Saudi Arabia Information from CIA World Factbook 2010

Saudi Arabia Map

Saudi Arabia Flag with the Shahada or Muslim creed (translated as "There is no god but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God") the flag is manufactured with differing reverse sides so that the Shahada reads - and the sword points - correctly from right to left on both sides

Type of government – Islamic absolute monarchy – Saudi Arabia was an absolute monarchy until 1992, at which time the Saud royal family introduced the country's first constitution. – The legal system is based on the sharia (Islamic law). Religion – Muslim 100%

Economy – Saudi Arabia's economy is a centrally planned economy. – Private enterprises do exist, but they are regulated by the Saudi government – Saudi Arabia has an oil-based economy – It possesses about 20% of the world's proven petroleum reserves, ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC. Currency – Riyal

Ethnic groups – Arab 90% – Afro-Asian 10% Language – Arabic Capital city – Riyadh

Geography – Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen. – harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes. mostly uninhabited, sandy desert. – frequent sand and dust storms

Environmental Issues – Desertification – Depletion of underground water resources – Lack of perennial rivers or permanent water bodies has prompted the development of extensive seawater desalination facilities – Coastal pollution from oil spills

Natural resources – Petroleum – Natural gas – Iron ore – Gold – Copper Agricultural Products – wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons, dates, citrus; mutton, chickens, eggs, milk

Major Industry – Crude oil production – Petroleum refining – Basic petrochemicals – Ammonia – Fertilizer – Plastics – Metals – Commercial ship repair – Commercial aircraft repair – Construction

History – Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and home to Islam's two holiest shrines in Mecca and Medina. – The modern Saudi state was founded in 1932 by ABD AL-AZIZ bin Abd al- Rahman Al SAUD after a 30-year campaign to unify most of the Arabian Peninsula.

Literacy Rate – Total Population: 78.8% – Male: 84.7% – Female: 70.8% Life Expectancy – Total Population: 76 years – Male: 74 years – Female: 79 years

GDP – $592.3 billion – $24,500 per capita Population – 28,686,633