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Current revision as of 15:43, 26 January 2008

المملكة العربية السعودية al-Mamlaka al-‘Arabiyya as-Su’ūdiyya Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Flag	Coat of arms
Motto "There is no god but God; Muhammad is His messenger" (the Shahadah)
Anthem Aash Al Maleek
Capital and Largest city	Riyadh
Official languages	Arabic
Government  - King  - Crown Prince  - Prime Minister	Monarchy Abdulaziz bin Fahd No present heir Field Marshal Muhammad Abdul Qadir
Establishment  - Kingdom declared  - Recognised  - Unified	January 8, 1926 May 20, 1927 September 23, 1932
Area  - Total  - Water (%)	2,554,882 km² 986,445 sq mi Negligible
Population  - July 2007 estimate	33,985,470
GDP (PPP)  - Total  - Per capita	2006 estimate $720 billion $21,200
HDI	0.812 (high)
Currency	Riyal (SAR)
Time zone - Summer (DST)	AST (UTC +3) not observed (UTC +3)
Internet TLD	.sa
Calling code	+966

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Arabic: المملكة العربية السعودية, al-Mamlaka al-ʻArabiyya as-Suʻūdiyya) is the largest country on the Arabian Peninsula.

The Kingdom is sometimes called "The Land of The Two Holy Mosques" in reference to Mecca and Medina, the two holiest places in Islam. In English, it is most commonly referred to as Saudi Arabia (pronounced /ˈsɒdɪ/ or /ˈsaʊdɪ əˈɹeɪbɪə/). The Kingdom was founded by Abdul-Aziz bin Saud, whose efforts began in 1902 when he captured the Al-Saud’s ancestral home of Riyadh, and culminated in 1932 with the proclamation, and recognition of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia is the world's leading petroleum exporter and petroleum exports fuel the Saudi economy. Oil accounts for more than 90 percent of exports and nearly 75 percent of government revenues, facilitating the creation of a welfare state, which the government has found difficult to fund during periods of low oil prices. Human rights groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have repeatedly expressed concern about the state of human rights in Saudi Arabia, although these concerns have been dismissed by the Saudi government.

Saudi Arabia is split into provinces which are as follows:

• Al Bahah
• Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah
• Al Jawf
• Al Madinah (Medina)
• Al Qasim
• Ar Riyad (Riyadh)
• Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern Province)
• 'Asir
• Ha'il
• Jizan
• Makkah (Mecca)
• Najran
• Tabuk
• Oman (entered 1990)
• Qatar (entered 1993)
• Bahrain (entered 2000)
• Abu Dhabi (entered 2005)
• Ajman (entered 2005)
• Dubai (entered 2005)
• Fujairah (entered 2005)
• Ras al-Khaimah (entered 2005)
• Sharjah (entered 2005)
• Umm al-Quwain (entered 2005)

[edit] Recent History and Politics

In October 2006, a large part of the Royal Guard, and some of the National Guard, led by Bandar bin Abdul Aziz led a palace coup in Riyadh. It was rumoured that Bandar bin Abdul Aziz was highly religious and believed his relatives were becoming anti-Islamic. He organised with other Saudi Royals in the Royal Guard and National Guard for overthrow King Adbullah. The coup was incredibly violent, with several hundred dying, including the King and most of the top of the Royal Family. The coup was put down by The Airborne Brigade of the Saudi Arabian Army, led by Brigadier General Muhammad Abdul Qadir. The only Royal who both survived, and stayed in Saudi Arabia was Abdulaziz bin Fahd, who became King. He appointed Muhammad Abdul Qadir as Prime Minister, and they jointly appointed a new "Consultative Assembly". Muhammad Abdul Qadir was also appointed Minister of Defence, promoted to Field Marshal. Most of the Consultative Assembly are moderates, or military officers.

Qadir recently appointed a State Command Council, consisting of himself, the heads of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The Cabinet consists entirely of military and National Guard officers.

[edit] Economy

The economy of Saudi Arabia is based almost entirely on oil exports. It is a leading member of OPEC, though some speculate that Saudi Arabia may withdraw from OPEC. Saudi Arabia has historically has a very high degree of government ownership and control over the economy, with the main exception of some of its territories, including Dubai. Saudi Arabia is moving to diversify its economy, and open itself to foreign investment. Field Marshal Qadir recently removed all foreign ownership restrictions except in oil. The labour force is still highly dependent on foreign workers, and Field Marshal Qadir is looking at welfare reform to get Arabs into the work force, as well as enhanced education programs. Investment in banking remains low, except in parts of Dubai where Islamic banking law does not operate.