Saudi Arabia
From Worldatplay
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| + | The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Arabic: المملكة العربية السعودية, al-Mamlaka al-ʻArabiyya as-Suʻūdiyya) is the largest country on the Arabian Peninsula. | ||
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| + | 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. | ||
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| + | Saudi Arabia is the world's leading petroleum exporter and petroleum exports fuel the Saudi economy.[2] Oil accounts for more than 90 percent of exports and nearly 75 percent of government revenues, facilitating the creation of a welfare state,[3][4] which the government has found difficult to fund during periods of low oil prices.[5] 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. | ||
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| + | =Recent History and Politics= | ||
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| + | 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. | ||
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| + | Qadir recently appointed a State Command Council, consisting of himself, the heads of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. | ||
[[Category:Nations]] | [[Category:Nations]] | ||
[[Category:Saudi Arabia]] | [[Category:Saudi Arabia]] | ||
Revision as of 04:00, 10 January 2008
| المملكة العربية السعودية al-Mamlaka al-‘Arabiyya as-Su’ūdiyya Kingdom of Saudi Arabia | |
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| Flag | Coat of arms |
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| Motto "There is no god but God; Muhammad is His messenger" (the Shahadah) | |
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| Anthem Aash Al Maleek | |
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| Capital and Largest city | Riyadh |
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| Official languages | Arabic |
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| Government - King - Crown Prince - Prime Minister | Monarchy Abdulaziz bin Fahd No present heir Field Marshal Muhammad Abdul Qadir |
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| Establishment - Kingdom declared - Recognised - Unified | January 8, 1926 May 20, 1927 September 23, 1932 |
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| Area - Total - Water (%) | 2,554,882 km² 986,445 sq mi Negligible |
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| Population - July 2007 estimate | 33,985,470 |
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| GDP (PPP) - Total - Per capita | 2006 estimate $2.415 trillion $21,200 |
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| HDI |  0.812 (high)
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| Currency | Riyal (SAR)
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| Time zone - Summer (DST) | AST (UTC +3) not observed (UTC +8) |
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| Internet TLD | .sa |
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| 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.[2] Oil accounts for more than 90 percent of exports and nearly 75 percent of government revenues, facilitating the creation of a welfare state,[3][4] which the government has found difficult to fund during periods of low oil prices.[5] 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.
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.
