Saudi Arabi. Saudi Arabia: information, data, general characteristics. Saudi Arabia: form of government

Will continue life of life- 68 years old. In terms of age, more than half of the country's inhabitants are under 20 years of age. Women make up 45% of the population. According to UN forecasts, the population is expected to grow to 39,965,000 by 2025.

The vast majority of Saudi Arabia's population is arabs(Saudi Arabs - 74, 2%, Bedouins - 3, 9%, Arabs of the Persian Gulf - 3%), for the most part retained the tribal organization. The largest tribal associations are Anaza and Shammar, tribes are Avazim, Avamir, Ajman, Ataiba, Bali, Beit Yamani, Beni Atiya, Beni Murra, Beni Sahr, Beni Yas, Wahiba, Dawasir, Dakhm, Janaba, Juhaina, Kakhtan, Manasir, manakhil, muahib, muayr, subey, suleiba, shararat, harb, khuweita, huteim, etc.

The Suleiba tribe inhabiting the northern regions is considered to be of non-Arab origin and, according to some sources, consists of the descendants of the Crusaders who were captured and enslaved. In total, there are more than 100 tribal associations and tribes in the country.

In addition to ethnic Arabs, the country is home to Saudi Arabs mixed ethnicity with Turkish, Iranian, Indonesian, Indian, African roots. As a rule, these are the descendants of pilgrims who settled in the Hejaz region, or Africans who were imported into Arabia as slaves (before the abolition of slavery in 1962, there were up to 750 thousand slaves in the country). The latter live mainly in the coastal regions of Tihame and Al-Hasa, as well as in oases.

Foreign workers are approx. 22% of the population and consists of non-Saudi Arabs, immigrants from African and Asian countries (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Philippines), as well as a small number of Europeans and Americans. Foreign Arabs live in cities, oil fields and areas bordering Yemen. Representatives of all other peoples are concentrated in large cities and in oil fields, where, as a rule, they form more than half of the total population.

Economically active population is 7 million people, of which 12% are employed in agriculture, 25% - in industry, 63% - in the service sector. The number of people employed in industry and services in last years steadily increasing. 35% of those employed in the economy are foreign workers (1999); initially, they were dominated by Arabs from neighboring countries, over time they were replaced by immigrants from South and Southeast Asia.

Official status information unemployment absent. However, according to unofficial data, almost 1/3 of the economically active male population (women are practically not employed in the economy) is unemployed (2002). In this regard, Saudi Arabia, since 1996, has implemented a policy to restrict the recruitment of foreign labor. Riyadh has developed a 5-year economic development plan designed to stimulate the recruitment of Saudi Arabians.

Companies (under threat of penalties) are required to increase the recruitment of Saudi workers by at least 5% per year. Simultaneously, since 1996, the government has declared 24 professions closed to foreigners. Today, the most successful replacement of foreigners by nationals of Saudi Arabia takes place mainly in the public sector, where in recent years the state has hired over 700 thousand Saudis.

In 2003 Saudi Arabia Ministry of Internal Affairs unveiled a new 10-year plan to reduce the number of foreign workers. According to this plan, the number of foreigners, including working immigrants and members of their families, by 2013 should be reduced to 20% of the number of indigenous Saudis. Thus, according to the forecasts of experts, taking into account the growth of the country's population, the foreign colony should be reduced by about half in a decade.

Until the early 1960s, the majority of the population were nomads and semi-nomads. Due to rapid economic growth, the share of the urban population has increased from 23.6% (1970) to 80% (2003). In the late 1990s, approx. 95% of the population switched to a sedentary lifestyle. Most of the population is concentrated in oases and cities.

Average density 12, 4 persons / sq. km (some cities and oases have a density of more than 1,000 people / sq. km). The most densely populated areas are near the coast of the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf, as well as around Riyadh and to the north-east of it, where the main oil-producing regions are located.

The population of the capital, Riyadh(since 1984 diplomatic missions are located here), is 3627 thousand (all data for 2003), or 14% of the country's population (the annual population growth in the city between 1974 and 1992 reached 8.2%), mainly Saudis, as well as citizens other Arab, Asian and Western countries. Jeddah, the main port of the Hejaz and the most important business center of Saudi Arabia, has a population of 2,674 thousand. Until 1984, diplomatic missions of foreign states were located here.

V Hijaz there are also two holy cities of Muslims - Mecca (1541 thousand) and Medina (818 thousand) - accessible only to Muslim pilgrims. In 1998, these cities were visited by approx. 1, 13 million pilgrims, including approx. 1 million - from various Muslim countries, as well as North and South America, Europe and Asia. Other large cities: Damman (675 thousand), Et-Taif (633 thousand), Tabuk (382 thousand).

Their population consists of representatives of various Arab countries, including Gulf countries, Indians, as well as people of North America and Europe. Bedouins, preserving a nomadic lifestyle, inhabit mainly the northern and eastern regions of the country. More than 60% of the entire territory (the Rub-al-Khali, Nefud, Dakhna deserts) does not have a permanent sedentary population; even nomads do not penetrate into some areas.

The official language of Saudi Arabia is standard arabic belonging to the West Semitic group of the Afrasian family. One of its dialects is classical Arabic, due to its archaic sound, it is currently used mainly in a religious context. In everyday life, the Arabic dialect of Arabic (Ammiya) is used, which is closest to the literary Arabic language, which developed from the classical language (el-fusha).

Inside arabic dialect the dialects of Hejaz, Asir, Najd and El-Hasa differ from each other. Although the differences between literary and spoken language are less noticeable here than in other Arab countries, the language of urban dwellers differs from the dialects of nomads. Among immigrants from other countries, English, Tagalog, Urdu, Hindi, Farsi, Somali, Indonesian, etc. are also common.

Saudi Arabia is the center of the Islamic world. Official religion - Islam... According to various estimates, between 85% and 93.3% of Saudis are Sunnis; from 3.3% to 15% - Shiites. In the central part of the country, almost the entire population of the Hanbalis are Wahhabis (these include more than half of all Sunnis in the country).

In the west and southwest prevails Shafi'i Sunnism... There are also Hanifis, Malikis, Salafi Hanbalis and Wahhabis Hanbadis. Shia Ismailis and Zaidis live in a small number. A significant group of Shiites (about a third of the population) live in the east, in Al-Khasa. Christians make up about 3% of the population (according to the American Conference of Catholic Bishops, over 500 thousand Catholics live in the country), all other confessions make up 0.4% (as of 1992, unofficially). There is no information on the number of atheists.

SAUDI ARABIA, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Arabic: Al-Mamlaka al-Arabiya al-Saudiya), a state on the Arabian Peninsula in South-West Asia.
In 1975 and 1981, agreements were signed between Saudi Arabia and Iraq on the division of a small neutral zone on the border of the two states, which was implemented in 1987. Another agreement was signed with Qatar on demarcating the border until 1998. In 1996, the neutral zone was divided into border with Kuwait (5,570 sq. km), but both countries continue to share oil and other natural resources in this district. The border issues with Yemen have not yet been resolved; nomadic groups in the border areas with Yemen resist border demarcation. Negotiations continue between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia on the sea border with Iran. The status of the border with the United Arab Emirates(details of the 1974 and 1977 agreements were not made public).

Official name: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Population: 25.7 million (UN data, 2009)
Capital: Riyadh
Area: 2.24 million sq. Km
Primary language: Arabic
Main religion: Islam
Life expectancy (male / female): 71/75 (UN data)
Currency: 1 riyal = 100 halalam
Main export items: oil, gas, grain
Average annual income per capita: $ 15,500 (World Bank data, 2008)
Internet domain: .sa
international telephone code: +966

Administratively
divided into 13 provinces (103 counties).

Saudi Arabia covers almost 80% of the Arabian Peninsula and several coastal islands in the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. In terms of surface structure, most of the country is a vast desert plateau (altitude from 300–600 m in the east to 1520 m in the west), slightly dissected by dry river beds (wadis). In the west, parallel to the coast of the Red Sea, there are mountains Hejaz (Arabic for "barrier") and Asir (Arabic for "difficult") with a height of 2500-3000 m (with the highest point of the city of Nabi-Shuayb, 3353 m), passing into the coastal lowland of Tihama (5 to 70 km wide). In the mountains of Asir, the relief changes from mountain peaks to large valleys. There are few passes over the Hejaz mountains; traffic between the hinterland of Saudi Arabia and the shores of the Red Sea is limited. In the north, along the borders of Jordan, stretches the rocky desert of El Hamad. The largest sandy deserts are located in the northern and central parts of the country: Big Nefud and Small Nefud (Dekhna), famous for their red sands; in the south and southeast - Rub al-Khali (Arabic for "empty quarter") with dunes and ridges in the northern part up to 200 m. Indefinite borders with Yemen, Oman and the United Arab Emirates run through the deserts. The total area of ​​deserts reaches approximately 1 million square meters. km, incl. Rub al-Khali - 777 thousand sq. km. Al-Khasa lowland (up to 150 km wide) stretches in places along the coast of the Persian Gulf. The sea shores are mostly low, sandy, and slightly indented.

ER-RIYAD - CAPITAL OF SAUDI ARABIA

Almost all of Saudi Arabia does not have permanent rivers or water sources; temporary streams are formed only after intense rains. They are especially abundant in the east, in El-Has, where there are many springs that irrigate the oases. Ground water are often found close to the surface and under wadi channels. The problem of water supply is carried out through the development of desalination enterprises sea ​​water, the creation of deep wells and artesian wells.

The country possesses huge reserves of oil and natural gas. Proved reserves of crude oil reach 261.7 billion barrels, or 35.6 billion tons (26% of all world reserves), natural gas - about 6.339 trillion. cub. m. In total, there are about 77 oil and gas fields. The main oil-bearing region is located in the east of the country, in Al-Has. The reserves of the world's largest oil field, Ghawar, are estimated at 70 billion barrels of oil. Other large fields are Safania (proven reserves - 19 billion barrels of oil), Abkaik, Katif. There are also reserves of iron ores, chromium, copper, lead, zinc and gold.

POPULATION
In 2003, 24,293 thousand people lived in Saudi Arabia, incl. 5576 thousand foreigners. Since the first census in 1974, the population has tripled. In 1990-1996 the average annual population growth was 3.4%, in 2000-2003 - 3.27%. In 2003, the birth rate was 37.2 per 1000 people, the mortality rate was 5.79. Life expectancy is 68 years. In terms of age, more than half of the country's inhabitants are under 20 years of age. Women make up 45% of the population. According to UN forecasts, the population is expected to grow to 39,965,000 by 2025.

The overwhelming majority of the population of Saudi Arabia are Arabs (Saudi Arabs - 74.2%, Bedouins - 3.9%, Gulf Arabs - 3%), most of whom have retained the tribal organization. The largest tribal associations are Anaza and Shammar, tribes are Avazim, Avamir, Ajman, Ataiba, Bali, Beit Yamani, Beni Atiya, Beni Murra, Beni Sahr, Beni Yas, Wahiba, Dawasir, Dakhm, Janaba, Juhaina, Kakhtan, Manasir, manahil, muahib, muayr, subey, suleiba, shararat, harb, khuweyta, huteim, etc. The Suleiba tribe inhabiting the northern regions is considered to be of non-Arab origin and, according to some sources, consists of the descendants of the crusaders who were captured and enslaved. In total, there are more than 100 tribal associations and tribes in the country.

Saudi Arabian women

In addition to ethnic Arabs, Saudi Arabs of mixed ethnicity with Turkish, Iranian, Indonesian, Indian, African roots live in the country. As a rule, these are the descendants of pilgrims who settled in the Hejaz region, or Africans who were imported into Arabia as slaves (before the abolition of slavery in 1962, there were up to 750 thousand slaves in the country). The latter live mainly in the coastal regions of Tihame and Al-Hasa, as well as in oases.

Foreign workers are approx. 22% of the population and consists of non-Saudi Arabs, immigrants from African and Asian countries (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Philippines), as well as a small number of Europeans and Americans. Foreign Arabs live in cities, oil fields and areas bordering Yemen. Representatives of all other peoples are concentrated in large cities and in oil fields, where, as a rule, they form more than half of the total population.

The official language of Saudi Arabia is Standard Arabic, belonging to the West Semitic group of the Afrasian family. One of its dialects is classical Arabic, due to its archaic sound, it is currently used mainly in a religious context. In everyday life, the Arabic dialect of Arabic (Ammiya) is used, which is closest to the literary Arabic language, which developed from the classical language (el-fusha). Within the Arabian dialect, the dialects of Hejaz, Asir, Najd and Al-Hasa are closely related. Although the differences between literary and spoken language are less noticeable here than in other Arab countries, the language of urban dwellers differs from the dialects of nomads. Among immigrants from other countries, English, Tagalog, Urdu, Hindi, Farsi, Somali, Indonesian, etc. are also common.

Religion... Saudi Arabia is the center of the Islamic world. The official religion is Islam. According to various estimates, between 85% and 93.3% of Saudis are Sunnis; from 3.3% to 15% - Shiites. In the central part of the country, almost the entire population of the Hanbalis are Wahhabis (these include more than half of all Sunnis in the country). In the west and southwest, the Shafi'i wing of Sunni Islam prevails. There are also Hanifis, Malikis, Salafi Hanbalis and Wahhabis Hanbadis. Shia Ismailis and Zaidis live in a small number. A significant group of Shiites (about a third of the population) live in the east, in Al-Khasa. Christians make up about 3% of the population (according to the American Conference of Catholic Bishops, over 500 thousand Catholics live in the country), all other confessions make up 0.4% (as of 1992, unofficially). There is no information on the number of atheists.

KAABA SANCTUARY IN MEKKA

MODERN MOSQUE in Dhahran

Medina

pilgrimage to Mecca

photo of Mecca

Every Muslim should make a pilgrimage to Mecca. It is called Hajj; if there are no special obstacles, then such a pilgrimage should be made at least once in a lifetime (or send someone in their place). Mecca is a city in Saudi Arabia, located approximately halfway from the northern and southern ends of the Red Sea and at the crossroads of the ancient caravan routes connecting the Arabian Sea, the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea. At that time, there was a tribal social structure in Mecca, and the Quraish tribe was considered the most important. An agreement was reached between the tribes to maintain the safety of trade routes. The security was that there were several months of the year in which it was forbidden to rob caravans. The forbidden months (haram) were, for example, Ramadan and Rajab. In Mecca, there was also the sacred Kaaba, which, according to legend, was erected by Ibrahim (Abraham) and Ismail; by that time, the Kaaba contained numerous statues of tribal gods. The Quraish tribe guarded the Kaaba and provided services to pilgrims from all over Arabia. Kaaba is called so for its shape (in Arabic "kaaba" is a dice, cube, the origin of the Russian word cube is Arabic). The ancient pre-Islamic cult of stones of the ancient Arabs is embodied in the Kaaba. Black pieces of lava or basalt of meteoric origin are embedded in the eastern corner of the Kaaba. They are fastened with a stone barrier and a silver hoop at a height of one and a half meters. The black stone (al-hajar al-aswad) is the main object of worship in the Kaaba, a symbol of the power of Allah, sent by Him to the earth to people. Pilgrims strive to kiss the Black Stone, and if this fails, then at least touch it. The visible surface of the stone is approximately 16.5 x 20 cm.

STATE STRUCTURE

The first legal documents establishing general principles state structure and governing the country were adopted in March 1992. According to the Fundamentals of the System of Power, Saudi Arabia is an absolute theocratic monarchy ruled by the sons and grandsons of the founding king Abdel Aziz bin Abdel Rahman al-Faisal Al Saud. The Holy Quran serves as the country's constitution, which is governed by Islamic law (Sharia).

King of Saudi Arabia Abdullah bin Abdel Aziz

The highest authorities include the head of state and the crown prince; Council of Ministers; Advisory Board; High Council of Justice. However, the real structure of monarchical power in Saudi Arabia is somewhat different from how it is presented in theory. To a large extent, the king's power rests on the Al Saud family, consisting of more than 5 thousand people and forming the basis of the monarchical system in the country. The king rules with the advice of the leading members of the family, in particular his brothers. His relations with religious leaders are built on the same basis. Equally important to the stability of the kingdom is the support of noble families such as al-Sudairi and Ibn Jiluwi, as well as the religious family Al al-Sheikh, a side branch of the Saudid dynasty. These families remain loyal to the Al Saud clan for
for almost two centuries.

The head of state and religious leader of the country (imam) is the minister of the two Holy Mosques, King (malik) Fahd bin Abdel Aziz Al Saud (since June 13, 1982), who is simultaneously the prime minister, commander-in-chief of the armed forces and the supreme judge. His powers are theoretically limited only by Sharia and Saudi traditions. The king is called upon to maintain the unity of the royal family, religious leaders (ulema) and other elements of Saudi society.

The mechanism of succession to the throne was officially confirmed only in 1992. The heir to the throne is appointed during his lifetime by the king himself, with the subsequent approval of the ulema. According to tribal traditions, there is no clear succession system in Saudi Arabia. Power usually passes to the eldest of the clan, the most appropriate for the performance of the functions of the ruler. Since 1995, due to the monarch's illness, the de facto head of state has been the Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah bin Abdel Aziz Al-Saud (half-brother of the monarch, heir to the throne from June 13, 1982, regent from January 1 to February 22, 1996). In order to ensure a conflict-free change of power in the country, in early June 2000, by the decision of King Fahd and Crown Prince Abdullah, the Royal Family Council was formed, which includes 18 of the most influential direct descendants of the founder of the Arabian monarchy, Ibn Saud.

According to the constitution, the king heads the government (in its current form has existed since 1953) and determines the main directions of its activities. The Council of Ministers combines both executive and legislative functions. All his decisions, which must be compatible with Sharia law, are taken by a majority vote and are subject to final approval by royal decree. The Cabinet consists of the Prime Minister, the First and Second Deputy Prime Minister, 20 ministers (including the Minister of Defense, who is the second Deputy Prime Minister), as well as government ministers and advisers appointed as members of the Council of Ministers by decree of the King. The most important ministries are usually headed by representatives of the royal family. The ministers help the king to carry out his powers in accordance with the constitution and other laws. The King has the right to dissolve or reorganize the Council of Ministers at any time. Since 1993, the term of office of each minister has been limited to four years. On August 2, 1995, King Fahd made the most significant personnel changes in recent decades in the cabinet, which was left by 16 of the 20 ministers of the current government.

There is no legislative body - the king rules the country through decrees. Since December 1993, an Advisory Council (CC, Majlis al-Shura) has been operating under the monarch, consisting of scientists, writers, businessmen, prominent members of the royal family and representing the first public forum in the history of Saudi Arabia. The Constitutional Court is called upon to develop recommendations to the government on the socio-economic development of the country, to prepare conclusions on various legal acts and international agreements. At least 10 members of the Council have the right to initiate legislation. They can propose a new bill or additions and changes to the existing legislation and submit them to the chairman of the Council. All decisions, reports and recommendations of the Council must be submitted directly to the King and the President of the Council of Ministers for consideration. If the points of view of the two councils coincide, the decision is made with the consent of the king; if the points of view do not coincide, the king has the right to decide which option will be adopted.

The civil and judicial codes are based on the provisions of Sharia. Thus, all marriage, divorce, property, inheritance, criminal and other matters are governed by Islamic precepts. Several secular laws were also passed in 1993. Judicial system the country consists of disciplinary and general courts, which deal with simple criminal and civil cases; Sharia or Cassation Court; and the Supreme Court, which examines and reviews all the most serious cases, as well as controls the activities of other courts. All courts are based on Islamic law. The courts are presided over by religious judges, qadis. Members of religious courts are appointed by the king on recommendation Supreme Council Justice, consisting of 12 senior lawyers. The King is the highest court of appeal and has the power to grant pardons.

Saudi Arabia is one of the few countries that refused to recognize some articles of the International Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the UN in 1948. According to the human rights organization Freedom House, Saudi Arabia is one of the nine countries with the worst regime in the field of political and civil rights... Some of the most visible human rights violations in Saudi Arabia include: mistreatment of prisoners; bans and restrictions in the field of freedom of speech, press, assembly and organization, religion; systematic discrimination against women, ethnic and religious minorities; and suppression of labor rights. The country retains the death penalty; Since the 1991 Gulf War, there has been a steady increase in executions in Saudi Arabia. In addition to public executions, arrests and imprisonment of dissidents are widely practiced in the kingdom.

Jeddah

ECONOMY

Currently, the basis of the economy of Saudi Arabia is free private enterprise. Meanwhile, the government exercises control over the main areas of economic activity. Saudi Arabia has the largest oil reserves in the world, it is believed largest exporter oil and plays a leading role in OPEC. Proved reserves of crude oil are 261.7 billion barrels, or 35 billion tons (26% of all reserves), and natural gas - about 6.339 trillion. cub. m (as of January 2002). Oil brings the country up to 90% of export revenues, 75% of government revenues and 35–45% of GDP. Approximately 25% of GDP comes from the private sector. In 1992, Saudi Arabia's GDP was equivalent to $ 112.98 billion, or $ 6,042 per capita. In 1997, the GDP was $ 146.25 billion, or $ 7792 per capita; in 1999 it increased to $ 191 billion, or $ 9 thousand per person; in 2001 - up to 241 billion dollars, or 8460 dollars per person. However, real economic growth has lagged behind the increase in the number of inhabitants, leading to unemployment and a decrease in per capita income. The share of sectors of the economy not related to oil production and refining in GDP increased from 46% in 1970 to 67% in 1992 (in 1996 it dropped to 65%).

In 1999, the government announced plans to begin privatizing electricity companies, following the privatization of telecommunications companies. To reduce the kingdom's dependence on oil and increase employment for the rapidly growing Saudi population, the private sector has exploded in recent years. The main priorities of the government of Saudi Arabia in the near future are the allocation of additional funds for the development of water infrastructure and education, since the lack of water and rapid population growth does not allow the country
fully provide themselves with agricultural products.

The oil industry and its role... The largest holder of oil concessions and the main oil producer is the Arabien American Oil Company (ARAMCO). Since the early 1970s, it has been under the control of the Saudi Arabian government, and before that it was wholly owned by a consortium. American companies... The company received a concession in 1933 and began exporting oil in 1938. World War II interrupted development oil industry, which resumed in 1943, with the beginning of the construction of an oil refinery at the Ras Tannura oil port. Oil production gradually increased from 2.7 thousand tons / day to 1944 to 33.5 thousand tons / day in 1947 and 68.1 thousand tons / day in 1949. By 1977, daily oil production in Saudi Arabia had increased to 1, 25 million tons and remained high throughout the 1980s, until it began to decline as a result of a decrease in oil demand in the world market. In 1992, approx. 1.15 million tons / day, with 97% of production coming from ARAMCO. Oil is also being produced by other, smaller companies, such as the Japanese Arabien Oil Company, which operates in coastal waters near the Kuwaiti border, and the Getty Oil Company, which operates onshore near the Kuwaiti border. In 1996, Saudi Arabia's quota, determined by OPEC, was approx. 1.17 million tons per day. In 2001, the average production was 8.6 billion barrels / day (460 billion tons / year). In addition, it uses the reserves located in the so-called "neutral zone" on the border with Kuwait, which give it an additional 600 thousand barrels of oil per day. Largest deposits oil is located in the eastern part of the country, on the Persian Gulf coast or offshore.

Major refineries: Aramco - Ras Tanura (capacity 300 thousand barrels / day), Rabig (325 thousand barrels / day), Yanbu (190 thousand barrels / day), Riyadh (140 thousand barrels / day), Jeddah ( 42 thousand barrels / day), Aramco-Mobile - Yanbu (332 thousand barrels / day), Petromin / Shell - al-Jubeyl (292 thousand barrels / day), Arabian Oil Company - Ras al-Khafji (30 thousand barrels / day).

The most important factor in the development of the oil industry is the close and mutually beneficial relationship between ARAMCO and Saudi Arabia. ARAMCO's activities contributed to the influx of skilled personnel into the country and the creation of new jobs for the Saudis.

Significant changes in relations between the oil companies and the government of Saudi Arabia began in 1972. In accordance with the agreement signed by the parties, the government received 25% of ARAMCO's property. It was found that Saudi Arabia's stake would gradually increase to 51% by 1982. However, in 1974 the government accelerated this process and acquired 60% of ARAMCO's shares. In 1976 the oil companies pledged to transfer all of ARAMCO's property to Saudi Arabia. In 1980 all property of ARAMCO passed to the government of Saudi Arabia. In 1984, a Saudi Arabian citizen became the president of the company for the first time. Since 1980, the government of Saudi Arabia has become itself to determine the price of oil and the volume of its production, and oil companies received the rights to develop oil fields as subcontractors of the government.

The growth in oil production was accompanied by a significant increase in revenues from its sale, especially after the fourfold jump in oil prices in 1973-1974, which led to a huge increase in government revenues, which increased from $ 334 million in 1960 to $ 2.7 billion in 1972, $ 30 billion in 1974, $ 33.5 billion in 1976 and $ 102 billion in 1981. Subsequently, the demand for oil in the world market began to decline, and by 1989 Saudi Arabia's revenues from oil exports fell to $ 24 billion. The crisis that began after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990 raised world oil prices again; Accordingly, Saudi Arabia's revenues from oil exports increased in 1991 to nearly $ 43.5 billion.In 1998, as a result of a sharp drop in world oil prices at the beginning of the year, Saudi Arabia's revenues from oil exports amounted to $ 43.7 billion.

Industry... The share of industry in the country's GDP is 47% (1998). Growth industrial production in 1997 was 1%. In the past, Saudi Arabia's industry was underdeveloped, especially non-oil production and refining industries. In 1962, a government General organization oil and mineral resources(PETROMIN), whose task is to develop the oil and mining industry, as well as the creation of new oil, mining and metallurgical enterprises. In 1975, the Ministry of Industry and Energy was formed, to which the responsibility for PETROMIN's enterprises not related to oil production and refining was transferred. PETROMIN's largest projects were a steel plant in Jeddah, built in 1968, and refineries in Jeddah and Riyadh, built in the late 1960s and early 1970s. PETROMIN also provided 51% of the funds for the construction of a nitrogen fertilizer plant in Dammam, completed in 1970.

In 1976, the government-owned Saudi Arabia Heavy Industry Corporation (SABIK) was created - a holding company with an initial capital of $ 2.66 billion.By 1994, SABIK owned 15 large enterprises in Al-Jubail, Yanbu and Jeddah, which produced chemicals, plastics, industrial gas , steel and other metals. Saudi Arabia has well-developed food and glass industries, handicrafts and construction materials, in particular cement. In 1996 the volume of industrial production amounted to approx. 55% of GDP.

Back in the 1st millennium BC. the inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula mined gold, silver and copper at deposits located approximately 290 km northeast of Jeddah. Currently, these deposits are being developed again, and in 1992 approx. 5 tons of gold.

Electricity production in Saudi Arabia increased from 344 MW in 1970 to 17049 MW in 1992. To date, approx. 6000 cities and rural settlements throughout the country. In 1998, electricity production was 19,753 MW, with an annual increase of 4.5% in electricity demand expected over the next two decades. To meet them, it will be necessary to increase electricity production to about 59,000 MW.

Agriculture... The share of agriculture in the country's GDP increased from 1.3% in 1970 to over 6.4% in 1993 and 6% in 1998. During this period, the production of basic food products increased from 1.79 million tons to 7 million tons. Saudi Arabia is completely devoid of permanent watercourses. Lands suitable for cultivation occupy 7 million hectares, or less than 2% of its territory. Though average annual amount rainfall is only 100 mm, agriculture in Saudi Arabia, using modern technologies and equipment, is a dynamically developing industry. The area of ​​cultivated land increased from 161.8 thousand hectares in 1976 to 3 million hectares in 1993, and Saudi Arabia changed from a country that imported most of its food to an exporter of food. In 1992, agricultural production amounted to $ 5.06 billion in monetary terms, while the export of wheat, dates, dairy products, eggs, fish, poultry, vegetables and flowers brought in income of $ 533 million. The share of the agricultural sector in GDP with 1985 to 1995 increased by 6.0% per year. The country also produces barley, corn, millet, coffee, alfalfa and rice. An important industry is animal husbandry, represented by the breeding of camels, sheep, goats, donkeys and horses.

Long-term hydrological research, begun in 1965, has revealed significant water resources suitable for agricultural use. In addition to deep wells throughout the country, the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources uses more than 200 reservoirs with a total volume of 450 million cubic meters. m. The country is the world's largest producer of desalinated water. In the mid-1990s, 33 desalination plants daily desalinated 2.2 billion liters of seawater, thus meeting 70% of the population's drinking water needs.

The Al-Khas agricultural project, completed in 1977, alone irrigated 12,000 hectares and provided jobs for 50,000 people. Other major irrigation projects include the Wadi Jizan project on the Red Sea coast (8,000 ha) and the Abha project in the Asira mountains in the southwest. In 1998, the government announced a new $ 294 million agricultural development project. The Ministry of Agriculture's budget increased from $ 395 million in 1997 to $ 443 million in 1998.

Transport
The start of oil production completely changed the country's economy and ensured its rapid growth. The impetus for the rapid development was the creation of a network of roads, ports and communications. In the 1970s –1990s, an extensive road network was created, connecting vast arid regions located in remote parts of the country. The largest highway crosses the Arabian Peninsula from Dammam on the Persian Gulf through Riyadh and Mecca to Jeddah on the Red Sea. In 1986, the construction of a 24-kilometer highway was completed, laid along the dam connecting Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. As a result of large-scale construction, the length of paved roads increased from 1,600 km in 1960 to more than 44,104 km of highways and 102,420 km of unpaved roads in 1997.

The railway network has expanded significantly. There is one railway linking Riyadh through the Khufuf oasis with the port of Dammam on the Persian Gulf (571 km); all R. In the 1980s, the railway was extended to the industrial center of Jubail, located north of Dammam; in 1972, a branch was built from the main highway to El-Kharj (35.5 km). The total length of railways is 1392 km (2002).

An extensive network of pipelines has been created in the country: the length of crude oil pipelines - 6400 km, oil products - 150 km, gas pipelines - 2200 km (including liquid natural gas - 1600 km). A large trans-Arabian oil pipeline connects the oil fields of the Persian Gulf with ports in the Red Sea. The main ports in the Persian Gulf are Ras Tanura, Dammam, Khobar and Mina Saud; on the Red Sea: Jeddah (through which the bulk of imports and the main flow of pilgrims to Mecca and Medina go), Jizan and Yanbu.

There are three international (in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dhahran) and 206 regional and local airports and aircraft sites, as well as five helicopter stations (2002). Aviation fleet - 113 transport and passenger aircraft... Air lines of Saudi Arabien Airlines connect Riyadh with the capitals of the Near and Middle East.

SAUDI ARABIA

General information

Geographical position... Saudi Arabia is a state in southwestern Asia that occupies most of the Arabian Peninsula. In the north, it borders with Jordan, Iraq and Kuwait, in the east with Qatar, in the southeast with the United Arab Emirates and Oman, in the south with the Republic of Yemen. In the east it is washed by the Persian Gulf, in the west - by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba. The area of ​​the country is 2.24 million square meters. km. More than half of Saudi Arabia's territory is desert. Rub-El-Khali, or the Great Sandy Desert, with an area of ​​about 650 thousand square meters. km, located in the southeast of the country. In the north of the country is part of the Syrian Desert, and the Nefud Desert, which covers an area of ​​about 57 thousand square meters. km, lies further south. In the center of the country there is a plateau, crossed by several small rivers that dry up in the dry season. In the south-west of the country there are small mountain ranges and the highest point in the country, Mount Jabal Sauda (3,133 m). Narrow coastal plains lie along the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. Most of Saudi Arabia is located in a hot and arid zone. January temperature in Riyadh ranges from + 8 ° С to + 2 ° С, and in Jeddah - from + 19 ° С to + 29 ° С. July temperature in Riyadh is from + 26 ° С to + 42 ° С, and in Jeddah - from + 26 ° С to + 37 ° С. However, in the mountains in winter, freezing temperatures and snow are observed. The average annual rainfall in the country is about 70 mm.

Square. The territory of Saudi Arabia occupies, according to various estimates, from 1,750 thousand to 2,200 thousand square meters. km.

Main cities, Administrative division... The capital is Riyadh. The largest cities: Riyadh (2,576 thousand people), Mecca (1,500 thousand people), Jeddah (1,468 thousand people), Medina (500 thousand people), Ad-Dammam (200 thousand people). people). Administrative divisions of the country: 17 administrative regions.

Political system

Saudi Arabia is an absolute theocratic monarchy with a cabinet of ministers. Head of State and Government: King Fahd bin Abdel Aziz al-Saud (in power since June 13, 1982).

Relief. Most of the surface is desert plateaus, in the west there are mountains up to 3 353 m high.

Geological structure and minerals. The bowels of the country contain rich reserves of oil and natural gas, less significant reserves of iron ore, copper, gold.

Climate. The climate is hot, dry, tropical, subtropical in the north, tropical in the south. Average temperatures in July are above 30 ° С, in January 10-20 ° С. Annual precipitation is about 100 mm (in the mountains up to 400 mm).

Inland waters... There are no permanent rivers.

Soils and vegetation. The vegetation is extremely poor, and date palms grow only in the oases.

Animal world... The fauna is represented by antelope, fox, gazelle, hyena, ostrich, panther, wild cat, wolf, mountain goat. Among the birds, the bustard, dove, and quail are especially distinguished.

Population and language

The population of the country is about 20.786 million people, the average population density is about 9 people per 1 sq. Km. km. Ethnic groups: almost all residents of the country are Arabs, among them are the indigenous Saudis, whose ancestors lived in the country for several centuries (82%); Yemenis and other Arabs who arrived in the country after the 1950s during the oil boom (13%); Berber nomads (their numbers are steadily decreasing). Language: Arabic (state).

Religion

Almost all the inhabitants of Saudi Arabia are Muslims, the overwhelming majority of whom belong to the Sunni sect.

A brief historical outline

In the 1st millennium BC. e. on the coast of the Red Sea, the Minea Kingdom arose with its capital at Karna (modern Hodeidah in Yemen). On the east coast there was Dilmun, which was considered a political and cultural federation on the shores of the Persian Gulf. For almost 1,500 years, no important historical events took place on the territory of modern Saudi Arabia. In 570 A.D. e. the Prophet Muhammad was born in Mecca, and the teachings of Islam literally turned the history of Saudi Arabia upside down. Muhammad's followers, known as caliphs (caliphs), conquered almost the entire Middle East. With the emergence of the Caliphate, whose capital was first in Damascus and later in Baghdad, the role of the prophet's homeland became less and less significant.

In 1269, almost the entire territory of modern Saudi Arabia was under Egyptian rule. In 1517, power passed to the rulers of the Ottoman Empire. In the middle of the 18th century. the state of Najd was founded, which was independent from the Ottoman Empire. In 1824 Riyadh became the capital of the state. In 1865, the country broke out Civil War, and the weakened country was divided among neighboring states. In 1902 Abdul Aziz ibn Saud entered Riyadh and by 1906 his troops controlled almost all of Nazhd. In 1926, almost the entire country was under his rule. In 1932 he gave the country the name Saudi Arabia. After World War II, Saudi Arabia is the main US ally in the Middle East.

Brief economic outline

The basis of the economy is oil and gas industry... Oil refining, petrochemical, metallurgical, paper, textile., food industry; production of building materials. Crafts. Large and medium land tenure and small lease land use prevail. Main crops: date palm, wheat, barley. Vegetable growing, fruit growing. Nomadic animal husbandry. Fishing; extraction of pearls, corals. Export: oil, oil products, liquefied gas.

The monetary unit is the Saudi rial.

A brief outline of culture

Art and architecture. Riyadh. Museum of Archeology and Ethnography; Royal Palace; Jamida Mosque. Al-Taif. A popular resort and summer capital of the country, however, non-Muslims are prohibited from entering the city. Medina. The Prophet's Mosque, which houses the tomb of the Prophet Muhammad, the tomb of the Prophet's daughter Fatima and Umar (the second caliph of the Muslim Empire). Mecca. The al-Ha-ram mosque, on the territory of which the Kaaba is located, is a small building of a cubic shape, built by the Jewish patriarch Abraham. In the southeastern corner of the Kaaba is the Black Stone, given to Abraham by the Archangel Gabriel. There is also a sacred well Zamzam (Zemzem) on the territory of the mosque.

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia(Arab. المملكة العربية السعودية ‎; al-Mamlakah al-ʻArabīyah as-Saʻūdīyah) - the largest state on the Arabian Peninsula. Bordered by, and in the north, and in the east, in the southeast and in the south. It is washed by the Persian Gulf in the northeast and the Red Sea in the west.

Saudi Arabia is often called the "Land of Two Shrines", meaning and - the two main holy cities of Islam. Short name countries in Arabic al-Saudiya(Arabic: السعودية). Saudi Arabia is currently one of the three states in the world that have a name given in honor of the ruling dynasty (Saudis), along with the Hashemite Kingdom (the Hashemite dynasty is in power) and the principality (the possession of the von und zu princes of Liechtenstein).

Saudi Arabia, with its colossal oil reserves, is the main state of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). In 2009, it ranked second in the world in oil production and export (after). Oil exports account for 95% of the country's exports and 75% of the country's revenues, making it possible to maintain the welfare state.

Geography

Saudi Arabia

Rub al-Khali

Saudi Arabia occupies about 80% of the territory of the Arabian Peninsula. Due to the fact that the national borders of the state are not clearly defined, the exact area of ​​Saudi Arabia is unknown. According to official data, it is 2,217,949 km², according to others - from 1,960,582 km² to 2,240,000 km². One way or another, Saudi Arabia is the 13th largest state in the world.

In the west of the country, along the coast of the Red Sea, stretches the al-Hijaz mountain range. In the southwest, the height of the mountains reaches 2500 meters. The highest point in Saudi Arabia is the Jabal El Lauz peak. It is also located there resort area Asir, which attracts tourists with its greenery and mild climate. The East is occupied mainly by deserts. The south and southeast of Saudi Arabia is almost entirely occupied by the Rub al-Khali desert, through which the border with and passes.

Most of the territory of Saudi Arabia is occupied by deserts and semi-deserts, which are inhabited by nomadic Bedouin tribes. The population is concentrated around a few large cities, usually in the west or east along the coast.

Relief

relief of saudi arabia

In terms of surface structure, most of the country is a vast desert plateau (altitude from 300-600 m in the east to 1520 m in the west), slightly dissected by dry river beds (wadis). In the west, parallel to the coast of the Red Sea, stretch the Hejaz mountains (Arabic for "barrier") and Asir (Arabic for "difficult") with a height of 2500-3000 m (with the highest point - Mount Nabi-Shuayb, 3353 m), passing into the coastal lowland of Tihama (5 to 70 km wide). In the mountains of Asir, the relief varies from mountain peaks to large valleys. There are few passes over the Hejaz mountains; traffic between the hinterland of Saudi Arabia and the shores of the Red Sea is limited. In the north, along the borders of Jordan, stretches the rocky desert of El Hamad. The largest sandy deserts are located in the northern and central parts of the country: Big Nefud and Small Nefud (Dekhna), famous for their red sands; in the south and southeast - Rub al-Khali (Arabic for "empty quarter") with dunes and ridges in the northern part up to 200 m. Indefinite borders with Yemen run through the deserts, and. The total area of ​​deserts reaches approximately 1 million km², including Rub al-Khali - 777 thousand km². Al-Khasa lowland (up to 150 km wide) stretches in places along the coast of the Persian Gulf. The sea shores are mostly low, sandy, and slightly indented.

Climate

The climate in Saudi Arabia is extremely dry. The Arabian Peninsula is one of the few places on Earth where temperatures consistently exceed 50 ° C in summer. Snow falls only in the Jizan mountains in the west of the country, and not every year. Average January temperatures range from 8 ° C to 20 ° C in desert cities and 20 ° C to 30 ° C on the Red Sea coast. In summer, shade temperatures range from 35 ° C to 43 ° C. At night in the desert, you can sometimes encounter temperatures close to 0 ° C, as the sand quickly gives up the heat accumulated during the day.

The average annual rainfall is 100 mm. In the center and east of Saudi Arabia, it rains only in late winter and spring, while in the west - only in winter.

Air temperature

Vegetable world

In some places, white saxaul and camel thorn grow on the sands, lichens grow on hamads, wormwood and astragalus grow on lava fields, single poplars and acacias along wadi beds, and tamarisk in more saline places; along the coasts and salt marshes - halophytic shrubs. Most of the sandy and rocky deserts are almost completely devoid of vegetation. In spring and in humid years, the role of ephemerals in the composition of vegetation increases. In the mountains of Asir, there are areas of savannah where acacias, wild olives, and almonds grow. In the oases - groves of date palms, citrus fruits, bananas, grain and vegetable crops.

Animal world

The fauna is quite diverse: antelope, gazelle, hyrax, wolf, jackal, hyena, fennec fox, caracal, wild donkey onager, hare. There are many rodents (gerbils, gophers, jerboas, etc.) and reptiles (snakes, lizards, turtles). Among the birds are eagles, kites, vultures, peregrine falcons, bustards, larks, sand grouses, quails, pigeons. The coastal lowlands serve as breeding grounds for locusts. There are over 2000 species in the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf (black coral is especially prized). 39.64% of the country's area is occupied by 128 protected areas. In the mid-1980s, the government organized National park Asir, where such almost extinct species of wild animals as the oryx (oryx) and the Nubian ibex are preserved.

Story

The oldest history

The territory of present-day Saudi Arabia is the historical homeland of the Arab tribes, who originally lived in the northeast, and in the II millennium BC. e. occupied the entire Arabian Peninsula. At the same time, the Arabs assimilated the Negroid population of the southern part of the peninsula.

From the beginning of the 1st millennium BC. e. in the south of the peninsula there were the Minea and Sabaean kingdoms, as their transit shopping centers emerged oldest cities Hijaz - and. In the middle of the 6th century Mecca united the surrounding tribes and repelled the Ethiopian invasion.

At the beginning of the 7th century in Mecca, the prophet Muhammad began to preach Islam. In 622, he moved to the Yathrib oasis (future Medina), which became the center of the nascent Arab state. From 632 to 661, Medina was the seat of the Caliphs and the capital of the Arab Caliphate.

The spread of Islam

Prophet Muhammad's name in Arabic

After the resettlement of the Prophet Muhammad to Yathrib, later named Medina (Arabic: المدينة النبي - city ​​of the Prophet) In 622, an agreement was signed between Muslims led by the Prophet Muhammad and local Arab and Jewish tribes. Not all local Jews converted to Islam, and over time, relations between Arabs and Jews became openly hostile.

In 632, with the capital in Medina, was founded Arab Caliphate, covering almost the entire territory of the Arabian Peninsula. By the time of the beginning of the reign of the second caliph Umar ibn Khattab (634), all Jews were expelled from the Hejaz. At the same time, there is a rule according to which non-Muslims have no right to reside in the Hejaz, and today in Medina and Mecca. As a result of the conquests by the 9th century, the Arab state spread over the entire Middle East, Iran, Central Asia, Transcaucasia, North Africa, as well as Southern Europe(, islands of the Mediterranean Sea).

Arabia in the Middle Ages

In the 16th century, Turkish rule began to be established in Arabia. By 1574, the Ottoman Empire, led by Sultan Selim II, finally conquered the Arabian Peninsula. Taking advantage of the weak political will of Sultan Mahmud I (1730-1754), the Arabs began to make the first attempts to build their own statehood. The most influential Arab families in the Hejaz at that time were the Saud and Rashidi.

First Saudi State

The origin of the Saudi state began in 1744 in the central region of the Arabian Peninsula. The ruler of the city of Ad-Diriyya Muhammad ibn Saud and the Islamic preacher Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab united to create a single powerful state. This alliance, concluded in the 18th century, marked the beginning of the Saudi dynasty that continues to this day. After some time, the young state with its capital in Ad-Diriyya came under pressure from the Ottoman Empire, worried about the strengthening of the Arabs near their southern borders and their conquest of Mecca and Medina. In 1817, the Ottoman sultan sent troops under the command of Muhammad Ali Pasha to the Arabian Peninsula, which defeated the relatively weak army of Imam Abdullah. Thus, the First Saudi State existed for 73 years.

Second Saudi State

Despite the fact that the Turks managed to destroy the beginnings of Arab statehood, only 7 years later (in 1824) the Second Saudi State was founded with its capital at. This state existed for 67 years and was destroyed by the longtime enemies of the Saudis - the Rashidi dynasty, originally from Khail. The Saudi family was forced to flee to.

Third Saudi State

First King of Saudi Arabia Abdul-Aziz ibn Abdurrahman Al Saud

In 1902, 22-year-old Abdul-Aziz from the Saudi family captured, cracking down on the governor from the Rashidi family. In 1904, the Rashidis turned to the Ottoman Empire for help. They brought in their troops, but this time they were defeated and withdrew. In 1912, Abdul-Aziz captured the entire region of Nejd. In 1920, using the material support of the British, Abdul-Aziz finally defeated Rashidi. Mecca was captured in 1925. On January 10, 1926, Abdul-Aziz Al Saud was declared king of the Hejaz. In 1927 Great Britain recognized the independence of the kingdom. A few years later, Abdul-Aziz captured almost the entire Arabian Peninsula. On September 23, 1932, Najd and Hejaz were merged into one state called Saudi Arabia. Abdul-Aziz himself became king of Saudi Arabia.

In March 1938, colossal oil fields... Due to the outbreak of World War II, their development began only in 1946, and by 1949 there was already a well-established oil industry in the country. Oil has become a source of wealth and prosperity for the state.

The first king of Saudi Arabia pursued a rather isolationist policy. Under him, the country never became a member of the League of Nations. Before his death in 1953, he left the country only 3 times. However, in 1945, Saudi Arabia was among the founders of the UN and the League Arab states.

Abdul-Aziz was succeeded by his son Saud. His ill-conceived domestic politics led to the fact that a coup d'état took place in the country, Saud fled to, power passed into the hands of his brother Faisal. Faisal made a huge contribution to the development of the country. Under him, the volume of oil production increased many times over, which made it possible to carry out a number of social reforms in the country and create a modern infrastructure. In 1973, demanding the return of Jerusalem and removing Saudi oil from all trading floors, Faisal provoked an energy crisis in the West. His radicalism did not find understanding among everyone, and two years later, Faisal was shot by his own nephew. After his death, under King Khalid foreign policy Saudi Arabia has become more moderate. After Khalid, his brother Fahd inherited the throne, Abdullah in 2005 and Salman in 2015.

The US House of Representatives accuses the Saudi Arabian government of involvement in the September 11, 2001 attacks. The first lawsuit against Saudi Arabia was filed by Stephanie Ross Desimon, whose husband died in the collision of a plane captured by militants with the Pentagon building.

Unrest 2011-2013

The lack of government efforts to prevent and eradicate human trafficking is noted: Saudi Arabia is a popular destination for trafficking people into labor and sexual slavery.

Foreign policy and international relations

King Abdullah and Barack Obama, July 2014

Saudi Arabia's foreign policy is focused on maintaining key positions for the kingdom in the Arabian Peninsula, among Islamic states and oil-exporting states. Saudi Arabia's diplomacy protects and promotes the interests of Islam around the world. Despite allies with the West, Saudi Arabia has often been criticized for funding Islamic extremists. It is known that Saudi Arabia was one of three states that recognized the rule of the Taliban in Afghanistan. Saudi Arabia is home to the former leader of the al-Qaeda terrorist organization, Osama bin Laden. Difficult relations are also developing with, since both Saudi Arabia and Iran, being the centers of the two main branches of Islam, claim informal leadership in the Islamic world.

Saudi Arabia is a key member in such organizations as the League of Arab States, the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

The USSR was the first non-Arab country to recognize the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1926. In 1990, diplomatic relations were established with the consular level. In 2007, diplomatic relations were established between Saudi Arabia and the Holy See.

2017: Qatari diplomatic crisis.

Economy

Saudi Arabia's economy is based on the oil industry, which accounts for 45% of the country's gross domestic product. 75% of budget revenues and 90% of exports are exports of petroleum products. Proven oil reserves amount to 260 billion barrels (24% of the world's proven oil reserves). Saudi Arabia plays a key role as a “stabilizing producer” in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), through which it regulates world oil prices.

Strengths: huge reserves of oil and gas and an excellent related processing industry. Tourism: Big income from 2 million pilgrims to Mecca a year.

Weaknesses: vocational education is not developed. High food subsidies. Imports of most consumer goods and industrial raw materials. High level youth unemployment. The dependence of the welfare of the country on the ruling family. The reliability of the reserves has been questioned by WikiLeaks publications.

In the 1990s, the country experienced an economic recession associated with falling oil prices and simultaneously huge population growth. Because of this, GDP per capita for several years fell from $ 25,000 to $ 7,000. In 1999, OPEC decided to sharply reduce the volume of oil production, which led to a jump in prices and helped to rectify the situation. In 1999, extensive privatization of electricity and telecommunications enterprises began.

In December 2005, Saudi Arabia joined the World Trade Organization.

International trade

Export- oil and petroleum products: $ 310 billion (2008) The main buyers are the USA (18.5%), Japan (16.5%), China (10.2%), South Korea(8.6%), Singapore (4.8%).

Import- industrial equipment, food, chemical products, cars, textiles: $ 108 billion (2008 est.) The main suppliers are the USA (12.4%), China (10.6%), Japan (7.8%), Germany (7.5%), Italy (4.9%), South Korea (4.7%) ).

In the 2000s, China's role in the kingdom's foreign trade increased sharply: in 2002, the trade between Beijing and Riyadh amounted to $ 5.1 billion, and in 2008 it was already $ 41.8 billion.

Transport

Riyadh - Khobar Highway

Car roads

The total length of highways is 221,372 km. Of them:

• Hard surface - 47 530 km.
• Without hard surface - 173 843 km.

In Saudi Arabia, women (of any nationality) were prohibited from driving a car until 2006. This rule was adopted in 1932 as a result of a conservative interpretation of the provisions of the Koran. Today, until the age of 30, a woman can only drive in the presence of her husband, father or brother.

Railways

Rail transport consists of several hundred kilometers of 1435 mm standard gauge railways linking Riyadh with major ports in the Persian Gulf. The country's railways are operated by two state-owned companies: the Saudi Railways Organization and the Saudi Railway Company.

In 2005, the North-South project was launched, which provides for the construction of a railway line with a length of 2,400 km and a cost of over $ 2 billion. In early 2008, Russian Railways OJSC won a tender for the construction of a 520 km and a cost of $ 800 million, but already in May 2008 the results of the tender were canceled, and the President of Russian Railways V. Yakunin called this decision a political one.

In 2006, a decision was made to build a 440-kilometer line between Mecca and Medina.

Air Transport

Saudi Arabia passenger airlines:

• Al-Maha Airlines is a domestic airline. Aircraft fleet Airbus A 320.
• Nas Air is a domestic low-cost airline. Aircraft fleet Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Embraer 190.
• Saudi Arabian Airlines is Saudi Arabia's flagship airline, domestic and international.

The total length of pipelines is 7067 km. Of these, oil pipelines - 5062 km, gas pipelines - 837 km, as well as 1187 km of pipes for the transportation of liquefied gas (NGL), 212 km - for gas condensate and 69 km - for the transportation of petroleum products.

The culture

In clothing, the inhabitants of Saudi Arabia adhere to national traditions and canons of Islam, avoiding excessive frankness. Men wear long shirts ( dishdasha) made of wool or cotton. The traditional headdress is gutra (keffiyeh). In cold weather, a bisht, a camel wool cape, most often in dark colors, is worn over the dishdashi. Women's traditional clothing is richly decorated with tribal signs, coins, beads, threads. When leaving the house, a Saudi woman is obliged to cover her body with an abaya and her head with a hijab. Foreign women also need to wear abaya (and underneath - trousers or a long dress).

Islam prohibits the consumption of pork and alcohol. Traditional food includes grilled chicken, falafel, shawarma, lula kebab, kussa makhshi (stuffed zucchini), and unleavened bread - hubz... Various spices and herbs are plentifully added to almost all dishes. Among the favorite drinks of the Arabs are coffee and tea. Drinking them is often ceremonial. Arabs drink black tea with the addition of various herbs. Arabic coffee is famous for its traditional strength. It is drunk in small cups (often with cardamom added) and is consumed very often.



The culture of Saudi Arabia is strongly associated with Islam. Every day, five times a day, the muezzin calls the faithful Muslims to prayer (namaz). Service of another religion, distribution of other religious literature, construction of churches, Buddhist temples, synagogues is prohibited.

Public theaters and cinemas have been banned since the 1980s. However, in communities where workers from Western countries live predominantly (for example), such establishments do exist. Home video is very popular. Western films are virtually uncensored.

The days off in the country are Friday and Saturday.

Education

In the initial period of its existence, the Saudi state could not give all its citizens education guarantees. Only the servants of mosques and Islamic schools were educated. In such schools, people learned to read and write, and also studied Islamic law. Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Education was founded in 1954. It was headed by the son of the first king, Fahd. In 1957, the first university in the kingdom, named after King Saud, was founded in Riyadh. By the end of the 20th century, Saudi Arabia had established a system that provided free education to all citizens, from preschool to tertiary.

Today the education system in the kingdom consists of 8 universities, over 24,000 schools and a large number of colleges and other educational institutions. More than a quarter of the state's annual budget is spent on education. In addition to free education, the government provides students with everything they need to study: literature and even medical care. The state also sponsors the education of its citizens at foreign universities - mainly in the United States.

media

State TV and Radio Company SBC ( Saudi Broadcasting Corporation, المملكة العربية السعودية هيئة الإذاعة والتلفزيون - "Saudi Broadcasting Corporation"), includes TV channels Al Saudiya and Saudi 2, radio stations Radio Riyadh, Radio Jeddah and Radio of the Holy Quran.

Sport

Sports are popular with young people. Women rarely play sports; if they do, then in closed rooms where there are no men. The most popular game is football, although the kingdom's national team also takes part in the volleyball, basketball championships and the Summer Olympics. The Saudi Arabia national football team is considered one of the strongest teams in Asia. Saudi Arabia won the Asian Cup three times - in 1984, 1988 and 1996.

Drift is extremely popular among young people - a technique of driving a car in a controlled drift. Such competitions are prohibited by law. Often they do not do without victims, but they invariably gather crowds of motorists, spectators and onlookers.

Religion



Al-Quba Mosque in Medina - the world's oldest mosque

The official religion is Sunni Islam. The majority of the population is Salafi. Shiites make up approximately 10-15% of the country's population and live mainly in the eastern provinces of the country (see Shiites in Saudi Arabia). The Saudi Arabian government allows people of other faiths to enter the country, but they are prohibited from worshiping. For non-Muslim foreigners entering Saudi Arabia, there is a ban on visiting the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. To determine religious affiliation, the Saudi visa contains a column on the foreigner's religion, which allows the religious police to deploy non-Muslim foreign citizens at the entrances to the holy cities.

The country has a religious police ( muttava). Soldiers of the Shariah Guard constantly patrol the streets and public institutions in order to suppress attempts to violate the canons of Islam. If a violation is found, the perpetrator shall be punished accordingly (from a fine to a beheading).

Representatives of other religions also live in the country - Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Bahá'ís. The number of Christians is estimated at 1.2 million; the largest denominations are represented by Catholics (1.05 million) and Pentecostals (83 thousand). Among the immigrants from Egypt, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Lebanon there are supporters of the ancient Eastern churches (50 thousand) - Coptic, Ethiopian, Eritrean and Syro-Jacobite.

Women in Saudi Society



Young girl in niqab

Every adult woman should have a close male relative as her “guardian”. The guardian makes many important decisions on behalf of the woman, such as allowing the woman to travel, hold certain types of business licenses, study at a university or college, and work (if the type of employment “looks acceptable to the woman”). Some authorities still ask for the guardian's permission even where it is not required by law. The woman cannot receive medical assistance without the permission of the husband or "guardian". After the woman's successful escape from the country, a special electronic system was developed so that the man / guardian could track the woman's location.

Women are also discriminated against in the courts: in the Saudi Arabian legal system, the testimony of a man is equal to that of two women. Men are allowed polygamy, they use the unilateral rule of divorce from their wives (talak) without the need for any legal basis. A woman can obtain a divorce only with the consent of her husband or if it is legally proven that her husband is harming her. In fact, getting a legal divorce for a Saudi woman is very difficult. As for the right of inheritance, according to the Qur'an, a certain part of the deceased's fortune must be given to the heirs. Compared to a male heir, a woman can receive only half of the property. Sunni Muslims can bequeath a third of their property to non-Qur'anic heirs. The part of the inheritance, not determined by the will, is divided between the heirs through the male line.

Cultural norms restrict a woman's public behavior. Their observance is monitored by the religious police (mutawa). In restaurants, women are required to sit in separate, family-friendly sections. Women should wear abaya (a long, loose-fitting dress that hides the entire figure) and cover their hair. Women are not allowed to drive. In December 2011, Saudi Arabia's Supreme Religious Council, Majelis al-Ifta al-Aala, upheld a ban on women driving licenses. In 2013, women were allowed to ride motorcycles and bicycles, but accompanied by a man / guardian and away from the male crowd so as not to “provoke aggression” from the latter.

Men can marry girls who have reached the age of ten. It is believed that marriage in early age interferes with women's education. With the advent of puberty, the screening of girls in educational institutions increases as they get married. About 25% of college-aged girls do not attend college; in 2005-2006, the dropout rate for women was 60%. It is estimated that literacy is approximately 70% for women (85% for men).

While many Saudi citizens want more freedom in the country, there is no evidence that most women want radical change. Even many reform advocates reject foreign critics because "they fail to understand the uniqueness of Saudi society." Some Saudi women have been able to rise to the top of the profession or gain fame (for example, Dr. Gada al-Mutari, head of the medical research center in California, and Dr. Salwa al-Hazaa, head of the ophthalmology department at King Faisal Hospital in Riyadh, who was the personal ophthalmologist of the deceased King Fahd). On June 24, 2011, Saudi athletes were allowed to take part in the Olympic Games.

On September 25, 2011, after another round of municipal elections, King Abdullah announced that Saudi women should be given the right to vote and run in municipal elections. However, in order to vote, the guardian's permission must be obtained.

The 2010 World Economic Forum's International Gender Report ranked Saudi Arabia 129th out of 134 countries for gender equality. The US Department of State views discrimination against women in Saudi Arabia as a "significant issue" and wants women to have some political or social rights.

Military establishment

Consist of ground forces, naval forces, air forces, air defense forces, strategic missile forces, and the national guard. The country is divided into 6 military districts.

224,500 people (including the National Guard) are serving in the ranks of the armed forces of the kingdom. The service is contractual. Foreign mercenaries are also involved in military service. The number of the armed forces is constantly growing, so in 1990 they numbered only 90 thousand people. The main supplier of weapons for the kingdom is traditionally the United States (85% of all weapons). The country produces its own armored personnel carriers.

Saudi Arabia is among the top ten countries in terms of funding for the armed forces: the military budget takes 10-11% of GDP (the highest among the Gulf countries).

Structure



Military training

• Ground troops
Number: 80 thousand people in 10 brigades (including: armored, mechanized, airborne; artillery, army aviation, infantry brigade of the royal guard). Armament: 1055 tanks, 170 self-propelled guns, 238 towed guns, 60 MLRS, 2400 ATGMs, 9700 BMP, 300 BA, 1900 SAM.
• Saudi Arabian Navy
Population: 15.5 thousand people. Consists of the Western (in the Red Sea) and the Eastern (in the Persian Gulf) fleets. In the composition of 18 ships and 75 boats. There are 31 helicopters in naval aviation, including 21 combat ones. Marines. Coastal defense troops.
• Royal Air Force
Number of 19 thousand people; armed with 293 combat aircraft, 78 helicopters.
• Air defense forces
Population: 16 thousand people. United into a single system with the United States. The air defense forces consist of anti-aircraft missile systems, anti-aircraft artillery, and parts of radio-technical troops. Air Force fighters are in the operational subordination of the air defense forces.
• Royal Saudi Strategic Missile Force
Population: more than 1000 people. It is armed with about 40 Chinese medium-range ballistic missiles (2000-2800 km, with a warhead weighing up to 2 tons) "Dongfeng-3" (CSS-2), purchased from China in 1987, deployed first at the Al Sulayul base, then also at Al-Jufair base, about 90 km south of the capital.
• Paramilitaries
National Guard (75 thousand people in 3 mechanized and 5 infantry brigades, as well as a ceremonial cavalry squadron; armed with artillery and infantry fighting vehicles, no tanks); The Border Guard Corps (1,050 people) in peacetime is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Internal Affairs); Coast Guard (4.5 thousand people; has 50 patrol boats, 350 motor boats, a royal yacht); Security forces (500 people).

The official name is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Al Mamlaka al Arabiyya as Saudiya, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia). Located in the southwest of Asia, it occupies most of the Arabian Peninsula. The area is 2240 thousand km2, the population is 23.51 million people. (2002). Official language- Arabic. The capital is the city of Riyadh (over 2.77 million people, with the suburbs 4.76 million people). State holiday - the Day of the Proclamation of the Kingdom - September 23 (since 1932). The monetary unit is the Saudi rial (equal to 100 halalas).

Member of OPEC (since 1960), UN (since 1971), GCC (since 1981), LAS, etc.

Saudi Arabia landmarks

Geography of Saudi Arabia

Located between 34 ° and 56 ° E and 16 ° and 32 ° North. In the east it is washed by the Persian Gulf, in the west and southwest - by the Red Sea. The Red Sea is located between the shores of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, stretching from northwest to southeast. In the northern part of the sea there are the artificial Suez Canal, which connects with the Mediterranean Sea, the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba (off the coast of Saudi Arabia), separated by the Sinai Peninsula. The sandy, in places rocky shores of the Red Sea are weakly indented throughout and bordered by coral reefs with coral bays. There are few islands, but south of 17 ° north latitude they form numerous groups, one of the largest being the Farasan Islands, which belong to Saudi Arabia.

Surface currents are seasonal. In the southern part of the sea, from November to March, the current is directed north-northwest along the shores of the Arabian Peninsula. To the north, this current weakens, meeting with the opposite one, running along the coast of Africa. From June to September, there are southern and southeastern currents in the Red Sea. The tides are mostly semi-diurnal. In the northern part of the sea, winds sometimes reach the strength of a storm. The Persian Gulf has shallow depths (average - 42 m), the currents form a counterclockwise cycle. In the Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf with the Oman, the direction of the current changes with the seasons: in summer from the ocean to the Persian Gulf, in winter - vice versa.

Saudi Arabia borders Jordan and Iraq in the north, and Kuwait, Bahrain (sea border), Qatar and the United Arab Emirates in the northwest. Southern borders with Oman and Yemen not identified.

More than 1/2 of the territory of Saudi Arabia in the southeast is occupied by the Rub al-Khali Desert, or the Great Sandy Desert, with an area of ​​approx. 650 thousand km2. In the north of the country is part of the Syrian Desert, and the Nefud Desert, covering an area of ​​approx. 57 thousand km2, extends further south. In the center of the country there is a plateau, crossed by several small rivers that dry up in the dry season. In the south-west of the country there are small mountain ranges and its highest point- Mount Jabal Sauda (3133 m). Narrow coastal plains lie along the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf.

The bowels of Saudi Arabia are rich in the most important types of raw materials - oil, natural gas, iron, copper, gold and other non-ferrous metals, there are deposits of rock salt, uranium, etc. In terms of oil reserves, the country ranks 1st in the world - 25.2%, or 35.8 billion tons. Natural gas reserves are 5400 billion m3. Mineral resources, except for oil and gas, are still poorly studied and are extracted in extremely small quantities.

Soils in Saudi Arabia are mainly sandy and stony, in the northern part of Arabia there are gray soils, in the south - red, red-brown. The most fertile lands are located on the shores of the Red Sea.

The climate is hot, dry, mostly tropical, in the north - subtropical. Average temperatures in July are above + 30 ° C, in January + 10-20 ° C. Precipitation approx. 100 mm per year, up to 400 mm in the mountains. January temperature in Riyadh is + 8-21 ° С, in Jeddah + 26-37 ° С. July temperature in Riyadh is + 26-42 ° С, and in Jeddah - + 26-37 ° С.However, in the mountains in winter there are freezing temperatures and snow.

There are no permanent natural reservoirs on the territory of the country, except for shallow pools in oases, sometimes temporary lakes are formed after rains. There are significant reserves of groundwater.

The flora of the interior regions is extremely poor, there are desert grasses, thorny shrubs, in fertile areas - thickets of tamarisk, acacia, in oases - date palms. The fauna is represented by antelopes, foxes, gazelles, hyenas, ostriches, panthers, wild cats, wolves, mountain goats, rabbits, and Indian badgers. Among the birds, the bustard, dove, and quail stand out. Of the predators - eagles, falcons. The sea is rich in fish.

Population of Saudi Arabia

In the total population of approx. 23% are non-citizens of the kingdom (2002).

The average annual growth rate of the indigenous population is 3.27% (2002). In 1974 - 92 the population grew from 6.72 to 16.95 million people. The population is growing especially rapidly in the 15-24 age group.

Birth rate 37.25 ‰, mortality 5.86 ‰, infant mortality 49.59 people. per 1000 newborns, average life expectancy 68.4 years, incl. men 66.7, women 70.2 (2002).

Age and sex structure of the population (2002): 0-14 years - 42.4% (men 5.09 million people, women 4.88 million); 15-64 years - 54.8% (men 7.49 million, women 5.40 million); 65 years and older - 2.8% (men 362.8 thousand people, women 289.8 thousand). Urban population 85.7% (2000). 78% of the population aged 15 and over is literate (84.2% of men and 69.5% of women) (2002).

Ethnic composition: Arabs - 90%, Afro-Asians - 10%. The indigenous Saudis stand out, whose ancestors lived in the country for centuries - approx. 82%, Yemenis and other Arabs who arrived in the country after the 1950s. during the oil boom - approx. 13%, Berber nomads, whose numbers are declining. Languages: Arabic, European languages ​​are also used.

The state religion is Islam. Almost all Muslims are Sunnis. Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam, founded by the Prophet Muhammad. The whole life of the country is subject to strict laws and rules that have a thousand-year history. Men and women are prohibited from drinking alcoholic beverages. The breeding of pigs and the consumption of pork are prohibited. Mecca is the cradle of Islam and the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad, there is the main shrine of the Muslim world - the ancient sanctuary of the Kaaba. The second religious center is Medina, where the prophet is buried. Among the duties of a Muslim is fasting during Ramadan, the 9th month of the Muslim calendar (from late February to late March), when Muslims abstain from food and drink, and avoid spectacles and other pleasures until sunset. One of the pillars of Islam is the Hajj, a pilgrimage to Mecca that must be completed at least once in a lifetime. Millions of pilgrims from all over the world gather in Mecca.

History of Saudi Arabia

In the 1st millennium BC. on the coast of the Red Sea, the Minea kingdom arose with its capital at Karna (modern Hoida in Yemen). On the east coast was Dilmun, which was considered a political-cultural federation on the shores of the Persian Gulf. For almost 1,500 years, there has been no important events... In 570 A.D. the Prophet Muhammad was born in Mecca, and the teachings of Islam literally turned the entire history of Saudi Arabia upside down. Muhammad's followers, known as caliphs (caliphs), conquered almost the entire Middle East.

Many technical and construction achievements were known to the Arabs of the Arabian Peninsula. In agriculture already in the 5-6 centuries. an iron plow was used, mined iron ore and the metal was smelted, already in the pre-Islamic era, the Arabs created their original writing - the Sabean script in South Arabia and later, in the 5th century. - Nabatean script, on the basis of which modern Arabic writing developed.

With the emergence of the Caliphate, whose capital was first in Damascus and later in Baghdad, the role of the prophet's homeland became less and less significant.

In 1269, virtually the entire territory of modern Saudi Arabia was under Egyptian rule. In 1517, power passed to the rulers of the Ottoman Empire. All R. 18th century the state of Najd was founded, which was independent from the Ottoman Empire. In 1824 Riyadh became the capital of the state. In 1865, a civil war broke out in the country, and the weakened country was divided between neighboring states. In 1902 Abdelaziz ibn Saud captured Riyadh, and by 1906 his troops controlled almost all of Najd. He achieved the recognition of the state by the Turkish sultan. Relying on the Wahhabi doctrine, Ibn Saud continued to unite the country under his rule, and by 1926 he was able to practically complete this process. The USSR was the first to establish normal diplomatic relations with the new state in February 1926. In 1927 Ibn-Saud achieved the recognition of the sovereignty of his state by Great Britain. In 1932 he gave the country the name Saudi Arabia. After that, the penetration of foreign, primarily American, capital into the country, associated with the exploration and development of oil, increased. After the death of Ibn Saud in 1953, his son Saud Ibn Abdelaziz became king, who continued to strengthen the position of the country, taking into account the position of the League of Arab Countries on common Arab issues. In 1958, the need for a more modern policy led to the transfer of the powers of the prime minister to the king's brother, Emir Faisal, who expanded the capitalist transformation of the economy. On November 7, 1962, a law was passed to abolish slavery.

In August 1965, a 40-year-old dispute between Saudi Arabia and Jordan over the border was resolved. Since 1966, an agreement was signed with Kuwait on the division into equal parts of the neutral zone on the border of the two countries. Saudi Arabia has recognized Jordan's claims to the port city of Aqaba. 1967 - 1st floor. 1970s Saudi Arabia took an active part in defending the interests of Arab countries, began to provide large financial assistance to Egypt, Syria, Jordan. The increasing role of the country was facilitated by the multiple expansion of oil production and export. In 1975 an agreement was signed with Iraq on the equal division of the neutral zone on the border between the countries.

In October 1973, Saudi Arabia imposed an oil embargo on the United States and the Netherlands. Since the 1970s. the kingdom began to play an increasingly important role in OPEC. On March 25, 1975, Faisal, who became king in November 1964, was killed in an assassination attempt. In 1975 - 82, Khaled was king of S.A., and Emir Fahd was the prime minister. With the active participation of Fahd, state building and economic modernization of the country unfolded at an accelerated pace. Influenced by threats in the region from Iran and the Marxist regime in Yemen, Saudi Arabia initiated the strengthening of the armed forces of the monarchies of the Arabian Peninsula and encouraged the strengthening of the American military presence. The Kingdom took an active part in the liberation of Kuwait from Iraqi occupation in 1991. In March 2001, Saudi Arabia signed a final agreement with Qatar to settle the border dispute between the two countries and a line of demarcation was drawn.

State structure and political system of Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is an absolute theocratic monarchy with a cabinet of ministers. Saudi Arabia is an Islamic state, the role of the Constitution of the country is performed by the Koran, which defines ethical values ​​and gives prescriptions. In 1992, the Basic Nizam about Power was adopted - an act regulating the system of government.

Administrative divisions of the country: 13 administrative regions (provinces, or emirates), within which 103 smaller territorial units have been allocated since 1994.

The largest cities: Riyadh, Jeddah (over 2 million people, with 3.2 million suburbs), Dammam (482 thousand people), Mecca (966 thousand people, with 1.33 million suburbs), Medina (608 thousand people) (2000 estimate).

Principles of government: the legal system is based on Sharia, an Islamic body of laws based on the Koran and Sunnahs. The King and the Council of Ministers operate within the framework of Islamic law. Acts of state come into force through decrees of the king. In public administration, the principles of consultation (shura), ensuring consensus, equality of all before the law are applied, the source of which is the norms of Sharia.

The highest legislative body is the King and an Advisory Council, appointed by the King for 4 years, with 90 members from different walks of life. The council's recommendations are presented directly to the king.

The highest executive body is the Council of Ministers (appointed by the king). This body combines executive and legislative functions, develops proposals in the field of domestic and foreign policy.

The king is the head of state, the head supreme body the legislative branch, the head of the highest executive body.

The composition of the Advisory Council and the Council of Ministers is appointed by the King. The Advisory Board has a chairman and is half-renewed for a new term. Currently, the issue of the possible introduction of an elected representative body is being considered.

An outstanding statesman of Saudi Arabia is considered, first of all, King Abdelaziz ibn Saud, who for 31 years fought for the unification of the kingdom and managed to achieve this by approving independent state ruled until 1953. He made a great contribution to the formation of statehood. King Fahd ibn Abdelaziz ibn Saud played an important role in the successful implementation of programs for the economic modernization of the country and the use of its potential. Even before accession to the throne, he was the country's first minister of education, developed a plan for reforms in education, and during his reign ensured the continuous development of a long-term program of economic reforms and the rise of Saudi Arabia's prestige in the international arena. On November 24, King Fahd assumed the title of "Keeper of the Two Shrines" (the mosques of Mecca and Medina).

In the administrative divisions of the country, power is exercised by the emir of the province, whose appointment is approved by the king, taking into account the opinion of the inhabitants. Under the emir, there is a council with an advisory vote, including the heads of government agencies in the region and at least 10 citizens. Administrative units within the provinces are also headed by emirs, who are responsible to the emir of the province.

There are no political parties in Saudi Arabia. Among the leading organizations of the business community is the Saudi Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Riyadh (which unites major entrepreneurs of the country), several dozen chambers of commerce in the country. Recently, the Supreme Economic Council was created with the participation of representatives of the state and business circles.

Trade union activities are not provided for by law. Among other public organizations, structures involved in the dissemination of Islamic values ​​are of great importance, primarily the League for the Promotion of Virtue and Condemnation of Vice. There are more than 114 charitable organizations and more than 150 cooperative organizations in the country. The Saudi Red Crescent Organization has 139 branches throughout the country. Its activities are supported by the state. A system of cultural societies, literary and sports clubs, scout camps has been created. There are 30 sports federations. Clan, tribe, family are the traditional foundations of Saudi society. There are more than 100 tribes in the country, which in the recent past settled in cities in one block. They are undergoing certain changes under the influence of the modern way of life. A group of Muslim priests and theologians is considered an influential social stratum. The strengthening of modern social strata continues: entrepreneurs, workers, intellectuals.

The internal policy of Saudi Arabia is based on adherence to the Islamic faith in all spheres of life, the government's concern for stability in the country and the welfare of its subjects, the all-round development of the education system, social services, and health care.

Foreign policy includes the following principles: Islamic and Arab solidarity, the country's desire to speak out from a peaceful position in resolving all regional and international conflicts, the active role of Saudi Arabia in international affairs, good-neighborly relations with all countries, non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries.

The military consists of the army and the National Guard. Paramilitaries include the forces of the Ministry of the Interior. In 1997, the Armed Forces of Saudi Arabia numbered 105.5 thousand people, incl. 70 thousand in the Ground Forces, 13.5 thousand in the Navy, 18 thousand in the Air Force and 4 thousand in the Air Defense Forces. The total strength of the National Guard was approx. 77 K people (1999). In service with the Air Force (in 2003) there are 294 combat aircraft, not counting transport aircraft, etc. The ground forces are equipped with French and American tanks (1,055 units), armored personnel carriers, and Hawk missiles. The air defense forces are equipped with Patriot and Crotal complexes and interceptor fighters. The fleet has several dozen large ships and boats for various purposes, 400 boats are at the disposal of the coast guard.

Saudi Arabia has diplomatic relations with The Russian Federation(established with the USSR in February 1926. In April 1938 diplomatic relations were frozen. Restored at the level of ambassadors in September 1990).

Saudi Arabia Economy

The economic development of modern Saudi Arabia is characterized by a high share of the oil industry, with a gradual expansion of production in related industries and a number of manufacturing industries.

Saudi Arabia's GDP, calculated at purchasing power parity, was $ 241 billion. GDP per capita $ 10,600 (2001). Real GDP Growth 1.6% (2001). Share of Saudi Arabia in the world economy (share of GDP) at current prices approx. 0.4% (1998). The country produces nearly 28% of the aggregate GDP of the Arab countries. In 1997, Saudi Arabia provided 13.9% of world oil production and 2% of gas. Inflation rate 1.7% (2001).

The number of employees is 7.18 million people. (1999). Most of those employed in the economy, approx. 56% are represented by immigrants.

Sectoral structure of the economy by contribution to GDP (2000): agriculture 7%, industry 48%, services 45%. The mining industry in 2000 accounted for 37.1%, the manufacturing industry - approx. 10%, GDP structure by employment: services 63%, industry 25%, agriculture 12% (1999). As of 1999, the largest number of employed people is 2.217 million. - was in the field of finance and real estate, 1.037 million people. - in trade, restaurant and hotel business, 1.020 million people. - in construction. The rest were employed in other sectors of the service sector and in industry, incl. OK. 600 thousand people - in processing.

Many of the well-known large Saudi companies have grown out of traditional family-owned business groups. The industrialization of Saudi Arabia was carried out with the leading role of the state, therefore, the economy is still dominated by companies and corporations with a high share of state capital, private capital is present in them in shares with the state. There are companies with foreign capital participation. Saudi National Bank Al-Rajhi Banking and Investment Corporation grew in the 1970s and 1980s. from the oldest money-changing office of the Al-Rajhi family, which owns 44% of the bank's shares. National Industrialization Co. and National Egrikalchurel Development Co. are the first large companies in the country for industrial and agricultural development, respectively, created with a predominance of private capital. The state oil company "Saudi ARAMCO" and the state holding company for oil and mineral resources PETROMIN with its system of subsidiaries in various areas of the oil industry from oil production to the production of oils, gasoline, etc. includes 14 large companies and acts as the basis for the entire structure of the industry. Some of these companies have foreign shareholdings (McDermott, Mobile Oil Investment). In the petrochemical and heavy industries, there is a similar structure, the central place is occupied by the holding company SABIK ("Saudi Basic Industries Corp."), established in 1976, 70% of the capital of which is owned by the state. The role of private capital in this area of ​​the economy is higher. Among the large companies are Kemya, Sharq, Ibn Sina, Hadid, Sadaf, Yanpet. In other sectors of the economy, Arabian Sement Co. (cement production), Saudi Metal Industries (steel bars), Az-Zamil Group (real estate, marketing), etc. There are various banks and insurance companies in the country.

The main industry is oil and gas, which provides the largest share of Saudi Arabia's GDP. It is controlled by the state through authorized state organizations and companies. To the end. 1980s The government completed the purchase of all foreign shares in the oil company Saudi ARAMCO. In the 1960s and 70s. The country saw a rapid increase in oil production: from 62 million tons in 1969 to 412 million in 1974. This coincided with the outbreak of the world energy crisis in 1973 after the Arab-Israeli war. In 1977, Saudi oil exports generated $ 36.5 billion in revenues. In the 1980s. oil prices fell, however Oil and gas industry continues to generate significant revenues (approx. US $ 40 billion per year), amounting to approx. 90% of the country's income from exports. Oil development is carried out in state-owned fields. It is produced in 30 major fields and exported through a system of pipelines, oil storage facilities and ports along the country's coast. In 2000, 441.4 million tons of oil and 49.8 million cubic meters of gas were produced. Saudi Arabia plays an important role in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). In 2001, the country's OPEC production quota was more than 7.54 million barrels. oil per day.

In the field of gas utilization, the largest project was the construction in 1975-80 of a unified system for the collection and processing of associated gas, through which gas is exported and supplied to petrochemical enterprises. Production volume - 17.2 million tons of liquefied gas (1998). In the refining area, there are 5 largest refineries in Yanbu, Rabah, Jeddah, Riyadh and Ras Tannur. The latter processes more than 300 thousand tons. Most of all is produced fuel oil and diesel fuel. The production of automobile and aviation gasoline, fuel for jet engines has been adjusted.

Large SABIK-controlled facilities located in industrial centers Al Jubail, Yanbu and Jeddah, petrochemical and metallurgical production is carried out. In 1990 - 96, the volume of production increased from 13 to 22.8 million tons. The market sold 12.3 million tons of petrochemical products, 4.2 million tons of fertilizers, 2.8 million tons of metals, 2.3 million tons of plastics. By 1997, SABIK's production reached 23.7 million tons, and by 2000 it was planned to increase its production capacity to 30 million tons. Petrochemical products include ethylene, urea, methanol, ammonia, polyethylene, ethylene glycol, etc.

The mining industry is poorly developed. In the beginning. 1997 the state mining company... Currently, gold deposits are being developed northeast of Jeddah. In 1998, approx. 5 tons of gold, 13.84 tons of silver. Salt and gypsum are being developed.

From the beginning. 1970s in Saudi Arabia, the building materials industry developed rapidly due to the construction boom. The basis of the industry is the production of cement, it increased from 9648 thousand tons in 1979 to 15 776 thousand in 1998. Glass production is developed.

The metallurgical industry is represented by the production of reinforcing steel, steel rods, and some types of structural shapes. Several enterprises have been built.

In 1977, the Saudi-German truck assembly plant began to produce products. There is a small shipyard in Dammam that produces oil barges.

Important industries are seawater desalination and energy. The first desalination plant was built in Jeddah in 1970. Now water is supplied from the coast to central cities... In 1970-95, the capacity of the desalination plants increased from 5 to 512 million US gallons of water per year. It was electrified approx. 6000 cities and towns throughout the country. In 1998, electricity production was 19,753 MW, in 1999 production capacity reached 23,438 MW. Electricity demand is expected to grow at an annual rate of 4.5% over the next two decades. It will be required to increase its production to approx. 59,000 MW.

The light, food and pharmaceutical industries are developing at an accelerated rate. Light industry mainly represented by craft-type enterprises. The country has more than 2.5 thousand enterprises for the production of food products, tobacco products, 3500 carpets, textile, clothing and footwear, more than 2474 woodworking, 170 printing houses. The government encourages the development of manufacturing enterprises with private capital. Based on the results of the issuance of licenses in the 1990s. the most priority was the creation of production of petrochemical products and plastics, metalworking and mechanical workshops, production of paper products and printing products, food, ceramics, glass and building materials, textiles, clothing and leather products, woodworking.

The share of agriculture in the country's GDP in 1970 was only 1.3%. Between 1970 and 1993, the production of basic food products increased from 1.79 million to 7 million tons. Saudi Arabia is completely deprived of permanent watercourses. Land suitable for cultivation occupies less than 2% of the territory. Despite this, the agriculture of Saudi Arabia, subsidized by the government and using modern technology and machinery, has become a dynamic industry. Long-term hydrological studies, begun in 1965, have identified significant water resources suitable for agricultural use. In addition to deep wells throughout the country, the agriculture and water sector of Saudi Arabia uses more than 200 reservoirs with a total volume of 450 million m3. The agricultural project in Al-Has alone, completed in 1977, made it possible to irrigate 12,000 hectares and provide jobs for 50,000 people. Other major irrigation projects include the Wadi Jizan project on the Red Sea coast (8,000 ha) and the Abha project in the Asira mountains in the southwest. In 1998, the government announced a new $ 294 million agricultural development project. 1990s increased to 3 million hectares, the country began to export food, food imports decreased from 83 to 65%. For the export of wheat S.A. in the 2nd half. 1990s ranked 6th in the world. More than 2 million tons of wheat, more than 2 million tons of vegetables, approx. 580 thousand tons of fruit (1999). Barley, corn, millet, coffee, alfalfa and rice are also grown.

Livestock breeding is developing, represented by the breeding of camels, sheep, goats, donkeys and horses. An important industry is fishing and fish processing. In 1999, approx. 52 thousand tons of fish. Fish and shrimps are exported.

The length of railways is 1392 km, 724 km have two tracks (2001). 2000 to railroad 853.8 thousand passengers and 1.8 million tons of cargo were transported. Automobile transport has more than 5.1 million vehicles, of which 2.286 million are trucks. The length of the roads is 146,524 km, incl. 44 104 km of paved roads. In the 1990s. the construction of the transaravian highway was completed. Pipeline transport includes 6400 km of pipelines for pumping oil, 150 km for pumping oil products and 2200 km of gas pipelines, incl. for liquefied gas. Sea transport has 274 ships with a total gross tonnage of 1.41 million tons, of which 71 large ships have a tonnage of St. 1000 t, including 30 tankers (including for the transport of chemicals), cargo ships and refrigerators, there are also 9 passenger ships (2002). 90% of cargo is delivered to the country by sea. The fleet transported 88.46 million tons of cargo in 1999. The largest ports are Jeddah, Yanbu, Jizan on the Red Sea coast, and a number of other ports are expanding. Dammam is the 2nd largest commercial port and the country's largest port in the Persian Gulf. Another major port in the Gulf is Jubail. The largest oil port is Ras Tanura, through which up to 90% of oil is exported. The kingdom has 25 commercial airports. The largest international ones are the airport. King Abdelaziz in Jeddah (the halls can simultaneously accommodate 80 thousand pilgrims, the turnover of about 150 thousand tons per year), the airport. King Fahd in Dammam (12 million passengers per year), airports in Riyadh (15 million passengers per year) and Dhahran. Others are airports at Haile, Bish, and Badan. The Saudi airline "Saudi" is the largest in the Middle East. In 1998, 11.8 million passengers were transported.

In Saudi Arabia, the communication system has 3.23 million fixed telephone lines and more than 2.52 million mobile phone users, approx. 570 thousand Internet users (2001). 117 television channels are broadcast. The country is actively involved in the creation of a pan-Arab satellite communications... There are several national TV and radio channels and approx. 200 newspapers and other periodicals, incl. 13 daily.

Trade is a traditional area of ​​economic activity in Saudi Arabia. Mainly industrial and consumer goods are imported. To encourage national industry, a 20% duty is levied on goods that compete with locally produced goods. The import of alcohol, drugs, weapons, and religious literature into the country is strictly regulated. Other branches of the service sector are related to real estate, financial transactions, in which the activities of foreigners are limited.

Until recently, the development of tourism was mainly associated with serving the pilgrims who come to Mecca. Their annual number is approx. 1 million people In the end. 1990s the decision was made to make foreign tourism the most important branch of the service sector. In 2000, approx. $ 14.4 billion. There were 200 hotels in the country.

Modern economic policy is characterized by the participation of the state in the main sectors of the economy and the limitation of the presence of foreign capital. However, with the end. 1990s a course is being pursued for the simultaneous expansion of the activity of national private capital, privatization, and stimulation of foreign investment. Oil and gas production remains in the hands of the state. Social policy includes the provision of social guarantees for the population, support and subsidies for youth and families. At the current stage, this is combined with stimulating the training and retraining of national personnel for work in industry and the private sector of the economy.

The country's monetary system is characterized by the backing of the national currency with the help of foreign exchange earnings from oil exports, and a liberal exchange rate regime. Control over money circulation and the banking system is carried out by the Currency Agency. The independent activity of foreign bank capital has not been permitted to date. In a number of joint banks with foreign capital, the controlling stake is nationally owned. There are 11 commercial banks and special development banks, as well as funds for financial assistance to Arab countries. Banks operate according to the Islamic system, do not charge or pay a fixed interest.

The state budget of the country is formed by 75% at the expense of revenues from oil exports. Taxes before the end. 1990s were absent, except for the religious. In 1995, indirect taxes were estimated at Saud 1.3 billion. riyals (less than 0.3% of GDP). Currently, corporate income tax and personal income tax are being introduced. The introduction of value added tax, etc. is under consideration. The largest budget expenditures: defense and security - 36.7%, human resource development - 24.6%, public administration - 17.4%, healthcare - approx. 9% (2001). Budget revenues $ 42 billion, expenditures - 54 billion (2002). There is significant domestic debt. External debt is estimated at US $ 23.8 billion (2001). Gross capital investment - 16.3% of GDP (2000).

The standard of living of the country's population is relatively high. Average wage in industry 7863.43 US dollars per year (2000).

The country's trade balance is active. The value of exports is $ 66.9 billion, imports are $ 29.7 billion. The main export item is oil and oil products (90%). Major export partners: USA (17.4%), Japan (17.3%), South Korea (11.7%), Singapore (5.3%), India. Machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, cars, textiles are imported. Main import partners: USA (21.1%), Japan (9.45%), Germany (7.4%), Great Britain (7.3%) (2000).

Science and culture of Saudi Arabia

Great attention is paid to education. In the end. 1990s education expenses - St. 18% of the budget, the number of schools at all levels exceeded 21,000. In 1999/2000, the number of students in all forms of education was approx. 4.4 million people, and teachers - more than 350 thousand. Education for girls is supervised by a special supervisory board, they amounted to approx. 46% of students in mid. 1990s Education is free and open to all citizens, although not compulsory. The university system includes the Islamic University of Medina, the University of Petroleum and Mineral Resources. King Fahd in Dhahran, University. King Abdelaziz in Jeddah, University. King Faisal (with branches in Dammam and El-Khufuf), University. Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud in Riyadh, Umm al-Quur University in Mecca and King Saud in Riyadh. There are also 83 institutes. A special department deals with schools for sick children. In the scientific and technical town named after King Abdelaziz conducted research in the field of geodesy, energy, ecology.

Saudi Arabia - a country with ancients cultural traditions... Lot architectural monuments embody the Arab and Islamic fine arts. These are old castles, forts and other monuments in all parts of the country. Among the 12 main museums are the National Museum of Archeology and National Heritage, the Museum of the Al-Masmak Fortress in Riyadh. The Saudi Society for Culture and Arts, with chapters in many cities, organizes art exhibitions and festivals. The art center near Abha hosts exhibitions of local and regional artisans, a library and a theater. The system of literary clubs and libraries is widely developed. Saudi literature is represented by a wide range of ancient and modern works, poetry (odes, satire and lyrics, religious and social themes) and prose (short story), journalism. Creative festivals are interesting. National festival cultural heritage in Genadriya, north of Riyadh, gathers local and foreign humanities scholars, representatives from all regions of the country participate in it, it covers the fine arts, folk dances, painting, literature, poetry. The famous camel races are held.

On the cultural life the Islamic religion leaves its mark. The state has created 210 Islamic cultural centers around the world to explain Islamic culture. Local customs include restraint in behavior; one should not talk to women other than the attendants. Muslims pray 5 times a day; they take off their shoes at the entrance to the mosque. Non-Muslims are prohibited from appearing in sacred cities Mecca and Medina.