The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is an Arab state on the Arabian Peninsula of West Asia. It is bordered by Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. It is separated by the Red Sea from Eritrea and Sudan, from Egypt and Israel by the Gulf of Aqaba, and from Iran by the Persian Gulf.
Saudi Arabia was created in 1932 through the consolidation of Hejaz, Najd, and parts of Eastern and Southern Arabia, after a series of conquests beginning in 1902.
Since its formation, Saudi Arabia has been an absolute monarchy governed by Islamic traditions. The king must comply with the Quran and Sharia law, and tribal sheikhs hold a degree of influence over local and national events. Open protest against the government is not tolerated, although terrorism by opposition Islamic sects has taken place in recent years.
Although political parties are prohibited in Saudi Arabia, the royal family is often divided over a number of issues, including personal ambitions, ideological differences, and clan loyalties. Pressure for reforms are countered by those seeking a more conservative Islamic agenda.
The country's legal system is based on Sharia law, but there is no clear system of judicial precedent, leaving judges free to disregard previous rulings, including their own. Punishments imposed by Saudi courts have included beheading, stoning, crucifixion, lashing, and amputations, and capital punishments may be imposed for a wide range of infractions.
Saudi Arabia's economy is driven by oil, which accounts for about 75% of its budget revenues and 90% of its exports. The country is highly dependent on foreign workers, who make up about 80% of its private sector workforce. Saudi Arabia also has a small gold region, and an agricultural sector based on dates and livestock. Pilgrimages fuel its tourism sector, as Saudi Arabia is home to the two holiest places in Islam.
Saudi citizens are 90% Arab and about 10% Afro-Asian. The official language of Saudi Arabia is Arabic, while its large expatriate communities speak their own languages. Nearly all Saudi citizens are Muslim, as are most Saudi residents, Sunni being the majority sect. The government allows Christians to work temporarily in Saudi Arabia, but does not allow them to practice their faith openly. Religious conversion from Islam to Christianity is punishable by death. Atheism is considered terrorism.
Saudi Arabia takes up about 80% of the Arabian Peninsula. Its land is mostly desert, semi-desert, and shrub land, along with several mountain ranges and highlands. The Arabian Desert is the world's largest contiguous sand desert. Saudi Arabia also has both a Red Sea coast and a Persian Gulf coast.
Although Saudi Arabia has existed only since 1932, people have lived in the region for as long as 125,000 years. In ancient times, the Arabian Peninsula was a trade corridor that hosted several civilizations, including the Al-Magar, Dilmun, and the Thamud civilizations, as well as the Nabatean, Libyan, and Kindah kingdoms.The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is an Arab state on the Arabian Peninsula of West Asia. It is bordered by Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. It is separated by the Red Sea from Eritrea and Sudan, from Egypt and Israel by the Gulf of Aqaba, and from Iran by the Persian Gulf.
Saudi Arabia was created in 1932 through the consolidation of Hejaz, Najd, and parts of Eastern and Southern Arabia, after a series of conquests beginning in 1902.
Since its formation, Saudi Arabia has been an absolute monarchy governed by Islamic traditions. The king must comply with the Quran and Sharia law.
Although political parties are prohibited in Saudi Arabia, the royal family is often divided over a number of issues, including personal ambitions and ideological differences. Pressure for reforms are countered by those seeking a more conservative Islamic agenda.
The country's legal system is based on Sharia law, and punishments have included beheading, stoning, crucifixion, lashing, and amputations.
Saudi Arabia's economy is driven by oil, which accounts for about 75% of its budget revenues and 90% of its exports. Saudi Arabia also has gold in the Mahd ash Dhahab region, and a small agricultural sector. Pilgrimages fuel its tourism sector, as Saudi Arabia is home to the two holiest places in Islam.
Saudi citizens are 90% Arab and about 10% Afro-Asians, and the official language of Saudi Arabia is Arabic. Nearly all Saudi citizens are Muslim, as are most Saudi residents, Sunni being the majority sect.
Saudi Arabia takes up about 80% of the Arabian Peninsula. Its land is mostly desert, semi-desert, and shrub land, along with several mountain ranges and highlands. The Arabian Desert is the world's largest contiguous sand desert. Saudi Arabia also has both a Red Sea and a Persian Gulf coast.
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Published in Jeddah, the English language newspaper offers coverage of events in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the Middle East, as well as covering global events, Islam, business and the economy, sports stories, lifestyle issues, such as the arts, culture, literature, fashion, cuisine, and other topics. News analysis and opinion, job opportunities, photographs and video are included, as well as a guide to doing business in Saudi Arabia.
http://www.arabnews.com/
A subsidiary of Al Wahda Express Group of Companies, Daleeli specializes in commercial business directories in print and on the web. With offices in Riyadh, Jeddah, Khobar, Madinah, and Abha, the web directory lists businesses in Saudi Arabia, which may be found through the business name or keyword search. Popular searches are highlighted, as are featured businesses and services. New listings may be submitted for free, but enhanced listings are available for a fee.
https://www.daleeli.com/en
Embassy of Canada to Saudi Arabia
Representing the Canadian government to Saudi Arabia, Canada maintains an embassy in Riyadh and a consulate in Jeddah, which also covers the neighboring countries of Bahrain, Oman, and Yemen. Information about visa and immigration to Canada are set forth, along with doing business in Canada, studying in Canada, and job opportunities at the Canadian embassy, as well as the relationships between Canada and Saudi Arabia. Hours and contacts are included.
http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/saudi_arabia-arabie_saoudite/
German Missions in Saudi Arabia
The German embassy in Riyadh and its consulate in Jeddah offer a variety of services to German citizens in Saudi Arabia, such as visa and passport issues, emergency notifications, and other issues. The embassy may also be able to assist Saudis interested in traveling to Germany in order to attend school or visit, as well as answering immigration questions. Its locations, office hours, and contacts are posted to the site.
https://saudiarabien.diplo.de/ksa-en
Part of the Rocket Internet family of businesses, the site features real estate and properties available for sale or lease in Saudi Arabia. Listed properties, commercial or residential, are sorted according to whether they are for sale or rent, with new developments and undeveloped land listed separately. Photographs, descriptions, asking prices, and contacts are posted to the site. Property owners or managers may submit listings for inclusion by creating an account on the site.
http://en.lamudi.sa/
An expatriate overseas worker in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia offers a guide to English-speaking foreign workers in Saudi Arabia. Various reasons why Westerners might decide to accept a job in Saudi Arabia are discussed, and the author's experiences of life in Saudi Arabia are discussed, including those experienced by those on the lower end of the foreign worker scale. Also reflected upon are the likely experiences of female foreign workers, driving in Saudi Arabia, visa issues, and Saudi laws.
http://www.livinginsaudiarabia.org/
Saudi Arabia Ministry of Finance
Established as the General Directorate of Finance in 1932, the MOF was the second ministry established after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Its historical background, structure, initiatives, strategies, and branches are set forth, and the current minister is introduced, along with a list of previous ministers. Various electronic services, financial reports, project news, and ministry regulations, calculations, and data are set down.
https://www.mof.gov.sa/en
Saudi Arabia Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Created by royal decree in 1930, the ministry is responsible for handling Saudi Arabia's external relationships and diplomatic relations. The mission's history, development, and structure are defined, with information about Saudi initiatives, coverages, religious dialogue, and tenders. Career opportunities are published to the site. An overview of its electronic services is set forth, and photographs, video, and news are included.
http://www.mofa.gov.sa/sites/mofaen/
Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health
Established in 1925, the ministry is responsible for the planning and regulation of healthcare services, agencies, and facilities in Saudi Arabia and, in some cases, it is the provider of these services. A biography of the minister is posted, with office hours and contacts for the minister's office, an overview of the ministry's structure and programs, regulations, initiatives, and projects, and access to various reports, statistics, indicators, and forms.
https://www.moh.gov.sa/en/
Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission
The SACM was created by the Saudi Arabian government in 1951 to facilitate programs and policies meeting the educational and cultural needs of Saudis studying in the United States, as well as to serve as an intermediary between American educational institutions and their counterparts in Saudi Arabia. Its history, mission, and publications are featured, with information about its educational programs, academic supervision and accreditation, and online services.
http://www.sacm.org/
The Saudi Arabian Oil Company is a Saudi national petroleum and natural gas company headquartered in Dharan, Saudi Arabia, from where it operates the world's largest hydrocarbon network, the Master Gas System. Its local and global business, and domestic sales are featured, along with its pioneering advances, its community and environmental stewardship programs, safety programs, innovation, and suppliers. Career opportunities are published to the site.
http://www.saudiaramco.com/en/
Published in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Gazette is an English-language daily newspaper, available in print and online. The newspaper began in 1978, originally with a Western editorial staff, and currently is headquartered in Jeddah, with bureaus in Riyadh and Al-Khobar. Its print edition may be viewed online in PDF or Basic HTML. Otherwise, select Saudi or world news, opinion, sports, business, technology, and life issues are featured on its site.
http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/
