المملكة العربية السعودية - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Is an Arab country and the largest country of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Jordan on the northwest, Iraq on the north and northeast, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates on the east, Oman on the southeast, and Yemen on the south. The Persian Gulf lies to the northeast and the Red Sea to its west. It has an estimated population of 27.6 million, and its size is approximately 2,150,000 square kilometres (830,000 sq mi).

The Kingdom is sometimes called "The Land of the Two Holy Mosques" in reference to Mecca and Medinah, the two holiest places in Islam.

Saudi Arabia is the world's leading petroleum exporter.


-Name of King:

King Abdul Aziz (Ibn Saud) 1932 - 1953
King Saud (Saud bin Abdul Aziz), son of King Abdul Aziz 1953 - 1964
King Faisal (Faisal bin Abdul Aziz), son of King Abdul Aziz 1964 - 1975
King Khalid (Khalid bin Abdul Aziz), son of King Abdul Aziz 1975 - 1982
King Fahd (Fahd bin Abdul Aziz), son of King Abdul Aziz 1982 - 2005
King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud 2005-

-Flag:

green background, with in white letters the Muslim creed in Arabic: "There is no god but God: Muhammad is the Messenger of God."

-Emblem:

a date palm, representing vitality and growth, and two crossed swords, symbolizing justice and strength rooted in faith.

-Location:

southwest Asia, at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa; extending from the Red Sea in the west to the Arabian Gulf in the east; bordered on the north by Jordan, Iraq and Kuwait, on the south, by Yemen and Oman, and on the east by the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain.

-Religion:
Islam, which is the basis of the legal system and of government.

-Language:
Arabic; English widely spoken in urban areas.

-National Day:
September 23, commemorating the foundation of the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932.

The 13 provinces and their capitals:

• Riyadh Province
Riyadh

• Makkah Province
Makkah

• Madinah Province
Madinah

• Qasim Province
Buraidah

• Eastern Province
Dammam

• Asir Province
Abha

• Tabuk Province
Tabuk

• Hail Province
Hail

• Northern Border Province
Ar'ar

• Jizan Province
Jizan

• Najran Province
Najran

• Baha Province
Baha

• Jouf Province
Sakakah


-Law:

The Basic Law, in 1992, declared that Saudi Arabia is a monarchy ruled by the progeny of King Abd Al Aziz Al Saud. It also declared the Qur'an as the constitution of the country, governed on the basis of Islamic law.

Criminal cases are tried under Sharia courts in the country. These courts exercise authority over the entire population including foreigners (regardless of religion). Cases involving small penalties are tried in Shari'a summary courts. More serious crimes are adjudicated in Shari'a courts of common pleas. Courts of appeal handle appeals from Shari'a courts.

Civil cases may also be tried under Sharia courts with one exception: Shia may try such cases in their own courts. Other civil proceedings, including those involving claims against the Government and enforcement of foreign judgments, are held before specialized administrative tribunals, such as the Commission for the Settlement of Labor Disputes and the Board of Grievances.

The Saudi legal system prescribes capital punishment or corporal punishment, including amputations of hands and feet for certain crimes such as murder, robbery, rape, drug smuggling, homosexual activity, and adultery. The courts may impose less severe punishments, such as floggings, for less serious crimes against public morality such as drunkenness. Murder, accidental death and bodily harm are open to punishment from the victim's family. Retribution may be sought in kind or through blood money. The blood money payable for a woman's accidental death is half as much as that for a man. The main reason for this is that, according to Islamic law, men are expected to be providers for their families and therefore are expected to earn more money in their lifetimes. The blood money from a man would be expected to sustain his family, for at least a short time. Honor killings are also not punished as severely as murder. This generally stems from the fact that honor killings are within a family, and done to compensate for some dishonorable act committed. Slavery was abolished in 1962.

-Calendar:
Islamic (Hijrah), dating from emigration of the Prophet Muhammad from Makkah to Madinah; weekend, Thursday and Friday.

-The 12 months of the Islamic lunar year:
Muharram, Safar, Rabi' Al-Awal, Rabi' Al-Akher, Jumada Al-Awal, Jumada Al-Akher, Rajab, Sha'ban, Ramadan, Shawwal. Dhu Al-Qadah , Dhu Al-Hajjah .

-Holidays:
closure of all offices and schools on Eid Al-Fitr, the feast of the breaking of the fast, from the evening of the last day of Ramadan through the third day of Shawwal; and Eid Al-Adha, the culmination of the Hajj, from the tenth through twelfth of Dhu Al-Hajjah.

-Business:
Government offices Saturday through Wednesday from 7:30 am to 2:30 pm; private businesses from 8:00 am to noon and 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm; general banking from 8:00 am until noon and from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm and markets and shops from 8:00 am until 10:00 pm.

-Currency:
Saudi Riyal (SR) pegged to U.S. dollar ($1=SR3.745); bank notes, in Arabic and English, in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 riyals; coins in denominations of 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 halalahs, with 100 halalahs equal to one riyal; metric system in use.