• Saudi Arabia is the largest country on the Arabian Peninsula. It shares borders with Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Yemen. It is bordered by the Persian Gulf to the northeast and the Red Sea on the west.

  Prior to President Obama's scheduled visit to Saudi Arabia in June 2009, the White House press corps was warned by the State Department that journalists accompanying the president would be severely restricted in their reporting from the Arab nation. An agreement between Obama's administration and the Saudi government stipulated that journalists could enter the country without the typical Visa requirements only of they agreed to cover nothing beside the president's visit itselfHuffington Post: Journalists Traveling With Obama Warned By Saudis (June 1, 2009)

• Fast Facts

  1. AKA: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
  2. King of Saudi Arabia: King Abdullah
  3. Capital: Riyadh
  4. Government: Absolute Monarchy
  5. Population: 24,735,000 (est.)
  6. Currency: Saudi Riyal (SAR)
  7. Official Exchange Rate: 1 USD = 3.74160 SAR (Sept. 28, 2007)
  8. Official Language: Arabic
  9. Legal system based on Sharia Law

• History

  The sources of the Saudi dynasty began in the mid-18th century when Muhammad ibn Saud joined forces with cleric Muhammad ibn Abd-al-Wahhab to create a new political entity. As Saudi rulers contended with Egypt, the Ottoman Empire, and other Arabian families for control of the peninsula three Saudi states rose and fell. The current state was established in the early 20th century by Abdul Aziz Al-Saud.

• Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

  After defeating his rivals in the Al-Hasa, Qatif, Nejd and Hejaz regions, Abdul Aziz Al-Saud signed the Treaty of Jeddah which recognized the independence of Abdul Aziz's realm by the United Kingdom. In 1932 the principal regions of Al-Hasa, Qatif, Nejd and Hejaz were unified to form the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

• Oil

  In March 1938 vast reserves of oil were discovered in the country. Development programs were delayed during the World War II in 1939 and began in earnest in 1946 and by 1949 was in full swing. Saudi Arabia has about 260 billion barrels of oil reserves, comprising roughly 24% of the world's total proven petroleum reserves. The oil industry comprises about 45% of Saudi Arabia's gross domestic product.

• Women in Saudi Arabia

  The legal system in Saudi Arabia is based on Sharia Law, Islamic law. Women in the country have few rights. They are not allowed to drive, vote, be in public with men who are not their relatives or travel or have surgery without a man's permission.CNN: Saudi rape victim's husband blames judge for punishment (November 21, 2007) Daily Mail: Saudi judge sentences pregnant gang-rape victim to 100 lashes for committing adultery (February 11, 2009)

• Saudi Arabia and Palestine

  On January 19, 2009, King Abdullah said that Saudi Arabia would donate $1 billion to help rebuild Gaza following Israel's offensive in the territory.The Associated Press: Saudi Arabia to donate $1 billion to rebuild Gaza (January 19, 2009)

• Related Mahalo Pages

  OPEC | US - Saudi Arabia Arms Sale | U.S.-Saudi Relations | Islam (religion) | Shia Islam | Sunni Islam | Saudi Eurofighter Deal | Jordan | Qatar | Kuwait | Bahrain | Oman | Yemen | Mecca | Persian Gulf | Red Sea | Nawaz Sharif | King Abdullah | Arabian Desert | Syria | United Arab Emirates | Lebanon | Saudi Baby Beheaded | Princess Amira al-Taweel | KAUST

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