Saudi Arabia

Area 2,240,000 sq.km. The main portion of the Arabian Peninsula; almost entirely desert but containing 25% of the world's known oil reserves.

           Population     Ann. Gr.    Density
1990    14,131,000    4.0 %    6/sq. km

1995    17,118,000    3.9 %    8/sq. km

In 1974, 27% of the population was nomadic; this percentage is dropping rapidly through settlement plans and industrialization.

Peoples (figures approximate):
Indigenous 75%. Arab 10,240,000; Shahara 28,000; Mahra 14,000.
Foreigners 25%.
Arab 16%. Yemeni 500,000 (1 million expelled in 1990); Egyptian, Jordanian, Lebanese, etc. 800,000.
Asian 7%. Pakistani 382,000; Filipino 132,000; Indian 120,000; Iranian 102,000; Korean 66,000; Chinese 58,000; Indonesian 37,000; Bangladeshi 15,000.
African 1.4%. Nigerian, Sudanese, Somali, etc.
Western 0.6%. American, British, Italian, French, etc.

Literacy 38%. Official language: Arabic. Indigenous languages 4. Languages with Scriptures 1Bi 1NT 1por.

Capital: Riyadh 1,308,000. Other cities: Jiddah 1,600,000; Mecca 550,000. Urbanization 77%.

Economy:

Oil wealth is used to improve services and communications, develop industries and finance Islamic expansion around the world. The combined effects of profligate spending, spectacular corruption of the large royal family and the heavy cost of the Gulf War (at least US$50 billion) have enforced a measure of austerity since 1990. Public debt/person $131. Income/person $6,230 (28% of USA).

Politics:

Absolute monarchy and a semi-feudal state with administration, diplomacy and commerce tightly controlled by the large royal family. Since the Gulf War there has been pressure from democrats to liberalize the country and from fundamentalists to exert more control, resulting in some changes.

Religion:

An Islamic state committed to the preservation of traditional Islam. All other religions are prohibited. Expatriate Christian gatherings are not allowed. All non-Muslim figures are estimates.
Muslim 93.4%. Sunni 79% mainly of the strict Wahhabi sect; Shi'a 13.4% mainly Arabs on Gulf coast and Iranians; Ismaili 1%.
Non-religious/other 1.4%. Westerners, Chinese.
Hindu 0.7%. Buddhist 0.5%. Migrant Asians.
Christian 4%. Affiliated 3.2%. The estimated 580,000 Christians can meet for worship only on an informal basis. Expatriates are 98% of the total Christian population, which is mainly Filipino, Korean, Indian, Arab and Western.
Protestant 1%. Affiliated 0.6%.
Roman Catholic 2.6%. Affiliated 2.3%.
Orthodox 0.4%. Affiliated 0.2%.
Christian workers are not legally sanctioned.

1.    Saudi Arabia once had a large Christian population. They were expelled when Islam gained control 1,300 years ago. It is now one of the least evangelized nations on earth. No Christian workers are permitted and all Christian "propaganda" banned. No Christian is permitted to set foot in Islam's holiest city, Mecca. Pray that one day soon the land may have many Christians praising the Lamb that was slain.

2.    The world's one billion Muslims are required to pray towards Mecca five times daily. Every year over two million make the Hajj or pilgrimage to the city. Pray that many may have their eyes opened to see the emptiness and bondage under which they live, and embrace the freedom that there is in Christ. Praise God a small but growing number are doing just that -- even in Saudi Arabia!

3.    The pervasive abuse of human rights, the arrogance of the religious police and the stifling control of government, the media, the judicial system, and any form of democratic dissent is building up a tide of desire for change. Yet very few Saudis have heard the Good News, seen a Bible or met a true believer.

4.    The massive Islamic missionary effort is coordinated by the Muslim World League in Mecca. Vast sums of money are used to propagate Islam around the world -- aid to countries considered sympathetic, building mosques, sending missionaries, literature, radio, etc. The Saudi government denies Christians the liberty to share their faith, yet demands it for Muslims elsewhere. The world's largest printing presses were set up in this country and churn out 28 million Korans annually for worldwide distribution. Pray that "Christian" nations may have the courage and moral integrity to insist that Saudi Arabia's leaders grant their Christian minority the rights that were agreed upon when they signed the UN Charter.

5.    Any Saudis who confess Christ face the death sentence if discovered, yet a growing number are both seeking and finding him. One Saudi believer was publicly beheaded in 1992. Pray for the preservation and multiplication of believers, and legalization of Christianity for Saudis. Pray also that they may be able to meet together in safety and have access to God's Word.

6.    Expatriates are often hard, materialistic, isolated and frustrated. The poorer Asian labourers must leave families for years in order to earn money for their support. Pray for an adequate witness to each in spite of the seemingly insuperable obstacles. The communities devoid of a witness are the Yemenis, many of the Pakistanis and the Iranians. Some Koreans have been converted to Islam. Yet there are disciples of Jesus among the Korean construction workers, Filipino workers and nurses, Pakistani labourers and Western professionals. Pray for their witness to their own communities and beyond.

7.    Expatriate Christians live under strict surveillance. Secret gatherings are hunted down with increasing diligence and the leaders subjected to humiliating beatings, imprisonment and expulsion from the country. This is particularly so for the Asian Christians who have often been the most effective witnesses for Jesus. Few expatriates have meaningful contacts with Saudis under these conditions. Pray that no threat may quench Spirit-inspired witnessing.

8.    Witnessing by other means:
a)    Saudis abroad. Students, businessmen and tourists visit the West, where they can be reached. Many prefer to travel abroad during the month of fasting!
b)    Christian radio. Over 146 hours of broadcasting weekly in Arabic are available through FEBA, High Adventure, TWR, IBRA and HCJB(WRMF). Many listen secretly.
c)    Christian literature and video cassettes. These are banned, and are therefore in great demand. Many copies of the Scriptures and the Jesus video are in surreptitious circulation.

Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen
Geographic coordinates: 25 00 N, 45 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:
total area: 1,960,582 sq km
land area: 1,960,582 sq km
comparative area: slightly less than one-fourth the size of the US
Land boundaries:
total: 4,415 km
border countries: Iraq 814 km, Jordan 728 km, Kuwait 222 km, Oman 676 km, Qatar 60 km, UAE 457 km, Yemen 1,458 km
Coastline: 2,640 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 18 nm
continental shelf: not specified
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: large section of boundary with Yemen not defined; location and status of boundary with UAE is not final, defacto boundary reflects 1974 agreement; Kuwaiti ownership of Qaruh and Umm al Maradim islands is disputed by Saudi Arabia; 1965 boundary with Qatar, renegotiated and revised in 1992, but not official depiction
Climate: harsh, dry desert with great extremes of temperature
Terrain: mostly uninhabited, sandy desert
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal Sawda' 3,133 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper
Land use:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 39%
forest and woodland: 1%
other: 59%
Irrigated land: 4,350 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: desertification; depletion of underground water resources; the lack of perennial rivers or permanent water bodies has prompted the development of extensive seawater desalination facilities; coastal pollution from oil spills
natural hazards: frequent sand and dust storms
international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea
Geographic note: extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Sea provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through Persian Gulf and Suez Canal

People
Population: 19,409,058 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43% (male 4,228,660; female 4,103,622)
15-64 years: 55% (male 6,393,384; female 4,240,535)
65 years and over: 2% (male 227,789; female 215,068) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.45% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 38.32 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 5.36 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.51 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.27 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 46.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69 years
male: 67.25 years
female: 70.84 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.45 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Saudi(s)
adjective: Saudi or Saudi Arabian
Ethnic divisions: Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%
Religions: Muslim 100%
Languages: Arabic
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 62.8%
male: 71.5%
female: 50.2%

Government
Name of country:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
conventional short form: Saudi Arabia
local long form: Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
local short form: Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
Data code: SA
Type of government: monarchy
Capital: Riyadh
Administrative divisions: 13 provinces (mintaqah, singular - mintaqat); Al Bahah, Al Hudud Ash Shamaliyah, Al Jawf, Al Madinah, Al Qasim, Ar Riyad, Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern Province), 'Asir, Hail, Jizan, Makkah, Najran, Tabuk
Independence: 23 September 1932 (unification)
National holiday: Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)
Constitution: none; governed according to Shari'a (Islamic law)
Legal system: based on Islamic law, several secular codes have been introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: none
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 13 June 1982) is an absolute monarch; Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (half-brother to the king, heir to the throne since 13 June 1982, regent from 1 January to 22 February 1996)
cabinet: Council of Ministers is dominated by royal family members appointed by the king
Legislative branch: a consultative council composed of 60 members and a chairman who are appointed by the king for a term of four years
Judicial branch: Supreme Council of Justice
Political parties and leaders: none allowed
International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador BANDAR bin Sultan Abd al-Aziz Al Saud
chancery: 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 342-3800
consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, and New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Raymond E. MABUS, Jr.
embassy: Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh
mailing address: American Embassy-Riyadh, Unit 61307, APO AE 09803-1307; International Mail: P. O. Box 94309, Riyadh 11693
telephone: [966] (1) 488-3800
FAX: [966] (1) 488-7360
consulate(s) general: Dhahran, Jiddah (Jeddah)
Flag: green with large white Arabic script (that may be translated as There is no God but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God) above a white horizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist side); green is the traditional color of Islam

Economy
Economic overview: This is a well-to-do oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. About 40% of GDP comes from the private sector. Economic (as well as political) ties with the US are especially strong. The petroleum sector accounts for roughly 75% of budget revenues, 35% of GDP, and 90% of export earnings. Saudi Arabia has the largest reserves of petroleum in the world (26% of the proved total), ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC. For the 1990s the government intends to bring its budget, which has been in deficit since 1983, back into balance, and to encourage private economic activity. Roughly four million foreign workers play an important role in the Saudi economy, for example, in the oil and banking sectors. For over a decade, Saudi Arabia's domestic and international outlays have outstripped its income, and the government has cut its foreign assistance and is beginning to rein in domestic programs. For 1996, the country looks to its policies of maintaining moderate fiscal reforms, restraining public spending, and encouraging non-oil exports.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $189.3 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 0% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $10,100 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 9%
industry: 50%
services: 41% (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 6 million-7 million
by occupation: government 40%, industry, construction, and oil 25%, services 30%, agriculture 5%
Unemployment rate: 6.5% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $35.1 billion
expenditures: $40 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)
Industries: crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals, cement, two small steel-rolling mills, construction, fertilizer, plastics
Industrial production growth rate: 17% (1994 est.)
Electricity:
capacity: 17,550,000 kW
production: 46 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 2,430 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons, dates, citrus; mutton, chickens, eggs, milk
Illicit drugs: death penalty for traffickers; increasing consumption of heroin and cocaine
Exports: $41.7 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: petroleum and petroleum products 90%
partners: US 17%, Japan 17%, South Korea 8%, Singapore 7%, France 5% (1994)
Imports: $21.3 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs, motor vehicles, textiles
partners: US 21%, Japan 12%, UK 8%, Germany 8%, Italy 5% (1994)
External debt: $18.9 billion (December 1989 est., includes short-term trade credits)
Economic aid:
donor: pledged $100 million in 1993 to fund reconstruction of Lebanon
Currency: 1 Saudi riyal (SR) = 100 halalah
Exchange rates: Saudi riyals (SR) per US$1 - 3.7450 (fixed rate since late 1986)
Fiscal year: calendar year

Transportation
Railways:
total: 1,390 km
standard gauge: 1,390 km 1.435-m gauge (448 km double track) (1992)
Highways:
total: 151,532 km
paved: 60,613 km
unpaved: 90,919 km (1992 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 6,400 km; petroleum products 150 km; natural gas 2,200 km (includes natural gas liquids 1,600 km)
Ports: Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Duba, Jiddah, Jizan, Rabigh, Ra's al Khafji, Al Mishab, Ras Tanura, Yanbu' al Bahr, Yanbu' al Sinaiyah
Merchant marine:
total: 76 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 944,946 GRT/1,322,167 DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 13, chemical tanker 5, container 3, liquefied gas tanker 1, livestock carrier 4, oil tanker 22, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 13, short-sea passenger 9 (1995 est.)
Airports:
total: 175
with paved runways over 3,047 m: 30
with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11
with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 22
with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 4
with paved runways under 914 m: 13
with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 1
with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 66
with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 24 (1995 est.)
Heliports: 4 (1995 est.)

Communications
Telephones: 1.46 million (1993)
Telephone system: modern system
domestic: extensive microwave radio relay and coaxial and fiber-optic cable systems
international: microwave radio relay to Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Yemen, and Sudan; coaxial cable to Kuwait and Jordan; submarine cable to Djibouti, Egypt and Bahrain; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (3 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 43, FM 13, shortwave 0
Radios: 5 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 80
Televisions: 4.5 million (1993 est.)

Defense
Branches: Land Force (Army), Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, National Guard, Coast Guard, Frontier Forces, Public Security Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 5,405,828
males fit for military service: 3,005,900
males reach military age (18) annually: 165,010 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $12.1 billion, 8.5% of GDP (1996)

Item	% Complete	Status	To complete (US $)
Planning	Nul	pending	1000.00
Translation	Nul	pending	7000.00
Recording	Nul	pending	11500.00
Broadcast	Nul	pending	16000.00
Total Cost Required To Complete $ 35500.00

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