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General Info

A vast land, largely desert but with mountains, seasonal rivers, oases of date palms that haven't changed in centuries and steel and glass cities whose horizons transform daily, a history going back to the dawn of time … Saudi Arabia is an extraordinary country.

The Kingdom covers 80% of the Arabian Peninsula.  Its Red Sea coast stretches for 1800km from the border of Yemen in the South, to Jordan in the North and is the dream destination for keen SCUBA divers for its extensive stretches of coral reef.  The northern frontier with Iraq and Kuwait leads to the East Coast, looking out onto the calm waters of the Arabian Gulf for some 600km and then the southern border shared with Qatar, the UAE and Oman.

The country's population is estimated at 21.5m, with some 6m non-nationals, split rather unevenly between 6000 cities, towns and villages.  Three-quarters of the inhabitants live in the urban areas of Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah, Madinah, Yanbu, Jubail, Al-Khobar, Dammam and Dhahran.  Riyadh, now 1600km2 and home to 3.5m people, was designated the capital by Abdul Aziz in 1932 but it was not until the 1970s that it took up its position properly, when the embassies and ministries relocated their headquarters from Jeddah.  Al-Khobar, Dammam and Dhahran in the Eastern Province are relatively modest communities, considering the Eastern Province can lay claim to the first oil discovered in Saudi Arabia in the 1930s.  Jubail on the East Coast and Yanbu on the West are a unique development of twin industrial cities primarily involved in the petrochemical industry.  Makkah and Madinah, both in the Western Province, are Islam's holiest cities.  The Kaaba, to which all Muslims turn when they pray, is situated within the Grand Mosque at Makkah and the Prophet Mohammad's (PBUH) final resting place is in the Prophet's Mosque some 450km north, in Madinah.

Jeddah is the second largest city in the Kingdom with a population of 2.5m people.  Beginning as a humble trading and fishing village, evolving into a port that served the pilgrim trade to Madinah and Makkah, Jeddah is one of the Middle East's most important commercial centres, a lively and prosperous city.  It is still the arrival point for over 2 million pilgrims from overseas each year.   

One of the most politically stable and prosperous countries in the world today, its people enjoy an enviable standard of living as a result of a series of successful five year development plans, implemented to harness the runaway economic growth brought with the discovery of oil in the 1930s.  The country's investment in its infrastructure of roads, power and water supply, education, hospitals, housing and aviation are a testament to the forethought given to ensure the country continues to thrive.

Saudi society has also undergone a great change and is still evolving.  New occupations and new classes have been formed.  Urbanisation, modernisation, the customs of foreign peoples, higher education - these have all introduced challenges to the Saudi people that a half century ago did not exist.  The consistency of Islam allows for all this change - faith is never questioned and conduct remains subject to the same rules as ever before.

Area:                Saudi Arabia covers nearly 2.25m2. Jeddah was a settlement of just 1km2 for approximately 2500 years, but since it first expanded beyond its coral boundary wall in 1947, the city has grown to cover 560km2. The Corniche, its developed Red Sea coastline, extends 80kms from North to South.  

Population:        Saudi Arabia's population is estimated to be 21.5 million, with some 6 million non-nationals.  In just half a century, Jeddah's population has grown from 30,000 to over 2m - between 1974 and 1980 the population doubled.  Nearly 50% of Saudi Arabian nationals are under 20!  (Source: Saudinf.com)

Religion:            Islam is the official religion of Saudi Arabia, which also forms the basis of the country's legal system, called Sharia, as set down by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Government:            Saudi Arabia is a Monarchy and the head of state is Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud.  Born in 1921, he became King on 13 June 1982  (1402H).  The first Deputy Premier and Head of the National Guard is His Royal Highness Crown Prince Abdulla bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud.  His Royal Highness Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud is the second Deputy Premier, Minister of Defence, Aviation and the Inspector General.

Language:            Arabic is the main spoken and written word and is the language used in all official departments. English is widely used in business however, and can be seen on road signs and advertisements.

Climate:            Saudi Arabia has local variations in climate due to its size. The Kingdom's Red Sea coast has a sub-equatorial climate.  The summer is hot and humid with temperatures between 40-48C and humidity as much as 95%.  In the central region, summer temperatures can average 45C with the winter dry and cool, with near-freezing night time temperatures.  The eastern region has high humidity, with temperatures slightly higher than the west coast.  Rainfall is light and occurs primarily during the winter season.

Time:               The Kingdom is within one time zone, three hours ahead of GMT.  Prayer times across the country vary however, due to the difference in timing of sunrise and sunset.  

Currency:            The Saudi Arabian monetary unit is the Riyal, made up of 100 Halalas.  Notes are in 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 denominations.  The Riyal is pegged to the US Dollar and so fluctuates against other currencies in line with the Dollar movements.  Since 1986, the rate has been fixed at US$1=SR3.75.  

Banking:            There are 10 licensed commercial banks, which are under the supervision of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA).  Each of these banks has hundreds of branches throughout the Kingdom, all connected to the Saudi Payment Network (SPAN) with over 2000 ATM machines and nearly 17,000 Point of Sales Terminals.  Major credit cards are acceptable in most shopping malls and department stores.  Money changers also operate throughout the Kingdom, dealing in foreign currencies and many offer banking facilities.  There is no restriction on converting the Riyal. (Source: Saudi Arabian Monetary Association - SAMA)  

Calendar:            The official calendar is the Hijra, which marks the year the Prophet Muhammed (Peace Be Upon Him), the messenger of Allah, migrated from Makkah to Madinah, acknowledged to be 16 July 682AD in the Gregorian calendar.  Based on the lunar year, the Hijra year is shorter than the Gregorian by about 11 days.  Business is generally conducted in both calendars but particular attention should be paid to the movement of the two religious holidays, as they will not be on the same Gregorian dates each year.  

Holidays:            There are two official holidays.  Eid Al-Fitr celebrates the end of the holy month of Ramadan and is the longer of the two.  It starts with a large prayer gathering and then visits to relatives and friends.  Presents are usually given to children and close family.  Eid Al-Adha, celebrates the annual pilgrimage to Makkah.  National Day on 23 September, although not an official holiday, can have a festive atmosphere.  

Working Hours:            Government offices are open from 0730 until 1430 and banks from 0800 until noon and 1600-1830, Saturday to Wednesday.  Companies operate either one shift from 0800 until 1730, or two shifts from 0800 until noon and then 1600 until 2000 Saturday to Thursday.  Shops and souqs tend to open in two shifts from 1000 until 1230 and then 1700 until 2200 Saturday to Thursday and then on Friday evenings only.  All establishments close for prayer at published times throughout the day.  Ramadan hours differ enormously - Government offices generally open from 1000 until 1500, banks from 0830 to 1200 and an evening opening, and shops from 1400-1700 and then 2100 until the early hours of the morning.  If in doubt, telephone any business you plan to visit beforehand.

Culture:            The region that is now Saudi Arabia has been the centre of a cultural crossroads through the ages.  Successfully preserving and strengthening this rich heritage, while accomplishing the impressive development and modernization of the past half century, is proof of the endurance of the nation's culture and the determination to cherish and protect it.  

The Saudi Arabian Society for Culture & Arts, established in 1972 with headquarters in Riyadh, encourages Saudi arts and culture of all kinds and offers the opportunity for gifted young Saudis to exhibit their work at home and abroad.  It represents the Kingdom at all Middle Eastern and International festivals.  

Sports:             Traditional sports such as falconry, horse riding and camel racing are still popular today.  Saudis have also taken up a wide variety of international sporting activities from archery and cycling to basketball and football.  They can train in the impressive sports centres, equipped to the highest international standards, that are now a feature in every major city.  With physical education a key part of the school curriculum and with numerous stadiums, neighbourhood recreational facilities and over 150 sports clubs throughout the Kingdom, active participation is encouraged and available to all.  

Health:             The standard of medical services in Saudi Arabia is very high.  There are excellent medical facilities with specialists in all fields available throughout the Kingdom.  By 1998 there were over 300 general and specialised hospitals and clinics providing 44,500 beds, staffed by 134,300 doctors, nurses and support staff 30,821 doctors, 64,790 nurses and 38,700 support staff.  Most medication can be easily purchased over the counter in any pharmacy, but occasionally prescriptions with generic names are needed, as the brand names available in the Kingdom may differ from elsewhere. (Source: Statistical Year Book 1998)  

Education:            Although there is a private educational sector, the majority of children are schooled through the state system.  All of Saudi Arabia's five year plans have had and continue to have provision for improving and enlarging the education system, providing access for male and female students of all ages.  There are currently 22,678 schools and colleges, including seven universities, with 4,600,000 pupils. A successful programme to eliminate illiteracy in adults is currently operating through 3153 schools and centres - between 1992 and 1999 illiteracy amongst Saudis dropped from 28.4% to 20.4%.  There are also a number of international schools in the major cities, to educate the children of the expatriate community.   (Source: Statistical Year Book 1998 and Saudinf.com)  

Media: There are ten daily newspapers: Seven Arabic - Al Bilad, Al Jazirah, Al Madinah al Munawara, An Nadwah, Okaz, Al Riyadh and Al Yaum; and three English language newspapers - Arab News, Saudi Gazette and Riyadh Daily. There is one radio station that broadcasts in Arabic and two terrestrial television channels, one in English with a French news bulletin and the other in Arabic.  The listings for the satellite channels are published daily in the Arab News.   

Immigration:            All visitors to Saudi Arabia require a valid passport with more than six months validity.  GCC citizens do not require visas for entry into the Kingdom but all other visitors require either a transit, visit or residence visa.  See below and/or Visa Info  

Visas:               A transit visa covers 3 days and is only issued if it can be proved that you could not get to your destination without travelling through Saudi Arabia. 

For business purposes, a visit visa is therefore mandatory.  All prospective visitors should obtain a letter of invitation from the company or individual Saudi sponsor.  This invitation letter is an acknowledgement that a visa has been obtained on the visitor's behalf and that authorisation to issue this visa has been sent to the Saudi embassy in the visitor's home country.  Passports submitted in the morning, with the relevant visa number can usually be collected the same afternoon, but check this directly with the embassy.  

The process to obtain a Resident's Visa is covered in the Visa Guide.  

Air Transport:            The Kingdom is served by three main airports - King Abdul Aziz International in Jeddah with its phenomenal exercise in engineering, the Haj Terminal, King Khalid International in Riyadh and the new King Fahd International near Dammam in the Eastern Province.  Saudi Arabian Airlines, the national carrier, operates a comprehensive timetable of domestic flights to 25 airports in the Kingdom as well as to and from 53 international destinations.  International airlines also operate out of the three international airports.  (Source: Saudi Arabian Airlines)  

Roads:             The towns and cities are well-connected by a 162,000km network of roads.  The Western visitor will be surprised at how even a minor road is still a dual carriageway.  

Buses:              The Saudi Arabian Public Transport Company (SAPTCO) runs a fleet of modern, air-conditioned buses with routes to all the major cities and towns.  

Railways:            Although the only railway near to Jeddah is the long-since gone Hejaz Railway the railway between Riyadh and Dammam has two daily departures from Riyadh to Dammam and vice versa (check for timings on Thursdays and Friday).  For information in Riyadh telephone 01 448 0131 or in Dammam 03 827 4000.  

Driving:            It is said that the driving standards get more flamboyant the further west you travel in the country.  Wits are definitely to be kept about you when driving in Jeddah, particularly at roundabouts!  The wearing of seatbelts is law and it is strongly advised that children be properly restrained.  It has been noted that the police are now equipped with speed-detection devices and the penalty for exceeding the limit is usually 24 hours in a traffic jail - you have been warned!  

Hire Cars:            All the worldwide chains, as well as independents, have cars available for hire at, surprisingly, much more reasonable prices than in many other cities around the world.  If you carry a western driving license then this will likely be sufficient.  Licenses from GCC countries are also accepted from GCC nationals, as long as you can show you live in the country that issued the license.  Holders of licenses from other countries are advised to present an International Driving Permit.  A list of firms can be found in the White Pages at the back of this book.  

Taxis:               Taxis (known as limousines) are white with a yellow and black logo and are widely available.  Check that they have a meter (that works) before you get in to avoid possible argument at your destination!  From the airport however, there is a flat rate of SR40 (subject to change of course).  

Customs:            No custom duties are levied on personal items brought by individuals arriving in the Kingdom.  The import of anything containing alcohol or pork is forbidden as is any form of narcotic.  Prescription drugs should have the relevant documentation.  Care should be taken to avoid importing literature of any form that could offend the local sensibilities.  

Agriculture:            The vibrant agriculture sector has grown 8.7 percent a year since 1970 and accounts for over 9.4 percent of gross domestic product. In recent years, Saudi Arabia has become self-sufficient in most basic foods and has begun to export wheat, dates, vegetables, eggs, fish and poultry as well as dairy products to markets around the world. In 1996, agricultural products were valued at over $4 billion. In 1997 the Kingdom harvested 2.3m tons of cereal (including 1.8m tons of wheat), 2.6m tons of vegetables and 1.1 tons of fruit, including 140,000 tons of grapes and 87,500 tons of citrus fruits. The area of cultivated land in the Kingdom increased from 600,000 hectares in 1980 to 2.9m hectares in 1999, with 1.3m hectares producing crops (435 hectares under irrigation).  

The Kingdom's livestock programme continues to be successful: In 1997 there were 263,000 head of cattle, 11,886,000 sheep and goats; 426,000 camels and 395m chickens.  The fish catch was 1.3m tons and the output of dairy products included an astonishing 510m litres of milk and 2.39 billion eggs. (Source: Statistical Year Book 1998)

Electricity:            The Kingdom produces its electricity from diesel and natural gas, supplying reliably to industrial, commercial, and domestic consumers.  Both 110V and 220V AC is available in most houses and 380V AC is used by the industrial sector.  

World Role:            Saudi Arabia is a founding member of the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC).  It is also a member of the United Nations, League of Arab States, Organisation of the Islamic Conference, the Organisation of Arab Exporting Countries, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and numerous other international organisations.  The Kingdom is a substantial contributor to the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund and a major provider of aid to developing countries.  Something of which all Saudis can be justifiably proud is the Kingdom's ratio of development assistance to Gross National Product (GNP) being the highest in the world, averaging 5.5% - Saudi Arabia ranks second after the US in overall assistance.  (Source: World Factbook 1999)

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