city of Riyadh (over 2.77 million people, with suburbs 4.76 million people). Public holiday - Day of the Proclamation of the Kingdom - September 23 (since 1932). The monetary unit is the Saudi rial (equal to 100 halals).

Member of OPEC (since 1960), UN (since 1971), GCC (since 1981), Arab League, etc.

Landmarks of Saudi Arabia

Geography of Saudi Arabia

It is located between 34° and 56° east longitude and 16° and 32° north latitude. In the east it is washed by the Persian Gulf, in the west and southwest - by the Red Sea. The Red Sea is located between the coasts of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, stretched from northwest to southeast. In the northern part of the sea there is an artificial Suez Canal, connecting with the Mediterranean Sea, the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba (off the coast of Saudi Arabia), separated by the Sinai Peninsula. The sandy, in some places rocky shores of the Red Sea are weakly indented throughout and bordered by coral reefs with coral bays. There are few islands, but south of 17 ° north latitude they form numerous groups, one of the largest is the Farasan Islands belonging to Saudi Arabia.

Surface currents are seasonal. In the southern part of the sea, from November to March, the current is directed north-northwest along the coast of the Arabian Peninsula. To the north, this current weakens, meeting with the opposite one, which runs along the coast of Africa. From June to September, there are southern and southeastern currents in the Red Sea. The tides are mostly semi-diurnal. In the northern part of the sea, winds sometimes reach storm strength. The Persian Gulf has shallow depths (average - 42 m), the currents form a cycle counterclockwise. In the Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf with the Oman, the direction of the current changes seasonally: in summer from the ocean to the Persian Gulf, in winter - vice versa.

Saudi Arabia is bordered in the north by Jordan and Iraq, in the northwest by Kuwait, Bahrain (marine border), Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The southern borders with Oman and Yemen are not defined.

More than 1/2 of the territory of Saudi Arabia in the southeast is occupied by the Rub al-Khali desert, or the Great Sandy Desert, with an area of ​​approx. 650 thousand km2. In the north of the country is part of the Syrian Desert, and the Nefud Desert, covering an area of ​​approx. 57 thousand km2, extends further to the south. In the center of the country there is a plateau crossed by several small rivers that dry up during the dry season. In the south-west of the country there are small mountain ranges and its highest point - Mount Jabal Saud (3133 m). Narrow coastal plains lie along the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf.

The bowels of Saudi Arabia are rich in the most important types of raw materials - oil, natural gas, iron, copper, gold and other non-ferrous metals, there are deposits of rock salt, uranium, etc. In terms of oil reserves, the country ranks first in the world - 25.2%, or 35.8 billion tons. Natural gas reserves 5400 billion m3. Minerals, except for oil and gas, are still poorly studied and are mined in extremely small quantities.

The soils in Saudi Arabia are mostly sandy and stony, gray soils are found in the northern part of Arabia, and red, red-brown soils are found in the south. The most fertile lands are located on the shores of the Red Sea.

The climate is hot, dry, mostly tropical, in the north - subtropical. Average temperatures in July are above +30°С, in January +10-20°C. Precipitation approx. 100 mm per year, in the mountains up to 400 mm. January temperature in Riyadh is +8-21°С, in Jeddah +26-37°С. The July temperature in Riyadh is +26-42°C, and in Jeddah - +26-37°C. However, in the mountains in winter there are sub-zero temperatures and snow.

There are no permanent natural reservoirs on the territory of the country, except for small pools in oases, sometimes temporary lakes form after rains. There are significant reserves of groundwater.

The flora of the inner regions is extremely poor, there are desert grasses, thorny shrubs, in fertile areas - thickets of tamarisk, acacia, in oases - date palms. The fauna is represented by antelopes, foxes, gazelles, hyenas, ostriches, panthers, wild cats, wolves, mountain goats, rabbits, and Indian badgers. Among the birds stand out bustard, dove, quail. From predatory - eagles, falcons. The sea is rich in fish.

population of saudi arabia

In a total population of approx. 23% are non-citizens of the kingdom (2002).

The average annual growth rate of the indigenous population is 3.27% (2002). In 1974 - 92 the population grew from 6.72 to 16.95 million people. The population in the 15-24 age group is growing especially fast.

Birth rate 37.25‰, mortality 5.86‰, infant mortality 49.59 people. per 1000 newborns, average life expectancy is 68.4 years, incl. men 66.7, women 70.2 (2002).

Sex and age structure of the population (2002): 0-14 years - 42.4% (men 5.09 million people, women 4.88 million); 15-64 years old - 54.8% (7.49 million men, 5.40 million women); 65 years and older - 2.8% (men 362.8 thousand people, women 289.8 thousand). Urban population 85.7% (2000). 78% of the population aged 15 and over is literate (84.2% of men and 69.5% of women) (2002).

Ethnic composition: Arabs - 90%, Afro-Asians - 10%. Indigenous Saudis stand out, whose ancestors lived in the country for centuries - approx. 82%, Yemenis and other Arabs who arrived in the country after the 1950s during the oil boom - ca. 13%, nomadic Berbers, whose numbers are declining. Languages: Arabic, European languages ​​are also used.

The state religion is Islam. Almost all Muslims are Sunnis. Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam, founded by the Prophet Muhammad. The whole life of the country is subject to strict laws and rules that have a thousand-year history. Men and women are not allowed to drink alcoholic beverages. The breeding of pigs and the consumption of pork is prohibited. Mecca is the cradle of Islam and the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad, there is the main shrine of the Muslim world - the ancient sanctuary of the Kaaba. The second religious center is Medina, where the prophet is buried. Among the duties of a Muslim is fasting during Ramadan, the 9th month of the Muslim calendar (from late February to late March), when Muslims abstain from food and drink, avoid spectacles and other pleasures until sunset. One of the pillars of Islam is the hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca, which must be done at least once in a lifetime. Mecca attracts millions of pilgrims from all over the world.

History of Saudi Arabia

In the 1st millennium BC. On the coast of the Red Sea, the Minyan kingdom arose with its capital in Karna (modern Khoyda in Yemen). On the east coast was Dilmun, which was considered a political and cultural federation on the shores of the Persian Gulf. For almost 1,500 years, no important events took place on the territory of modern Saudi Arabia. In 570 AD Prophet Muhammad was born in Mecca, and the teachings of Islam literally turned the whole history of Saudi Arabia upside down. Muhammad's followers, known as caliphs (caliphs), conquered almost the entire Middle East.

The Arabs of the Arabian Peninsula were aware of many technical and construction achievements. In agriculture already in the 5th-6th centuries. an iron plow was used, iron ore was mined and metal was smelted, already in the pre-Islamic era, the Arabs created their original script - the Sabaean script in South Arabia and later, in the 5th century. - Nabataean writing, on the basis of which modern Arabic writing developed.

With the advent of the caliphate, whose capital was first in Damascus and later in Baghdad, the role of the prophet's homeland became less and less significant.

In 1269, almost the entire territory of modern Saudi Arabia was under the rule of Egypt. In 1517, power passed to the rulers of the Ottoman Empire. All R. 18th century The state of Nejd was founded, which was independent of the Ottoman Empire. In 1824 Riyadh became the capital of the state. In 1865, a civil war broke out in the country, and the weakened country was divided among neighboring states. In 1902, Abdelaziz ibn Saud captured Riyadh, and by 1906 his troops controlled almost all of Najd. He achieved the recognition of the state by the Turkish Sultan. Based on the Wahhabi doctrine, Ibn Saud continued the unification of the country under his rule, and by 1926 he was able to practically complete this process. The USSR was the first to establish normal diplomatic relations with the new state in February 1926. In 1927, Ibn Saud achieved recognition by Great Britain of the sovereignty of his state. In 1932 he gave the country the name Saudi Arabia. After that, the penetration of foreign, primarily American, capital into the country, connected with the exploration and development of oil, increased. After the death of ibn Saud in 1953, his son Saud ibn-Abdelaziz became king, who continued to strengthen the position of the country, taking into account the position of the League of Arab States on pan-Arab issues. In 1958, the need for a more modern policy led to the transfer of the powers of the prime minister to the king's brother Emir Faisal, who expanded the capitalist transformations in the economy. November 7, 1962 was passed a law abolishing slavery.

In August 1965, a 40-year dispute between Saudi Arabia and Jordan over the border was resolved. Since 1966, an agreement was signed with Kuwait on the division into equal parts of the neutral zone on the border of the two countries. Saudi Arabia has acknowledged Jordan's claim to the port city of Aqaba. In 1967 - 1st floor. 1970s Saudi Arabia took an active part in defending the interests of the Arab countries, began to provide large financial assistance to Egypt, Syria, Jordan. The increase in the role of the country was facilitated by the multiple expansion of oil production and export. In 1975, an agreement was signed with Iraq on the equal division of the neutral zone on the border between the countries.

In October 1973, Saudi Arabia imposed an oil embargo on the United States and the Netherlands. Since the 1970s the kingdom began to play an increasingly important role in OPEC. March 25, 1975 Faisal, who became king in November 1964, died in an assassination attempt. In 1975 - 82, Khaled was the king of SA, and Emir Fahd was the prime minister. With the active participation of Fahd, state building and economic modernization of the country began at an accelerated pace. Under the influence of the threat factor in the region from Iran and the Marxist regime in Yemen, Saudi Arabia initiated the strengthening of the armed forces of the monarchies of the Arabian Peninsula and encouraged the strengthening of the American military presence. The Kingdom took an active part in the liberation of Kuwait from Iraqi occupation in 1991. In March 2001, Saudi Arabia signed a final agreement with Qatar to settle the border dispute between the two countries and a demarcation line was drawn.

State structure and political system of Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is an absolute theocratic monarchy with a cabinet of ministers. Saudi Arabia is an Islamic state, the role of the Constitution of the country is performed by the Koran, which defines ethical values ​​and gives instructions. In 1992, the Basic Nizam on Power was adopted - an act regulating the system of government.

Administrative division of the country: 13 administrative regions (provinces, or emirates), within which 103 smaller territorial units have been allocated since 1994.

The largest cities: Riyadh, Jeddah (over 2 million people, with suburbs 3.2 million), Dammam (482 thousand people), Mecca (966 thousand people, with suburbs 1.33 million), Medina (608 thousand people) (2000 estimate).

Principles of public administration: the basis of the legislative system is Sharia - an Islamic code of laws based on the Koran and Sunnahs. The king and the council of ministers operate within the framework of Islamic law. Acts of state come into force by decrees of the king. In public administration, the principles of deliberation (shura), ensuring consensus, equality of all before the law, the source of which is Sharia norms, are applied.

The supreme body of legislative power is the king and the Advisory Council, appointed by the king for 4 years, consisting of 90 members from different strata of society. Council recommendations are submitted directly to the king.

The highest body of executive power is the Council of Ministers (appointed by the king). This body combines executive and legislative functions, develops proposals in the field of domestic and foreign policy.

The king is the head of state, the head of the highest body of legislative power, the head of the highest body of executive power.

The composition of the Advisory Council and the Council of Ministers is appointed by the King. The Advisory Board has a chairman and is half renewed in composition for a new term. The question of the possible introduction of an elected representative body is currently being worked out.

King Abdelaziz ibn Saud, who fought for the unification of the kingdom for 31 years and managed to achieve this by establishing an independent state, which he ruled until 1953, is considered, first of all, King Abdelaziz ibn Saud. He made a great contribution to the formation of statehood. King Fahd ibn Abdelaziz ibn Saud played an important role in the successful implementation of programs for the economic modernization of the country and the use of its potential. Even before accession to the throne, he was the first Minister of Education of the country, developed a plan for reforms in education, during his reign he ensured the constant development of a long-term program of economic reforms and the rise of the authority of Saudi Arabia in the international arena. On November 24, King Fahd assumed the title of "Keeper of the Two Holy Mosques" (the mosques of Mecca and Medina).

In the administrative units of the country, power is exercised by the emir of the province, whose appointment is approved by the king, taking into account the opinion of the inhabitants. Under the emir, there is a council with an advisory vote, including the heads of government agencies in the region and at least 10 citizens. The administrative divisions within the provinces are also headed by emirs, who are responsible to the provincial emir.

There are no political parties in Saudi Arabia. Among the leading organizations of the business community are the Saudi Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Riyadh (which unites the country's major entrepreneurs), several dozens of chambers of commerce in the country. The Supreme Economic Council has recently been established with the participation of representatives of the state and business circles.

The activities of trade unions are not provided for by law. Among other public organizations, the structures involved in the dissemination of Islamic values ​​are of great importance, primarily the League for the Promotion of Virtue and the Condemnation of Vice. There are more than 114 charitable organizations and more than 150 cooperatives operating in the country. The Saudi Red Crescent Organization has 139 branches throughout the country. Its activities are supported by the state. A system of cultural societies, literary and sports clubs, scout camps has been created. There are 30 sports federations. Clan, tribe, family are the traditional foundations of Saudi society. There are more than 100 tribes in the country, which in the recent past settled in cities in one quarter. They undergo certain changes under the influence of the modern way of life. A group of Muslim clerics and theologians is considered to be an influential social stratum. The strengthening of modern social strata continues: entrepreneurs, workers, intellectuals.

The domestic policy of Saudi Arabia is based on following the Islamic faith in all spheres of life, the government's concern for stability in the country and the well-being of its citizens, the comprehensive development of the education system, social services, and healthcare.

Foreign policy includes the following principles: Islamic and Arab solidarity, the country's desire to act from a peaceful position in resolving all regional and international conflicts, the active role of Saudi Arabia in international affairs, good neighborly relations with all countries, non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries.

The armed forces consist of the army and the National Guard. The paramilitaries include the forces of the Ministry of the Interior. In 1997, the armed forces of Saudi Arabia numbered 105.5 thousand people, incl. 70 thousand in the Ground Forces, 13.5 thousand in the Navy, 18 thousand in the Air Force and 4 thousand in the Air Defense Forces. The total strength of the National Guard was approx. 77 thousand people (1999). In service with the Air Force (in 2003) there are 294 combat aircraft, not counting transport aircraft, etc. The ground forces are equipped with French and American tanks (1055 units), armored personnel carriers, and Hawk missiles. The air defense troops are equipped with the Patriot and Krotal systems and interceptor fighters. The fleet has several dozen large ships and boats for various purposes, 400 boats are at the disposal of the Coast Guard.

Saudi Arabia has diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation (established with the USSR in February 1926. In April 1938 diplomatic relations were frozen. Restored at the level of ambassadors in September 1990).

Economy of Saudi Arabia

The economic development of modern Saudi Arabia is characterized by a high proportion of the oil industry, with a gradual expansion of production in related industries and a number of manufacturing industries.

Saudi Arabia's GDP, calculated at purchasing power parity, was $241 billion. GDP per capita $10,600 (2001). Real GDP growth 1.6% (2001). Share of Saudi Arabia in the world economy (share of GDP) at current prices approx. 0.4% (1998). The country produces almost 28% of the total GDP of the Arab countries. In 1997, Saudi Arabia provided 13.9% of world oil production and 2% of gas. Inflation 1.7% (2001).

Number of employed 7.18 million people (1999). Most of those employed in the economy, approx. 56% is represented by immigrants.

Sectoral structure of the economy in terms of contribution to GDP (2000): agriculture 7%, industry 48%, services 45%. The extractive industry in 2000 accounted for 37.1%, the manufacturing industry - approx. 10%, Structure of GDP by employment: services 63%, industry 25%, agriculture 12% (1999). According to 1999 data, the largest number of employed people is 2.217 million people. - was in the field of finance and real estate, 1.037 million people. - in trade, restaurant and hotel business, 1.020 million people. - in construction. The rest were employed in other sectors of the service sector and in industry, incl. OK. 600 thousand people - in processing.

Many of the well-known large Saudi companies have grown out of traditional family business groups. The industrialization of Saudi Arabia was carried out with the leading role of the state, so the economy is still dominated by companies and corporations with a high share of state capital, private capital is present in them on shares with state capital. There are companies with foreign capital participation. Saudi National Bank Al-Rajhi Banking and Investment Corporation grew in the 1970s and 80s. from the oldest money-changing office of the Al-Rajhi family, which owns 44% of the bank's shares. National Industrialization Co. and National Agricultural Development Co. are the first large companies in the country, respectively, industrial and agricultural development, created with a predominance of private capital. Saudi ARAMCO State Oil Company and PETROMIN State Holding Company for Oil and Mineral Resources, with its system of subsidiaries in various fields of the oil industry from oil production to the production of oils, gasoline, etc., includes 14 large companies and is the basis of the entire industry structure. Some of these companies have foreign equity participation (McDermott, Mobile Oil Investment). A similar structure exists in petrochemistry and heavy industry, the central place being occupied by the holding company SABIC (Saudi Basic Industries Corp.), established in 1976, 70% of whose capital is owned by the state. The role of private capital in this sector of the economy is higher. Among the large companies are "Kemya", "Sharq", "Ibn Sina", "Hadid", "Sadaf", "Yanpet". In other sectors of the economy, Arabian Cement Co. (cement production), Saudi Metal Industries (steel fittings), Az-Zamil Group (real estate, marketing), etc. There are various banks and insurance companies in the country.

The main industry is oil and gas, which provides the production of the most significant share of Saudi Arabia's GDP. It is controlled by the state through state authorized organizations and companies. To con. 1980s The government completed the buyout of all foreign shares in the oil company Saudi Aramco. In the 1960s and 70s. in the country there was a rapid increase in oil production: from 62 million tons in 1969 to 412 million in 1974. This coincided with the outbreak of the world energy crisis in 1973 after the Arab-Israeli war. In 1977, Saudi oil exports generated $36.5 billion in revenue. In the 1980s oil prices have declined, but the oil and gas industry continues to generate significant revenues (ca. 40 billion US dollars per year), amounting to ca. 90% of the country's income from exports. Oil development is carried out in state-owned fields. It is extracted from 30 major deposits and exported through a system of pipelines, oil storage facilities and ports on the coast of the country. In 2000, 441.4 million tons of oil and 49.8 million m3 of gas were produced. Saudi Arabia plays an important role in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). In 2001, the country's quota in OPEC production was more than 7.54 million barrels. oil per day.

In the field of gas utilization, the largest project was the construction in 1975-80 of a unified system for collecting and processing associated gas, through which gas is exported and supplied to petrochemical enterprises. Production volume - 17.2 million tons of liquefied gas (1998). In the field of oil refining, there are 5 largest oil refineries in Yanbu, Rabah, Jeddah, Riyadh and Ras Tannur. The latter processes more than 300 thousand tons. Most of the production is fuel oil and diesel fuel. The production of automobile and aviation gasoline, fuel for jet engines has been launched.

Large SABIC-controlled facilities located in the industrial centers of Al Jubail, Yanbu and Jeddah carry out petrochemical and metallurgical production. In 1990-96, the volume of production increased from 13 to 22.8 million tons. 12.3 million tons of petrochemical products, 4.2 million tons of fertilizers, 2.8 million tons of metals, 2.3 million tons of plastics were sold on the market. By 1997, the volume of SABIC production reached 23.7 million tons, and by 2000 it was planned to increase production capacity to 30 million tons. Among the petrochemical products are ethylene, urea, methanol, ammonia, polyethylene, ethylene glycol, etc.

The mining industry is underdeveloped. In the beginning. 1997 State-owned mining company established. Gold deposits are currently being developed northeast of Jeddah. In 1998, approx. 5 tons of gold, 13.84 tons of silver. Salt and gypsum are being developed.

From the beginning 1970s In Saudi Arabia, the building materials industry developed rapidly due to the construction boom. The basis of the industry is the production of cement, which increased from 9648 thousand tons in 1979 to 15 776 thousand in 1998. Glass production is developed.

The metallurgical industry is represented by the production of reinforcing steel, steel rod, and some types of shaped steel. Several enterprises have been built.

In 1977, the plant of the Saudi-German truck assembly company began to produce products. There is a small shipyard in Dammam that manufactures oil barges.

Important industries are seawater desalination and energy. The first desalination plant was built in Jeddah in 1970. Now water is supplied from the coast to the central cities. In 1970-95, the capacity of desalination plants increased from 5 to 512 million US gallons of water per year. Approx. 6000 cities and towns across the country. In 1998 electricity generation was 19,753 MW, in 1999 production capacity reached 23,438 MW. In the next two decades, an annual increase in electricity demand of 4.5% is expected. It will be necessary to increase its production to approx. 59,000 MW.

The light, food and pharmaceutical industries are developing rapidly. Light industry is mainly represented by handicraft-type enterprises. The country has more than 2.5 thousand enterprises for the production of food products, tobacco products, 3500 carpet, textile, clothing and footwear, more than 2474 woodworking, 170 printing houses. The government encourages the development of manufacturing enterprises with private capital. As a result of the issuance of licenses in the 1990s. the most priority were the creation of petrochemical and plastics production, metalworking and mechanical workshops, the production of paper products and printing products, food, ceramics, glass and building materials, textiles, clothing and leather products, woodworking.

The share of agriculture in the country's GDP in 1970 was only 1.3%. During 1970-93, the production of basic foodstuffs increased from 1.79 million to 7 million tons. Saudi Arabia is completely devoid of permanent watercourses. The lands suitable for cultivation occupy less than 2% of the territory. Despite this, agriculture in Saudi Arabia, subsidized by the government and using modern technology and machinery, has become a dynamic industry. Long-term hydrological surveys, begun in 1965, have identified significant water resources suitable for agricultural use. In addition to deep wells throughout the country, Saudi Arabia's agriculture and water industry uses more than 200 reservoirs with a total volume of 450 million m3. Only the agricultural project in Al-Khas, completed in 1977, made it possible to irrigate 12,000 hectares and provide employment for 50,000 people. Other major irrigation projects include the Wadi Jizan project on the Red Sea coast (8,000 ha) and the Abha project in the Asira Mountains to the southwest. In 1998, the government announced a new $294 million agricultural development project. 1990s increased to 3 million hectares, the country began to export food products, food imports decreased from 83 to 65%. According to the export of wheat SA in the 2nd half. 1990s ranked 6th in the world. More than 2 million tons of wheat, more than 2 million tons of vegetables are produced, approx. 580 thousand tons of fruits (1999). Barley, corn, millet, coffee, alfalfa and rice are also grown.

Animal husbandry is developing, represented by the breeding of camels, sheep, goats, donkeys and horses. An important industry is fishing and fish processing. In 1999, approx. 52 thousand tons of fish. Fish and shrimps are exported.

The length of railways is 1392 km, 724 km have two tracks (2001). In 2000, 853.8 thousand passengers and 1.8 million tons of cargo were transported by rail. Road transport has more than 5.1 million vehicles, of which 2.286 million are trucks. Length of roads - 146,524 km, incl. 44,104 km of paved roads. In the 1990s completed the construction of the Trans-Arabian Highway. Pipeline transport includes 6,400 km of pipelines for pumping oil, 150 km for pumping oil products and 2,200 km of gas pipelines, incl. for liquefied gas. Maritime transport has 274 vessels with a total gross tonnage of 1.41 million tons, of which 71 large vessels have a capacity of over 1000 tons. 1000 t, including 30 tankers (including for the transport of chemicals), cargo ships and refrigerators, there are also 9 passenger ships (2002). 90% of goods are delivered to the country by sea. The fleet transported 88.46 million tons of cargo in 1999. The largest ports are Jeddah, Yanbu, Jizan on the Red Sea coast, and a number of other ports are expanding. Dammam is the 2nd largest trading port and the country's largest port in the Persian Gulf. Another major port in the Gulf is Jubail. The largest oil port is Ras Tanura, through which up to 90% of oil is exported. There are 25 commercial airports in the kingdom. The largest international airports are King Abdelaziz in Jeddah (the halls can simultaneously accommodate 80 thousand pilgrims, cargo turnover is about 150 thousand tons per year), the airport. King Fahd in Dammam (12 million passengers per year), airports in Riyadh (15 million passengers per year) and Dhahran. Others are airports in Haile, Bisha and Badan. Saudi Arabia is the largest airline in the Middle East. In 1998, 11.8 million passengers were carried.

In Saudi Arabia, the communications system has 3.23 million fixed telephone lines and more than 2.52 million mobile phone users, approx. 570 thousand Internet users (2001). 117 TV channels are broadcast. The country is actively involved in the creation of a pan-Arab satellite communications. There are several national TV and radio channels and approx. 200 newspapers and other periodicals, incl. 13 daily.

Trade is a traditional area of ​​economic activity in Saudi Arabia. Imports are mainly industrial and consumer goods. To encourage national industry, a 20% duty is imposed on goods that compete with locally produced goods. The import of alcohol, drugs, weapons, and religious literature into the country is strictly regulated. Other sectors of the service sector are related to real estate, financial transactions, in which the activities of foreigners are limited.

Until recently, the development of tourism was mainly associated with the service of pilgrims coming to Mecca. Their annual number is approx. 1 million people In con. 1990s the decision was made to make foreign tourism the most important branch of the service sector. In 2000, approx. $14.4 billion. There were 200 hotels in the country.

Modern economic policy is characterized by the participation of the state in the main sectors of the economy and the limitation of the presence of foreign capital. However, with con. 1990s a course is being pursued to simultaneously expand the activity of national private capital, privatization, and stimulate foreign investment. The extraction of oil and gas remains in the hands of the state. Social policy includes the provision of social guarantees for the population, support and subsidies for youth and families. At the current stage, this is combined with the stimulation of training and retraining of national personnel for work in industry and the private sector of the economy.

The country's monetary system is characterized by the provision of the national currency with the help of foreign exchange earnings from oil exports, a liberal currency regime. The Monetary Agency controls the circulation of money and the banking system. The independent activity of foreign bank capital is not allowed until now. In a number of joint banks with foreign capital, the controlling stake is national. There are 11 commercial banks and special development banks, as well as funds for financial assistance to Arab countries. Banks operate according to the Islamic system, do not charge or pay a fixed percentage.

The state budget of the country is formed by 75% at the expense of oil export revenues. Taxes to con. 1990s were absent, except for the religious one. In 1995, indirect taxes were estimated at 1,300 million Saudi. rials (less than 0.3% of GDP). A corporate income tax and personal income tax are currently being introduced. The introduction of a value added tax, etc. is being considered. The largest budget expenditure items are: defense and security - 36.7%, human resource development - 24.6%, public administration - 17.4%, health care - approx. 9% (2001). Budget revenues 42 billion US dollars, expenditures - 54 billion (2002). There is significant domestic debt. External debt is estimated at $23.8 billion (2001). Gross investment - 16.3% of GDP (2000).

The standard of living of the population of the country is relatively high. Average wage in industry $7,863.43 per year (2000).

The country's trade balance is active. The value of exports is 66.9 billion US dollars, imports are 29.7 billion US dollars. The main export item is oil and oil products (90%). Main export partners: USA (17.4%), Japan (17.3%), South Korea (11.7%), Singapore (5.3%), India. Machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, automobiles, textiles are imported. Main import partners: USA (21.1%), Japan (9.45%), Germany (7.4%), UK (7.3%) (2000).

Science and culture of Saudi Arabia

Great attention is paid to education. In con. 1990s education expenses - St. 18% of the budget, the number of schools at all levels exceeded 21,000. In 1999/2000, the number of students in all forms of education was approx. 4.4 million people, and teachers - more than 350 thousand. Education for girls is managed by a special supervisory board, they were approx. 46% of students in ser. 1990s Education is free and open to all citizens, although not compulsory. The university system includes the Islamic University of Medina, the University of Petroleum and Mineral Resources. King Fahd in Dhahran, University. King Abdelaziz in Jeddah, University. King Faisal (having branches in Dammam and El Hofuf), University. Imam Mohammed ibn Saud in Riyadh, Umm el-Kura University in Mecca and the University. King Saud in Riyadh. There are also 83 institutes. A special department is in charge of schools for sick children. In the scientific and technical town. King Abdelaziz conducted research in the field of geodesy, energy, ecology.

Saudi Arabia is a country with ancient cultural traditions. Many architectural monuments embody Arabic and Islamic fine arts. These are old castles, forts and other monuments in all parts of the country. Among the 12 main museums are the National Museum of Archeology and Folk Heritage, the Al-Masmak Fort Museum in Riyadh. The Saudi Society for Culture and the Arts, with chapters in many cities, organizes art exhibitions and festivals. The art center near Abha hosts exhibitions of local and regional artisans, a library and a theatre. The system of literary clubs and libraries is widely developed. Saudi literature is represented by a wide range of ancient and modern works, poetry (odes, satire and lyrics, religious and social themes) and prose (short story), journalism. Interesting creative festivals. The National Cultural Heritage Festival in Jenadriya, north of Riyadh, brings together local and foreign scholars in the humanities, it involves representatives from all regions of the country, it covers fine arts, folk dances, painting, literature, poetry. The famous camel races are held.

The cultural life is influenced by the Islamic religion. The state has established 210 Islamic cultural centers around the world to explain Islamic culture. Local customs include restraint of behavior, one should not talk to women, except for service personnel. Muslims pray 5 times a day, take off their shoes at the entrance to the mosque. Non-Muslims are prohibited from entering the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

Saudi Arabia is located on the Arabian Peninsula in Southwest Asia. The country borders on Oman, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Yemen, Jordan, Iraq. It is washed by the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea. The capital is Riyadh.

population of saudi arabia

The majority of the population are Arabs. A high percentage of the country's inhabitants lead a nomadic or semi-nomadic lifestyle. As of 2009, there were 26 million 535 thousand inhabitants in the country.

Nature

The vegetation of Saudi Arabia is mostly semi-desert and desert. Camel thorn and saxaul grow on sandy areas. The date palm and myrrh tree grow in the oases. Representatives of the fauna here are much more numerous than in the desert. Of the animals you can meet the fox, hyena, jackal, wolf, hyrax, antelope, gazelle. The flora and fauna of the country is replete with poisonous plants and insects, so the tourist must follow the recommendations of the guide.

The main relief of the country is a plateau. The Hijaz and Asir ranges are a natural barrier between the Tihama desert and the central plateau of Nejd. The highest point in the mountains is 2580 m above sea level.

Climatic conditions of Saudi Arabia

The climate in the country is dry and hot, transitional between subtropical and tropical. In the interior, where the climate is the mildest, the average temperature in July is +30°C, in January +10°C. In the north of the country, temperatures can even drop to -10°C.

Language

The official language is Arabic.

Kitchen

The cuisine of Saudi Arabia was influenced by the climatic and religious features of the region. The most typical products for the culinary traditions of the state are bread, rice, dates and lamb. Widespread white bread in the form of cakes. From hot drinks, the inhabitants of the country prefer coffee and hirsh-broth from coffee husks, brewed according to a special recipe.

Currency

The official currency is the Saudi rial.

Time

Time in Saudi Arabia is not very different from Moscow: ahead of 30 minutes.

Religion

The only religion in the country is Islam.

Holidays in Saudi Arabia

All Muslim religious dates are celebrated here. The end of Ramadan and the day of sacrifice are especially significant. September 23 is a public holiday. On this day in 1932, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was proclaimed. An important event in the life of the whole of Saudi Arabia, and of every Muslim, is the Hajj and Umrah - the pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina. Hajj gathers millions of Muslims in the country.

Resorts

The most intensively developing resort in the country is Half Moon Bay, famous for its extensive beaches. Surrounded by majestic mountains, immersed in greenery and abounding in picturesque views, the resort receives several tens of thousands of vacationers a year. The coral reefs of the Red Sea attract a huge number of divers and fans of eco-tourism to the coast. The most popular coastal resorts are Gida and Obir.

Landmarks of Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is home to Mecca and Medina, the holy cities of Islam. Mecca lies on the spurs of the El Sarawat mountains in the west of the country. It was here, according to the Koran, in 570, the Prophet Muhammad, the legendary founder of Islam, was born. According to Sharia law, at least once in a lifetime, everyone who considers himself a devout Muslim should visit here. Pilgrimage - hajj - is considered the fifth pillar of Islam. In the middle of Mecca is al-Masjid al-Haram, a great mosque that can accommodate over 700,000 people. Inside the mosque is a huge square and the Kaaba temple. Opposite the entrance to the shrine is the sacred stone Maqam-Ibrahim, on which the footprint of Ibrahim is imprinted.

Medina is the second holy city to be the first to adopt Islam. In the center of the city is the main shrine - the Masjid an-Nabi mosque with the sacred tomb of the prophet. Here is the first religious building of Muslims - the Al-Kuba Mosque. Only pilgrims who profess Islam are allowed to enter the territory of both holy cities.

Saudi Arabia is one of the most closed and at the same time the most visited states in the world. It is located on the Arabian Peninsula, where it is washed by the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea. Until recently, a predominantly religious pilgrimage has developed in the kingdom, but in recent years, active work has been carried out to introduce tourist visas.

General information about Saudi Arabia

This country surprisingly combines highly developed technologies and Islamic ones. It is Islam that is the official religion of Saudi Arabia and has a direct impact on all aspects of its life. Even the constitution of the country was written in strict accordance with the sunnahs of the scripture. By the way, the constitution also states that the official language of Saudi Arabia is Arabic.

The area of ​​Saudi Arabia is more than 2 million square meters. km. Thanks to this, it is included in the top 20 largest countries in the world. Despite such territory, its population density is relatively low. So, as of 2017, the population of Saudi Arabia is just over 33 million people. Of these, 55.2% are men and 44.8% are women.

The official currency of Saudi Arabia is the Saudi riyal, or riyal. The current king is depicted on the banknotes.

The ISO code for Saudi Arabia is SA. This means that the country is a member of the UN organization and its specialized agencies.

Geolocation

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the largest state on the Arabian Peninsula, occupying 80% of its territory. On the rest, Yemen, Iraq and Syria are located.

Due to the fact that the country occupies a border position between Africa and Eurasia, many still have difficulty determining its location. Some tourists find it difficult to answer the question of where Saudi Arabia is located on the world map. Turning the globe, you can see that the kingdom is located neatly between two continents. For those who do not know which continent Saudi Arabia is located on, it will be interesting to know that this is Eurasia. The country occupies a border position between Africa and continental Asia.

Climate and nature of Saudi Arabia

The country is located about 2000 km from the equator, but, nevertheless, its influence is very noticeable here. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is characterized by both tropical, subtropical and sharply continental climate. The average air temperature in July is +38°C, and in January - +22°C.

The boundary geographic position of Saudi Arabia and proximity to the equator have led to the fact that there are many deserts on its territory, which are united in one name - the Great Deserts. Seasonal winds (simum, khamsin, shemal) and sandstorms dominate here. The average annual rainfall is 70-100 mm.

Many travelers are interested in how many rivers there are in Saudi Arabia. There are no permanent sources in the country. Rivers form after heavy rains and dry up after a while.

State system and symbols of Saudi Arabia

The kingdom is known not only for Muslim shrines. Until 1928, there was a tomb in Saudi Arabia, in which the first woman on Earth was supposedly buried. Religious authorities destroyed and concreted the burial. In 2015, the Ark of Gabriel was found in Saudi Arabia. When trying to dig it, 4,000 people died. Some blame this on plasma emission, others on crush.

Saudi Arabia Hotels

Until recently, the entire tourism industry of the country was aimed at serving religious pilgrims. It was on them that everyone and were oriented. Despite the narrow target audience, the country has a wide variety of options for living. The most famous hotels are:

• Radisson Blu in Riyadh;
• Raffles Makkah Palace in Mecca;
• Crowne Plaza in Jeddah;
• Mövenpick Hotel in Medina.

More or less secular conditions can be expected in Jeddah. This city of Saudi Arabia has excellent conditions for a holiday on the Red Sea. The level of service here meets all European standards.

In order to develop the tourism sector in Saudi Arabia, the world's tallest hotel, The Abraj Kudai, will soon open. It will consist of twelve 45-story towers with 10,000 rooms, 70 restaurants and 5 helipads.

Restaurants and Cuisine of Saudi Arabia

The culinary traditions of the kingdom developed under the influence of natural and climatic conditions and the customs of Islam. For the most part, the cuisine of Saudi Arabia is similar to the cuisines of other countries in the Middle East. Her recipes are based on the use of lamb and chicken, rice and a huge amount of seasonings. Pork is not eaten in the country, and all other types of meat are prepared in strict accordance with Halal. A big role in local feasts is given to tea, coffee and various sweets.

You can appreciate the color and variety in the best restaurants:

• The Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh;
• Pullman Zamzam in Mecca;
• Le Méridien in the Medina;
• Belajio in Jeddah.

In accordance with the laws of Saudi Arabia, drinking alcohol is prohibited here.

Public life

The Kingdom has 25% of the world's oil reserves, therefore it is one of the largest exporters of raw materials on the world stage. This significantly affects the standard of living in Saudi Arabia. VAT here is only 5%, and any local resident can take an absolutely interest-free loan. But the market system is deprived of a large part of the working population - women. In general, the rights of the fairer sex, or rather their absence, still excites the inhabitants of the Western world. The head of state of Saudi Arabia determines how the inhabitants of the country should look. For a long time they had to wear a black abaya, covering from the eyes of unfamiliar men, and only in March 2018 this requirement was left in the past.

The country has a low crime rate. According to the customs of Saudi Arabia, public order is maintained by representatives of the Sharia police. However, since 2016, her rights have been significantly curtailed.

The culture of Saudi Arabia has developed and continues to develop in accordance with the traditions of Islam. It is forbidden to build Christian churches, Jewish synagogues and Buddhist temples. Five times a day, a devout Muslim is obliged to perform the prayer to which the muezzin calls.

Transport Saudi Arabia

The country is one of the world's largest oil suppliers, which has affected all sectors of its industry. Saudi Arabia is characterized by a high level of automotive development. The total length of all its roads is almost 222,000 km.

There are 208 in total in Saudi Arabia. Six of them have international status. These are the airports:

• King Fahd in Em Dammam;
• King Abdulaziz in Jeddah;
• King Khalid in Riyadh;
• Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz in Medina;
• Al Asa in Al Hofuf;
• Prince Abdul Mohsin bin Abdulaziz in Yanbu.

The length of the railways of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is several hundred kilometers. A 440 km branch line is currently under construction, which will connect Mecca and Medina. Public transport in the country is underdeveloped. Inside the cities of Saudi Arabia, it is easier to travel by taxi.

How to get to Saudi Arabia?

Until now, the country's air gates have been open only for charter flights with pilgrims. They are carried out by Royal Jordanian and Qatar Airways, whose planes fly three times a week. In addition, many airlines in the world (Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, Alitalia, KLM, Air Canada) send regular flights here, and from 2018 it will be possible to fly to Saudi Arabia from Russia.

From Egypt, Sudan, Iran and Eritrea, you can get to the economic capital of Saudi Arabia, Jeddah, by ferry. They depart from Suez, Port Sudan, Em Dammam and Massawa.

With all neighboring states, except Iraq, Saudi Arabia is connected by regular bus service. Approximately 5-7 buses per day come from Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait. Minibuses from Oman and Jordan also travel through the UAE.

Citizens of Russia and the CIS countries need to enter Saudi Arabia. You can enter the country on a guest, transit, student, work, business and tourist visa. There are also such types of visas as pilgrimage (for Hajj or Omra) and for permanent residence.