Saudi Arabia at a Glance

By Shawn L. Twing

Population: 16.9 million (includes sizable population of expatriate workers and families)

Capital: Riyadh (population 3 million)

Religion: Islam (100%)

Literacy: 62% for those over 30; 80% for those under 30

Per Capita Income: $12,000

Total Gross Domestic Product (GDP): $115 billion

Major Industries: Petroleum production and refining, natural gas, basic petrochemicals, cement, small steel-rolling mills, construction, fertilizers and plastics; agriculture is the second largest industry.

Chief of State: The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz

National Day: Founding of the modern Kingdom, September 23.

Transportation: 95,350 kilometers of roads (33,840 kilometers paved), 886 kilometers of railroads, 84 ships, 182 major transport aircraft (plus 61 purchased recently), and 25 airports (22 local and 3 international).

Climate: Weather conditions vary across the Kingdom. The "Empty Quarter" (Rub Al-Khali) tends to be very hot and dry during the summer, while the Asir highlands are relatively cool and moist. Daytime temperatures can exceed 100 degrees (F) during the summer in many regions of the country. During the winter, temperatures are pleasant on coastal areas and near the freezing point in higher elevations.

Geographic Features: Saudi Arabia occupies four-fifths of the Arabian peninsula, with a total land area of 865,000 square miles. This is roughly the size of the United States east of the Mississippi River. Geographic features include grasslands, rugged mountains and vast deserts.

Form of Government: Monarchy with an appointed Council of Ministers and an appointed Majlis al-Shura (Consultative Council). Saudi citizens enjoy the right of direct petition to the government to have their voices heard. Legal decisions are based on shariah, Islamic law, and there is no separate constitution.

Admitted to the United Nations in 1945 (one of the six founding countries).

Organizations: League of Arab States, United Nations, Gulf Cooperation Council, Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, Organization of the Islamic Conference and the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries. Saudi Arabia is a substantial contributor to the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Saudi Arabia's foreign aid program reflects one of the highest ratios of development assistance to GDP in the world, with the Kingdom providing an annual 5.5 percent of GDP as international development aid.

Life Expectancy: 71 (female), 68 (male) (1994 estimate).

Education: Saudi children begin school at age six and continue for twelve years until they graduate from high school. After high school, students can continue their education in vocational or training school as well as university education. Education is free to citizens through the university level.

Media: Two television channels, one in Arabic and one in English, with some other foreign language programming. Three English-language daily newspapers: Saudi Gazette, Arab News and Riyadh.

Telecommunications: Telex and direct dial to/from most countries. Telephone country code is 966.

Top Trading Partners:
Exports: United States, Japan, Europe (France, Italy, Germany).

Imports: United States, Japan, Europe (Germany, Italy, United Kingdom).

National Airline: Saudia. The current flight schedule between the Kingdom and the United States is: New York-Jeddah-Riyadh departs Tuesdays; Washington, D.C.-New York-Jeddah-Riyadh departs Thursdays; New York-Riyadh-Dhahran departs Fridays; Washington, D.C.-New York-Riyadh-Dhahran departs Sundays.

Currency: Saudi Riyal (SR). Exchange rate: $1=SR3.745.

Time Zone: All of the Kingdom is in one time zone: Eastern Standard Time plus eight hours (Eastern Daylight Time plus 7 hours).

Entry requirements: Valid passport, visa (visas given only for reasons of employment, business, visiting relatives, or pilgrimage).

Restrictions: Alcohol, ammunition, narcotics, pork, pornography and weapons are prohibited in Saudi Arabia. Prescription drugs can be brought in with proper medical documentation. Only Muslims may enter the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.

State Department Restrictions: None.

Health Requirements for Visitors: Cholera shots required for travellers from areas facing a cholera epidemic.

Embassy: Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, 601 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20037, telephone (202) 342-3800.

U.S. Embassy: Collector Rd. M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh, P.O. Box 9041, Riyadh 11143, telephone: (966) (1) 488-3800.