views of the emirate
frequently asked questions you are here sightseeing email How is our country ruled? visit other nations on Scandia

Country Info

email or print this page

Background:
The Saraphian Emirate awoke out of her isolationist 'sleep' in the year 1503 to find itself hopelessly backward and outdated. The country missed the Industrial Revolution, the rise of democracy and the start of the information and technology era. The government is trying to catch up, but the Saraphian Emirate remains a developing nation.

The end of isolationism meant the emergence of the SE as Scandia�s 2nd biggest oil producer and exporter and brought economic growth in vital, technology-related sectors, however, the governments' unbalanced policies has made it many enemies in Saraphian society, ranging from conservative clergy to communist action groups. These are becoming increasingly stronger, because the majority of the people live in poverty and have never benefited from oil revenues and economic growth. The big challenge for the Emirate is not to fall apart and disintegrate under the inevitable straints caused by the end of isolationism and the introduction of international market economy.

Geography:

Location: Kanan-Mori continent, bordering the Posdosan and Thalyntarian Ocean, between Fixatia and Mori.
Territory: around 2,560,000 km2
Coastal line: approx. 6,000 km

Maritime claims:

  • contiguous zone: 24 nm
  • exclusive economic zone: No international agreements
  • territorial sea: 12 nm

    Climate: harsh and dry with great extremes of temperature
    Terrain: Mostly uninhabited, sandy desert with mountain rim in the north and in the centre; Fertile plains alongside the two main rivers, fertile river delta in the west.

    Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, copper, lead, bauxite, zinc and sulfur.
    Natural hazards: periodic droughts; dust storms, sandstorms

    Enviroment - current issues: air pollution, especially in urban areas, from vehicle emissions, refinery operations, and industrial effluents; deforastation; overgrazing; desertification; oil pollution in the Posdosan Ocean; inadequate supplies of potable water
    Enviroment - international agreements: No agreements

    		•

    People

    Population: 51,378,000 (1506)

    Age structure:

  • 0-14 years: 34%
  • 15-64 years: 61%
  • 65 years and over: 5%

    population growth: 2.5%

    Birth rate: 18.29 births / 1,000 population
    Death rate: 5.45 births / 1,000 population

    Sex ratio: 1.03 males / females

    Infant mortality rate: 30.02 deaths / 1,000 births

    Life expectancy at birth:

  • total population: 69.66 years
  • male: 68.34 years
  • female: 71.05 years

    Total fertility rate: 2.2 children born / woman

    Nationality:

  • noun: Saraphian(s)
  • adjective: Saraphian

    Ethnic groups: Dhamari 30%, Shirazi 20%, Taqahri 15%, Zadiyanhi 15%, other 20%

    Religion: Mounist 80%, others 20%

    Languages:Saraphian 95%, others 5%

    National anthem: Awaken thee, Saraphia! listen here

    Literacy:

  • definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  • total population: 70.0%
  • male: 79.0%
  • female: 58.5%

    Country name:

  • conventional long form: Saraphian Emirate of Dhamar and Shiraz
  • conventional short form: Saraphian Emirate
  • local long form: El Emirat Al Dhamar al Shiraz
  • local short form: El Emirat

    Data code: SE (or DS)

    		•

    Government

    Government type: Absolute monarchy

    Capital: Al-Dhamar (12,000,000 citizens in 1505)

    National holiday: Birthday of HRM the Emir

    Legal system: The (unwritten) constitution codifies a mixture of Saraphian feudal principles and Mounist religious principles of government

    Suffrage: 15 years of age; universal

    Executive branch:

  • Chief of state: HRM Abdallah Imre Husseini III, Emir of Al-Dhamar and Shiraz, Prince of the Komi-desert, Chief of the House of Dhamar, Defender of the Faith
  • head of government: Prime minister, HRH Quiboos Hassan, Prince of Al-Dhamar from the House of Dhamar (Nephew to HRM the Emir) Appointed PM in 1505.
  • Cabinet: Council of ministers selected by the PM and HRM the Emir.
  • Elections: No elections

    Legislative branch:
    Unicameral Sheikhs Consultative Assembly (Sha'ri-ye-Mouni)of 14 seats; Members are heads of all 12 Sheikhdoms, HRM the Emir and the PM.

    Judicial branch:
    Completely under control of the senior clergy and the royal family

    Political parties: There are no political parties

    Political pressure groups:

  • Democratic League: Intellectual, middle class and leftist student groups who support a Mounist-type democarcy.
  • Mounist Fundamentalist Movement: Militant, fundamentalist organisation dominated by conservative clergy, supported by the poor. The movement wants to bring about the second coming of Moun by introducing Moun's divine state on Scandia.
  • Union of unionists: Movement that wishes to abolish class society and promote solidarity and socialism. Not very popular after the Luban and Especias wars.

    		•
    International organisations: WEO

    Home | Top

    � Copyright 1503 by the Government of the Saraphian Emirate. Revised December 1506.

    Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

    1