Capital Riyadh (royal). Population: 4.7 million (UN estimate 2005). Jeddah (administrative). Population: 3,192,000 (UN estimate 2001; including suburbs).
Government Absolute monarchy since 1932. Recent history: In 2002, as the American Government geared up to launch operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Saudis made it clear that they would
prefer the Americans to move elsewhere from their military base in Saudi Arabia. They did, and Qatar became the main command and control center for these recent US military operations. The change in the Saudi position followed from a major shift in the country’s domestic politics. Several factors were at work but the most important was the effective replacement of King Fahd, who after prolonged illness was effectively an invalid (and has since died, in August 2005), by Crown Prince Abdullah. The Crown Prince is generally less pro-American than Fahd. Abdullah belongs to the generation of leaders who have governed Saudi Arabia since the death of Abdul Aziz, all of whom are now in their 70s: there is no clear line of succession and there may be a debilitating power struggle among the 6000 male descendants who make up the House of Saud. The most likely victors are the branch of the family descended from one of Ibn Saud’s wives, bint Sudairi, who form a powerful clan within the group (commonly known as the ‘Sudairi Seven’). Abdullah is not among them but all – and a number of their immediate relatives – occupy key ministerial, administrative and diplomatic posts. Abdullah has also taken some tentative steps towards relaxing the royal family’s political stranglehold, mainly to appease international opinion and increasingly vocal domestic reformers. Plans for municipal council elections were announced in October 2003. These elections were the first elections to a Government body in Saudi Arabia. Polling took place between February and April 2005. Saudi Arabia is an absolute Monarchy with no political parties. The King appoints a Council of Ministers to run day-to-day affairs. A consultative council (Majlis as-Shura), numbering about 60, has been established to advise the Monarch; it has no formal powers.
Language Arabic. English is spoken in business circles.
Religion The majority of Saudi Arabians follow Islam; around 90 per cent are Sunni Muslim, but Shia Muslims predominate in the Eastern Province.
Time GMT + 3.
Electricity 127/220 volts AC, 60Hz.
Head of State King Abdullah since the death of King Fahd Ibn Abd al-Aziz Al-Sa’ud on 1 August 2005.
Telephone A sophisticated telecommunications network and satellite, microwave and cable systems span the country. Full IDD is available.
Mobile Telephone International roaming agreements exist with some mobile phone companies. Coverage is mostly good.
Internet The Ministry of Post, Telegraph and Telephones provides Internet facilities in most cities. E-mail can also be accessed from many hotels and Internet cafes.
Media Saudi Arabia has a very tightly-controlled media environment and criticism of the Government, the royal family and religious tenets are not really tolerated - although there are signs of an increasing tolerance emerging. The state-run Broadcasting Service of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (BSKSA) is responsible for all broadcasting in the kingdom. The Minister of Culture and Information oversees radio and TV operations. Viewers in the country’s east can pick up TV stations from more liberal Gulf neighbors. The Government blocks access to websites that it deems offensive.
Post Internal and international services available from the Central Post Office. Post is delivered to box numbers. Airmail to Europe takes up to one week.
Press Saudi newspapers are created by royal decree, and there are 10 dailiesand dozens of magazines. Pan-Arab papers, subject to censorship, areavailable. Newspapers tend to follow the lead of the state-run newsagency on whether or not to publish stories on sensitive subjects. Themain newspapers include Al-Jazirah, Ar-Riyadh and Okaz. English-language dailies include Arab News, Riyadh Daily and Saudi Gazette.
Radio Private radio and TV stations cannot operate from Saudi soil. Saudi Radio is state-run.
Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period. 2007 23 Sep Saudi National Day. 13 Oct Eid al-Fitr (Ramadan ends). 20 Dec Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).
2008 23 Sep Saudi National Day. 2 Oct Eid al-Fitr/ Djoulde Soumae (Ramadan ends). 9 Dec Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).
Note Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Some disruption may continue into Eid al-Fitr itself. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha may last anything from two to 10 days, depending on the region. During Hajj (when pilgrims visit Mecca) all government establishments and some businesses will be closed for 10 to 14 days.
Contact Information:
Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in the UK 30 Charles Street, London W1J 5DZ, UK Visa section: 30-32 Charles Street, London W1J 5DZ, UK Tel: (020) 7917 3000. Website: www.saudiembassy.org.uk Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 0900-1600, Fri 0900-1500. Consular section: Mon-Fri 0900-1130 (visa applications); Mon-Thurs 1400-1530 (passport collection), Fri 1330-1430.
Saudi Arabian Information Center in the UK 18 Seymour Street, London W1H 7HU, UK Tel: (020) 7486 8324. Website: www.spa.gov.sa
Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in the USA 601 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20037, USA Tel: (202) 337 4076 (information section) or 944 3126 (visa section). Website: www.saudiembassy.net
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