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We j h ▁in ▁the ▁south . ▁The ▁capital ▁of ▁Med ian ▁was ▁Q ur ay y ah , ▁it ▁consists ▁of ▁a ▁large ▁fort ified ▁cit adel ▁en compass ing ▁ 3 5 ▁he ct ares ▁and ▁below ▁it ▁lies ▁a ▁wall ed ▁settlement ▁of ▁ 1 5 ▁he ct ares . ▁The ▁city ▁hosted ▁as ▁many ▁as ▁ 1 0 ▁to ▁ 1 2 ▁thousand ▁inhabitants . ▁The ▁Med ian ites ▁were ▁depicted ▁in ▁two ▁major ▁events ▁in ▁the ▁Bible ▁that ▁rec ount ▁Israel ' s ▁two ▁wars ▁with ▁Med ian , ▁somewhere ▁in ▁the ▁early ▁ 1 1 th ▁century ▁BC . ▁Polit ically , ▁the ▁Med ian ite ▁were ▁described ▁as ▁having ▁decent ral ized ▁structure ▁headed ▁by ▁five ▁kings ▁( E vi , ▁R ek em , ▁T sur , ▁Hur ▁and ▁Reb a ), ▁the ▁names ▁appears ▁to ▁be ▁to pon y ms ▁of ▁important ▁Med ian ite ▁settlement s . ▁It ▁is ▁common ▁view ▁that ▁Med ian ▁designated ▁a ▁conf eder ation ▁of ▁tribes , ▁the ▁sed ent ary ▁element ▁settled ▁in ▁the ▁Hij az ▁while ▁its ▁nom ad ic ▁affiliates ▁past ured , ▁and ▁sometimes ▁pill aged ▁as ▁far ▁away ▁land ▁as ▁Palest ine . ▁The ▁nom ad ic ▁Med ian ites ▁were ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁earliest ▁explo it ers ▁of ▁the ▁dom est ication ▁of ▁cam els ▁that ▁enabled ▁them ▁to ▁navigate ▁through ▁the ▁harsh ▁terr ains ▁of ▁the ▁region . ▁ ▁At ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁the ▁ 7 th ▁century ▁BC , ▁an
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▁emerging ▁kingdom ▁appeared ▁on ▁the ▁historical ▁theater ▁of ▁north - western ▁Arabia . ▁It ▁started ▁as ▁a ▁She ik dom ▁of ▁D ed an , ▁which ▁developed ▁into ▁the ▁Kingdom ▁of ▁L ih yan ▁tribe . ▁The ▁earliest ▁att est ation ▁of ▁state ▁reg ality , ▁King ▁of ▁L ih yan , ▁was ▁in ▁the ▁mid - six th ▁century ▁BC . ▁The ▁second ▁stage ▁of ▁the ▁kingdom ▁saw ▁the ▁transformation ▁of ▁D ed an ▁from ▁a ▁mere ▁city - state ▁of ▁which ▁only ▁influence ▁they ▁ex ert ed ▁was ▁inside ▁their ▁city ▁walls , ▁to ▁a ▁kingdom ▁that ▁en compass ▁much ▁wider ▁domain ▁that ▁marked ▁the ▁p inn acle ▁of ▁L ih yan ▁civilization . ▁The ▁third ▁state ▁occurred ▁during ▁the ▁early ▁ 3 rd ▁century ▁BC ▁with ▁burst ing ▁economic ▁activity ▁between ▁the ▁south ▁and ▁north ▁that ▁made ▁L ih yan ▁acquire ▁large ▁influence ▁suitable ▁to ▁its ▁strategic ▁position ▁on ▁the ▁car avan ▁road . ▁ ▁L ih yan ▁was ▁a ▁powerful ▁and ▁highly ▁organized ▁ancient ▁Arab ian ▁kingdom ▁that ▁played ▁a ▁vital ▁cultural ▁and ▁economic ▁role ▁in ▁the ▁north - western ▁region ▁of ▁the ▁Arab ian ▁Pen insula . ▁The ▁L ih yan ites ▁ruled ▁over ▁large ▁domain ▁from ▁Y ath rib ▁in ▁the ▁south ▁and ▁parts ▁of ▁the ▁Lev ant ▁in ▁the ▁north . ▁In ▁ant iqu ity , ▁Gulf ▁of ▁A q aba ▁used ▁to ▁be ▁called ▁Gulf ▁of ▁L ih yan . ▁A ▁testimony ▁to ▁the ▁extensive ▁influence ▁that ▁L ih yan ▁acquired . ▁ ▁The ▁L
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ih yan ites ▁fell ▁into ▁the ▁hands ▁of ▁the ▁N ab ata e ans ▁around ▁ 6 5 ▁BC ▁upon ▁their ▁seiz ure ▁of ▁H eg ra ▁then ▁march ing ▁to ▁Tay ma , ▁and ▁to ▁their ▁capital ▁D ed an ▁in ▁ 9 ▁BC . ▁The ▁N ab ata e ans ▁ruled ▁large ▁portions ▁of ▁north ▁Arabia ▁until ▁their ▁domain ▁was ▁an nex ed ▁by ▁the ▁Roman ▁Empire . ▁ ▁Middle ▁A ges ▁and ▁rise ▁of ▁Islam ▁ ▁Short ly ▁before ▁the ▁advent ▁of ▁Islam , ▁apart ▁from ▁urban ▁trading ▁settlement s ▁( such ▁as ▁Me cca ▁and ▁Med ina ), ▁much ▁of ▁what ▁was ▁to ▁become ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁was ▁pop ulated ▁by ▁nom ad ic ▁past oral ▁trib al ▁societies . ▁The ▁Islamic ▁prop het ▁Muhammad ▁was ▁born ▁in ▁Me cca ▁in ▁about ▁ 5 7 1 ▁CE . ▁In ▁the ▁early ▁ 7 th ▁century , ▁Muhammad ▁united ▁the ▁various ▁tribes ▁of ▁the ▁pen insula ▁and ▁created ▁a ▁single ▁Islamic ▁religious ▁pol ity . ▁Following ▁his ▁death ▁in ▁ 6 3 2 , ▁his ▁followers ▁rapidly ▁expanded ▁the ▁territory ▁under ▁Muslim ▁rule ▁beyond ▁Arabia , ▁conqu ering ▁huge ▁and ▁unpre ced ented ▁sw at hes ▁of ▁territory ▁( from ▁the ▁I ber ian ▁Pen insula ▁in ▁west ▁to ▁modern ▁day ▁Pakistan ▁in ▁east ) ▁in ▁a ▁matter ▁of ▁decades . ▁Arabia ▁soon ▁became ▁a ▁more ▁polit ically ▁peripher al ▁region ▁of ▁the ▁Muslim ▁world ▁as ▁the ▁focus ▁shifted ▁to ▁the ▁vast ▁and ▁newly ▁conqu ered ▁lands . ▁ ▁Ar abs
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▁origin ating ▁from ▁modern - day ▁Saudi ▁Arabia , ▁the ▁He j az ▁in ▁particular , ▁founded ▁the ▁R ash id un ▁( 6 3 2 – 6 6 1 ), ▁U may y ad ▁( 6 6 1 – 7 5 0 ), ▁Abb as id ▁( 7 5 0 – 1 5 1 7 ) ▁and ▁the ▁Fat im id ▁( 9 0 9 – 1 1 7 1 ) ▁cal iph ates . ▁ ▁From ▁the ▁ 1 0 th ▁century ▁to ▁the ▁early ▁ 2 0 th ▁century , ▁Me cca ▁and ▁Med ina ▁were ▁under ▁the ▁control ▁of ▁a ▁local ▁Arab ▁rul er ▁known ▁as ▁the ▁Shar if ▁of ▁Me cca , ▁but ▁at ▁most ▁times ▁the ▁Shar if ▁o wed ▁alleg iance ▁to ▁the ▁rul er ▁of ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁major ▁Islamic ▁em pires ▁based ▁in ▁Bag hd ad , ▁C airo ▁or ▁I stan bul . ▁Most ▁of ▁the ▁remainder ▁of ▁what ▁became ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁re verted ▁to ▁traditional ▁trib al ▁rule . ▁ ▁For ▁much ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 0 th ▁century , ▁the ▁Is ma ' ili - Sh i ' ite ▁Q arm at ians ▁were ▁the ▁most ▁powerful ▁force ▁in ▁the ▁Pers ian ▁Gulf . ▁In ▁ 9 3 0 , ▁the ▁Q arm at ians ▁pill aged ▁Me cca , ▁out r aging ▁the ▁Muslim ▁world , ▁particularly ▁with ▁their ▁theft ▁of ▁the ▁Black ▁Stone . ▁In ▁ 1 0 7 7 – 1 0 7 8 , ▁an ▁Arab ▁She
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ikh ▁named ▁Abd ull ah ▁bin ▁Ali ▁Al ▁U y uni ▁defeated ▁the ▁Q arm at ians ▁in ▁B ahr ain ▁and ▁al - Has a ▁with ▁the ▁help ▁of ▁the ▁Great ▁Sel ju q ▁Empire ▁and ▁founded ▁the ▁U y un id ▁dyn asty . ▁The ▁U y un id ▁Em ir ate ▁later ▁under w ent ▁expansion ▁with ▁its ▁territory ▁stret ching ▁from ▁Naj d ▁to ▁the ▁Sy rian ▁desert . ▁They ▁were ▁over th rown ▁by ▁the ▁Us fur ids ▁in ▁ 1 2 5 3 . ▁U fs ur id ▁rule ▁was ▁weak ened ▁after ▁Pers ian ▁rul ers ▁of ▁H orm uz ▁captured ▁B ahr ain ▁and ▁Q at if ▁in ▁ 1 3 2 0 . ▁The ▁v ass als ▁of ▁Or mu z , ▁the ▁Sh ia ▁Jar wan id ▁dyn asty ▁came ▁to ▁rule ▁eastern ▁Arabia ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 4 th ▁century . ▁The ▁J ab r ids ▁took ▁control ▁of ▁the ▁region ▁after ▁over throw ing ▁the ▁Jar wan ids ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 5 th ▁century ▁and ▁cl ashed ▁with ▁H orm uz ▁for ▁more ▁than ▁two ▁decades ▁over ▁the ▁region ▁for ▁its ▁economic ▁reven ues , ▁until ▁finally ▁agree ing ▁to ▁pay ▁t ribute ▁in ▁ 1 5 0 7 . ▁Al - M un ta fi q ▁tribe ▁later ▁took ▁over ▁the ▁region ▁and ▁came ▁under ▁Ott oman ▁su zer ain ty . ▁The ▁B ani ▁K hal id ▁tribe ▁later ▁revol ted ▁against ▁them ▁in ▁ 1 7 th
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▁century ▁and ▁took ▁control . ▁Their ▁rule ▁extended ▁from ▁Iraq ▁to ▁O man ▁at ▁its ▁height ▁and ▁they ▁too ▁came ▁under ▁Ott oman ▁su zer ain ty . ▁ ▁Ott oman ▁He j az ▁ ▁In ▁the ▁ 1 6 th ▁century , ▁the ▁Ott om ans ▁added ▁the ▁Red ▁Sea ▁and ▁Pers ian ▁Gulf ▁coast ▁( the ▁He j az , ▁As ir ▁and ▁Al - Ah sa ) ▁to ▁the ▁Empire ▁and ▁claimed ▁su zer ain ty ▁over ▁the ▁interior . ▁One ▁reason ▁was ▁to ▁th wart ▁Portuguese ▁attempts ▁to ▁attack ▁the ▁Red ▁Sea ▁( hen ce ▁the ▁He j az ) ▁and ▁the ▁Indian ▁Ocean . ▁Ott oman ▁degree ▁of ▁control ▁over ▁these ▁lands ▁varied ▁over ▁the ▁next ▁four ▁centuries ▁with ▁the ▁fluct u ating ▁strength ▁or ▁weakness ▁of ▁the ▁Empire ' s ▁central ▁authority . ▁These ▁changes ▁contributed ▁to ▁later ▁un cert aint ies , ▁such ▁as ▁the ▁dispute ▁with ▁Trans j ord an ▁over ▁the ▁inclusion ▁of ▁the ▁san j ak ▁of ▁Ma ' an , ▁including ▁the ▁cities ▁of ▁Ma ' an ▁and ▁A q aba . ▁ ▁Foundation ▁of ▁the ▁Saud ▁dyn asty ▁ ▁The ▁emer gence ▁of ▁what ▁was ▁to ▁become ▁the ▁Saudi ▁royal ▁family , ▁known ▁as ▁the ▁Al ▁Saud , ▁began ▁in ▁Ne jd ▁in ▁central ▁Arabia ▁in ▁ 1 7 4 4 , ▁when ▁Muhammad ▁bin ▁Saud , ▁founder ▁of ▁the ▁dyn asty , ▁joined ▁forces ▁with ▁the ▁religious ▁leader ▁Muhammad ▁ib n ▁Abd ▁al - W ah hab , ▁founder ▁of
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▁the ▁W ah hab i ▁movement , ▁a ▁strict ▁pur itan ical ▁form ▁of ▁Sun ni ▁Islam . ▁This ▁alliance ▁formed ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 8 th ▁century ▁provided ▁the ▁ide ological ▁imp et us ▁to ▁Saudi ▁expansion ▁and ▁remains ▁the ▁basis ▁of ▁Saudi ▁Arab ian ▁dyn astic ▁rule ▁today . ▁ ▁The ▁first ▁" S aud i ▁state " ▁established ▁in ▁ 1 7 4 4 ▁in ▁the ▁area ▁around ▁R iy ad h , ▁rapidly ▁expanded ▁and ▁briefly ▁controlled ▁most ▁of ▁the ▁present - day ▁territory ▁of ▁Saudi ▁Arabia , ▁s acking ▁Kar b ala ▁in ▁ 1 8 0 2 ▁and ▁capt uring ▁Me cca ▁in ▁ 1 8 0 3 , ▁but ▁was ▁destroyed ▁by ▁ 1 8 1 8 ▁by ▁the ▁Ott oman ▁v icer oy ▁of ▁Egypt , ▁Moh ammed ▁Ali ▁P asha . ▁A ▁much ▁smaller ▁second ▁" S aud i ▁state ", ▁located ▁mainly ▁in ▁Ne jd , ▁was ▁established ▁in ▁ 1 8 2 4 . ▁Throughout ▁the ▁rest ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 9 th ▁century , ▁the ▁Al ▁Saud ▁cont ested ▁control ▁of ▁the ▁interior ▁of ▁what ▁was ▁to ▁become ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁with ▁another ▁Arab ian ▁ruling ▁family , ▁the ▁Al ▁R ash id , ▁who ▁ruled ▁the ▁Em ir ate ▁of ▁J ab al ▁Sh am mar . ▁By ▁ 1 8 9 1 , ▁the ▁Al ▁R ash id ▁were ▁vict orious ▁and ▁the ▁Al ▁Saud ▁were ▁driven ▁into ▁ex ile ▁in ▁Ku wait . ▁ ▁At ▁the ▁beginning ▁of ▁the
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▁ 2 0 th ▁century , ▁the ▁Ott oman ▁Empire ▁continued ▁to ▁control ▁or ▁have ▁a ▁su zer ain ty ▁over ▁most ▁of ▁the ▁pen insula . ▁Subject ▁to ▁this ▁su zer ain ty , ▁Arabia ▁was ▁ruled ▁by ▁a ▁patch work ▁of ▁trib al ▁rul ers , ▁with ▁the ▁Shar if ▁of ▁Me cca ▁having ▁pre - em in ence ▁and ▁ruling ▁the ▁He j az . ▁In ▁ 1 9 0 2 , ▁Abd ul ▁Rah man ' s ▁son , ▁Abd ul ▁Az iz — l ater ▁to ▁be ▁known ▁as ▁I bn ▁Saud — rec apt ured ▁control ▁of ▁R iy ad h ▁bringing ▁the ▁Al ▁Saud ▁back ▁to ▁Ne jd , ▁creating ▁the ▁third ▁" S aud i ▁state ". ▁I bn ▁Saud ▁gained ▁the ▁support ▁of ▁the ▁I k hw an , ▁a ▁trib al ▁army ▁inspired ▁by ▁W ah hab ism ▁and ▁led ▁by ▁F ais al ▁Al - D aw ish , ▁and ▁which ▁had ▁grown ▁quickly ▁after ▁its ▁foundation ▁in ▁ 1 9 1 2 . ▁With ▁the ▁aid ▁of ▁the ▁I k hw an , ▁I bn ▁Saud ▁captured ▁Al - Ah sa ▁from ▁the ▁Ott om ans ▁in ▁ 1 9 1 3 . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 1 6 , ▁with ▁the ▁encour agement ▁and ▁support ▁of ▁Britain ▁( which ▁was ▁fighting ▁the ▁Ott om ans ▁in ▁World ▁War ▁I ), ▁the ▁Shar if ▁of ▁Me cca , ▁Hus se in ▁bin ▁Ali , ▁led ▁a ▁pan - Ar ab
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▁revol t ▁against ▁the ▁Ott oman ▁Empire ▁to ▁create ▁a ▁united ▁Arab ▁state . ▁Although ▁the ▁Arab ▁Rev olt ▁of ▁ 1 9 1 6 ▁to ▁ 1 9 1 8 ▁failed ▁in ▁its ▁objective , ▁the ▁All ied ▁victory ▁in ▁World ▁War ▁I ▁resulted ▁in ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁Ott oman ▁su zer ain ty ▁and ▁control ▁in ▁Arabia ▁and ▁Hus se in ▁bin ▁Ali ▁became ▁King ▁of ▁He j az . ▁ ▁I bn ▁Saud ▁avoided ▁involvement ▁in ▁the ▁Arab ▁Rev olt , ▁and ▁instead ▁continued ▁his ▁struggle ▁with ▁the ▁Al ▁R ash id . ▁Following ▁the ▁latter ' s ▁final ▁defeat , ▁he ▁took ▁the ▁title ▁S ultan ▁of ▁Ne jd ▁in ▁ 1 9 2 1 . ▁With ▁the ▁help ▁of ▁the ▁I k hw an , ▁the ▁Kingdom ▁of ▁He j az ▁was ▁conqu ered ▁in ▁ 1 9 2 4 – 2 5 ▁and ▁on ▁ 1 0 ▁January ▁ 1 9 2 6 , ▁I bn ▁Saud ▁declared ▁himself ▁King ▁of ▁He j az . ▁A ▁year ▁later , ▁he ▁added ▁the ▁title ▁of ▁King ▁of ▁Ne jd . ▁For ▁the ▁next ▁five ▁years , ▁he ▁administer ed ▁the ▁two ▁parts ▁of ▁his ▁dual ▁kingdom ▁as ▁separate ▁units . ▁ ▁After ▁the ▁con quest ▁of ▁the ▁He j az , ▁the ▁I k hw an ▁leadership ' s ▁objective ▁switched ▁to ▁expansion ▁of ▁the ▁W ah hab ist ▁realm ▁into ▁the ▁British ▁prote ctor ates ▁of ▁Trans j ord an , ▁Iraq ▁and ▁Ku wait , ▁and
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▁began ▁ra iding ▁those ▁territor ies . ▁This ▁met ▁with ▁I bn ▁Saud ' s ▁opposition , ▁as ▁he ▁recognized ▁the ▁danger ▁of ▁a ▁direct ▁conflict ▁with ▁the ▁British . ▁At ▁the ▁same ▁time , ▁the ▁I k hw an ▁became ▁dis en ch anted ▁with ▁I bn ▁Saud ' s ▁domestic ▁policies ▁which ▁appeared ▁to ▁favor ▁modern ization ▁and ▁the ▁increase ▁in ▁the ▁number ▁of ▁non - Mus lim ▁foreign ers ▁in ▁the ▁country . ▁As ▁a ▁result , ▁they ▁turned ▁against ▁I bn ▁Saud ▁and , ▁after ▁a ▁two - year ▁struggle , ▁were ▁defeated ▁in ▁ 1 9 2 9 ▁at ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁Sab illa , ▁where ▁their ▁leaders ▁were ▁mass ac red . ▁On ▁ 2 3 ▁September ▁ 1 9 3 2 , ▁the ▁two ▁kingdom s ▁of ▁the ▁He j az ▁and ▁Ne jd ▁were ▁united ▁as ▁the ▁Kingdom ▁of ▁Saudi ▁Arabia , ▁and ▁that ▁date ▁is ▁now ▁a ▁national ▁holiday ▁called ▁Saudi ▁National ▁Day . ▁ ▁Post - un ification ▁ ▁The ▁new ▁kingdom ▁was ▁rel iant ▁on ▁limited ▁agriculture ▁and ▁pil gr image ▁reven ues . ▁In ▁ 1 9 3 8 , ▁vast ▁reserves ▁of ▁oil ▁were ▁discovered ▁in ▁the ▁Al - Ah sa ▁region ▁along ▁the ▁coast ▁of ▁the ▁Pers ian ▁Gulf , ▁and ▁full - scale ▁development ▁of ▁the ▁oil ▁fields ▁began ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 1 ▁under ▁the ▁US - cont rolled ▁Ar am co ▁( Ar ab ian ▁American ▁Oil ▁Company ). ▁Oil ▁provided ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁with ▁economic
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▁prosper ity ▁and ▁substantial ▁political ▁leverage ▁internation ally . ▁ ▁Cultural ▁life ▁rapidly ▁developed , ▁primarily ▁in ▁the ▁He j az , ▁which ▁was ▁the ▁center ▁for ▁newspapers ▁and ▁radio . ▁However , ▁the ▁large ▁infl ux ▁of ▁foreign ▁workers ▁in ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁in ▁the ▁oil ▁industry ▁increased ▁the ▁pre - existing ▁prop ensity ▁for ▁x en oph ob ia . At ▁the ▁same ▁time , ▁the ▁government ▁became ▁increasingly ▁waste ful ▁and ▁extr av ag ant . ▁By ▁the ▁ 1 9 5 0 s ▁this ▁had ▁led ▁to ▁large ▁government al ▁def ic its ▁and ▁excessive ▁foreign ▁borrow ing . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 5 3 , ▁Saud ▁of ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁succeeded ▁as ▁the ▁king ▁of ▁Saudi ▁Arabia , ▁on ▁his ▁father ' s ▁death , ▁until ▁ 1 9 6 4 ▁when ▁he ▁was ▁de posed ▁in ▁favor ▁of ▁his ▁half ▁brother ▁F ais al ▁of ▁Saudi ▁Arabia , ▁after ▁an ▁intense ▁rival ry , ▁fuel ed ▁by ▁doubts ▁in ▁the ▁royal ▁family ▁over ▁Saud ' s ▁compet ence . ▁In ▁ 1 9 7 2 , ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁gained ▁a ▁ 2 0 ▁percent ▁control ▁in ▁Ar am co , ▁thereby ▁decre asing ▁US ▁control ▁over ▁Saudi ▁oil . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 7 3 , ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁led ▁an ▁oil ▁boy cott ▁against ▁the ▁Western ▁countries ▁that ▁supported ▁Israel ▁in ▁the ▁Y om ▁K ip pur ▁War ▁against ▁Egypt ▁and ▁Syria . ▁Oil ▁prices ▁quad ru pled . ▁In ▁ 1 9 7 5 , ▁F
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ais al ▁was ▁assass inated ▁by ▁his ▁nep hew , ▁Prince ▁F ais al ▁bin ▁Mus aid ▁and ▁was ▁succeeded ▁by ▁his ▁half - bro ther ▁King ▁K hal id . ▁ ▁By ▁ 1 9 7 6 , ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁had ▁become ▁the ▁largest ▁oil ▁producer ▁in ▁the ▁world . ▁K hal id ' s ▁reign ▁saw ▁economic ▁and ▁social ▁development ▁progress ▁at ▁an ▁extremely ▁rapid ▁rate , ▁transform ing ▁the ▁infrastructure ▁and ▁educational ▁system ▁of ▁the ▁country ; ▁in ▁foreign ▁policy , ▁close ▁ties ▁with ▁the ▁US ▁were ▁developed . ▁In ▁ 1 9 7 9 , ▁two ▁events ▁occurred ▁which ▁greatly ▁concerned ▁the ▁government , ▁and ▁had ▁a ▁long - term ▁influence ▁on ▁Saudi ▁foreign ▁and ▁domestic ▁policy . ▁The ▁first ▁was ▁the ▁Iran ian ▁Islamic ▁Revolution . ▁It ▁was ▁feared ▁that ▁the ▁country ' s ▁Sh i ' ite ▁minority ▁in ▁the ▁Eastern ▁Province ▁( which ▁is ▁also ▁the ▁location ▁of ▁the ▁oil ▁fields ) ▁might ▁rebel ▁under ▁the ▁influence ▁of ▁their ▁Iran ian ▁co - rel ig ion ists . ▁There ▁were ▁several ▁anti - govern ment ▁up ris ings ▁in ▁the ▁region ▁such ▁as ▁the ▁ 1 9 7 9 ▁Q at if ▁U pr ising . ▁ ▁The ▁second ▁event ▁was ▁the ▁Grand ▁Mos que ▁Se iz ure ▁in ▁Me cca ▁by ▁Islam ist ▁extrem ists . ▁The ▁milit ants ▁involved ▁were ▁in ▁part ▁anger ed ▁by ▁what ▁they ▁considered ▁to ▁be ▁the ▁corruption ▁and ▁un - I sl amic ▁nature ▁of ▁the ▁Saudi ▁government .
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▁The ▁government ▁reg ained ▁control ▁of ▁the ▁mos que ▁after ▁ 1 0 ▁days ▁and ▁those ▁captured ▁were ▁executed . ▁Part ▁of ▁the ▁response ▁of ▁the ▁royal ▁family ▁was ▁to ▁enforce ▁a ▁much ▁str ic ter ▁observ ance ▁of ▁traditional ▁religious ▁and ▁social ▁norm s ▁in ▁the ▁country ▁( for ▁example , ▁the ▁closure ▁of ▁cin em as ) ▁and ▁to ▁give ▁the ▁U le ma ▁a ▁greater ▁role ▁in ▁government . ▁Neither ▁entirely ▁succeeded ▁as ▁Islam ism ▁continued ▁to ▁grow ▁in ▁strength . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 8 0 , ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁bought ▁out ▁the ▁American ▁interests ▁in ▁Ar am co . ▁ ▁King ▁K hal id ▁died ▁of ▁a ▁heart ▁attack ▁in ▁June ▁ 1 9 8 2 . ▁He ▁was ▁succeeded ▁by ▁his ▁brother , ▁King ▁F ah d , ▁who ▁added ▁the ▁title ▁" C ust od ian ▁of ▁the ▁Two ▁Holy ▁Mos ques " ▁to ▁his ▁name ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 6 ▁in ▁response ▁to ▁considerable ▁fundamental ist ▁pressure ▁to ▁avoid ▁use ▁of ▁" ma j esty " ▁in ▁association ▁with ▁anything ▁except ▁God . ▁F ah d ▁continued ▁to ▁develop ▁close ▁relations ▁with ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁and ▁increased ▁the ▁purchase ▁of ▁American ▁and ▁British ▁military ▁equipment . ▁ ▁The ▁vast ▁wealth ▁generated ▁by ▁oil ▁reven ues ▁was ▁beginning ▁to ▁have ▁an ▁even ▁greater ▁impact ▁on ▁Saudi ▁society . ▁It ▁led ▁to ▁rapid ▁technological ▁( but ▁not ▁cultural ) ▁modern isation , ▁urban ization , ▁mass ▁public ▁education ▁and ▁the ▁creation ▁of ▁new ▁media . ▁This
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▁and ▁the ▁presence ▁of ▁increasingly ▁large ▁numbers ▁of ▁foreign ▁workers ▁greatly ▁affected ▁traditional ▁Saudi ▁norm s ▁and ▁values . ▁Although ▁there ▁was ▁dramatic ▁change ▁in ▁the ▁social ▁and ▁economic ▁life ▁of ▁the ▁country , ▁political ▁power ▁continued ▁to ▁be ▁mon opol ized ▁by ▁the ▁royal ▁family ▁leading ▁to ▁dis content ▁among ▁many ▁Saud is ▁who ▁began ▁to ▁look ▁for ▁wider ▁participation ▁in ▁government . ▁ ▁In ▁the ▁ 1 9 8 0 s , ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁spent ▁$ 2 5 ▁billion ▁in ▁support ▁of ▁S add am ▁Hus se in ▁in ▁the ▁Iran – I ra q ▁War . ▁However , ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁condem ned ▁the ▁Iraq i ▁invasion ▁of ▁Ku wait ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 0 ▁and ▁asked ▁the ▁US ▁to ▁interven e . ▁King ▁F ah d ▁allowed ▁American ▁and ▁coalition ▁troops ▁to ▁be ▁station ed ▁in ▁Saudi ▁Arabia . ▁He ▁invited ▁the ▁Ku wait i ▁government ▁and ▁many ▁of ▁its ▁citizens ▁to ▁stay ▁in ▁Saudi ▁Arabia , ▁but ▁exp elled ▁citizens ▁of ▁Y emen ▁and ▁Jordan ▁because ▁of ▁their ▁governments ' ▁support ▁of ▁Iraq . ▁In ▁ 1 9 9 1 , ▁Saudi ▁Arab ian ▁forces ▁were ▁involved ▁both ▁in ▁bomb ing ▁ra ids ▁on ▁Iraq ▁and ▁in ▁the ▁land ▁invasion ▁that ▁helped ▁to ▁liber ate ▁Ku wait . ▁ ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ' s ▁relations ▁with ▁the ▁West ▁began ▁to ▁cause ▁growing ▁concern ▁among ▁some ▁of ▁the ▁u le ma ▁and ▁students ▁of ▁sh aria ▁law ▁and ▁was ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁issues ▁that ▁led ▁to ▁an ▁increase ▁in ▁Islam
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ist ▁terror ism ▁in ▁Saudi ▁Arabia , ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁Islam ist ▁terrorist ▁attacks ▁in ▁Western ▁countries ▁by ▁Saudi ▁nation als . ▁Os ama ▁bin ▁L aden ▁was ▁a ▁Saudi ▁citizen ▁( until ▁stripped ▁of ▁his ▁citizens hip ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 4 ) ▁and ▁was ▁responsible ▁for ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 8 ▁U . S . ▁emb assy ▁bomb ings ▁in ▁East ▁Africa ▁and ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 0 ▁USS ▁Cole ▁bomb ing ▁near ▁the ▁port ▁of ▁A den , ▁Y emen . ▁ 1 5 ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 9 ▁terror ists ▁involved ▁in ▁September ▁ 1 1 ▁attacks ▁in ▁New ▁York ▁City , ▁Washington , ▁D . C ., ▁and ▁near ▁Sh anks ville , ▁Pennsylvania ▁were ▁Saudi ▁nation als . ▁Many ▁Saud is ▁who ▁did ▁not ▁support ▁the ▁Islam ist ▁terror ists ▁were ▁nevertheless ▁deeply ▁unhappy ▁with ▁the ▁government ' s ▁policies . ▁ ▁Islam ism ▁was ▁not ▁the ▁only ▁source ▁of ▁host ility ▁to ▁the ▁government . ▁Although ▁now ▁extremely ▁wealthy , ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ' s ▁economy ▁was ▁near ▁st agn ant . ▁High ▁taxes ▁and ▁a ▁growth ▁in ▁unemployment ▁have ▁contributed ▁to ▁dis content , ▁and ▁has ▁been ▁reflected ▁in ▁a ▁rise ▁in ▁civil ▁un rest , ▁and ▁dis content ▁with ▁the ▁royal ▁family . ▁In ▁response , ▁a ▁number ▁of ▁limited ▁" re forms " ▁were ▁initiated ▁by ▁King ▁F ah d . ▁In ▁March ▁ 1 9 9 2 , ▁he ▁introduced ▁the ▁" Basic ▁Law ", ▁which ▁emphas ised ▁the ▁duties
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▁and ▁respons ibilities ▁of ▁a ▁rul er . ▁In ▁December ▁ 1 9 9 3 , ▁the ▁Consult ative ▁Council ▁was ▁inaugur ated . ▁It ▁is ▁composed ▁of ▁a ▁chairman ▁and ▁ 6 0 ▁members — all ▁chosen ▁by ▁the ▁King . ▁The ▁King ' s ▁intent ▁was ▁to ▁respond ▁to ▁diss ent ▁while ▁making ▁as ▁few ▁actual ▁changes ▁in ▁the ▁status ▁qu o ▁as ▁possible . ▁F ah d ▁made ▁it ▁clear ▁that ▁he ▁did ▁not ▁have ▁democracy ▁in ▁mind : ▁" A ▁system ▁based ▁on ▁elections ▁is ▁not ▁consistent ▁with ▁our ▁Islamic ▁cre ed , ▁which ▁[ appro ves ▁of ] ▁government ▁by ▁consultation ▁[ sh ū r ā ] ." ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 9 5 , ▁F ah d ▁suffered ▁a ▁deb il itating ▁stroke , ▁and ▁the ▁Crown ▁Prince , ▁Abd ull ah , ▁assumed ▁the ▁role ▁of ▁de ▁fact o ▁reg ent , ▁taking ▁on ▁the ▁day - to - day ▁running ▁of ▁the ▁country . ▁However , ▁his ▁authority ▁was ▁hind ered ▁by ▁conflict ▁with ▁F ah d ' s ▁full ▁brothers ▁( known , ▁with ▁F ah d , ▁as ▁the ▁" S ud air i ▁Seven "). ▁From ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 0 s , ▁signs ▁of ▁dis content ▁continued ▁and ▁included , ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 3 ▁and ▁ 2 0 0 4 , ▁a ▁series ▁of ▁bomb ings ▁and ▁armed ▁violence ▁in ▁R iy ad h , ▁Jed d ah , ▁Yan bu ▁and ▁Kh ob ar . ▁In
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▁February – Apr il ▁ 2 0 0 5 , ▁the ▁first - ever ▁nation wide ▁municipal ▁elections ▁were ▁held ▁in ▁Saudi ▁Arabia . ▁Women ▁were ▁not ▁allowed ▁to ▁take ▁part ▁in ▁the ▁poll . ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 5 , ▁King ▁F ah d ▁died ▁and ▁was ▁succeeded ▁by ▁Abd ull ah , ▁who ▁continued ▁the ▁policy ▁of ▁minimum ▁reform ▁and ▁cl amp ing ▁down ▁on ▁protests . ▁The ▁king ▁introduced ▁a ▁number ▁of ▁economic ▁reform s ▁aimed ▁at ▁reducing ▁the ▁country ' s ▁rel iance ▁on ▁oil ▁revenue : ▁limited ▁dere g ulation , ▁encour agement ▁of ▁foreign ▁investment , ▁and ▁priv at ization . ▁In ▁February ▁ 2 0 0 9 , ▁Abd ull ah ▁announced ▁a ▁series ▁of ▁government al ▁changes ▁to ▁the ▁jud ici ary , ▁armed ▁forces , ▁and ▁various ▁minist ries ▁to ▁modern ize ▁these ▁institutions ▁including ▁the ▁replacement ▁of ▁senior ▁app oin te es ▁in ▁the ▁jud ici ary ▁and ▁the ▁M uta ween ▁( rel igious ▁police ) ▁with ▁more ▁moderate ▁individuals ▁and ▁the ▁appointment ▁of ▁the ▁country ' s ▁first ▁female ▁deputy ▁minister . ▁ ▁On ▁ 2 9 ▁January ▁ 2 0 1 1 , ▁hundreds ▁of ▁pro tes ters ▁gathered ▁in ▁the ▁city ▁of ▁Jed d ah ▁in ▁a ▁rare ▁display ▁of ▁criticism ▁against ▁the ▁city ' s ▁poor ▁infrastructure ▁after ▁deadly ▁flood s ▁swept ▁through ▁the ▁city , ▁killing ▁ 1 1 ▁people . ▁Police ▁stopped ▁the ▁demonstr ation ▁after ▁about ▁ 1 5 ▁minutes ▁and ▁arrested ▁
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3 0 ▁to ▁ 5 0 ▁people . ▁ ▁Since ▁ 2 0 1 1 , ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁has ▁been ▁affected ▁by ▁its ▁own ▁Arab ▁Spring ▁protests . ▁In ▁response , ▁King ▁Abd ull ah ▁announced ▁on ▁ 2 2 ▁February ▁ 2 0 1 1 ▁a ▁series ▁of ▁benefits ▁for ▁citizens ▁amount ing ▁to ▁$ 3 6 ▁billion , ▁of ▁which ▁$ 1 0 . 7 ▁billion ▁was ▁e arm ark ed ▁for ▁housing . ▁No ▁political ▁reform s ▁were ▁announced ▁as ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁package , ▁though ▁some ▁prisoners ▁ind icted ▁for ▁financial ▁crimes ▁were ▁p ard oned . ▁On ▁ 1 8 ▁March ▁the ▁same ▁year , ▁King ▁Abd ull ah ▁announced ▁a ▁package ▁of ▁$ 9 3 ▁billion , ▁which ▁included ▁ 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 ▁new ▁homes ▁to ▁a ▁cost ▁of ▁$ 6 7 ▁billion , ▁in ▁addition ▁to ▁creating ▁ 6 0 , 0 0 0 ▁new ▁security ▁jobs . ▁ ▁Although ▁male - only ▁municipal ▁elections ▁were ▁held ▁on ▁ 2 9 ▁September ▁ 2 0 1 1 , ▁Abd ull ah ▁allowed ▁women ▁to ▁vote ▁and ▁be ▁elected ▁in ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 5 ▁municipal ▁elections , ▁and ▁also ▁to ▁be ▁nominated ▁to ▁the ▁Sh ura ▁Council . ▁ ▁Since ▁ 2 0 0 1 , ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁has ▁engaged ▁in ▁widespread ▁internet ▁cens orship . ▁Most ▁online ▁cens orship ▁generally ▁falls ▁into ▁two ▁categories : ▁one ▁based ▁on ▁c ensor ing ▁" imm oral " ▁( most ly ▁porn ographic
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▁and ▁LGBT - support ive ▁websites ▁along ▁with ▁websites ▁promoting ▁any ▁religious ▁ide ology ▁other ▁than ▁Sun ni ▁Islam ) ▁and ▁one ▁based ▁on ▁a ▁black list ▁run ▁by ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ' s ▁Ministry ▁of ▁Media , ▁which ▁primarily ▁cens ors ▁websites ▁critical ▁of ▁the ▁Saudi ▁regime ▁or ▁associated ▁with ▁parties ▁that ▁are ▁opposed ▁to ▁or ▁opposed ▁by ▁Saudi ▁Arabia . ▁ ▁Politics ▁ ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁is ▁an ▁absolute ▁mon archy . ▁However , ▁according ▁to ▁the ▁Basic ▁Law ▁of ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁adopted ▁by ▁royal ▁dec ree ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 2 , ▁the ▁king ▁must ▁comply ▁with ▁Sh aria ▁( I sl amic ▁law ) ▁and ▁the ▁Q ur an , ▁while ▁the ▁Q ur an ▁and ▁the ▁S unn ah ▁( the ▁traditions ▁of ▁Muhammad ) ▁are ▁declared ▁to ▁be ▁the ▁country ' s ▁constitution . ▁No ▁political ▁parties ▁or ▁national ▁elections ▁are ▁permitted . ▁Crit ics ▁regard ▁it ▁as ▁a ▁total itarian ▁dict ators hip . ▁The ▁Econom ist ▁rated ▁the ▁Saudi ▁government ▁as ▁the ▁fifth ▁most ▁author itarian ▁government ▁out ▁of ▁ 1 6 7 ▁rated ▁in ▁its ▁ 2 0 1 2 ▁Democr acy ▁Index , ▁and ▁Freedom ▁House ▁gave ▁it ▁its ▁lowest ▁" Not ▁Free " ▁rating , ▁ 7 . 0 ▁(" 1 = best , ▁ 7 = wor st ") ▁for ▁ 2 0 1 9 . ▁ ▁In ▁the ▁absence ▁of ▁national ▁elections ▁and ▁political ▁parties , ▁politics ▁in ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁takes ▁place ▁in ▁two ▁distinct ▁aren as : ▁within ▁the ▁royal
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▁family , ▁the ▁Al ▁Saud , ▁and ▁between ▁the ▁royal ▁family ▁and ▁the ▁rest ▁of ▁Saudi ▁society . ▁Outside ▁of ▁the ▁Al - S aud , ▁participation ▁in ▁the ▁political ▁process ▁is ▁limited ▁to ▁a ▁relatively ▁small ▁segment ▁of ▁the ▁population ▁and ▁takes ▁the ▁form ▁of ▁the ▁royal ▁family ▁consulting ▁with ▁the ▁u le ma , ▁trib al ▁she ik hs ▁and ▁members ▁of ▁important ▁commercial ▁families ▁on ▁major ▁decisions . ▁This ▁process ▁is ▁not ▁reported ▁by ▁the ▁Saudi ▁media . ▁ ▁By ▁custom , ▁all ▁males ▁of ▁full ▁age ▁have ▁a ▁right ▁to ▁petition ▁the ▁king ▁directly ▁through ▁the ▁traditional ▁trib al ▁meeting ▁known ▁as ▁the ▁maj l is . ▁In ▁many ▁ways ▁the ▁approach ▁to ▁government ▁diff ers ▁little ▁from ▁the ▁traditional ▁system ▁of ▁trib al ▁rule . ▁Trib al ▁identity ▁remains ▁strong ▁and , ▁outside ▁of ▁the ▁royal ▁family , ▁political ▁influence ▁is ▁frequently ▁determined ▁by ▁trib al ▁affili ation , ▁with ▁trib al ▁she ik hs ▁maintaining ▁a ▁considerable ▁degree ▁of ▁influence ▁over ▁local ▁and ▁national ▁events . ▁As ▁mentioned ▁earlier , ▁in ▁recent ▁years ▁there ▁have ▁been ▁limited ▁steps ▁to ▁w iden ▁political ▁participation ▁such ▁as ▁the ▁establishment ▁of ▁the ▁Consult ative ▁Council ▁in ▁the ▁early ▁ 1 9 9 0 s ▁and ▁the ▁National ▁Dialog ue ▁Forum ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 3 . ▁ ▁The ▁rule ▁of ▁the ▁Al ▁Saud ▁faces ▁political ▁opposition ▁from ▁four ▁sources : ▁Sun ni ▁Islam ist ▁activ ism ; ▁liberal ▁critics ; ▁the ▁Sh i ' ite ▁minority — part icular
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ly ▁in ▁the ▁Eastern ▁Province ; ▁and ▁long - standing ▁trib al ▁and ▁regional ist ▁particular istic ▁opponents ▁( for ▁example ▁in ▁the ▁He j az ). ▁Of ▁these , ▁the ▁minority ▁activ ists ▁have ▁been ▁the ▁most ▁prominent ▁threat ▁to ▁the ▁government ▁and ▁have ▁in ▁recent ▁years ▁perpet rated ▁a ▁number ▁of ▁violent ▁incidents ▁in ▁the ▁country . ▁However , ▁open ▁protest ▁against ▁the ▁government , ▁even ▁if ▁peaceful , ▁is ▁not ▁toler ated . ▁ ▁Mon archy ▁and ▁royal ▁family ▁ ▁The ▁king ▁comb ines ▁legisl ative , ▁executive , ▁and ▁jud icial ▁functions ▁and ▁royal ▁decre es ▁form ▁the ▁basis ▁of ▁the ▁country ' s ▁legislation . ▁The ▁king ▁is ▁also ▁the ▁prime ▁minister , ▁and ▁pres ides ▁over ▁the ▁Council ▁of ▁Minister s ▁of ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁and ▁Consult ative ▁Assembly ▁of ▁Saudi ▁Arabia . ▁ ▁The ▁royal ▁family ▁domin ates ▁the ▁political ▁system . ▁The ▁family ' s ▁vast ▁numbers ▁allow ▁it ▁to ▁control ▁most ▁of ▁the ▁kingdom ' s ▁important ▁posts ▁and ▁to ▁have ▁an ▁involvement ▁and ▁presence ▁at ▁all ▁levels ▁of ▁government . ▁The ▁number ▁of ▁prin ces ▁is ▁estimated ▁to ▁be ▁at ▁least ▁ 7 , 0 0 0 , ▁with ▁most ▁power ▁and ▁influence ▁being ▁w ield ed ▁by ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 ▁or ▁so ▁male ▁descend ants ▁of ▁I bn ▁Saud . ▁The ▁key ▁minist ries ▁are ▁generally ▁reserved ▁for ▁the ▁royal ▁family , ▁as ▁are ▁the ▁ 1 3 ▁regional ▁govern orship s . ▁ ▁Long ▁term ▁political ▁and ▁government ▁appoint ments
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▁have ▁resulted ▁in ▁the ▁creation ▁of ▁" power ▁f ief dom s " ▁for ▁senior ▁prin ces , ▁such ▁as ▁those ▁of ▁King ▁Abd ull ah , ▁who ▁had ▁been ▁Commander ▁of ▁the ▁National ▁Guard ▁since ▁ 1 9 6 3 ▁( until ▁ 2 0 1 0 , ▁when ▁he ▁appointed ▁his ▁son ▁to ▁replace ▁him ), ▁former ▁Crown ▁Prince ▁S ultan , ▁Minister ▁of ▁Def ence ▁and ▁A vi ation ▁from ▁ 1 9 6 2 ▁to ▁his ▁death ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 1 , ▁former ▁crown ▁prince ▁Prince ▁N ay ef ▁who ▁was ▁the ▁Minister ▁of ▁Interior ▁from ▁ 1 9 7 5 ▁to ▁his ▁death ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 2 , ▁Prince ▁Saud ▁who ▁had ▁been ▁Minister ▁of ▁Foreign ▁Affairs ▁since ▁ 1 9 7 5 ▁and ▁current ▁King ▁Sal man , ▁who ▁was ▁Minister ▁of ▁Defense ▁and ▁A vi ation ▁before ▁he ▁was ▁crown ▁prince ▁and ▁Governor ▁of ▁the ▁R iy ad h ▁Province ▁from ▁ 1 9 6 2 ▁to ▁ 2 0 1 1 . ▁The ▁current ▁Minister ▁of ▁Defense ▁is ▁Prince ▁Moh amm ad ▁bin ▁Sal man , ▁the ▁son ▁of ▁King ▁Sal man ▁and ▁Crown ▁Prince . ▁ ▁The ▁royal ▁family ▁is ▁polit ically ▁divided ▁by ▁fa ctions ▁based ▁on ▁clan ▁l oy alties , ▁personal ▁amb itions ▁and ▁ide ological ▁differences . ▁The ▁most ▁powerful ▁clan ▁f action ▁is ▁known ▁as ▁the ▁' S ud air i ▁Seven ', ▁compr ising ▁the ▁late ▁King ▁F ah d ▁and ▁his ▁full ▁brothers
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▁and ▁their ▁descend ants . ▁Ide ological ▁divisions ▁include ▁issues ▁over ▁the ▁speed ▁and ▁direction ▁of ▁reform , ▁and ▁whether ▁the ▁role ▁of ▁the ▁u le ma ▁should ▁be ▁increased ▁or ▁reduced . ▁There ▁were ▁divisions ▁within ▁the ▁family ▁over ▁who ▁should ▁succeed ▁to ▁the ▁throne ▁after ▁the ▁acc ession ▁or ▁earlier ▁death ▁of ▁Prince ▁S ultan . ▁When ▁prince ▁S ultan ▁died ▁before ▁asc ending ▁to ▁the ▁throne ▁on ▁ 2 1 ▁October ▁ 2 0 1 1 , ▁King ▁Abd ull ah ▁appointed ▁Prince ▁N ay ef ▁as ▁crown ▁prince . ▁The ▁following ▁year ▁Prince ▁N ay ef ▁also ▁died ▁before ▁asc ending ▁to ▁the ▁throne . ▁ ▁The ▁Saudi ▁government ▁and ▁the ▁royal ▁family ▁have ▁often , ▁over ▁many ▁years , ▁been ▁accused ▁of ▁corruption . ▁In ▁a ▁country ▁that ▁is ▁said ▁to ▁" bel ong " ▁to ▁the ▁royal ▁family ▁and ▁is ▁named ▁for ▁them , ▁the ▁lines ▁between ▁state ▁assets ▁and ▁the ▁personal ▁wealth ▁of ▁senior ▁prin ces ▁are ▁blur red . ▁The ▁extent ▁of ▁corruption ▁has ▁been ▁described ▁as ▁system ic ▁and ▁end emic , ▁and ▁its ▁existence ▁was ▁acknowledged ▁and ▁def ended ▁by ▁Prince ▁Band ar ▁bin ▁S ultan ▁( a ▁senior ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁royal ▁family ) ▁in ▁an ▁interview ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 1 . ▁ ▁Although ▁corruption ▁alleg ations ▁have ▁often ▁been ▁limited ▁to ▁broad ▁und ocument ed ▁accus ations , ▁specific ▁alleg ations ▁were ▁made ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 7 , ▁when ▁it ▁was ▁claimed ▁that ▁the ▁British ▁defence ▁contract
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or ▁B AE ▁Systems ▁had ▁paid ▁Prince ▁Band ar ▁US $ 2 ▁billion ▁in ▁b rib es ▁relating ▁to ▁the ▁Al - Y am am ah ▁arms ▁deal . ▁Prince ▁Band ar ▁denied ▁the ▁alleg ations . ▁Invest ig ations ▁by ▁both ▁US ▁and ▁UK ▁authorities ▁resulted , ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 0 , ▁in ▁ple a ▁barg ain ▁agreements ▁with ▁the ▁company , ▁by ▁which ▁it ▁paid ▁$ 4 4 7 ▁million ▁in ▁fin es ▁but ▁did ▁not ▁admit ▁to ▁b ri bery . ▁ ▁Trans parency ▁International ▁in ▁its ▁annual ▁Cor ruption ▁Per ceptions ▁Index ▁for ▁ 2 0 1 0 ▁gave ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁a ▁score ▁of ▁ 4 . 7 ▁( on ▁a ▁scale ▁from ▁ 0 ▁to ▁ 1 0 ▁where ▁ 0 ▁is ▁" high ly ▁corrupt " ▁and ▁ 1 0 ▁is ▁" high ly ▁clean "). ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁has ▁under g one ▁a ▁process ▁of ▁political ▁and ▁social ▁reform , ▁such ▁as ▁to ▁increase ▁public ▁trans parency ▁and ▁good ▁govern ance . ▁However , ▁ne pot ism ▁and ▁patron age ▁are ▁widespread ▁when ▁doing ▁business ▁in ▁the ▁country . ▁The ▁enforcement ▁of ▁the ▁anti - cor ruption ▁laws ▁is ▁select ive ▁and ▁public ▁officials ▁engage ▁in ▁corruption ▁with ▁imp unity . ▁A ▁number ▁of ▁prominent ▁Saudi ▁Arab ian ▁prin ces , ▁government ▁minister s , ▁and ▁business people , ▁including ▁Prince ▁Al - W ale ed ▁bin ▁Tal al , ▁were ▁arrested ▁in ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁in ▁November ▁ 2 0 1 7 . ▁ ▁There
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▁has ▁been ▁mount ing ▁pressure ▁to ▁reform ▁and ▁modern ize ▁the ▁royal ▁family ' s ▁rule , ▁an ▁agenda ▁champion ed ▁by ▁King ▁Abd ull ah ▁both ▁before ▁and ▁after ▁his ▁acc ession ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 5 . ▁The ▁creation ▁of ▁the ▁Consult ative ▁Council ▁in ▁the ▁early ▁ 1 9 9 0 s ▁did ▁not ▁satisfy ▁demands ▁for ▁political ▁participation , ▁and , ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 3 , ▁an ▁annual ▁National ▁Dialog ue ▁Forum ▁was ▁announced ▁that ▁would ▁allow ▁selected ▁professionals ▁and ▁intellect uals ▁to ▁publicly ▁debate ▁current ▁national ▁issues , ▁within ▁certain ▁presc ribed ▁parameters . ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 5 , ▁the ▁first ▁municipal ▁elections ▁were ▁held . ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 7 , ▁the ▁Al leg iance ▁Council ▁was ▁created ▁to ▁reg ulate ▁the ▁success ion . ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 9 , ▁the ▁king ▁made ▁significant ▁personnel ▁changes ▁to ▁the ▁government ▁by ▁appoint ing ▁reform ers ▁to ▁key ▁positions ▁and ▁the ▁first ▁woman ▁to ▁a ▁minister ial ▁post . ▁However , ▁these ▁changes ▁have ▁been ▁critic ized ▁as ▁being ▁too ▁slow ▁or ▁merely ▁cos metic . ▁ ▁Al ▁ash - She ikh ▁and ▁role ▁of ▁the ▁u le ma ▁ ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁is ▁almost ▁unique ▁in ▁giving ▁the ▁u le ma ▁( the ▁body ▁of ▁Islamic ▁religious ▁leaders ▁and ▁jur ists ) ▁a ▁direct ▁role ▁in ▁government . ▁The ▁preferred ▁u le ma ▁are ▁of ▁the ▁Sal afi ▁persu asion . ▁The ▁u le ma ▁have ▁also ▁been ▁a ▁key ▁influence
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▁in ▁major ▁government ▁decisions , ▁for ▁example ▁the ▁im position ▁of ▁the ▁oil ▁embargo ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 3 ▁and ▁the ▁invitation ▁to ▁foreign ▁troops ▁to ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 0 . ▁In ▁addition , ▁they ▁have ▁had ▁a ▁major ▁role ▁in ▁the ▁jud icial ▁and ▁education ▁systems ▁and ▁a ▁mon opol y ▁of ▁authority ▁in ▁the ▁sphere ▁of ▁religious ▁and ▁social ▁mor als . ▁ ▁By ▁the ▁ 1 9 7 0 s , ▁as ▁a ▁result ▁of ▁oil ▁wealth ▁and ▁the ▁modern ization ▁of ▁the ▁country ▁initiated ▁by ▁King ▁F ais al , ▁important ▁changes ▁to ▁Saudi ▁society ▁were ▁under ▁way ▁and ▁the ▁power ▁of ▁the ▁u le ma ▁was ▁in ▁decline . ▁However , ▁this ▁changed ▁following ▁the ▁seiz ure ▁of ▁the ▁Grand ▁Mos que ▁in ▁Me cca ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 9 ▁by ▁Islam ist ▁radical s . ▁The ▁government ' s ▁response ▁to ▁the ▁crisis ▁included ▁strengthen ing ▁the ▁u le ma ' s ▁powers ▁and ▁increasing ▁their ▁financial ▁support : ▁in ▁particular , ▁they ▁were ▁given ▁greater ▁control ▁over ▁the ▁education ▁system ▁and ▁allowed ▁to ▁enforce ▁str ic ter ▁observ ance ▁of ▁W ah hab i ▁rules ▁of ▁moral ▁and ▁social ▁behaviour . ▁After ▁his ▁acc ession ▁to ▁the ▁throne ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 5 , ▁King ▁Abd ull ah ▁took ▁steps ▁to ▁reduce ▁the ▁powers ▁of ▁the ▁u le ma , ▁for ▁instance ▁transfer ring ▁control ▁over ▁girls ' ▁education ▁to ▁the ▁Ministry ▁of ▁Education . ▁ ▁The ▁u le
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ma ▁have ▁histor ically ▁been ▁led ▁by ▁the ▁Al ▁ash - She ikh , ▁the ▁country ' s ▁leading ▁religious ▁family . ▁The ▁Al ▁ash - She ikh ▁are ▁the ▁descend ants ▁of ▁Muhammad ▁ib n ▁Abd ▁al - W ah hab , ▁the ▁ 1 8 th - century ▁founder ▁of ▁the ▁W ah hab i ▁form ▁of ▁Sun ni ▁Islam ▁which ▁is ▁today ▁dominant ▁in ▁Saudi ▁Arabia . ▁The ▁family ▁is ▁second ▁in ▁prest ige ▁only ▁to ▁the ▁Al ▁Saud ▁( the ▁royal ▁family ) ▁with ▁whom ▁they ▁formed ▁a ▁" mut ual ▁support ▁p act " ▁and ▁power - sh aring ▁arrangement ▁nearly ▁ 3 0 0 ▁years ▁ago . ▁The ▁p act , ▁which ▁pers ists ▁to ▁this ▁day , ▁is ▁based ▁on ▁the ▁Al ▁Saud ▁maintaining ▁the ▁Al ▁ash - She ikh ' s ▁authority ▁in ▁religious ▁matters ▁and ▁up hold ing ▁and ▁propag ating ▁W ah hab i ▁doctrine . ▁In ▁return , ▁the ▁Al ▁ash - She ikh ▁support ▁the ▁Al ▁Saud ' s ▁political ▁authority ▁thereby ▁using ▁its ▁religious - m oral ▁authority ▁to ▁legit im ize ▁the ▁royal ▁family ' s ▁rule . ▁Although ▁the ▁Al ▁ash - She ikh ' s ▁dom ination ▁of ▁the ▁u le ma ▁has ▁dimin ished ▁in ▁recent ▁decades , ▁they ▁still ▁hold ▁the ▁most ▁important ▁religious ▁posts ▁and ▁are ▁closely ▁linked ▁to ▁the ▁Al ▁Saud ▁by ▁a ▁high ▁degree ▁of ▁inter mar riage . ▁ ▁Legal ▁system ▁ ▁The ▁primary ▁source ▁of ▁law ▁is ▁the ▁Islamic ▁Sh
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aria ▁derived ▁from ▁the ▁teach ings ▁of ▁the ▁Q ur ' an ▁and ▁the ▁S unn ah ▁( the ▁traditions ▁of ▁the ▁Prop het ). ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁is ▁unique ▁among ▁modern ▁Muslim ▁states ▁in ▁that ▁Sh aria ▁is ▁not ▁cod ified ▁and ▁there ▁is ▁no ▁system ▁of ▁jud icial ▁preced ent , ▁giving ▁judges ▁the ▁power ▁to ▁use ▁independent ▁legal ▁reasoning ▁to ▁make ▁a ▁decision . ▁Saudi ▁judges ▁tend ▁to ▁follow ▁the ▁principles ▁of ▁the ▁Han b ali ▁school ▁of ▁jur isp rud ence ▁( or ▁fi q h ) ▁found ▁in ▁pre - mod ern ▁texts ▁and ▁noted ▁for ▁its ▁literal ist ▁interpretation ▁of ▁the ▁Q ur ' an ▁and ▁had ith . ▁ ▁Because ▁the ▁judge ▁is ▁empower ed ▁to ▁dis reg ard ▁previous ▁judg ments ▁( e ither ▁his ▁own ▁or ▁of ▁other ▁judges ) ▁and ▁may ▁apply ▁his ▁personal ▁interpretation ▁of ▁Sh aria ▁to ▁any ▁particular ▁case , ▁diver gent ▁judg ements ▁arise ▁even ▁in ▁apparently ▁identical ▁cases , ▁making ▁predict ability ▁of ▁legal ▁interpretation ▁difficult . ▁The ▁Sh aria ▁court ▁system ▁const itutes ▁the ▁basic ▁jud ici ary ▁of ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁and ▁its ▁judges ▁( q adi ) ▁and ▁lawyers ▁form ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁u le ma , ▁the ▁country ' s ▁Islamic ▁scholars . ▁ ▁Royal ▁decre es ▁are ▁the ▁other ▁main ▁source ▁of ▁law ; ▁but ▁are ▁referred ▁to ▁as ▁regulations ▁rather ▁than ▁laws ▁because ▁they ▁are ▁sub ord inate ▁to ▁the ▁Sh aria . ▁Royal ▁decre es ▁supplement ▁Sh aria ▁in ▁areas ▁such ▁as ▁labor
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, ▁commercial ▁and ▁corporate ▁law . ▁Additionally , ▁traditional ▁trib al ▁law ▁and ▁custom ▁remain ▁significant . ▁Extra - Sh aria ▁government ▁trib un als ▁usually ▁handle ▁disput es ▁relating ▁to ▁specific ▁royal ▁decre es . ▁Final ▁appeal ▁from ▁both ▁Sh aria ▁courts ▁and ▁government ▁trib un als ▁is ▁to ▁the ▁King ▁and ▁all ▁courts ▁and ▁trib un als ▁follow ▁Sh aria ▁rules ▁of ▁evidence ▁and ▁procedure . ▁ ▁The ▁Saudi ▁system ▁of ▁justice ▁has ▁been ▁critic ized ▁for ▁its ▁" ul tra - pur itan ical ▁judges ", ▁who ▁are ▁often ▁harsh ▁in ▁their ▁sent encing ▁( with ▁be heading ▁for ▁the ▁crime ▁of ▁witch craft ), ▁but ▁also ▁sometimes ▁over ly ▁len ient ▁( for ▁cases ▁of ▁rape ▁or ▁wife - be ating ) ▁and ▁slow , ▁for ▁example ▁leaving ▁thousands ▁of ▁abandoned ▁women ▁unable ▁to ▁secure ▁a ▁divorce . ▁The ▁system ▁has ▁also ▁been ▁critic ized ▁for ▁being ▁arc ane , ▁lacking ▁in ▁some ▁of ▁the ▁saf egu ards ▁of ▁justice , ▁and ▁unable ▁to ▁deal ▁with ▁the ▁modern ▁world . ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 7 , ▁King ▁Abd ull ah ▁issued ▁royal ▁decre es ▁reform ing ▁the ▁jud ici ary ▁and ▁creating ▁a ▁new ▁court ▁system , ▁and , ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 9 , ▁the ▁King ▁made ▁a ▁number ▁of ▁significant ▁changes ▁to ▁the ▁jud ici ary ' s ▁personnel ▁at ▁the ▁most ▁senior ▁level ▁by ▁bringing ▁in ▁a ▁younger ▁generation . ▁ ▁Capital ▁and ▁physical ▁pun ish ments ▁imposed ▁by ▁Saudi ▁courts , ▁such ▁as
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▁be heading , ▁st oning ▁( to ▁death ), ▁am put ation , ▁cru c if ix ion ▁and ▁l ashing , ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁the ▁sheer ▁number ▁of ▁execut ions ▁have ▁been ▁strongly ▁critic ized . ▁The ▁death ▁penalty ▁can ▁be ▁imposed ▁for ▁a ▁wide ▁range ▁of ▁off ences ▁including ▁murder , ▁rape , ▁armed ▁rob bery , ▁repeated ▁drug ▁use , ▁apost asy , ▁ad ul tery , ▁witch craft ▁and ▁sor cery ▁and ▁can ▁be ▁carried ▁out ▁by ▁be heading ▁with ▁a ▁sword , ▁st oning ▁or ▁firing ▁squad , ▁followed ▁by ▁cru c if ix ion . ▁The ▁ 3 4 5 ▁reported ▁execut ions ▁between ▁ 2 0 0 7 ▁and ▁ 2 0 1 0 ▁were ▁all ▁carried ▁out ▁by ▁public ▁be heading . ▁The ▁last ▁reported ▁execution ▁for ▁sor cery ▁took ▁place ▁in ▁September ▁ 2 0 1 4 . ▁Studies ▁have ▁shown ▁that ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁has ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁lowest ▁crime ▁rates ▁in ▁the ▁world ▁although ▁there ▁are ▁differ ing ▁views ▁as ▁to ▁whether ▁this ▁is ▁attribut able ▁to ▁the ▁legal ▁system ▁or ▁other ▁factors ▁such ▁as ▁social ▁structures . ▁▁ ▁Although ▁repeated ▁theft ▁can ▁be ▁pun ish able ▁by ▁am put ation ▁of ▁the ▁right ▁hand , ▁only ▁one ▁instance ▁of ▁jud icial ▁am put ation ▁was ▁reported ▁between ▁ 2 0 0 7 ▁and ▁ 2 0 1 0 . ▁Hom osexual ▁acts ▁are ▁pun ish able ▁by ▁fl og ging ▁or ▁death . ▁In ▁April ▁ 2 0 2 0 , ▁Saudi
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▁Supreme ▁Court ▁issued ▁a ▁direct ive ▁to ▁eliminate ▁the ▁punishment ▁of ▁fl og ging ▁from ▁the ▁Saudi ▁court ▁system , ▁and ▁it ▁is ▁to ▁be ▁replaced ▁by ▁imprison ment ▁or ▁fin es . ▁ ▁A the ism ▁or ▁" call ing ▁into ▁question ▁the ▁fundament als ▁of ▁the ▁Islamic ▁religion ▁on ▁which ▁this ▁country ▁is ▁based " ▁is ▁considered ▁a ▁terrorist ▁crime . ▁L ash ings ▁are ▁a ▁common ▁form ▁of ▁punishment ▁and ▁are ▁often ▁imposed ▁for ▁off ences ▁against ▁religion ▁and ▁public ▁mor ality ▁such ▁as ▁drinking ▁alcohol ▁and ▁neglect ▁of ▁prayer ▁and ▁fast ing ▁obligations . ▁ ▁Ret ali atory ▁pun ish ments , ▁or ▁Q is as , ▁are ▁pract ised : ▁for ▁instance , ▁an ▁eye ▁can ▁be ▁surg ically ▁removed ▁at ▁the ▁ins istence ▁of ▁a ▁victim ▁who ▁lost ▁his ▁own ▁eye . ▁Famil ies ▁of ▁someone ▁un law fully ▁killed ▁can ▁choose ▁between ▁demanding ▁the ▁death ▁penalty ▁or ▁grant ing ▁cle m ency ▁in ▁return ▁for ▁a ▁payment ▁of ▁di y ya ▁( blo od ▁money ), ▁by ▁the ▁perpet r ator . ▁ ▁Even ▁after ▁allowing ▁women ▁to ▁drive ▁and ▁work , ▁public ▁places ▁in ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁are ▁still ▁gender - seg reg ated ▁and ▁the ▁kingdom ▁has ▁very ▁strict ▁laws ▁on ▁how ▁un related ▁men ▁and ▁women ▁can ▁d ine ▁together . ▁In ▁September ▁ 2 0 1 8 , ▁a ▁man ▁was ▁arrested ▁by ▁the ▁Saudi ▁authorities ▁for ▁appearing ▁in ▁a ▁video ▁with ▁his ▁female ▁colle ague ▁while ▁having ▁breakfast ▁at ▁a ▁hotel ,
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▁where ▁they ▁both ▁work . ▁ ▁Foreign ▁relations ▁ ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁joined ▁the ▁UN ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 5 ▁and ▁is ▁a ▁founding ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁Arab ▁League , ▁Gulf ▁Co operation ▁Council , ▁Muslim ▁World ▁League , ▁and ▁the ▁Organization ▁of ▁the ▁Islamic ▁Conference ▁( now ▁the ▁Organ isation ▁of ▁Islamic ▁Co operation ). ▁It ▁plays ▁a ▁prominent ▁role ▁in ▁the ▁International ▁Mon etary ▁Fund ▁and ▁the ▁World ▁Bank , ▁and ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 5 ▁joined ▁the ▁World ▁Trade ▁Organization . ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁supports ▁the ▁intended ▁formation ▁of ▁the ▁Arab ▁Custom s ▁Union ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 5 ▁and ▁an ▁Arab ▁common ▁market ▁by ▁ 2 0 2 0 , ▁as ▁announced ▁at ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 9 ▁Arab ▁League ▁summit . ▁ ▁Since ▁ 1 9 6 0 , ▁as ▁a ▁founding ▁member ▁of ▁O PE C , ▁its ▁oil ▁pricing ▁policy ▁has ▁been ▁generally ▁to ▁stabil ize ▁the ▁world ▁oil ▁market ▁and ▁try ▁to ▁moderate ▁sharp ▁price ▁movements ▁so ▁as ▁to ▁not ▁je op ard ise ▁the ▁Western ▁econom ies . ▁In ▁ 1 9 7 3 , ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁and ▁other ▁Arab ▁nations ▁imposed ▁an ▁oil ▁embargo ▁against ▁the ▁United ▁States , ▁United ▁Kingdom , ▁Japan ▁and ▁other ▁Western ▁nations ▁which ▁supported ▁Israel ▁in ▁the ▁Y om ▁K ip pur ▁War ▁of ▁October ▁ 1 9 7 3 . ▁The ▁embargo ▁caused ▁an ▁oil ▁crisis ▁with ▁many ▁short - ▁and ▁long - term ▁effects ▁on ▁global ▁politics ▁and ▁the ▁global ▁economy . ▁ ▁Between
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▁the ▁mid - 1 9 7 0 s ▁and ▁ 2 0 0 2 ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁expend ed ▁over ▁$ 7 0 ▁billion ▁in ▁" over se as ▁development ▁aid ". ▁However , ▁there ▁is ▁evidence ▁that ▁the ▁vast ▁majority ▁was , ▁in ▁fact , ▁spent ▁on ▁propag ating ▁and ▁extending ▁the ▁influence ▁of ▁W ah hab ism ▁at ▁the ▁expense ▁of ▁other ▁forms ▁of ▁Islam . ▁There ▁has ▁been ▁an ▁intense ▁debate ▁over ▁whether ▁Saudi ▁aid ▁and ▁W ah hab ism ▁has ▁f om ented ▁extrem ism ▁in ▁recipient ▁countries . ▁The ▁two ▁main ▁alleg ations ▁are ▁that , ▁by ▁its ▁nature , ▁W ah hab ism ▁encour ages ▁int oler ance ▁and ▁prom otes ▁terror ism . ▁Count ing ▁only ▁the ▁non - Mus lim - major ity ▁countries , ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁has ▁paid ▁for ▁the ▁construction ▁of ▁ 1 3 5 9 ▁mos ques , ▁ 2 1 0 ▁Islamic ▁cent res , ▁ 2 0 2 ▁colleges ▁and ▁ 2 0 0 0 ▁schools . ▁ ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁and ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁are ▁strategic ▁allies , ▁and ▁since ▁President ▁Bar ack ▁Obama ▁took ▁office ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 9 , ▁the ▁US ▁has ▁sold ▁$ 1 1 0 ▁billion ▁in ▁arms ▁to ▁Saudi ▁Arabia . ▁However , ▁the ▁relationship ▁between ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁and ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁became ▁str ained ▁and ▁have ▁witnessed ▁major ▁decline ▁during ▁the ▁last ▁years ▁of ▁the ▁Obama ▁administration , ▁although ▁Obama ▁had ▁authorized ▁US ▁forces ▁to ▁provide ▁log ist ical ▁and ▁intelligence ▁support ▁to
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▁the ▁Saud is ▁in ▁their ▁military ▁intervention ▁in ▁Y emen , ▁establishing ▁a ▁joint ▁coord ination ▁planning ▁cell ▁with ▁the ▁Saudi ▁military ▁that ▁is ▁helping ▁manage ▁the ▁war , ▁and ▁CIA ▁used ▁Saudi ▁bases ▁for ▁dr one ▁assass inations ▁in ▁Y emen . ▁In ▁the ▁first ▁decade ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 1 st ▁century ▁the ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁paid ▁approximately ▁$ 1 0 0 ▁million ▁to ▁American ▁firms ▁to ▁lobby ▁the ▁U . S . ▁government . ▁On ▁May ▁ 2 0 , ▁ 2 0 1 7 , ▁President ▁Donald ▁Trump ▁and ▁King ▁Sal man ▁signed ▁a ▁series ▁of ▁letters ▁of ▁intent ▁for ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁to ▁purchase ▁arms ▁from ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁total ing ▁US $ 1 1 0 ▁billion ▁immediately , ▁and ▁$ 3 5 0 ▁billion ▁over ▁ 1 0 ▁years . ▁ ▁In ▁the ▁Arab ▁and ▁Muslim ▁worlds , ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁is ▁considered ▁to ▁be ▁pro - W estern ▁and ▁pro - American , ▁and ▁it ▁is ▁certainly ▁a ▁long - term ▁al ly ▁of ▁the ▁United ▁States . ▁However , ▁this ▁and ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ' s ▁role ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 1 ▁Pers ian ▁Gulf ▁War , ▁particularly ▁the ▁station ing ▁of ▁US ▁troops ▁on ▁Saudi ▁soil ▁from ▁ 1 9 9 1 , ▁prompt ed ▁the ▁development ▁of ▁a ▁hostile ▁Islam ist ▁response ▁intern ally . ▁As ▁a ▁result , ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁has , ▁to ▁some ▁extent , ▁dist anced ▁itself ▁from ▁the ▁US ▁and , ▁for ▁example , ▁refused ▁to ▁support ▁or ▁to ▁participate ▁in
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▁the ▁US - led ▁invasion ▁of ▁Iraq ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 3 . ▁ ▁China ▁and ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁are ▁major ▁allies , ▁with ▁relationship ▁between ▁the ▁two ▁countries ▁growing ▁significantly ▁in ▁recent ▁decades . ▁Major ity ▁of ▁Saudi ▁Arab ians ▁also ▁expressed ▁a ▁favor able ▁view ▁of ▁China . ▁In ▁February ▁ 2 0 1 9 , ▁Crown ▁Prince ▁Moh amm ad ▁def ended ▁China ' s ▁X in ji ang ▁re - educ ation ▁camps ▁for ▁U y gh ur ▁Muslims , ▁saying ▁" Ch ina ▁has ▁the ▁right ▁to ▁carry ▁out ▁anti - ter ror ism ▁and ▁de - ext rem isation ▁work ▁for ▁its ▁national ▁security ." ▁In ▁July ▁ 2 0 1 9 , ▁UN ▁amb ass ad ors ▁of ▁ 3 7 ▁countries , ▁including ▁Saudi ▁Arabia , ▁have ▁signed ▁a ▁joint ▁letter ▁to ▁the ▁UN H RC ▁defending ▁China ' s ▁treatment ▁of ▁U y gh urs ▁and ▁other ▁Muslim ▁minority ▁groups ▁in ▁the ▁X in ji ang ▁region . ▁ ▁The ▁consequences ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 3 ▁invasion ▁and ▁the ▁Arab ▁Spring ▁led ▁to ▁increasing ▁alarm ▁within ▁the ▁Saudi ▁mon archy ▁over ▁the ▁rise ▁of ▁Iran ' s ▁influence ▁in ▁the ▁region . ▁These ▁fears ▁were ▁reflected ▁in ▁comments ▁of ▁King ▁Abd ull ah , ▁who ▁priv ately ▁urged ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁to ▁attack ▁Iran ▁and ▁" cut ▁off ▁the ▁head ▁of ▁the ▁snake ". ▁The ▁tent ative ▁rap pro che ment ▁between ▁the ▁US ▁and ▁Iran ▁that ▁began ▁in ▁secret ▁in ▁
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2 0 1 1 ▁was ▁said ▁to ▁be ▁feared ▁by ▁the ▁Saud is , ▁and , ▁during ▁the ▁run ▁up ▁to ▁the ▁widely ▁welcomed ▁deal ▁on ▁Iran ' s ▁nuclear ▁programme ▁that ▁c apped ▁the ▁first ▁stage ▁of ▁US – I ran ian ▁dé t ente , ▁Robert ▁Jordan , ▁who ▁was ▁US ▁amb assador ▁to ▁R iy ad h ▁from ▁ 2 0 0 1 ▁to ▁ 2 0 0 3 , ▁said ▁"[ t ] he ▁Saud is ' ▁worst ▁nightmare ▁would ▁be ▁the ▁[ Ob ama ] ▁administration ▁striking ▁a ▁grand ▁barg ain ▁with ▁Iran ." ▁A ▁trip ▁to ▁Saudi ▁by ▁US ▁President ▁Bar ack ▁Obama ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 4 ▁included ▁discussions ▁of ▁US – I ran ▁relations , ▁though ▁these ▁failed ▁to ▁resolve ▁R iy ad h ' s ▁concerns . ▁ ▁In ▁order ▁to ▁protect ▁the ▁house ▁of ▁K hal ifa , ▁the ▁mon arch s ▁of ▁B ahr ain , ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁inv aded ▁B ahr ain ▁by ▁sending ▁military ▁troops ▁to ▁qu ell ▁the ▁up r ising ▁of ▁B ahr ain i ▁people ▁on ▁ 1 4 ▁March ▁ 2 0 1 1 . ▁The ▁Saudi ▁government ▁considered ▁the ▁two - month ▁up r ising ▁as ▁a ▁" security ▁threat " ▁pos ed ▁by ▁the ▁Sh ia ▁who ▁represent ▁the ▁majority ▁of ▁B ahr ain ▁population . ▁ ▁On ▁ 2 5 ▁March ▁ 2 0 1 5 , ▁Saudi ▁Arabia , ▁spe ar heading ▁a ▁coalition ▁of ▁Sun ni ▁Muslim ▁states , ▁started
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▁a ▁military ▁intervention ▁in ▁Y emen ▁against ▁the ▁Sh ia ▁Hou this ▁and ▁forces ▁loyal ▁to ▁former ▁President ▁Ali ▁Abd ull ah ▁Sale h , ▁who ▁was ▁de posed ▁in ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 1 ▁Arab ▁Spring ▁up ris ings . ▁At ▁least ▁ 5 6 , 0 0 0 ▁people ▁have ▁been ▁killed ▁in ▁armed ▁violence ▁in ▁Y emen ▁between ▁January ▁ 2 0 1 6 ▁and ▁October ▁ 2 0 1 8 . ▁ ▁Saudi ▁Arabia , ▁together ▁with ▁Q atar ▁and ▁Turkey , ▁openly ▁supported ▁the ▁Army ▁of ▁Con quest , ▁an ▁u mbre lla ▁group ▁of ▁anti - govern ment ▁forces ▁fighting ▁in ▁the ▁Sy rian ▁Civil ▁War ▁that ▁reported ly ▁included ▁an ▁al - Q a eda ▁linked ▁al - N us ra ▁Front ▁and ▁another ▁Sal afi ▁coalition ▁known ▁as ▁A hr ar ▁al - Sh am . ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁was ▁also ▁involved ▁in ▁the ▁CIA - led ▁Tim ber ▁Sy cam ore ▁co vert ▁operation ▁to ▁train ▁and ▁arm ▁Sy rian ▁reb els . ▁ ▁Following ▁a ▁number ▁of ▁incidents ▁during ▁the ▁H aj j ▁season , ▁the ▁dead liest ▁of ▁which ▁killed ▁at ▁least ▁ 2 , 0 7 0 ▁pil gr im ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 5 ▁M ina ▁stamp ede , ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁has ▁been ▁accused ▁of ▁mis management ▁and ▁focusing ▁on ▁increasing ▁money ▁reven ues ▁while ▁neglect ing ▁pil gr ims ' ▁welfare . ▁ ▁In ▁March ▁ 2 0 1 5 , ▁Sweden ▁scr apped ▁an ▁arms ▁deal ▁with
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▁Saudi ▁Arabia , ▁mark ing ▁an ▁end ▁to ▁a ▁decade - old ▁defense ▁agreement ▁with ▁the ▁kingdom . ▁The ▁decision ▁came ▁after ▁Swedish ▁Foreign ▁Minister ▁Marg ot ▁Wall st rom ▁was ▁blocked ▁by ▁the ▁Saud is ▁while ▁speaking ▁about ▁democracy ▁and ▁women ' s ▁rights ▁at ▁the ▁Arab ▁League ▁in ▁C airo . ▁This ▁also ▁led ▁to ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁recall ing ▁its ▁amb assador ▁to ▁Sweden . ▁ ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁has ▁been ▁seen ▁as ▁a ▁moder ating ▁influence ▁in ▁the ▁Arab – Is rael i ▁conflict , ▁period ically ▁putting ▁forward ▁a ▁peace ▁plan ▁between ▁Israel ▁and ▁the ▁Palest ini ans ▁and ▁condem ning ▁He zb oll ah . ▁Following ▁the ▁Arab ▁Spring ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁offered ▁as yl um ▁to ▁de posed ▁President ▁Z ine ▁El ▁Ab id ine ▁Ben ▁Ali ▁of ▁Tun is ia ▁and ▁King ▁Abd ull ah ▁tele ph oned ▁President ▁H os ni ▁M ub ar ak ▁of ▁Egypt ▁( p rior ▁to ▁his ▁de position ) ▁to ▁offer ▁his ▁support . ▁In ▁early ▁ 2 0 1 4 ▁relations ▁with ▁Q atar ▁became ▁str ained ▁over ▁its ▁support ▁for ▁the ▁Muslim ▁Brother hood , ▁and ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ' s ▁belief ▁that ▁Q atar ▁was ▁inter fer ing ▁in ▁its ▁affairs . ▁In ▁August ▁ 2 0 1 4 ▁both ▁countries ▁appeared ▁to ▁be ▁exploring ▁ways ▁of ▁ending ▁the ▁r ift . ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁and ▁its ▁allies ▁have ▁critic ized ▁Q atar - based ▁TV ▁channel ▁Al ▁J aze era ▁and ▁Q atar ' s ▁relations ▁with ▁Iran .
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▁In ▁ 2 0 1 7 , ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁imposed ▁a ▁land , ▁naval ▁and ▁air ▁block ade ▁on ▁Q atar . ▁ ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁halt ed ▁new ▁trade ▁and ▁investment ▁deal ings ▁with ▁Canada ▁and ▁suspended ▁diplom atic ▁ties ▁in ▁a ▁dramatic ▁escal ation ▁of ▁a ▁dispute ▁over ▁the ▁kingdom ’ s ▁arrest ▁of ▁women ' s ▁rights ▁activ ist ▁Sam ar ▁Bad awi ▁on ▁ 6 ▁August ▁ 2 0 1 8 . ▁ ▁T ensions ▁have ▁escal ated ▁between ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁and ▁its ▁allies ▁after ▁the ▁disappe arance ▁of ▁Jam al ▁K hash og gi ▁from ▁the ▁Saudi ▁cons ulate ▁in ▁I stan bul . ▁Turkish ▁officials ▁are ▁highly ▁ske pt ical ▁of ▁K hash og gi ▁being ▁murdered ▁inside ▁the ▁cons ulate ; ▁this ▁has ▁str ained ▁the ▁already ▁suffering ▁Saudi ▁Arabia – Tur key ▁relations . ▁As ▁stated ▁by ▁Oz g ur ▁Un l uh is arc ik li , ▁director ▁of ▁the ▁German ▁Marshall ▁Fund ’ s ▁An k ara ▁office ▁" Tur key ▁is ▁maintaining ▁a ▁very ▁delicate ▁balance ▁in ▁its ▁relations ▁with ▁Saudi ▁Arabia . ▁The ▁relations ▁have ▁the ▁potential ▁of ▁ev olving ▁into ▁a ▁crisis ▁at ▁any ▁moment ." ▁ ▁The ▁pressure ▁on ▁Saudi ▁to ▁reveal ▁the ▁insights ▁about ▁K hash og gi ’ s ▁disappe arance ▁from ▁the ▁US ▁and ▁other ▁European ▁countries ▁has ▁increased . ▁Saudi - US ▁relations ▁took ▁an ▁ugly ▁turn ▁on ▁ 1 4 ▁October ▁ 2 0 1 8 , ▁when ▁Trump ▁promised ▁" se vere ▁punishment "
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▁if ▁the ▁royal ▁court ▁was ▁responsible ▁for ▁K hash ogg is ’ ▁death . ▁The ▁Saudi ▁Foreign ▁Ministry ▁ret ali ated ▁with ▁an ▁equal ▁statement ▁saying , ▁" it ▁will ▁respond ▁with ▁greater ▁action ," ▁indicating ▁the ▁kingdom ’ s ▁" in flu ential ▁and ▁vital ▁role ▁in ▁the ▁global ▁economy ." ▁A ▁joint ▁statement ▁was ▁issued ▁by ▁Britain , ▁France ▁and ▁Germany ▁also ▁demanding ▁a ▁" cred ible ▁investigation ▁to ▁establish ▁the ▁truth ▁about ▁what ▁happened , ▁and ▁— ▁if ▁relevant ▁— ▁to ▁identify ▁those ▁bearing ▁responsibility ▁for ▁the ▁disappe arance ▁of ▁Jam al ▁K hash og gi , ▁and ▁ensure ▁that ▁they ▁are ▁held ▁to ▁account ." ▁ ▁The ▁US ▁expects ▁its ▁Gulf ▁allies ▁involved ▁in ▁the ▁coalition ▁in ▁Y emen ▁to ▁put ▁in ▁more ▁efforts ▁and ▁address ▁the ▁rising ▁concerns ▁about ▁the ▁millions ▁that ▁have ▁been ▁pushed ▁to ▁the ▁br ink ▁of ▁fam ine . ▁According ▁to ▁the ▁United ▁Nations , ▁the ▁Arab ian ▁pen insula ▁nation ▁is ▁home ▁to ▁the ▁world ’ s ▁worst ▁human itarian ▁crisis . ▁More ▁than ▁ 5 0 , 0 0 0 ▁children ▁in ▁Y emen ▁died ▁from ▁star v ation ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 7 . ▁The ▁fam ine ▁in ▁Y emen ▁is ▁the ▁direct ▁result ▁of ▁the ▁Saudi - led ▁intervention ▁and ▁block ade ▁of ▁the ▁rebel - held ▁area . ▁ ▁In ▁the ▁wake ▁of ▁Jam al ▁K hash og gi ' s ▁murder ▁in ▁October ▁ 2 0 1 8 , ▁the ▁US ▁secretary ▁of ▁state ▁Mike ▁Pom pe
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o ▁and ▁the ▁US ▁defence ▁secretary ▁Jim ▁Matt is ▁have ▁called ▁for ▁a ▁ce ase fire ▁in ▁Y emen ▁within ▁ 3 0 ▁days ▁followed ▁by ▁UN - init iated ▁peace ▁talks . ▁Pom pe o ▁has ▁asked ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁and ▁the ▁U AE ▁to ▁stop ▁their ▁a irst rik es ▁on ▁pop ulated ▁areas ▁in ▁Y emen . ▁Ther esa ▁May ▁backed ▁the ▁US ▁call ▁to ▁end ▁the ▁coalition . ▁President ▁of ▁the ▁International ▁Res c ue ▁Committee ▁David ▁Mil ib and ▁called ▁the ▁US ▁announcement ▁as ▁" the ▁most ▁significant ▁break through ▁in ▁the ▁war ▁in ▁Y emen ▁for ▁four ▁years ". ▁ ▁Jeremy ▁Hunt , ▁the ▁UK ▁Foreign ▁Secretary , ▁on ▁his ▁visit ▁to ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁and ▁the ▁U AE ▁on ▁ 1 2 ▁November ▁ 2 0 1 8 , ▁is ▁expected ▁to ▁raise ▁the ▁need ▁for ▁a ▁ce ase fire ▁from ▁all ▁sides ▁in ▁the ▁four - year ▁long ▁Y emen ▁civil ▁war . ▁The ▁US ▁called ▁for ▁a ▁ce ase fire ▁within ▁ 3 0 ▁days . ▁Andrew ▁Smith , ▁of ▁Campaign ▁Against ▁Ar ms ▁Trade ▁( CA AT ), ▁said ▁that ▁Hunt ▁and ▁Bor is ▁Johnson ▁" play ed ▁an ▁utterly ▁central ▁and ▁com plicit ▁role ▁in ▁arm ing ▁and ▁supporting ▁the ▁Saudi - led ▁destruction ▁of ▁Y emen ." ▁ ▁Al leg ations ▁of ▁spons oring ▁global ▁terror ism ▁According ▁to ▁the ▁Iraq i ▁prime ▁minister ▁N ouri ▁al - Mal iki ▁in ▁March ▁ 2 0 1 4 , ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁along ▁with ▁Q
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atar ▁provided ▁political , ▁financial ▁and ▁media ▁support ▁to ▁terror ists ▁against ▁the ▁Iraq i ▁government . ▁Similarly , ▁President ▁of ▁Syria ▁B ash ar ▁al - Ass ad ▁noted ▁that ▁the ▁sources ▁of ▁the ▁extreme ▁ide ology ▁of ▁terrorist ▁organization ▁Islamic ▁State ▁and ▁al - Q a eda ▁affiliate ▁groups ▁are ▁the ▁W ah abb ism ▁that ▁has ▁been ▁supported ▁by ▁the ▁royal ▁family ▁of ▁Saudi ▁Arabia . ▁ ▁The ▁relations ▁with ▁the ▁U . S . ▁became ▁str ained ▁following ▁ 9 / 1 1 ▁terror ▁attacks . ▁American ▁politicians ▁and ▁media ▁accused ▁the ▁Saudi ▁government ▁of ▁supporting ▁terror ism ▁and ▁toler ating ▁a ▁j ih ad ist ▁culture . ▁Indeed , ▁Os ama ▁bin ▁L aden ▁and ▁ 1 5 ▁out ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 9 ▁ 9 / 1 1 ▁hij ack ers ▁were ▁from ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ; ▁in ▁IS IL - occup ied ▁Ra q qa , ▁in ▁mid - 2 0 1 4 , ▁all ▁ 1 2 ▁judges ▁were ▁Saudi . ▁The ▁le aked ▁US ▁Department ▁of ▁State ▁memo , ▁dated ▁ 1 7 ▁August ▁ 2 0 1 4 , ▁says ▁that ▁" govern ments ▁of ▁Q atar ▁and ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ... are ▁providing ▁cl and est ine ▁financial ▁and ▁log istic ▁support ▁to ▁IS IS ▁and ▁other ▁radical ▁groups ▁in ▁the ▁region ." ▁According ▁to ▁former ▁US ▁Secretary ▁of ▁State ▁Hillary ▁Clinton , ▁" S aud i ▁Arabia ▁remains ▁a ▁critical ▁financial ▁support ▁base ▁for ▁al - Q a ida , ▁the ▁Tal ib
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an , ▁Le T ▁and ▁other ▁terrorist ▁groups ... ▁Don ors ▁in ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁const itute ▁the ▁most ▁significant ▁source ▁of ▁funding ▁to ▁Sun ni ▁terrorist ▁groups ▁worldwide ." ▁Former ▁CIA ▁director ▁James ▁W ool sey ▁described ▁it ▁as ▁" the ▁soil ▁in ▁which ▁Al - Q a eda ▁and ▁its ▁sister ▁terrorist ▁organizations ▁are ▁flour ishing ." ▁The ▁Saudi ▁government ▁den ies ▁these ▁claims ▁or ▁that ▁it ▁exports ▁religious ▁or ▁cultural ▁extrem ism . ▁In ▁April ▁ 2 0 1 6 , ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁has ▁threatened ▁to ▁sell ▁off ▁$ 7 5 0 ▁billion ▁in ▁Tre asury ▁secur ities ▁and ▁other ▁US ▁assets ▁if ▁Congress ▁passes ▁a ▁bill ▁that ▁would ▁allow ▁the ▁Saudi ▁government ▁to ▁be ▁su ed ▁over ▁ 9 / 1 1 . ▁In ▁September ▁ 2 0 1 6 , ▁the ▁Congress ▁passed ▁the ▁Justice ▁Against ▁S pons ors ▁of ▁T error ism ▁Act ▁that ▁would ▁allow ▁relatives ▁of ▁victims ▁of ▁the ▁September ▁ 1 1 ▁attacks ▁to ▁sue ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁for ▁its ▁government ' s ▁alleged ▁role ▁in ▁the ▁attacks . ▁Congress ▁overwhelming ly ▁rejected ▁President ▁Bar ack ▁Obama ' s ▁v eto . ▁ ▁According ▁to ▁Sir ▁William ▁P ate y , ▁former ▁British ▁amb assador ▁to ▁Saudi ▁Arabia , ▁the ▁kingdom ▁funds ▁mos ques ▁throughout ▁Europe ▁that ▁have ▁become ▁hot bed s ▁of ▁extrem ism . ▁" They ▁are ▁not ▁funding ▁terror ism . ▁They ▁are ▁funding ▁something ▁else , ▁which ▁may ▁down ▁the ▁road ▁lead ▁to ▁individuals ▁being ▁radical ised ▁and ▁becoming ▁f od der
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▁for ▁terror ism ," ▁P ate y ▁said . ▁He ▁said ▁that ▁Saudi ▁has ▁been ▁funding ▁an ▁ide ology ▁that ▁leads ▁to ▁extrem ism ▁and ▁the ▁leaders ▁of ▁the ▁kingdom ▁are ▁not ▁aware ▁of ▁the ▁consequences . ▁ ▁Military ▁ ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁has ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁highest ▁percent ages ▁of ▁military ▁expend iture ▁in ▁the ▁world , ▁spending ▁more ▁than ▁ 1 0 % ▁of ▁its ▁G DP ▁in ▁its ▁military . ▁The ▁Saudi ▁military ▁consists ▁of ▁the ▁Royal ▁Saudi ▁Land ▁Forces , ▁the ▁Royal ▁Saudi ▁Air ▁Force , ▁the ▁Royal ▁Saudi ▁Navy , ▁the ▁Royal ▁Saudi ▁Air ▁Defense , ▁the ▁Saudi ▁Arab ian ▁National ▁Guard ▁( S ANG , ▁an ▁independent ▁military ▁force ), ▁and ▁param il itary ▁forces , ▁total ing ▁nearly ▁ 2 0 0 , 0 0 0 ▁active - d uty ▁personnel . ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 5 ▁the ▁armed ▁forces ▁had ▁the ▁following ▁personnel : ▁the ▁army , ▁ 7 5 , 0 0 0 ; ▁the ▁air ▁force , ▁ 1 8 , 0 0 0 ; ▁air ▁defense , ▁ 1 6 , 0 0 0 ; ▁the ▁navy , ▁ 1 5 , 5 0 0 ▁( including ▁ 3 , 0 0 0 ▁mar ines ); ▁and ▁the ▁S ANG ▁had ▁ 7 5 , 0 0 0 ▁active ▁soldiers ▁and ▁ 2 5 , 0 0 0 ▁trib al ▁lev ies . ▁In ▁addition , ▁there ▁is ▁an ▁Al ▁M uk hab ar at ▁Al ▁A ' am ah ▁military ▁intelligence
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▁service . ▁ ▁The ▁kingdom ▁has ▁a ▁long - standing ▁military ▁relationship ▁with ▁Pakistan , ▁it ▁has ▁long ▁been ▁spec ulated ▁that ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁secret ly ▁funded ▁Pakistan ' s ▁atomic ▁bomb ▁programme ▁and ▁seeks ▁to ▁purchase ▁atomic ▁weapons ▁from ▁Pakistan , ▁in ▁near ▁future . ▁The ▁S ANG ▁is ▁not ▁a ▁reserve ▁but ▁a ▁fully ▁operational ▁front - line ▁force , ▁and ▁origin ated ▁out ▁of ▁I bn ▁Saud ' s ▁trib al ▁military - rel igious ▁force , ▁the ▁I k hw an . ▁Its ▁modern ▁existence , ▁however , ▁is ▁attribut able ▁to ▁it ▁being ▁effectively ▁Abd ull ah ' s ▁private ▁army ▁since ▁the ▁ 1 9 6 0 s ▁and , ▁unlike ▁the ▁rest ▁of ▁the ▁armed ▁forces , ▁is ▁independent ▁of ▁the ▁Ministry ▁of ▁Defense ▁and ▁A vi ation . ▁The ▁S ANG ▁has ▁been ▁a ▁counter balance ▁to ▁the ▁Sud air i ▁f action ▁in ▁the ▁royal ▁family : ▁The ▁late ▁prince ▁S ultan , ▁former ▁Minister ▁of ▁Defense ▁and ▁A vi ation , ▁was ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁so - called ▁' S ud air i ▁Seven ' ▁and ▁controlled ▁the ▁remainder ▁of ▁the ▁armed ▁forces ▁until ▁his ▁death ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 1 . ▁ ▁Sp ending ▁on ▁defense ▁and ▁security ▁has ▁increased ▁significantly ▁since ▁the ▁mid - 1 9 9 0 s ▁and ▁was ▁about ▁US $ 6 3 . 7 ▁billion , ▁as ▁of ▁ 2 0 1 6 . ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁ranks ▁among ▁the ▁top ▁ 1 0 ▁in ▁the ▁world
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▁in ▁government ▁spending ▁for ▁its ▁military , ▁representing ▁about ▁ 7 ▁percent ▁of ▁gross ▁domestic ▁product ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 5 . ▁Its ▁modern ▁high - techn ology ▁ar senal ▁makes ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁among ▁the ▁world ' s ▁most ▁dens ely ▁armed ▁nations , ▁with ▁its ▁military ▁equipment ▁being ▁supplied ▁primarily ▁by ▁the ▁US , ▁France ▁and ▁Britain . ▁ ▁The ▁United ▁States ▁sold ▁more ▁than ▁$ 8 0 ▁billion ▁in ▁military ▁hardware ▁between ▁ 1 9 5 1 ▁and ▁ 2 0 0 6 ▁to ▁the ▁Saudi ▁military . ▁On ▁ 2 0 ▁October ▁ 2 0 1 0 , ▁the ▁US ▁State ▁Department ▁not ified ▁Congress ▁of ▁its ▁intention ▁to ▁make ▁the ▁biggest ▁arms ▁sale ▁in ▁American ▁history — an ▁estimated ▁$ 6 0 . 5 ▁billion ▁purchase ▁by ▁the ▁Kingdom ▁of ▁Saudi ▁Arabia . ▁The ▁package ▁represents ▁a ▁considerable ▁improvement ▁in ▁the ▁offensive ▁capability ▁of ▁the ▁Saudi ▁armed ▁forces . ▁ 2 0 1 3 ▁saw ▁Saudi ▁military ▁spending ▁climb ▁to ▁$ 6 7 bn , ▁over t aking ▁that ▁of ▁the ▁UK , ▁France ▁and ▁Japan ▁to ▁place ▁fourth ▁glob ally . ▁ ▁The ▁United ▁Kingdom ▁has ▁also ▁been ▁a ▁major ▁supplier ▁of ▁military ▁equipment ▁to ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁since ▁ 1 9 6 5 . ▁Since ▁ 1 9 8 5 , ▁the ▁UK ▁has ▁supplied ▁military ▁aircraft — not ably ▁the ▁T orn ado ▁and ▁Euro fig h ter ▁Ty ph oon ▁combat ▁aircraft — and ▁other ▁equipment ▁as ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁long - term ▁Al -
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Y am am ah ▁arms ▁deal ▁estimated ▁to ▁have ▁been ▁worth ▁£ 4 3 ▁billion ▁by ▁ 2 0 0 6 ▁and ▁thought ▁to ▁be ▁worth ▁a ▁further ▁£ 4 0 ▁billion . ▁In ▁May ▁ 2 0 1 2 , ▁British ▁defence ▁giant ▁B AE ▁signed ▁a ▁£ 1 . 9 bn ▁($ 3 bn ) ▁deal ▁to ▁supply ▁Haw k ▁trainer ▁j ets ▁to ▁Saudi ▁Arabia . ▁ ▁According ▁to ▁the ▁Stockholm ▁International ▁Peace ▁Research ▁Institute , ▁S IP RI , ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 0 – 1 4 ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁became ▁the ▁world ' s ▁second ▁largest ▁arms ▁im porter , ▁receiving ▁four ▁times ▁more ▁major ▁arms ▁than ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 5 – 2 0 0 9 . ▁Major ▁imports ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 0 – 1 4 ▁included ▁ 4 5 ▁combat ▁aircraft ▁from ▁the ▁UK , ▁ 3 8 ▁combat ▁helic op ters ▁from ▁the ▁US , ▁four ▁tank er ▁aircraft ▁from ▁Spain ▁and ▁over ▁ 6 0 0 ▁arm oured ▁vehicles ▁from ▁Canada . ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁has ▁a ▁long ▁list ▁of ▁outstanding ▁orders ▁for ▁arms , ▁including ▁ 2 7 ▁more ▁combat ▁aircraft ▁from ▁the ▁UK , ▁ 1 5 4 ▁combat ▁aircraft ▁from ▁the ▁US ▁and ▁a ▁large ▁number ▁of ▁arm oured ▁vehicles ▁from ▁Canada . ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁received ▁ 4 1 ▁percent ▁of ▁UK ▁arms ▁exports ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 0 – 1 4 . ▁France ▁authorized ▁$ 1 8 ▁billion ▁in ▁weapons ▁sales ▁to ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁in ▁ 2
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0 1 5 ▁alone . ▁The ▁$ 1 5 ▁billion ▁arms ▁deal ▁with ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁is ▁believed ▁to ▁be ▁the ▁largest ▁arms ▁sale ▁in ▁Canadian ▁history . ▁In ▁ 2 0 1 6 , ▁the ▁European ▁Parliament ▁decided ▁to ▁temporarily ▁imp ose ▁an ▁arms ▁embargo ▁against ▁Saudi ▁Arabia , ▁as ▁a ▁result ▁of ▁the ▁Y emen ▁civilian ▁population ' s ▁suffering ▁from ▁the ▁conflict ▁with ▁Saudi ▁Arabia . ▁In ▁ 2 0 1 7 , ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁signed ▁a ▁ 1 1 0 ▁billion ▁dollar ▁arms ▁deal ▁with ▁the ▁United ▁States . ▁ ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁is ▁Britain ’ s ▁largest ▁arms ▁customer , ▁with ▁more ▁than ▁£ 4 . 6 ▁billion ▁worth ▁of ▁arms ▁bought ▁since ▁the ▁start ▁of ▁Saudi - led ▁coalition ▁in ▁Y emen . ▁A ▁recent ▁poll ▁conducted ▁by ▁You G ov ▁for ▁Save ▁the ▁Children ▁and ▁A va az ▁stated ▁that ▁ 6 3 ▁percent ▁of ▁British ▁people ▁opp ose ▁the ▁sale ▁of ▁weapons ▁to ▁Saudi . ▁ ▁Following ▁the ▁killing ▁of ▁Jam al ▁K hash og gi , ▁a ▁non binding ▁resolution ▁was ▁passed ▁in ▁the ▁European ▁Parliament ▁on ▁ 2 5 ▁October ▁ 2 0 1 8 , ▁urg ing ▁EU ▁countries ▁to ▁imp ose ▁an ▁EU - wide ▁arms ▁embargo ▁on ▁Saudi ▁Arabia . ▁Germany ▁became ▁the ▁first ▁Western ▁government ▁to ▁suspend ▁future ▁arms ▁deal ▁with ▁the ▁kingdom ▁after ▁Angela ▁Mer kel ▁stated ▁that ▁" arms ▁exports ▁can ' t ▁take ▁place ▁in ▁the ▁current ▁circumstances ." ▁ ▁Human ▁rights ▁ ▁Human ▁Rights ▁organizations ▁such ▁as
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▁Am n esty ▁International , ▁Human ▁Rights ▁Watch ▁and ▁Freedom ▁House ▁condem n ▁both ▁the ▁Saudi ▁criminal ▁justice ▁system ▁and ▁its ▁severe ▁pun ish ments . ▁There ▁are ▁no ▁jury ▁trials ▁in ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁and ▁courts ▁observe ▁few ▁formal ities . ▁Human ▁Rights ▁Watch , ▁in ▁a ▁ 2 0 0 8 ▁report , ▁noted ▁that ▁a ▁criminal ▁procedure ▁code ▁had ▁been ▁introduced ▁for ▁the ▁first ▁time ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 2 , ▁but ▁it ▁lack ed ▁some ▁basic ▁prote ctions ▁and , ▁in ▁any ▁case , ▁had ▁been ▁rout inely ▁ignored ▁by ▁judges . ▁Those ▁arrested ▁are ▁often ▁not ▁informed ▁of ▁the ▁crime ▁of ▁which ▁they ▁are ▁accused ▁or ▁given ▁access ▁to ▁a ▁lawyer ▁and ▁are ▁subject ▁to ▁ab usive ▁treatment ▁and ▁torture ▁if ▁they ▁do ▁not ▁confess . ▁At ▁trial , ▁there ▁is ▁a ▁presum ption ▁of ▁guilt ▁and ▁the ▁accused ▁is ▁often ▁unable ▁to ▁examine ▁witnesses ▁and ▁evidence ▁or ▁present ▁a ▁legal ▁defense . ▁Most ▁trials ▁are ▁held ▁in ▁secret . ▁An ▁example ▁of ▁sent encing ▁is ▁that ▁of ▁UK ▁pension er ▁and ▁cancer ▁victim ▁Karl ▁And ree , ▁aged ▁ 7 4 , ▁who ▁faced ▁ 3 6 0 ▁las hes ▁for ▁home ▁brew ing ▁alcohol . ▁He ▁was ▁later ▁released ▁due ▁to ▁intervention ▁by ▁the ▁British ▁government . ▁ ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁is ▁widely ▁accused ▁of ▁having ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁worst ▁human ▁rights ▁records ▁in ▁the ▁world . ▁Human ▁rights ▁issues ▁that ▁have ▁attracted ▁strong ▁criticism ▁include ▁the ▁extremely ▁disadv ant aged ▁position ▁of ▁women ▁( see ▁Women
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▁below ), ▁capital ▁punishment ▁for ▁homosexual ity , ▁religious ▁discrimination , ▁the ▁lack ▁of ▁religious ▁freedom ▁and ▁the ▁activities ▁of ▁the ▁religious ▁police ▁( see ▁Relig ion ▁below ). ▁Between ▁ 1 9 9 6 ▁and ▁ 2 0 0 0 , ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁acc ed ed ▁to ▁four ▁UN ▁human ▁rights ▁convent ions ▁and , ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 4 , ▁the ▁government ▁approved ▁the ▁establishment ▁of ▁the ▁National ▁Society ▁for ▁Human ▁Rights ▁( N SH R ), ▁staff ed ▁by ▁government ▁employees , ▁to ▁monitor ▁their ▁implementation . ▁To ▁date , ▁the ▁activities ▁of ▁the ▁N SH R ▁have ▁been ▁limited ▁and ▁doubts ▁remain ▁over ▁its ▁neutral ity ▁and ▁independence . ▁ ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁remains ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁very ▁few ▁countries ▁in ▁the ▁world ▁not ▁to ▁accept ▁the ▁UN ' s ▁Universal ▁Decl aration ▁of ▁Human ▁Rights . ▁In ▁response ▁to ▁the ▁continuing ▁criticism ▁of ▁its ▁human ▁rights ▁record , ▁the ▁Saudi ▁government ▁points ▁to ▁the ▁special ▁Islamic ▁character ▁of ▁the ▁country , ▁and ▁as serts ▁that ▁this ▁just ifies ▁a ▁different ▁social ▁and ▁political ▁order . ▁The ▁United ▁States ▁Commission ▁on ▁International ▁Relig ious ▁Freedom ▁had ▁un success fully ▁urged ▁President ▁Bar ack ▁Obama ▁to ▁raise ▁human ▁rights ▁concerns ▁with ▁King ▁Abd ull ah ▁on ▁his ▁March ▁ 2 0 1 4 ▁visit ▁to ▁the ▁Kingdom ▁especially ▁the ▁imprison ments ▁of ▁S ultan ▁Ham id ▁Mar z oo q ▁al - E ne zi , ▁Saud ▁Fal ih ▁Aw ad ▁al - E ne zi , ▁and ▁Ra if
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▁Bad awi . ▁ ▁For ▁example , ▁Ali ▁Moh ammed ▁Ba q ir ▁al - N im r ▁was ▁arrested ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 2 ▁when ▁he ▁was ▁ 1 7 ▁years ▁old ▁for ▁taking ▁part ▁in ▁an ▁anti - govern ment ▁protests ▁in ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁during ▁the ▁Arab ▁Spring . ▁In ▁May ▁ 2 0 1 4 , ▁Ali ▁al - N im r ▁was ▁sent enced ▁to ▁be ▁publicly ▁be headed ▁and ▁cru c ified . ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 1 3 , ▁the ▁government ▁deport ed ▁thousands ▁of ▁non - S aud is , ▁many ▁of ▁them ▁who ▁were ▁working ▁il leg ally ▁in ▁the ▁country ▁or ▁had ▁over st ay ed ▁their ▁vis as . ▁Many ▁reports ▁ab ound , ▁of ▁foreign er ▁workers ▁being ▁tort ured ▁either ▁by ▁employers ▁or ▁others . ▁This ▁resulted ▁in ▁many ▁basic ▁services ▁suffering ▁from ▁a ▁lack ▁of ▁workers , ▁as ▁many ▁Saudi ▁Arab ian ▁citizens ▁are ▁not ▁keen ▁on ▁working ▁in ▁blue ▁collar ▁jobs . ▁ ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁has ▁a ▁" Counter - Rad ical ization ▁Program " ▁the ▁purpose ▁of ▁which ▁is ▁to ▁" com bat ▁the ▁spread ▁and ▁appeal ▁of ▁extrem ist ▁ide ologies ▁among ▁the ▁general ▁pop ulous ▁( s ic )" ▁and ▁to ▁" inst ill ▁the ▁true ▁values ▁of ▁the ▁Islamic ▁faith , ▁such ▁as ▁tolerance ▁and ▁moder ation ." ▁This ▁" tol er ance ▁and ▁moder ation " ▁has ▁been ▁called ▁into ▁question ▁by ▁the ▁Baltimore ▁Sun , ▁based ▁on ▁the ▁reports ▁from ▁Am
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n esty ▁International ▁regarding ▁Ra if ▁Bad awi , ▁and ▁in ▁the ▁case ▁of ▁a ▁man ▁from ▁Ha fr ▁al - B atin ▁sent enced ▁to ▁death ▁for ▁reject ing ▁Islam . ▁In ▁September ▁ 2 0 1 5 , ▁F ais al ▁bin ▁Hass an ▁Trad , ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ' s ▁amb assador ▁to ▁the ▁UN ▁in ▁Gen eva , ▁has ▁been ▁elected ▁Chair ▁of ▁the ▁United ▁Nations ▁Human ▁Rights ▁Council ▁panel ▁that ▁appoint s ▁independent ▁experts . ▁In ▁January ▁ 2 0 1 6 , ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁executed ▁the ▁prominent ▁Sh ia ▁cler ic ▁She ikh ▁N im r ▁who ▁had ▁called ▁for ▁pro - dem ocr acy ▁demonstr ations ▁and ▁for ▁free ▁elections ▁in ▁Saudi ▁Arabia . ▁ ▁In ▁August ▁ 2 0 1 7 , ▁ten ▁Nob el ▁Peace ▁Prize ▁la ure ates , ▁including ▁Des mond ▁Tut u ▁and ▁Le ch ▁W ał ę sa , ▁urged ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁to ▁stop ▁the ▁execut ions ▁of ▁ 1 4 ▁young ▁people ▁for ▁participating ▁in ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 1 – 1 2 ▁Saudi ▁Arab ian ▁protests . ▁ ▁On ▁ 2 ▁October ▁ 2 0 1 8 , ▁Saudi ▁journalist ▁and ▁Washington ▁Post ▁column ist ▁Jam al ▁K hash og gi ▁went ▁missing ▁after ▁entering ▁the ▁Saudi ▁cons ulate ▁in ▁I stan bul , ▁Turkey . ▁According ▁to ▁Turkish ▁government ▁sources ▁there ▁is ▁audio ▁and ▁video ▁evidence ▁for ▁him ▁having ▁been ▁murdered ▁and ▁dis member ed ▁inside ▁the ▁cons ulate . ▁ ▁In ▁December ▁ 2 0 1
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9 , ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁organized ▁a ▁big ▁budget ▁electronic ▁dance ▁music ▁festival , ▁M DL ▁Be ast ▁to ▁the ▁kingdom , ▁" the ▁region ’ s ▁biggest ▁music ▁event ". ▁However , ▁it ▁attracted ▁a ▁lot ▁controversy ▁when ▁lots ▁of ▁its ▁high ▁profile ▁att ende es , ▁including ▁Arm ie ▁Ham mer , ▁Joan ▁Sm alls ▁and ▁Wil mer ▁V ald err ama , ▁were ▁critic ized ▁for ▁engaging ▁in ▁" image ▁re hab " ▁for ▁the ▁kingdom , ▁over looking ▁the ▁continued ▁human ▁rights ▁ab uses ▁in ▁the ▁country . ▁ ▁In ▁April ▁ 2 0 2 0 , ▁the ▁Saudi ▁Supreme ▁Court ▁stated ▁under ▁a ▁royal ▁dec ree ▁by ▁King ▁Sal man ▁that ▁min ors ▁who ▁commit ▁crimes ▁will ▁no ▁longer ▁face ▁the ▁death ▁sentence , ▁but ▁will ▁be ▁sent enced ▁to ▁a ▁maximum ▁of ▁ 1 0 ▁years ▁of ▁imprison ment ▁in ▁a ▁ju ven ile ▁det ention ▁facility . ▁ ▁Ge ography ▁ ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁occup ies ▁about ▁ 8 0 ▁percent ▁of ▁the ▁Arab ian ▁Pen insula ▁( the ▁world ' s ▁largest ▁pen insula ), ▁lying ▁between ▁lat itudes ▁ 1 6 ° ▁and ▁ 3 3 ° ▁N , ▁and ▁long itudes ▁ 3 4 ° ▁and ▁ 5 6 ° ▁E . ▁Because ▁the ▁country ' s ▁southern ▁borders ▁with ▁the ▁United ▁Arab ▁Em ir ates ▁and ▁O man ▁are ▁not ▁precisely ▁marked , ▁the ▁exact ▁size ▁of ▁the ▁country ▁is ▁undefined . ▁The ▁CIA ▁World ▁F act book ▁estimates ▁ ▁and ▁lists ▁Saudi ▁Arabia
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▁as ▁the ▁world ' s ▁ 1 3 th ▁largest ▁state . ▁It ▁is ▁ge ograph ically ▁the ▁largest ▁country ▁in ▁the ▁Arab ian ▁Pl ate . ▁ ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ' s ▁ge ography ▁is ▁dominated ▁by ▁the ▁Arab ian ▁Des ert , ▁associated ▁semi - des ert ▁and ▁shr ub land ▁( see ▁satellite ▁image ) ▁and ▁several ▁mountain ▁ranges ▁and ▁high lands . ▁It ▁is , ▁in ▁fact , ▁a ▁number ▁of ▁linked ▁des erts ▁and ▁includes ▁the ▁ ▁Rub ' ▁al ▁Kh ali ▁(" Empty ▁Quarter ") ▁in ▁the ▁sout he astern ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁country , ▁the ▁world ' s ▁largest ▁cont igu ous ▁sand ▁desert . ▁Though ▁there ▁are ▁a ▁few ▁l akes ▁in ▁the ▁country , ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁is ▁the ▁largest ▁country ▁in ▁the ▁world ▁by ▁area ▁with ▁no ▁permanent ▁rivers . ▁W ad is , ▁however , ▁are ▁very ▁numerous . ▁The ▁fert ile ▁areas ▁are ▁to ▁be ▁found ▁in ▁the ▁all uv ial ▁depos its ▁in ▁w ad is , ▁bas ins , ▁and ▁o ases . ▁The ▁main ▁top ographical ▁feature ▁is ▁the ▁central ▁plate au ▁which ▁r ises ▁abruptly ▁from ▁the ▁Red ▁Sea ▁and ▁gradually ▁desc ends ▁into ▁the ▁Ne jd ▁and ▁toward ▁the ▁Pers ian ▁Gulf . ▁On ▁the ▁Red ▁Sea ▁coast , ▁there ▁is ▁a ▁narrow ▁coastal ▁plain , ▁known ▁as ▁the ▁Ti ham ah ▁parallel ▁to ▁which ▁runs ▁an ▁im posing ▁esc arp ment . ▁The ▁south west ▁province ▁of ▁As ir ▁is ▁mountain ous , ▁and ▁contains ▁the ▁
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▁Mount ▁Saw da , ▁which ▁is ▁the ▁highest ▁point ▁in ▁the ▁country . ▁ ▁Except ▁for ▁the ▁south western ▁province ▁of ▁As ir , ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁has ▁a ▁desert ▁climate ▁with ▁very ▁high ▁day - time ▁temperatures ▁and ▁a ▁sharp ▁temperature ▁drop ▁at ▁night . ▁Average ▁summer ▁temperatures ▁are ▁around ▁, ▁but ▁can ▁be ▁as ▁high ▁as ▁. ▁In ▁the ▁winter ▁the ▁temperature ▁rarely ▁drops ▁below ▁. ▁In ▁the ▁spring ▁and ▁autumn ▁the ▁heat ▁is ▁temper ate , ▁temperatures ▁average ▁around ▁. ▁Annual ▁rain fall ▁is ▁extremely ▁low . ▁The ▁As ir ▁region ▁diff ers ▁in ▁that ▁it ▁is ▁influenced ▁by ▁the ▁Indian ▁Ocean ▁mon so ons , ▁usually ▁occurring ▁between ▁October ▁and ▁March . ▁An ▁average ▁of ▁ ▁of ▁rain fall ▁occurs ▁during ▁this ▁period , ▁which ▁is ▁about ▁ 6 0 ▁percent ▁of ▁the ▁annual ▁precip itation . ▁ ▁Fa una ▁ ▁Wild life ▁includes ▁the ▁Arab ian ▁le op ard , ▁wolf , ▁stri ped ▁hy ena , ▁mong oose , ▁bab oon , ▁h are , ▁sand ▁cat , ▁and ▁jer bo a . ▁Anim als ▁such ▁as ▁gaz elles , ▁or y x , ▁le op ards ▁and ▁che et ah s ▁were ▁relatively ▁numerous ▁until ▁the ▁ 1 9 th ▁century , ▁when ▁extensive ▁hunting ▁reduced ▁these ▁animals ▁almost ▁to ▁ext inction . ▁Bird s ▁include ▁fal cons ▁( which ▁are ▁caught ▁and ▁trained ▁for ▁hunting ), ▁e agles , ▁h aw ks , ▁v ult ures , ▁sand g rou se , ▁and ▁bul b uls
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. ▁There ▁are ▁several ▁species ▁of ▁sn akes , ▁many ▁of ▁which ▁are ▁ven om ous . ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁is ▁home ▁to ▁a ▁rich ▁marine ▁life . ▁The ▁Red ▁Sea ▁in ▁particular ▁is ▁a ▁rich ▁and ▁diverse ▁ecosystem . ▁More ▁than ▁ 1 2 0 0 ▁species ▁of ▁fish ▁have ▁been ▁recorded ▁in ▁the ▁Red ▁Sea , ▁and ▁around ▁ 1 0 ▁percent ▁of ▁these ▁are ▁found ▁nowhere ▁else . ▁This ▁also ▁includes ▁ 4 2 ▁species ▁of ▁deep water ▁fish . ▁ ▁The ▁rich ▁diversity ▁is ▁in ▁part ▁due ▁to ▁the ▁ ▁of ▁cor al ▁re ef ▁extending ▁along ▁its ▁coast line ; ▁these ▁f ring ing ▁re ef s ▁are ▁ 5 0 0 0 – 7 0 0 0 ▁years ▁old ▁and ▁are ▁largely ▁formed ▁of ▁st ony ▁ac rop ora ▁and ▁por ites ▁cor als . ▁The ▁re ef s ▁form ▁platforms ▁and ▁sometimes ▁l ago ons ▁along ▁the ▁coast ▁and ▁occasional ▁other ▁features ▁such ▁as ▁cyl ind ers ▁( such ▁as ▁the ▁Blue ▁H ole ▁( Red ▁Sea ) ▁at ▁D ah ab ). ▁These ▁coastal ▁re ef s ▁are ▁also ▁visited ▁by ▁pel ag ic ▁species ▁of ▁Red ▁Sea ▁fish , ▁including ▁some ▁of ▁the ▁ 4 4 ▁species ▁of ▁sh ark . ▁The ▁Red ▁Sea ▁also ▁contains ▁many ▁off shore ▁re ef s ▁including ▁several ▁true ▁at oll s . ▁Many ▁of ▁the ▁unusual ▁off shore ▁re ef ▁form ations ▁def y ▁classic ▁( i . e ., ▁Darwin ian ) ▁cor al ▁re ef ▁classification
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▁schemes , ▁and ▁are ▁generally ▁attributed ▁to ▁the ▁high ▁levels ▁of ▁t ect onic ▁activity ▁that ▁character ize ▁the ▁area . ▁Dom est icated ▁animals ▁include ▁the ▁legendary ▁Arab ian ▁horse , ▁Arab ian ▁cam el , ▁sheep , ▁go ats , ▁c ows , ▁don keys , ▁chick ens ▁etc . ▁Ref lect ing ▁the ▁country ' s ▁dominant ▁desert ▁conditions , ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ' s ▁plant ▁life ▁mostly ▁consists ▁of ▁her bs , ▁plants ▁and ▁shr ub s ▁that ▁require ▁little ▁water . ▁The ▁date ▁palm ▁( P ho en ix ▁d act yl if era ) ▁is ▁widespread . ▁ ▁Administr ative ▁divisions ▁ ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁is ▁divided ▁into ▁ 1 3 ▁regions ▁( ; ▁man ati q ▁id ā ri y ya , ▁sing . ▁م ن ط ق ة ▁ إ د ا ر ي ة ; ▁mint a q ah ▁id ari y ya ). ▁The ▁regions ▁are ▁further ▁divided ▁into ▁ 1 1 8 ▁governor ates ▁( ; ▁mu h af az at , ▁sing . ▁م ح ا ف ظ ة ; ▁mu h af az ah ). ▁This ▁number ▁includes ▁the ▁ 1 3 ▁regional ▁cap itals , ▁which ▁have ▁a ▁different ▁status ▁as ▁municipal ities ▁( ; ▁am an ah ) ▁headed ▁by ▁may ors ▁( ; ▁am in ). ▁The ▁governor ates ▁are ▁further ▁sub div ided ▁into ▁sub - govern or ates ▁( ; ▁mar ak iz , ▁sing . ▁م ر ك ز ; ▁mark az ). ▁▁ ▁The ▁
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1 3 ▁regions ▁of ▁Saudi ▁Arabia . ▁ ▁C ities ▁ ▁Econom y ▁ ▁As ▁of ▁October ▁ 2 0 1 8 , ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁is ▁the ▁largest ▁economy ▁in ▁the ▁Middle ▁East ▁and ▁the ▁ 1 8 th ▁largest ▁in ▁the ▁world . ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁has ▁the ▁world ' s ▁second - larg est ▁proven ▁pet role um ▁reserves ▁and ▁the ▁country ▁is ▁the ▁largest ▁ex porter ▁of ▁pet role um . ▁It ▁also ▁has ▁the ▁fifth - larg est ▁proven ▁natural ▁gas ▁reserves . ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁is ▁considered ▁an ▁" energy ▁super power ". ▁It ▁has ▁the ▁third ▁highest ▁total ▁estimated ▁value ▁of ▁natural ▁resources , ▁valued ▁at ▁US $ 3 4 . 4 ▁tr illion ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 6 . ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ' s ▁command ▁economy ▁is ▁pet role um - based ; ▁roughly ▁ 6 3 % ▁of ▁budget ▁reven ues ▁and ▁ 6 7 % ▁of ▁export ▁earnings ▁come ▁from ▁the ▁oil ▁industry . ▁It ▁is ▁strongly ▁dependent ▁on ▁foreign ▁workers ▁with ▁about ▁ 8 0 % ▁of ▁those ▁employed ▁in ▁the ▁private ▁sector ▁being ▁non - S aud i . ▁Chall eng es ▁to ▁the ▁Saudi ▁economy ▁include ▁hal ting ▁or ▁revers ing ▁the ▁decline ▁in ▁per - cap ita ▁income , ▁improving ▁education ▁to ▁prepare ▁youth ▁for ▁the ▁work force ▁and ▁providing ▁them ▁with ▁employment , ▁divers ifying ▁the ▁economy , ▁stim ulating ▁the ▁private ▁sector ▁and ▁housing ▁construction , ▁and ▁dimin ishing ▁corruption ▁and ▁inequality . ▁ ▁The ▁oil ▁industry ▁const itutes ▁about
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▁ 4 5 % ▁of ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ' s ▁nom inal ▁gross ▁domestic ▁product , ▁compared ▁with ▁ 4 0 % ▁from ▁the ▁private ▁sector ▁( see ▁below ). ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁officially ▁has ▁about ▁ ▁of ▁oil ▁reserves , ▁compr ising ▁about ▁one - fif th ▁of ▁the ▁world ' s ▁proven ▁total ▁pet role um ▁reserves . ▁ ▁In ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 0 s , ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁experienced ▁a ▁significant ▁contr action ▁of ▁oil ▁reven ues ▁combined ▁with ▁a ▁high ▁rate ▁of ▁population ▁growth . ▁Per ▁cap ita ▁income ▁fell ▁from ▁a ▁high ▁of ▁$ 1 1 , 7 0 0 ▁at ▁the ▁height ▁of ▁the ▁oil ▁boom ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 1 ▁to ▁$ 6 , 3 0 0 ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 8 . ▁Taking ▁into ▁account ▁the ▁impact ▁of ▁the ▁real ▁oil ▁price ▁changes ▁on ▁the ▁Kingdom ' s ▁real ▁gross ▁domestic ▁income , ▁the ▁real ▁command - bas is ▁G DP ▁was ▁computed ▁to ▁be ▁ 3 3 0 . 3 8 1 ▁billion ▁ 1 9 9 9 ▁USD ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 0 . ▁Incre ases ▁in ▁oil ▁prices ▁in ▁the ▁aug ht s ▁helped ▁boost ▁per ▁cap ita ▁G DP ▁to ▁$ 1 7 , 0 0 0 ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 7 ▁dollars ▁( about ▁$ 7 , 4 0 0 ▁adjusted ▁for ▁inflation ), ▁but ▁have ▁declined ▁since ▁oil ▁price ▁drop ▁in ▁mid - 2 0 1 4 . ▁ ▁O PE C ▁( the ▁Organization ▁of
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▁Pet role um ▁Ex port ing ▁Count ries ) ▁limits ▁its ▁members ' ▁oil ▁production ▁based ▁on ▁their ▁" pro ven ▁reserves ." ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ' s ▁published ▁reserves ▁have ▁shown ▁little ▁change ▁since ▁ 1 9 8 0 , ▁with ▁the ▁main ▁exception ▁being ▁an ▁increase ▁of ▁about ▁ ▁between ▁ 1 9 8 7 ▁and ▁ 1 9 8 8 . ▁Matthew ▁Sim mons ▁has ▁suggested ▁that ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁is ▁greatly ▁exagger ating ▁its ▁reserves ▁and ▁may ▁soon ▁show ▁production ▁decl ines ▁( see ▁peak ▁oil ). ▁ ▁From ▁ 2 0 0 3 ▁to ▁ 2 0 1 3 , ▁" se ver al ▁key ▁services " ▁were ▁priv at ized — m unicip al ▁water ▁supply , ▁electricity , ▁tele commun ications — and ▁parts ▁of ▁education ▁and ▁health ▁care , ▁traffic ▁control ▁and ▁car ▁accident ▁reporting ▁were ▁also ▁priv at ized . ▁According ▁to ▁Arab ▁News ▁column ist ▁Ab del ▁Az iz ▁Al uw ais he g , ▁" in ▁almost ▁every ▁one ▁of ▁these ▁areas , ▁consumers ▁have ▁raised ▁serious ▁concerns ▁about ▁the ▁performance ▁of ▁these ▁priv at ized ▁entities ." ▁The ▁T ad aw ul ▁All ▁Share ▁Index ▁( T AS I ) ▁of ▁the ▁Saudi ▁stock ▁exchange ▁pe aked ▁at ▁ 1 6 , 7 1 2 . 6 4 ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 5 , ▁and ▁closed ▁at ▁ 8 , 5 3 5 . 6 0 , ▁at ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁ 2 0 1 3 . ▁In ▁November ▁ 2 0
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0 5 , ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁was ▁approved ▁as ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁World ▁Trade ▁Organization . ▁Neg oti ations ▁to ▁join ▁had ▁focused ▁on ▁the ▁degree ▁to ▁which ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁is ▁willing ▁to ▁increase ▁market ▁access ▁to ▁foreign ▁goods ▁and ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 0 , ▁the ▁government ▁established ▁the ▁Saudi ▁Arab ian ▁General ▁Invest ment ▁Authority ▁to ▁encourage ▁foreign ▁direct ▁investment ▁in ▁the ▁kingdom . ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁maint ains ▁a ▁list ▁of ▁sectors ▁in ▁which ▁foreign ▁investment ▁is ▁prohib ited , ▁but ▁the ▁government ▁plans ▁to ▁open ▁some ▁closed ▁sectors ▁such ▁as ▁tele commun ications , ▁insurance , ▁and ▁power ▁transmission / d istribution ▁over ▁time . ▁ ▁The ▁government ▁has ▁also ▁made ▁an ▁attempt ▁at ▁" S aud izing " ▁the ▁economy , ▁replacing ▁foreign ▁workers ▁with ▁Saudi ▁nation als ▁with ▁limited ▁success . ▁ ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁has ▁had ▁five - year ▁" D evel op ment ▁Pl ans " ▁since ▁ 1 9 7 0 . ▁Among ▁its ▁plans ▁were ▁to ▁launch ▁" econom ic ▁cities " ▁( e . g . ▁King ▁Abd ull ah ▁Economic ▁City ) ▁to ▁be ▁completed ▁by ▁ 2 0 2 0 , ▁in ▁an ▁effort ▁to ▁divers ify ▁the ▁economy ▁and ▁provide ▁jobs . ▁ ▁four ▁cities ▁were ▁planned . ▁The ▁King ▁has ▁announced ▁that ▁the ▁per ▁cap ita ▁income ▁is ▁forecast ▁to ▁rise ▁from ▁$ 1 5 , 0 0 0 ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 6 ▁to ▁$ 3 3 , 5 0 0 ▁in ▁ 2 0 2 0
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. ▁The ▁cities ▁will ▁be ▁spread ▁around ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁to ▁promote ▁divers ification ▁for ▁each ▁region ▁and ▁their ▁economy , ▁and ▁the ▁cities ▁are ▁projected ▁to ▁contribute ▁$ 1 5 0 ▁billion ▁to ▁the ▁G DP . ▁ ▁In ▁addition ▁to ▁pet role um ▁and ▁gas , ▁Saudi ▁also ▁has ▁a ▁significant ▁gold ▁mining ▁sector ▁in ▁the ▁ancient ▁Mah d ▁ad h ▁D h ah ab ▁region ▁and ▁significant ▁other ▁mineral ▁industries , ▁an ▁agricultural ▁sector ▁( especially ▁in ▁the ▁south west ▁but ▁not ▁only ) ▁based ▁on ▁vegetables , ▁fruits , ▁dates ▁etc . ▁and ▁liv est ock , ▁and ▁large ▁number ▁of ▁temporary ▁jobs ▁created ▁by ▁the ▁roughly ▁two ▁million ▁annual ▁h aj j ▁pil gr ims . ▁ ▁Statistics ▁on ▁poverty ▁in ▁the ▁kingdom ▁are ▁not ▁available ▁through ▁the ▁UN ▁resources ▁because ▁the ▁Saudi ▁government ▁does ▁not ▁issue ▁any . ▁The ▁Saudi ▁state ▁discour ages ▁calling ▁attention ▁to ▁or ▁complaining ▁about ▁poverty . ▁In ▁December ▁ 2 0 1 1 , ▁the ▁Saudi ▁interior ▁ministry ▁arrested ▁three ▁reporters ▁and ▁held ▁them ▁for ▁almost ▁two ▁weeks ▁for ▁questioning ▁after ▁they ▁upload ed ▁a ▁video ▁on ▁the ▁topic ▁to ▁YouTube . ▁Authors ▁of ▁the ▁video ▁claim ▁that ▁ 2 2 ▁percent ▁of ▁Saud is ▁may ▁be ▁considered ▁poor ▁( 2 0 0 9 ). ▁Ob servers ▁research ing ▁the ▁issue ▁prefer ▁to ▁stay ▁anonymous ▁because ▁of ▁the ▁risk ▁of ▁being ▁arrested . ▁ ▁In ▁September ▁ 2 0 1 8 , ▁the ▁Public ▁Invest ment ▁Fund ▁completed ▁a ▁deal ▁with ▁a ▁group
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▁of ▁global ▁l enders ▁for ▁a ▁loan ▁of ▁$ 1 1 ▁billion . ▁The ▁deal ▁raised ▁more ▁than ▁initially ▁planned ▁and ▁was ▁the ▁first ▁time ▁the ▁P IF ▁had ▁incorporated ▁loans ▁and ▁debt ▁instruments ▁into ▁its ▁funding . ▁According ▁to ▁data ▁from ▁F itch ▁Rat ings , ▁over ▁two ▁years ▁starting ▁from ▁May ▁ 2 0 1 6 ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁went ▁from ▁having ▁zero ▁debt ▁to ▁raising ▁$ 6 8 ▁billion ▁in ▁dollar - den om inated ▁bonds ▁and ▁synd icated ▁loans — one ▁of ▁the ▁fastest ▁rates ▁among ▁emerging ▁econom ies . ▁ ▁Each ▁year , ▁about ▁a ▁quarter - mill ion ▁young ▁Saud is ▁enter ▁the ▁job ▁market . ▁With ▁the ▁first ▁phase ▁of ▁Saud ization ▁into ▁effect , ▁ 7 0 % ▁of ▁sales ▁job ▁are ▁expected ▁to ▁be ▁filled ▁by ▁Saud is . ▁However , ▁the ▁private ▁sector ▁still ▁remains ▁hug ely ▁dominated ▁by ▁foreign ers . ▁The ▁rate ▁of ▁local ▁unemployment ▁is ▁ 1 2 . 9 %, ▁its ▁highest ▁in ▁more ▁than ▁a ▁decade . ▁According ▁to ▁a ▁report ▁published ▁by ▁Bloom berg ▁Econom ics ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 8 , ▁the ▁government ▁needs ▁to ▁produce ▁ 7 0 0 , 0 0 0 ▁jobs ▁by ▁ 2 0 2 0 ▁to ▁meet ▁its ▁ 9 % ▁unemployment ▁target . ▁ ▁Agricult ure ▁▁ ▁Ser ious ▁large - scale ▁agricultural ▁development ▁began ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 7 0 s . ▁The ▁government ▁launched ▁an ▁extensive ▁program ▁to ▁promote ▁modern ▁farming ▁technology ; ▁to ▁establish ▁rural
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▁roads , ▁irr igation ▁networks ▁and ▁storage ▁and ▁export ▁facilities ; ▁and ▁to ▁encourage ▁agricultural ▁research ▁and ▁training ▁institutions . ▁As ▁a ▁result , ▁there ▁has ▁been ▁a ▁phenomen al ▁growth ▁in ▁the ▁production ▁of ▁all ▁basic ▁foods . ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁is ▁now ▁completely ▁self - s ufficient ▁in ▁a ▁number ▁of ▁food st uffs , ▁including ▁meat , ▁milk ▁and ▁eggs . ▁The ▁country ▁exports ▁wheat , ▁dates , ▁d airy ▁products , ▁eggs , ▁fish , ▁p oul try , ▁fruits , ▁vegetables ▁and ▁flowers ▁to ▁markets ▁around ▁the ▁world . ▁D ates , ▁once ▁a ▁st ap le ▁of ▁the ▁Saudi ▁diet , ▁are ▁now ▁mainly ▁grown ▁for ▁global ▁human itarian ▁aid . ▁In ▁addition , ▁Saudi ▁farmers ▁grow ▁substantial ▁amounts ▁of ▁other ▁gr ains ▁such ▁as ▁bar ley , ▁sor gh um ▁and ▁mil let . ▁As ▁of ▁ 2 0 1 6 , ▁in ▁the ▁interest ▁of ▁preserv ing ▁precious ▁water ▁resources , ▁domestic ▁production ▁of ▁wheat ▁has ▁ended . ▁ ▁The ▁Kingdom ▁likewise ▁has ▁some ▁of ▁the ▁most ▁modern ▁and ▁largest ▁d airy ▁farms ▁in ▁the ▁Middle ▁East . ▁Mil k ▁production ▁bo asts ▁a ▁remark ably ▁productive ▁annual ▁rate ▁of ▁ 1 , 8 0 0 ▁gall ons ▁per ▁cow , ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁highest ▁in ▁the ▁world . ▁The ▁local ▁d airy ▁manufacturing ▁company ▁Al mar ai ▁is ▁the ▁largest ▁vert ically ▁integrated ▁d airy ▁company ▁in ▁the ▁Middle ▁East . ▁ ▁The ▁Kingdom ' s ▁most ▁dramatic ▁agricultural ▁accompl ishment , ▁noted ▁worldwide ,
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▁was ▁its ▁rapid ▁transformation ▁from ▁im porter ▁to ▁ex porter ▁of ▁wheat . ▁In ▁ 1 9 7 8 , ▁the ▁country ▁built ▁its ▁first ▁grain ▁sil os . ▁By ▁ 1 9 8 4 , ▁it ▁had ▁become ▁self - s ufficient ▁in ▁wheat . ▁Short ly ▁there after , ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁began ▁export ing ▁wheat ▁to ▁some ▁ 3 0 ▁countries , ▁including ▁China ▁and ▁the ▁former ▁Soviet ▁Union , ▁and ▁in ▁the ▁major ▁producing ▁areas ▁of ▁Tab uk , ▁H ail ▁and ▁Q as im , ▁average ▁yields ▁reached ▁ 3 . 6 ▁tons ▁per ▁a cre . ▁The ▁Kingdom ▁has , ▁however , ▁stepped ▁up ▁fruit ▁and ▁veget able ▁production , ▁by ▁improving ▁both ▁agricultural ▁techniques ▁and ▁the ▁roads ▁that ▁link ▁farmers ▁with ▁urban ▁consumers . ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁is ▁a ▁major ▁ex porter ▁of ▁fruits ▁and ▁vegetables ▁to ▁its ▁neighbors . ▁Among ▁its ▁most ▁productive ▁crops ▁are ▁water mel on , ▁gr apes , ▁cit rus ▁fruits , ▁on ions , ▁squ ash ▁and ▁tom atoes . ▁At ▁J iz an ▁in ▁the ▁country ' s ▁well - water ed ▁south west , ▁the ▁Al - H ik ma h ▁Research ▁Station ▁is ▁producing ▁tropical ▁fruits ▁including ▁pine ap ples , ▁p aw - p aws , ▁ban anas , ▁m ang oes ▁and ▁gu av as . ▁ ▁The ▁olive ▁tree ▁is ▁ind igenous ▁to ▁Saudi ▁Arabia . ▁In ▁ 2 0 1 8 ▁the ▁Al ▁J ou f ▁Agricult ural ▁Development ▁Company ▁received ▁a ▁certificate ▁of ▁mer
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it ▁from ▁The ▁Gu in ness ▁World ▁Records ▁for ▁the ▁largest ▁modern ▁olive ▁plant ation ▁in ▁the ▁world . ▁The ▁farm ▁covers ▁ 7 7 3 0 ▁he ct ares ▁and ▁has ▁ 5 ▁million ▁olive ▁trees . ▁The ▁Gu in ness ▁World ▁Records ▁also ▁took ▁into ▁consideration ▁their ▁production ▁capacity ▁of ▁ 1 5 0 0 0 ▁ton nes ▁of ▁high ▁quality ▁of ▁olive ▁oil , ▁while ▁the ▁kingdom ▁consum es ▁double ▁that . ▁The ▁Al ▁J ou f ▁farms ▁are ▁located ▁in ▁Sak aka , ▁a ▁city ▁in ▁the ▁north - western ▁part ▁of ▁Saudi ▁Arabia , ▁which ▁is ▁a ▁deeply - ro oted ▁in ▁history . ▁Sak aka ▁dates ▁back ▁more ▁than ▁ 4 , 0 0 0 ▁years . ▁The ▁Al ▁J ou f ▁region ▁has ▁millions ▁of ▁olive ▁trees ▁and ▁the ▁expected ▁number ▁is ▁expected ▁to ▁go ▁up ▁to ▁ 2 0 ▁million ▁trees ▁soon . ▁ ▁Cons uming ▁non - re new able ▁ground water ▁resulted ▁in ▁the ▁loss ▁of ▁an ▁estimated ▁four ▁fifth s ▁of ▁the ▁total ▁ground water ▁reserves ▁by ▁ 2 0 1 2 . ▁ ▁Water ▁supply ▁and ▁san itation ▁ ▁Water ▁supply ▁and ▁san itation ▁in ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁is ▁characterized ▁by ▁significant ▁investments ▁in ▁se aw ater ▁des al ination , ▁water ▁distribution , ▁se wer age ▁and ▁waste water ▁treatment ▁leading ▁to ▁a ▁substantial ▁increase ▁in ▁access ▁to ▁drinking ▁water ▁and ▁san itation ▁over ▁the ▁past ▁decades . ▁About ▁ 5 0 % ▁of ▁drinking ▁water ▁comes ▁from ▁des al ination
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, ▁ 4 0 % ▁from ▁the ▁mining ▁of ▁non - re new able ▁ground water ▁and ▁ 1 0 % ▁from ▁surface ▁water , ▁especially ▁in ▁the ▁mountain ous ▁south west ▁of ▁the ▁country . ▁The ▁capital ▁R iy ad h , ▁located ▁in ▁the ▁heart ▁of ▁the ▁country , ▁is ▁supplied ▁with ▁des al inated ▁water ▁pump ed ▁from ▁the ▁Pers ian ▁Gulf ▁over ▁a ▁distance ▁of ▁ 4 6 7 km . ▁Given ▁the ▁substantial ▁oil ▁wealth , ▁water ▁is ▁provided ▁almost ▁for ▁free . ▁Despite ▁improvements ▁service ▁quality ▁remains ▁poor . ▁For ▁example , ▁in ▁R iy ad h ▁water ▁was ▁available ▁only ▁once ▁every ▁ 2 . 5 ▁days ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 1 , ▁while ▁in ▁Jed d ah ▁it ▁is ▁available ▁only ▁every ▁ 9 ▁days . ▁Inst itutional ▁capacity ▁and ▁govern ance ▁in ▁the ▁sector ▁are ▁weak , ▁reflect ing ▁general ▁characteristics ▁of ▁the ▁public ▁sector ▁in ▁Saudi ▁Arabia . ▁Since ▁ 2 0 0 0 , ▁the ▁government ▁has ▁increasingly ▁rel ied ▁on ▁the ▁private ▁sector ▁to ▁operate ▁water ▁and ▁san itation ▁infrastructure , ▁beginning ▁with ▁des al ination ▁and ▁waste water ▁treatment ▁plants . ▁Since ▁ 2 0 0 8 , ▁the ▁operation ▁of ▁urban ▁water ▁distribution ▁systems ▁is ▁being ▁gradually ▁deleg ated ▁to ▁private ▁companies ▁as ▁well . ▁ ▁Tour ism ▁ ▁Although ▁most ▁tour ism ▁in ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁still ▁largely ▁involves ▁religious ▁pil gr images , ▁there ▁is ▁growth ▁in ▁the ▁le isure ▁tour ism ▁sector . ▁According ▁to
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▁the ▁World ▁Bank , ▁approximately ▁ 1 4 . 3 ▁million ▁people ▁visited ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 2 , ▁making ▁it ▁the ▁world ' s ▁ 1 9 th - most - vis ited ▁country . ▁Tour ism ▁is ▁an ▁important ▁component ▁of ▁the ▁Saudi ▁Vision ▁ 2 0 3 0 ▁and ▁according ▁to ▁a ▁report ▁conducted ▁by ▁B MI ▁Research ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 8 , ▁both ▁religious ▁and ▁non - rel igious ▁tour ism ▁have ▁significant ▁potential ▁for ▁expansion . ▁ ▁Starting ▁December ▁ 2 0 1 8 , ▁the ▁kingdom ▁will ▁offer ▁an ▁electronic ▁visa ▁for ▁foreign ▁visitors ▁to ▁attend ▁sport ▁events ▁and ▁conc erts . ▁The ▁" share k " ▁visa ▁process ▁will ▁start ▁with ▁ 1 5 ▁December , ▁Saud ia ▁Ad ▁Dir iy ah ▁E ▁Prix ▁race . ▁ ▁In ▁September ▁ 2 0 1 9 , ▁the ▁Kingdom ▁announced ▁its ▁plans ▁to ▁open ▁visa ▁applications ▁for ▁visitors , ▁where ▁people ▁from ▁about ▁ 5 0 ▁countries ▁would ▁be ▁able ▁to ▁get ▁tourist ▁vis as ▁to ▁Saudi . ▁ ▁Dem ograph ics ▁ ▁The ▁population ▁of ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁as ▁of ▁July ▁ 2 0 1 3 ▁is ▁estimated ▁to ▁be ▁ 2 6 . 9 ▁million , ▁including ▁between ▁ 5 . 5 ▁million ▁and ▁ 1 0 ▁million ▁non - n ational ized ▁immigrants , ▁though ▁the ▁Saudi ▁population ▁has ▁long ▁proved ▁difficult ▁to ▁accurately ▁estimate ▁due ▁to ▁Saudi ▁leaders ' ▁historical ▁tendency ▁to ▁infl ate ▁census ▁results . ▁Saudi ▁population ▁has
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▁grown ▁rapidly ▁since ▁ 1 9 5 0 ▁when ▁it ▁was ▁estimated ▁to ▁be ▁ 3 ▁million , ▁and ▁for ▁many ▁years ▁had ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁highest ▁birth r ates ▁in ▁the ▁world ▁at ▁around ▁ 3 ▁percent ▁a ▁year . ▁ ▁The ▁ethnic ▁composition ▁of ▁Saudi ▁citizens ▁is ▁ 9 0 % ▁Arab ▁and ▁ 1 0 % ▁Af ro - As ian . ▁Most ▁Saud is ▁live ▁in ▁the ▁He j az ▁( 3 5 % ), ▁Naj d ▁( 2 8 % ), ▁and ▁the ▁Eastern ▁Province ▁( 1 5 % ). ▁He j az ▁is ▁the ▁most ▁pop ulated ▁region ▁in ▁Saudi ▁Arabia . ▁ ▁As ▁late ▁as ▁ 1 9 7 0 , ▁most ▁Saud is ▁lived ▁a ▁subs istence ▁life ▁in ▁the ▁rural ▁provin ces , ▁but ▁in ▁the ▁last ▁half ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 0 th ▁century ▁the ▁kingdom ▁has ▁urban ized ▁rapidly . ▁ ▁about ▁ 8 0 % ▁of ▁Saud is ▁live ▁in ▁urban ▁met ropolitan ▁areas — specific ally ▁R iy ad h , ▁Jed d ah , ▁or ▁D amm am . ▁ ▁Its ▁population ▁is ▁also ▁quite ▁young ▁with ▁over ▁half ▁the ▁population ▁under ▁ 2 5 ▁years ▁old . ▁A ▁large ▁fraction ▁are ▁foreign ▁nation als . ▁( The ▁CIA ▁F act book ▁estimated ▁that ▁ ▁foreign ▁nation als ▁living ▁in ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁made ▁up ▁about ▁ 2 1 % ▁of ▁the ▁population . ▁Other ▁estimates ▁are ▁ 3 0 % ▁or ▁ 3 3 %) ▁ ▁As ▁recently ▁as
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▁the ▁early ▁ 1 9 6 0 s , ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ' s ▁slave ▁population ▁was ▁estimated ▁at ▁ 3 0 0 , 0 0 0 . ▁S la very ▁was ▁officially ▁abol ished ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 2 . ▁ ▁L anguages ▁The ▁official ▁language ▁of ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁is ▁Arab ic . ▁The ▁three ▁main ▁regional ▁vari ants ▁spoken ▁by ▁Saud is ▁are ▁He j azi ▁Arab ic ▁( about ▁ 6 ▁million ▁speakers ), ▁Naj di ▁Arab ic ▁( about ▁ 8 ▁million ▁speakers ), ▁and ▁Gulf ▁Arab ic ▁( about ▁ 0 . 2 ▁million ▁speakers ). ▁Fa ifi ▁is ▁spoken ▁by ▁about ▁ 5 0 , 0 0 0 . ▁Saudi ▁Sign ▁Language ▁is ▁the ▁principal ▁language ▁of ▁the ▁de af ▁community . ▁The ▁large ▁exp atri ate ▁communities ▁also ▁speak ▁their ▁own ▁languages , ▁the ▁most ▁numerous ▁of ▁which ▁are ▁Tag al og ▁( 7 0 0 , 0 0 0 ), ▁Roh ing ya ▁( 4 0 0 , 0 0 0 ), ▁Ur du ▁( 3 8 0 , 0 0 0 ), ▁Egyptian ▁Arab ic ▁( 3 0 0 , 0 0 0 ), ▁and ▁Indones ian ▁( 2 5 0 , 0 0 0 ). ▁ ▁Relig ions ▁ ▁V irt ually ▁all ▁Saudi ▁citizens ▁are ▁Muslim ▁( off ic ially , ▁all ▁are ), ▁and ▁almost ▁all ▁Saudi ▁residents ▁are ▁Muslim . ▁Est im ates ▁of ▁the ▁Sun ni ▁population ▁of ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁range ▁between ▁ 7 5 % ▁and ▁ 9
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0 %, ▁with ▁the ▁remaining ▁ 1 0 – 2 5 % ▁being ▁Sh ia ▁Muslim . ▁The ▁official ▁and ▁dominant ▁form ▁of ▁Sun ni ▁Islam ▁in ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁is ▁commonly ▁known ▁as ▁W ah hab ism ▁( pro ponents ▁prefer ▁the ▁name ▁Sal af ism , ▁considering ▁W ah hab i ▁der og atory ) ▁, ▁which ▁was ▁founded ▁in ▁the ▁Arab ian ▁Pen insula ▁by ▁Muhammad ▁ib n ▁Abd ▁al - W ah hab ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 8 th ▁century . ▁Other ▁denom inations , ▁such ▁as ▁the ▁minority ▁Sh ia ▁Islam , ▁are ▁system atically ▁supp ressed . ▁ ▁According ▁to ▁estimates ▁there ▁are ▁about ▁ 1 , 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 ▁Christians ▁in ▁Saudi ▁Arabia , ▁almost ▁all ▁foreign ▁workers . ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁allows ▁Christians ▁to ▁enter ▁the ▁country ▁as ▁foreign ▁workers ▁for ▁temporary ▁work , ▁but ▁does ▁not ▁allow ▁them ▁to ▁practice ▁their ▁faith ▁openly . ▁The ▁percentage ▁of ▁Saudi ▁Arab ian ▁citizens ▁who ▁are ▁Christians ▁is ▁officially ▁zero , ▁as ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁for b ids ▁religious ▁conversion ▁from ▁Islam ▁( ap ost asy ) ▁and ▁pun ishes ▁it ▁by ▁death . ▁According ▁to ▁P ew ▁Research ▁Center ▁there ▁are ▁ 3 9 0 , 0 0 0 ▁Hind us ▁in ▁Saudi ▁Arabia , ▁almost ▁all ▁foreign ▁workers . ▁ ▁There ▁may ▁be ▁a ▁significant ▁fraction ▁of ▁at he ists ▁and ▁ag nost ics ▁in ▁Saudi ▁Arabia , ▁although ▁they ▁are ▁officially ▁called ▁" ter ror ists ". ▁ ▁In ▁its ▁ 2 0
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1 7 ▁religious ▁freedom ▁report , ▁the ▁US ▁State ▁Department ▁named ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁a ▁Country ▁of ▁Part icular ▁Con c ern ▁( CP C ). ▁ ▁Foreign ers ▁ ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ' s ▁Central ▁Department ▁of ▁Statistics ▁& ▁Information ▁estimated ▁the ▁foreign ▁population ▁at ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁ 2 0 1 4 ▁at ▁ 3 3 % ▁( 1 0 . 1 ▁million ). ▁The ▁CIA ▁F act book ▁estimated ▁that ▁ ▁foreign ▁nation als ▁living ▁in ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁made ▁up ▁about ▁ 2 1 % ▁of ▁the ▁population . ▁Other ▁sources ▁report ▁differ ing ▁estimates . ▁Indian : ▁ 1 . 5 ▁million , ▁Pak ist ani : ▁ 1 . 3 ▁million , ▁Egyptian : ▁ 9 0 0 , 0 0 0 , ▁Y emen i : ▁ 8 0 0 , 0 0 0 , ▁Bangl ades hi : ▁ 4 0 0 , 0 0 0 , ▁Filip ino : ▁ 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 , ▁Jordan ian / Pal est inian : ▁ 2 6 0 , 0 0 0 , ▁Indones ian : ▁ 2 5 0 , 0 0 0 , ▁Sri ▁L ank an : ▁ 3 5 0 , 0 0 0 , ▁Sud an ese : ▁ 2 5 0 , 0 0 0 , ▁Sy rian : ▁ 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 ▁and ▁Turkish : ▁ 8 0 , 0 0 0 . ▁There ▁are ▁around ▁ 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 ▁Western
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ers ▁in ▁Saudi ▁Arabia , ▁most ▁of ▁whom ▁live ▁in ▁comp ounds ▁or ▁g ated ▁communities . ▁ ▁Foreign ▁Muslims ▁who ▁have ▁res ided ▁in ▁the ▁kingdom ▁for ▁ten ▁years ▁may ▁apply ▁for ▁Saudi ▁citizens hip . ▁( Priority ▁is ▁given ▁to ▁hold ers ▁of ▁degrees ▁in ▁various ▁scientific ▁fields , ▁and ▁exception ▁made ▁for ▁Palest ini ans ▁who ▁are ▁excluded ▁unless ▁married ▁to ▁a ▁Saudi ▁national , ▁because ▁of ▁Arab ▁League ▁instructions ▁bar ring ▁the ▁Arab ▁states ▁from ▁grant ing ▁them ▁citizens hip .) ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁is ▁not ▁a ▁sign atory ▁to ▁the ▁ 1 9 5 1 ▁UN ▁Ref uge e ▁Convention . ▁ ▁As ▁Saudi ▁population ▁grows ▁and ▁oil ▁export ▁reven ues ▁st agn ate , ▁pressure ▁for ▁" S aud ization " ▁( the ▁replacement ▁of ▁foreign ▁workers ▁with ▁Saud is ) ▁has ▁grown , ▁and ▁the ▁Saudi ▁government ▁hopes ▁to ▁decrease ▁the ▁number ▁of ▁foreign ▁nation als ▁in ▁the ▁country . ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁exp elled ▁ 8 0 0 , 0 0 0 ▁Y emen is ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 0 ▁and ▁ 1 9 9 1 ▁and ▁has ▁built ▁a ▁Saudi – Y emen ▁barrier ▁against ▁an ▁infl ux ▁of ▁illegal ▁immigrants ▁and ▁against ▁the ▁sm ug gling ▁of ▁drugs ▁and ▁weapons . ▁In ▁November ▁ 2 0 1 3 , ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁exp elled ▁thousands ▁of ▁illegal ▁Eth iop ian ▁residents ▁from ▁the ▁Kingdom . ▁Var ious ▁Human ▁Rights ▁entities ▁have ▁critic ised ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ' s ▁handling ▁of ▁the ▁issue . ▁Over ▁ 5
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0 0 , 0 0 0 ▁und ocument ed ▁migr ant ▁workers ▁— ▁mostly ▁from ▁Som alia , ▁Eth iop ia , ▁and ▁Y emen ▁— ▁have ▁been ▁det ained ▁and ▁deport ed ▁since ▁ 2 0 1 3 . ▁ ▁Mon arch s ▁( 1 9 3 2 – present ) ▁▁ ▁King ▁Abd ul az iz ▁( 1 9 3 2 – 1 9 5 3 ); ▁second ▁longest ▁reign ing ▁Saudi ▁mon arch . ▁ ▁King ▁Saud ▁( 1 9 5 3 – 1 9 6 4 ); ▁third ▁longest ▁reign ing ▁Saudi ▁mon arch . ▁ ▁King ▁F ais al ▁( 1 9 6 4 – 1 9 7 5 ); ▁fourth ▁longest ▁reign ing ▁Saudi ▁mon arch . ▁ ▁King ▁K hal id ▁( 1 9 7 5 – 1 9 8 2 ); ▁sixth ▁longest ▁reign ing ▁Saudi ▁mon arch . ▁ ▁King ▁F ah d ▁( 1 9 8 2 – 2 0 0 5 ); ▁longest ▁reign ing ▁Saudi ▁mon arch . ▁ ▁King ▁Abd ull ah ▁( 2 0 0 5 – 2 0 1 5 ); ▁fifth ▁longest ▁reign ing ▁Saudi ▁mon arch . ▁ ▁King ▁Sal man ▁( 2 0 1 5 – present ); ▁current ▁mon arch . ▁ ▁Crown ▁Prin ces ▁( 1 9 3 3 – present ) ▁▁ ▁Crown ▁Prince ▁Saud ▁bin ▁Abd ul az iz ▁( 1 9 3 3 – 1 9 5 3 ); ▁became ▁King . ▁Crown ▁Prince ▁of ▁King ▁Abd ul az iz
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. ▁ ▁Crown ▁Prince ▁F ais al ▁bin ▁Abd ul az iz ▁( 1 9 5 3 – 1 9 6 4 ); ▁became ▁King . ▁Crown ▁Prince ▁of ▁King ▁Saud . ▁ ▁Crown ▁Prince ▁Muhammad ▁bin ▁Abd ul az iz ▁( 1 9 6 4 – 1 9 6 5 ); ▁Res igned ▁from ▁post . ▁Crown ▁Prince ▁of ▁King ▁F ais al . ▁ ▁Crown ▁Prince ▁K hal id ▁bin ▁Abd ul az iz ▁( 1 9 6 5 – 1 9 7 5 ); ▁became ▁King . ▁Crown ▁Prince ▁of ▁King ▁F ais al . ▁ ▁Crown ▁Prince ▁F ah d ▁bin ▁Abd ul az iz ▁( 1 9 7 5 – 1 9 8 2 ); ▁became ▁King . ▁Crown ▁Prince ▁of ▁King ▁K hal id . ▁ ▁Crown ▁Prince ▁Abd ull ah ▁bin ▁Abd ul az iz ▁( 1 9 8 2 – 2 0 0 5 ); ▁became ▁King . ▁Crown ▁Prince ▁of ▁King ▁F ah d . ▁ ▁Crown ▁Prince ▁S ultan ▁bin ▁Abd ul az iz ▁( 2 0 0 5 – 2 0 1 1 ); ▁died ▁in ▁office . ▁Crown ▁Prince ▁of ▁King ▁Abd ull ah . ▁ ▁Crown ▁Prince ▁N ay ef ▁bin ▁Abd ul az iz ▁( 2 0 1 1 – 2 0 1 2 ); ▁died ▁in ▁office . ▁Crown ▁Prince ▁of ▁King ▁Abd ull ah . ▁ ▁Crown ▁Prince ▁Sal man ▁bin ▁Abd ul az iz ▁( 2 0 1 2 – 2 0 1 5 ); ▁became
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▁King . ▁Crown ▁Prince ▁of ▁King ▁Abd ull ah . ▁ ▁Crown ▁Prince ▁Mu q rin ▁bin ▁Abd ul az iz ▁( 2 0 1 5 ); ▁removed ▁from ▁post . ▁Crown ▁Prince ▁of ▁King ▁Sal man . ▁ ▁Crown ▁Prince ▁Moh amm ad ▁bin ▁N ay ef ▁( 2 0 1 5 – 2 0 1 7 ); ▁removed ▁from ▁post . ▁Crown ▁Prince ▁of ▁King ▁Sal man . ▁ ▁Crown ▁Prince ▁Moh amm ad ▁bin ▁Sal man ▁( 2 0 1 7 – present ); ▁inc umb ent . ▁Crown ▁Prince ▁of ▁King ▁Sal man . ▁ ▁Second ▁Deputy ▁Prime ▁Minister / Second - in - line ▁( 1 9 6 5 – 2 0 1 1 ) ▁ ▁Prince ▁F ah d ▁( 1 9 6 5 – 1 9 7 5 ); ▁became ▁Crown ▁Prince . ▁ ▁Prince ▁Abd ull ah ▁( 1 9 7 5 – 1 9 8 2 ); ▁became ▁Crown ▁Prince . ▁ ▁Prince ▁S ultan ▁( 1 9 8 2 – 2 0 0 5 ); ▁became ▁Crown ▁Prince . ▁ ▁Prince ▁N ay ef ▁( 2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 1 ); ▁became ▁Crown ▁Prince . ▁ ▁Deputy ▁Crown ▁Prince / Second - in - line ▁( 2 0 1 4 – present ) ▁ ▁Prince ▁Mu q rin ▁( 2 0 1 4 – 2 0 1 5 ); ▁became ▁Crown ▁Prince . ▁ ▁Prince ▁Moh amm ad ▁( 2 0 1 5 ); ▁became ▁Crown ▁Prince . ▁Son
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▁of ▁Prince ▁N ay ef . ▁ ▁Prince ▁Moh amm ad ▁( 2 0 1 5 – 2 0 1 7 ); ▁became ▁Crown ▁Prince . ▁Defense ▁Minister ▁of ▁Saudi ▁Arabia . ▁Son ▁of ▁King ▁Sal man . ▁ ▁Culture ▁ ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁has ▁centuries - old ▁attitudes ▁and ▁traditions , ▁often ▁derived ▁from ▁Arab ▁civilization . ▁The ▁main ▁factors ▁that ▁influence ▁the ▁culture ▁of ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁are ▁Islamic ▁heritage ▁and ▁Bed ou in ▁traditions ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁its ▁historical ▁role ▁as ▁an ▁ancient ▁trade ▁center . ▁ ▁Relig ion ▁in ▁society ▁ ▁The ▁ej azi ▁region , ▁where ▁the ▁Islamic ▁holy ▁cities ▁of ▁Me cca ▁and ▁Med ina ▁are ▁located , ▁is ▁the ▁destination ▁of ▁the ▁ Ḥ aj j ▁pil gr image , ▁and ▁often ▁deemed ▁to ▁be ▁the ▁cr ad le ▁of ▁Islam . ▁ ▁Islam ▁is ▁the ▁state ▁religion ▁of ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁and ▁its ▁law ▁requires ▁that ▁all ▁citizens ▁be ▁Muslims . ▁Neither ▁Saudi ▁citizens ▁nor ▁guest ▁workers ▁have ▁the ▁right ▁of ▁freedom ▁of ▁religion . ▁The ▁official ▁and ▁dominant ▁form ▁of ▁Islam ▁in ▁the ▁kingdom — W ah hab ism — ar ose ▁in ▁the ▁central ▁region ▁of ▁Naj d , ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 8 th ▁century . ▁Pro ponents ▁call ▁the ▁movement ▁" Sal af ism ", ▁and ▁believe ▁that ▁its ▁teach ings ▁pur ify ▁the ▁practice ▁of ▁Islam ▁of ▁innov ations ▁or ▁practices ▁that ▁dev iate ▁from ▁the ▁seventh - century ▁teach ings ▁of ▁Muhammad ▁and ▁his ▁companions . ▁The ▁Saudi ▁government ▁has ▁often ▁been
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▁viewed ▁as ▁an ▁active ▁opp ress or ▁of ▁Sh ia ▁Muslims ▁because ▁of ▁the ▁funding ▁of ▁the ▁W ah hab i ▁ide ology ▁which ▁den oun ces ▁the ▁Sh ia ▁faith . ▁Prince ▁Band ar ▁bin ▁S ultan , ▁Saudi ▁amb assador ▁to ▁the ▁United ▁States , ▁stated : ▁" The ▁time ▁is ▁not ▁far ▁off ▁in ▁the ▁Middle ▁East ▁when ▁it ▁will ▁be ▁literally ▁' God ▁help ▁the ▁Sh ia '. ▁More ▁than ▁a ▁billion ▁S unn is ▁have ▁simply ▁had ▁enough ▁of ▁them ." ▁ ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁is ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁few ▁countries ▁that ▁have ▁" rel igious ▁police " ▁( known ▁as ▁Ha ia ▁or ▁M uta ween ), ▁who ▁patrol ▁the ▁streets ▁" en join ing ▁good ▁and ▁for b idding ▁wrong " ▁by ▁en for cing ▁dress ▁codes , ▁strict ▁separation ▁of ▁men ▁and ▁women , ▁attendance ▁at ▁prayer ▁( sal at ) ▁five ▁times ▁each ▁day , ▁the ▁ban ▁on ▁alcohol , ▁and ▁other ▁aspects ▁of ▁Sh aria ▁( I sl amic ▁law ). ▁( In ▁the ▁privacy ▁of ▁the ▁home ▁behavior ▁can ▁be ▁far ▁lo oser , ▁and ▁reports ▁from ▁the ▁Daily ▁Mail ▁and ▁W iki Le aks ▁indicate ▁that ▁the ▁ruling ▁Saudi ▁Royal ▁family ▁applies ▁a ▁different ▁moral ▁code ▁to ▁itself , ▁indul ging ▁in ▁parties , ▁drugs ▁and ▁sex .) ▁ ▁Until ▁ 2 0 1 6 , ▁the ▁kingdom ▁used ▁the ▁lun ar ▁Islamic ▁calendar , ▁not ▁the ▁international ▁Greg or ian ▁calendar , ▁but ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 6 ▁the ▁kingdom
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▁announced ▁its ▁switch ▁to ▁the ▁Greg or ian ▁calendar ▁for ▁civil ▁purposes . ▁ ▁Daily ▁life ▁is ▁dominated ▁by ▁Islamic ▁observ ance . ▁Business es ▁are ▁closed ▁three ▁or ▁four ▁times ▁a ▁day ▁for ▁ 3 0 ▁to ▁ 4 5 ▁minutes ▁during ▁business ▁hours ▁while ▁employees ▁and ▁customers ▁are ▁sent ▁off ▁to ▁pray . ▁The ▁weekend ▁is ▁Friday - S aturday , ▁not ▁Saturday - S und ay , ▁because ▁Friday ▁is ▁the ▁hol iest ▁day ▁for ▁Muslims . ▁For ▁many ▁years ▁only ▁two ▁religious ▁holidays ▁were ▁publicly ▁recognized ▁– ▁ ʿ Ī d ▁al - Fi ṭ r ▁and ▁ ʿ Ī d ▁al - A ḍ ḥ ā . ▁( ʿ Ī d ▁al - Fi ṭ r ▁is ▁" the ▁biggest " ▁holiday , ▁a ▁three - day ▁period ▁of ▁" fe asting , ▁gift - g iving ▁and ▁general ▁letting ▁go ". ) ▁ ▁, ▁approximately ▁half ▁of ▁the ▁broadcast ▁air time ▁of ▁Saudi ▁state ▁television ▁was ▁devoted ▁to ▁religious ▁issues . ▁ 9 0 ▁percent ▁of ▁books ▁published ▁in ▁the ▁kingdom ▁were ▁on ▁religious ▁subjects , ▁and ▁most ▁of ▁the ▁doctor ates ▁awarded ▁by ▁its ▁universities ▁were ▁in ▁Islamic ▁studies . ▁In ▁the ▁state ▁school ▁system , ▁about ▁half ▁of ▁the ▁material ▁taught ▁is ▁religious . ▁In ▁contrast , ▁assigned ▁read ings ▁over ▁ 1 2 ▁years ▁of ▁primary ▁and ▁secondary ▁school ing ▁devoted ▁to ▁covering ▁the ▁history , ▁literature , ▁and ▁cultures ▁of ▁the ▁non - Mus lim ▁world ▁comes ▁to ▁a ▁total ▁of ▁about ▁
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4 0 ▁pages . ▁ ▁" F ier ce ▁religious ▁resistance " ▁had ▁to ▁be ▁overcome ▁to ▁permit ▁such ▁innov ations ▁as ▁paper ▁money ▁( in ▁ 1 9 5 1 ), ▁female ▁education ▁( 1 9 6 4 ), ▁and ▁television ▁( 1 9 6 5 ) ▁and ▁the ▁abol ition ▁of ▁slavery ▁( 1 9 6 2 ). ▁Public ▁support ▁for ▁the ▁traditional ▁political / rel igious ▁structure ▁of ▁the ▁kingdom ▁is ▁so ▁strong ▁that ▁one ▁research er ▁interview ing ▁Saud is ▁found ▁virtually ▁no ▁support ▁for ▁reform s ▁to ▁sec ular ize ▁the ▁state . ▁ ▁Because ▁of ▁religious ▁restrictions , ▁Saudi ▁culture ▁lack s ▁any ▁diversity ▁of ▁religious ▁expression , ▁buildings , ▁annual ▁fest ivals ▁and ▁public ▁events . ▁Cele br ation ▁of ▁other ▁( non - W ah hab i ) ▁Islamic ▁holidays , ▁such ▁as ▁the ▁Muhammad ' s ▁birthday ▁and ▁the ▁Day ▁of ▁Ash ura , ▁( an ▁important ▁holiday ▁for ▁the ▁ 1 0 – 2 5 ▁percent ▁of ▁the ▁population ▁that ▁is ▁Sh ī ʿ a ▁Muslim ), ▁are ▁toler ated ▁only ▁when ▁celebrated ▁locally ▁and ▁on ▁a ▁small ▁scale . ▁Sh ia ▁also ▁face ▁systematic ▁discrimination ▁in ▁employment , ▁education , ▁the ▁justice ▁system ▁according ▁to ▁Human ▁Rights ▁Watch . ▁Non - Mus lim ▁fest ivals ▁like ▁Christmas ▁and ▁Easter ▁are ▁not ▁toler ated ▁at ▁all , ▁although ▁there ▁are ▁nearly ▁a ▁million ▁Christians ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁Hind us ▁and ▁Budd h ists ▁among ▁the ▁foreign ▁workers . ▁No ▁churches , ▁tem ples
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▁or ▁other ▁non - Mus lim ▁houses ▁of ▁worship ▁are ▁permitted ▁in ▁the ▁country . ▁Pro s ely t izing ▁by ▁non - Mus lim s ▁and ▁conversion ▁by ▁Muslims ▁to ▁another ▁religion ▁is ▁illegal , ▁and ▁ ▁the ▁distribution ▁of ▁" public ations ▁that ▁have ▁prejud ice ▁to ▁any ▁other ▁religious ▁belief ▁other ▁than ▁Islam " ▁( such ▁as ▁B ibles ), ▁was ▁reported ly ▁pun ish able ▁by ▁death . ▁In ▁legal ▁compensation ▁court ▁cases ▁( Di y ya ) ▁non - Mus lim ▁are ▁awarded ▁less ▁than ▁Muslims . ▁A the ists ▁are ▁legally ▁designated ▁as ▁terror ists . ▁And ▁at ▁least ▁one ▁religious ▁minority , ▁the ▁Ah mad iy ya ▁Muslims , ▁had ▁its ▁ad her ents ▁deport ed , ▁as ▁they ▁are ▁legally ▁banned ▁from ▁entering ▁the ▁country . ▁ ▁Islamic ▁heritage ▁sites ▁ ▁Saudi ▁W ah hab ism ▁is ▁hostile ▁to ▁any ▁rever ence ▁given ▁to ▁historical ▁or ▁religious ▁places ▁of ▁significance ▁for ▁fear ▁that ▁it ▁may ▁give ▁rise ▁to ▁' sh irk ' ▁( id ol at ry ), ▁and ▁the ▁most ▁significant ▁historic ▁Muslim ▁sites ▁( in ▁Me cca ▁and ▁Med ina ) ▁are ▁located ▁in ▁the ▁western ▁Saudi ▁region ▁of ▁the ▁He j az . ▁As ▁a ▁consequence , ▁under ▁Saudi ▁rule , ▁an ▁estimated ▁ 9 5 % ▁of ▁Me cca ' s ▁historic ▁buildings , ▁most ▁over ▁a ▁thousand ▁years ▁old , ▁have ▁been ▁demol ished ▁for ▁religious ▁reasons . ▁Crit ics ▁claim ▁that ▁over ▁the ▁last ▁ 5 0 ▁years ,
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▁ 3 0 0 ▁historic ▁sites ▁linked ▁to ▁Muhammad , ▁his ▁family ▁or ▁companions ▁have ▁been ▁lost , ▁leaving ▁fewer ▁than ▁ 2 0 ▁structures ▁remaining ▁in ▁Me cca ▁that ▁date ▁back ▁to ▁the ▁time ▁of ▁Muhammad . ▁Dem ol ished ▁structures ▁include ▁the ▁mos que ▁originally ▁built ▁by ▁Muhammad ' s ▁daughter ▁Fat ima , ▁and ▁other ▁mos ques ▁founded ▁by ▁Abu ▁Bak r ▁( Mu ham mad ' s ▁father - in - law ▁and ▁the ▁first ▁Cal iph ), ▁U mar ▁( the ▁second ▁Cal iph ), ▁Ali ▁( Mu ham mad ' s ▁son - in - law ▁and ▁the ▁fourth ▁Cal iph ), ▁and ▁Sal man ▁al - F arsi ▁( an other ▁of ▁Muhammad ' s ▁companions ). ▁ ▁Five ▁cultural ▁sites ▁in ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁are ▁designated ▁as ▁UN ES CO ▁World ▁Heritage ▁S ites : ▁Al - H ij r ▁Arch ae ological ▁Site ▁( Mad â in ▁S â li h ); ▁the ▁T ura if ▁district ▁in ▁the ▁city ▁of ▁Dir iy ah ; ▁Historic ▁Jed d ah , ▁the ▁Gate ▁to ▁Me cca ; ▁Al - Ah sa ▁O asis ; ▁and ▁Rock ▁Art ▁in ▁the ▁H ail ▁Region . ▁Ten ▁other ▁sites ▁submitted ▁requests ▁for ▁recognition ▁to ▁UN ES CO ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 5 . ▁ ▁There ▁are ▁six ▁elements ▁in scribed ▁on ▁UN ES CO ' s ▁Int ang ible ▁Cultural ▁Heritage ▁of ▁Human ity ▁list : ▁Al - Q att ▁Al - As iri , ▁female ▁traditional ▁interior
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▁wall ▁decor ation ▁in ▁As ir ; ▁Al me z mar , ▁drum ming ▁and ▁dancing ▁with ▁sticks ; ▁Fal con ry , ▁a ▁living ▁human ▁heritage ; ▁Arab ic ▁coffee , ▁a ▁symbol ▁of ▁gener osity ; ▁Maj l is , ▁a ▁cultural ▁and ▁social ▁space ; ▁Al ard ah ▁Al n aj di y ah , ▁dance , ▁drum ming ▁and ▁poetry ▁in ▁Saudi ▁Arabia . ▁ ▁In ▁June ▁ 2 0 1 4 , ▁the ▁Council ▁of ▁Minister s ▁approved ▁a ▁law ▁that ▁gives ▁the ▁Saudi ▁Commission ▁for ▁Tour ism ▁and ▁National ▁Heritage ▁the ▁means ▁to ▁protect ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ' s ▁ancient ▁re lic s ▁and ▁historic ▁sites . ▁Within ▁the ▁framework ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 6 ▁National ▁Trans formation ▁Program , ▁also ▁known ▁as ▁Saudi ▁Vision ▁ 2 0 3 0 , ▁the ▁kingdom ▁allocated ▁ 9 0 0 ▁million ▁e uros ▁to ▁preserve ▁its ▁historical ▁and ▁cultural ▁heritage . ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁also ▁particip ates ▁in ▁the ▁International ▁Alliance ▁for ▁the ▁Protection ▁of ▁Heritage ▁in ▁Conf lict ▁Are as ▁( AL IP H ), ▁created ▁in ▁March ▁ 2 0 1 7 , ▁with ▁a ▁contribution ▁of ▁ 1 8 . 5 ▁million ▁e uros . ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 1 7 , ▁Crown ▁Prince ▁Moh amm ad ▁bin ▁Sal man ▁promised ▁to ▁return ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁to ▁the ▁" mod er ate ▁Islam " ▁of ▁the ▁era ▁before ▁the ▁ 1 9 7 9 ▁Iran ian ▁revolution . ▁A ▁new ▁center , ▁the ▁King ▁Sal man
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▁Complex ▁for ▁the ▁Prop het ’ s ▁Had ith , ▁was ▁established ▁that ▁year ▁to ▁monitor ▁interpret ations ▁of ▁the ▁Prop het ▁Moh ammed ’ s ▁had ith s ▁to ▁prevent ▁them ▁being ▁used ▁to ▁justify ▁terror ism . ▁ ▁In ▁March ▁ 2 0 1 8 , ▁the ▁Crown ▁Prince ▁met ▁the ▁Arch b ishop ▁of ▁Can ter bury ▁during ▁a ▁visit ▁to ▁the ▁UK , ▁pl ed ging ▁to ▁promote ▁inter fa ith ▁dialogue . ▁In ▁R iy ad h ▁the ▁following ▁month ▁King ▁Sal man ▁met ▁the ▁head ▁of ▁the ▁V atic an ’ s ▁Pont if ical ▁Council ▁for ▁Inter rel igious ▁Dialog ue . ▁ ▁In ▁July ▁ 2 0 1 9 , ▁UN ES CO ▁signed ▁a ▁letter ▁with ▁the ▁Saudi ▁Minister ▁of ▁Culture ▁of ▁In ▁which ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁contribute ▁US $ 2 5 ▁million ▁to ▁UN ES CO ▁for ▁the ▁preserv ation ▁of ▁heritage . ▁ ▁D ress ▁Saudi ▁Arab ian ▁dress ▁strictly ▁follows ▁the ▁principles ▁of ▁hij ab ▁( the ▁Islamic ▁principle ▁of ▁mod esty , ▁especially ▁in ▁dress ). ▁The ▁predomin antly ▁loose ▁and ▁flowing , ▁but ▁covering , ▁gar ments ▁are ▁suited ▁to ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ' s ▁desert ▁climate . ▁Trad itionally , ▁men ▁usually ▁wear ▁a ▁white ▁an kle ▁length ▁gar ment ▁w oven ▁from ▁wool ▁or ▁cotton ▁( known ▁as ▁a ▁th aw b ), ▁with ▁a ▁ke ff i ye h ▁( a ▁large ▁check ered ▁square ▁of ▁cotton ▁held ▁in ▁place ▁by ▁an ▁ag al ) ▁or ▁a ▁g
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h ut ra ▁( a ▁plain ▁white ▁square ▁made ▁of ▁fin er ▁cotton , ▁also ▁held ▁in ▁place ▁by ▁an ▁ag al ) ▁worn ▁on ▁the ▁head . ▁For ▁rare ▁ch illy ▁days , ▁Saudi ▁men ▁wear ▁a ▁cam el - h air ▁clo ak ▁( bis ht ) ▁over ▁the ▁top . ▁In ▁public ▁women ▁are ▁required ▁to ▁wear ▁a ▁black ▁ab aya ▁or ▁other ▁black ▁clothing ▁that ▁covers ▁everything ▁under ▁the ▁neck ▁with ▁the ▁exception ▁of ▁their ▁hands ▁and ▁feet , ▁although ▁most ▁women ▁cover ▁their ▁head ▁in ▁respect ▁for ▁their ▁religion . ▁This ▁requirement ▁applies ▁to ▁non - Mus lim ▁women ▁too ▁and ▁failure ▁to ▁ab ide ▁can ▁result ▁in ▁police ▁action , ▁particularly ▁in ▁more ▁conservative ▁areas ▁of ▁the ▁country . ▁Women ' s ▁clothes ▁are ▁often ▁decorated ▁with ▁trib al ▁mot ifs , ▁coins , ▁sequ ins , ▁metall ic ▁thread , ▁and ▁appl iques . ▁ ▁Gh ut rah ▁() ▁is ▁a ▁traditional ▁he address ▁typically ▁worn ▁by ▁Arab ▁men . ▁It ▁is ▁made ▁of ▁a ▁square ▁of ▁cloth ▁(" scar f "), ▁usually ▁cotton , ▁folded ▁and ▁wrapped ▁in ▁various ▁styles ▁around ▁the ▁head . ▁It ▁is ▁commonly ▁worn ▁in ▁areas ▁with ▁an ▁ar id ▁climate , ▁to ▁provide ▁protection ▁from ▁direct ▁sun ▁exposure , ▁and ▁also ▁protection ▁of ▁the ▁mouth ▁and ▁eyes ▁from ▁blown ▁dust ▁and ▁sand . ▁ ▁Ag al ▁() ▁is ▁an ▁item ▁of ▁Arab ▁head ge ar ▁constructed ▁of ▁cord ▁which ▁is ▁fast ened ▁around ▁the ▁Gh ut rah ▁to ▁hold ▁it
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▁in ▁place . ▁The ▁ag al ▁is ▁usually ▁black ▁in ▁colour . ▁ ▁Th aw b ▁() ▁is ▁the ▁standard ▁Arab ic ▁word ▁for ▁gar ment . ▁It ▁is ▁an kle - length , ▁usually ▁with ▁long ▁sle eves , ▁similar ▁to ▁a ▁ro be . ▁ ▁Bis ht ▁() ▁is ▁a ▁traditional ▁Arab ic ▁men ' s ▁clo ak ▁usually ▁only ▁worn ▁for ▁prest ige ▁on ▁special ▁occasions ▁such ▁as ▁wed dings . ▁ ▁Ab aya ▁() ▁is ▁a ▁woman ' s ▁gar ment . ▁It ▁is ▁a ▁black ▁clo ak ▁which ▁lo os ely ▁covers ▁the ▁entire ▁body ▁except ▁the ▁head . ▁Some ▁women ▁choose ▁to ▁cover ▁their ▁faces ▁with ▁a ▁ni q ā b ▁and ▁some ▁do ▁not . ▁Some ▁ab ay as ▁cover ▁the ▁top ▁of ▁the ▁head ▁as ▁well . ▁ ▁Arts ▁and ▁entertainment ▁ ▁During ▁the ▁ 1 9 7 0 s , ▁cin em as ▁were ▁numerous ▁in ▁the ▁Kingdom ▁although ▁they ▁were ▁seen ▁as ▁contrary ▁to ▁W ah hab i ▁norm s . ▁During ▁the ▁Islamic ▁rev ival ▁movement ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 8 0 s , ▁and ▁as ▁a ▁political ▁response ▁to ▁an ▁increase ▁in ▁Islam ist ▁activ ism ▁including ▁the ▁ 1 9 7 9 ▁seiz ure ▁of ▁the ▁Grand ▁Mos que ▁in ▁Me cca , ▁the ▁government ▁closed ▁all ▁cin em as ▁and ▁the aters . ▁However , ▁with ▁King ▁Abd ull ah ' s ▁reform s ▁from ▁ 2 0 0 5 , ▁some ▁cin em as ▁have ▁re -
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op ened , ▁including ▁one ▁in ▁K A UST . ▁ ▁From ▁the ▁ 1 8 th ▁century ▁on ward , ▁W ah hab i ▁fundamental ism ▁discour aged ▁artistic ▁development ▁incons istent ▁with ▁its ▁teaching . ▁In ▁addition , ▁Sun ni ▁Islamic ▁prohib ition ▁of ▁creating ▁representations ▁of ▁people ▁have ▁limited ▁the ▁visual ▁arts , ▁which ▁tend ▁to ▁be ▁dominated ▁by ▁geometric , ▁fl oral , ▁and ▁abstract ▁designs ▁and ▁by ▁call ig raph y . ▁With ▁the ▁advent ▁of ▁oil - wealth ▁in ▁the ▁ 2 0 th ▁century ▁came ▁exposure ▁to ▁outside ▁influences , ▁such ▁as ▁Western ▁housing ▁styles , ▁furn ish ings , ▁and ▁clothes . ▁Music ▁and ▁dance ▁have ▁always ▁been ▁part ▁of ▁Saudi ▁life . ▁Trad itional ▁music ▁is ▁generally ▁associated ▁with ▁poetry ▁and ▁is ▁sung ▁collect ively . ▁In str uments ▁include ▁the ▁rab ā b ah , ▁an ▁instrument ▁not ▁unlike ▁a ▁three - string ▁f iddle , ▁and ▁various ▁types ▁of ▁per cussion ▁instruments , ▁such ▁as ▁the ▁ ṭ abl ▁( dr um ) ▁and ▁the ▁ ṭ ā r ▁( t amb our ine ). ▁Of ▁the ▁native ▁d ances , ▁the ▁most ▁popular ▁is ▁a ▁mart ial ▁line ▁dance ▁known ▁as ▁the ▁ ʿ ar ḍ ah , ▁which ▁includes ▁lines ▁of ▁men , ▁frequently ▁armed ▁with ▁sw ords ▁or ▁rif les , ▁dancing ▁to ▁the ▁beat ▁of ▁drums ▁and ▁tamb our ines . ▁Bed ou in ▁poetry , ▁known ▁as ▁n aba ṭ ī , ▁is ▁still ▁very ▁popular .
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▁ ▁C ens orship ▁has ▁limited ▁the ▁development ▁of ▁Saudi ▁literature , ▁although ▁several ▁Saudi ▁novel ists ▁and ▁po ets ▁have ▁achieved ▁critical ▁and ▁popular ▁ac claim ▁in ▁the ▁Arab ▁world — al beit ▁generating ▁official ▁host ility ▁in ▁their ▁home ▁country . ▁These ▁include ▁Gh azi ▁Al g osa ib i , ▁Ab del rah man ▁Mun if , ▁Tur ki ▁al - H am ad ▁and ▁Raj aa ▁al - S ane a . ▁In ▁ 2 0 1 6 , ▁the ▁General ▁Entertainment ▁Authority ▁was ▁formed ▁to ▁over see ▁the ▁expansion ▁of ▁the ▁Saudi ▁entertainment ▁sector . ▁The ▁first ▁conc erts ▁in ▁R iy ad h ▁for ▁ 2 5 ▁years ▁took ▁place ▁the ▁following ▁year . ▁Other ▁events ▁since ▁the ▁G EA ’ s ▁creation ▁have ▁included ▁comedy ▁shows , ▁professional ▁wrest ling ▁events ▁and ▁monster ▁truck ▁r all ies . ▁In ▁ 2 0 1 8 ▁the ▁first ▁public ▁cinema ▁opened ▁after ▁a ▁ban ▁of ▁ 3 5 ▁years , ▁with ▁plans ▁to ▁have ▁more ▁than ▁ 2 , 0 0 0 ▁screens ▁running ▁by ▁ 2 0 3 0 . ▁ ▁Develop ments ▁in ▁the ▁arts ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 8 ▁included ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ’ s ▁debut ▁appearances ▁at ▁the ▁Cann es ▁Film ▁Festival ▁and ▁the ▁Ven ice ▁B ien n ale . ▁At ▁the ▁same ▁time , ▁David ▁Gu etta ▁declared ▁that ▁" There ▁is ▁obviously ▁a ▁very ▁big ▁effort ▁in ▁Saudi ▁to ▁open ▁to ▁music ▁and ▁to ▁artists ". ▁This ▁was ▁after ▁he ▁performed
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▁a ▁concert ▁attended ▁by ▁more ▁than ▁ 1 0 , 0 0 0 ▁people ▁in ▁the ▁heritage ▁site ▁north - west ▁of ▁R iy ad h . ▁The ▁concert ▁also ▁included ▁shows ▁by ▁En rique ▁I gles ias ▁and ▁The ▁Black ▁E y ed ▁Pe as . ▁Gu etta ’ s ▁comments ▁come ▁as ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁increasingly ▁attract s ▁big ▁name ▁western ▁music ▁acts ▁to ▁perform ▁in ▁the ▁kingdom . ▁Since ▁his ▁concert ▁last ▁November , ▁Maria h ▁Care y , ▁Sean ▁Paul ▁and ▁Ak on ▁all ▁performed ▁in ▁various ▁Saudi ▁cities . ▁ ▁Sport ▁ ▁Football ▁is ▁the ▁national ▁sport ▁in ▁Saudi ▁Arabia . ▁The ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁national ▁football ▁team ▁is ▁considered ▁as ▁one ▁of ▁Asia ' s ▁most ▁successful ▁national ▁teams , ▁having ▁reached ▁a ▁joint ▁record ▁ 6 ▁A FC ▁Asian ▁Cup ▁fin als , ▁winning ▁three ▁of ▁those ▁fin als ▁( 1 9 8 4 , ▁ 1 9 8 8 , ▁and ▁ 1 9 9 6 ) ▁and ▁having ▁qualified ▁for ▁the ▁World ▁Cup ▁four ▁consecutive ▁times ▁ever ▁since ▁debut ing ▁at ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 4 ▁tournament . ▁In ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 4 ▁FIFA ▁World ▁Cup ▁under ▁the ▁leadership ▁of ▁Jorge ▁Sol ari , ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁beat ▁both ▁Belgium ▁and ▁Mor oc co ▁in ▁the ▁group ▁stage ▁before ▁falling ▁to ▁defeat ▁Sweden ▁in ▁the ▁round ▁of ▁ 1 6 . ▁During ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 2 ▁FIFA ▁Confeder ations ▁Cup , ▁which ▁was ▁played ▁in ▁Saudi ▁Arabia , ▁the ▁country ▁reached ▁the
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▁final , ▁losing ▁ 1 – 3 ▁to ▁Argentina . ▁Sc uba ▁d iving , ▁wind sur f ing , ▁sail ing ▁and ▁basketball ▁( which ▁is ▁played ▁by ▁both ▁men ▁and ▁women ) ▁are ▁also ▁popular ▁with ▁the ▁Saudi ▁Arab ian ▁national ▁basketball ▁team ▁winning ▁bronze ▁at ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 9 ▁Asian ▁Championship . ▁More ▁traditional ▁sports ▁such ▁as ▁horse ▁racing ▁and ▁cam el ▁racing ▁are ▁also ▁popular . ▁A ▁stadium ▁in ▁R iy ad h ▁holds ▁races ▁in ▁the ▁winter . ▁The ▁annual ▁King ' s ▁Cam el ▁Race , ▁begun ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 4 , ▁is ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁sport ' s ▁most ▁important ▁cont ests ▁and ▁attract s ▁animals ▁and ▁r iders ▁from ▁throughout ▁the ▁region . ▁Fal con ry , ▁another ▁traditional ▁pursuit , ▁is ▁still ▁pract iced . ▁ ▁Women ' s ▁sport ▁is ▁controversial ▁due ▁to ▁the ▁supp ression ▁of ▁female ▁participation ▁in ▁sport ▁by ▁conservative ▁Islamic ▁religious ▁authorities , ▁however ▁this ▁restriction ▁has ▁e ased ▁slightly ▁in ▁recent ▁years . ▁Until ▁ 2 0 1 8 ▁women ▁were ▁not ▁permitted ▁in ▁sport ▁stadium s . ▁Seg reg ated ▁se ating , ▁allowing ▁women ▁to ▁enter , ▁has ▁been ▁developed ▁in ▁three ▁stadium s ▁across ▁major ▁cities . ▁ ▁Saudi ▁Arabia , ▁in ▁its ▁vision ▁for ▁modern ization ▁introduced ▁the ▁nation ▁to ▁a ▁number ▁of ▁international ▁sport ing ▁events , ▁bringing ▁sports ▁stars ▁to ▁the ▁Kingdom . ▁However , ▁in ▁August ▁ 2 0 1 9 , ▁the ▁kingdom ' s ▁strategy
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▁received ▁criticism ▁for ▁appearing ▁as ▁a ▁method ▁of ▁sport sw ashing ▁soon ▁after ▁Saudi ' s ▁US ▁based ▁ 2 0 1 8 ▁lobby ing ▁campaign ▁foreign ▁registration ▁document ations ▁got ▁published ▁online . ▁The ▁documents ▁showed ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁as ▁alleg edly ▁implementing ▁a ▁‘ s port sw ashing ’ ▁strategy , ▁inclusive ▁of ▁meetings ▁and ▁official ▁calls ▁with ▁sup reme ▁authorities ▁of ▁associations ▁like ▁the ▁Major ▁League ▁Soc cer ▁( ML S ), ▁World ▁Wrest ling ▁Entertainment ▁( W WE ), ▁National ▁Basket ball ▁Association ▁( N BA ). ▁The ▁strategy ▁is ▁being ▁viewed ▁as ▁a ▁method ▁of ▁sport sw ashing ▁following ▁the ▁chaos ▁spread ▁across ▁Y emen ▁since ▁ 4 ▁years . ▁ ▁On ▁October ▁ 3 1 , ▁ 2 0 1 9 , ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁hosted ▁the ▁first ▁ever ▁women ’ s ▁wrest ling ▁match ▁held ▁by ▁the ▁World ▁Wrest ling ▁Entertainment ▁( W WE ). ▁However , ▁the ▁super star ▁players ▁L ace y ▁Evans ▁and ▁Natal ya ▁were ▁required ▁to ▁cover ▁their ▁arms ▁and ▁legs ▁by ▁wearing ▁bod ys uits ▁during ▁the ▁fight , ▁instead ▁of ▁the ▁more ▁revealing ▁gear ▁that ▁they ▁would ▁normally ▁wear . ▁ ▁Saudi ▁Arabia , ▁in ▁December ▁ 2 0 1 9 , ▁came ▁under ▁fire ▁for ▁using ▁Western ▁sports ▁to ▁re habil itate ▁global ▁image ▁t arn ished ▁following ▁the ▁continued ▁crack down ▁on ▁diss idents . ▁Crit ics ▁accused ▁the ▁kingdom ▁of ▁" s port sw ashing ", ▁as ▁it ▁turned ▁a ▁blind ▁eye ▁to ▁the ▁un ending ▁violation ▁of
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▁human ▁rights ▁in ▁the ▁country ▁against ▁women , ▁minor ities , ▁rights ▁advoc ates ▁and ▁critics . ▁ ▁Only ▁two ▁years ▁after ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁signed ▁a ▁contract ▁of ▁ 1 0 ▁years ▁with ▁W WE , ▁an ▁increasing ▁number ▁of ▁wrest lers ▁denied ▁to ▁visit ▁R iy ad h . ▁In ▁ 2 0 1 8 , ▁super st ars ▁like ▁John ▁C ena , ▁Kevin ▁O w ens ▁and ▁Daniel ▁Bryan ▁refused ▁to ▁fly ▁to ▁Saudi , ▁over ▁the ▁Kingdom ’ s ▁decl ining ▁human ▁rights ▁records ▁c iting ▁Jam al ▁K hash og gi ’ s ▁assass ination . ▁In ▁January ▁ 2 0 2 0 , ▁several ▁other ▁W WE ▁super st ars ▁cast ed ▁doubt ▁over ▁visiting ▁Saudi , ▁following ▁the ▁height ened ▁t ensions ▁in ▁Middle ▁East ▁due ▁to ▁assass ination ▁of ▁Q assem ▁S ole im ani . ▁ ▁Cu isine ▁ ▁Saudi ▁Arab ian ▁cu isine ▁is ▁similar ▁to ▁that ▁of ▁the ▁surrounding ▁countries ▁in ▁the ▁Arab ian ▁Pen insula ▁and ▁the ▁wider ▁Arab ▁world , ▁and ▁has ▁influenced ▁and ▁been ▁influenced ▁by ▁Turkish , ▁Indian , ▁Pers ian , ▁and ▁African ▁food . ▁Islamic ▁diet ary ▁laws ▁are ▁en forced : ▁p ork ▁is ▁not ▁allowed ▁and ▁other ▁animals ▁are ▁slaughter ed ▁in ▁accordance ▁with ▁hal al . ▁K eb abs ▁and ▁fal af el ▁are ▁popular , ▁as ▁is ▁sh ā w arm ā ▁( sh aw ar ma ), ▁a ▁mar inated ▁gr illed ▁meat ▁dish ▁of ▁l amb , ▁mut ton ,
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▁or ▁chicken . ▁As ▁in ▁other ▁Arab ▁countries ▁of ▁the ▁Arab ian ▁Pen insula , ▁mach b ū s ▁( k ab sa ), ▁a ▁rice ▁dish ▁with ▁l amb , ▁chicken , ▁fish ▁or ▁sh rim p , ▁is ▁among ▁the ▁national ▁dishes ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁the ▁dish ▁mand i ▁( food ). ▁Fl at , ▁un le av ened ▁tab oon ▁bread ▁is ▁a ▁st ap le ▁of ▁virtually ▁every ▁meal , ▁as ▁are ▁dates , ▁fresh ▁fruit , ▁y og h urt ▁and ▁hum mus . ▁Coffee , ▁served ▁in ▁the ▁Arab ic ▁style , ▁is ▁the ▁traditional ▁be verage ▁but ▁tea ▁and ▁various ▁fruit ▁ju ices ▁are ▁popular ▁as ▁well . ▁Arab ic ▁coffee ▁is ▁a ▁traditional ▁be verage ▁in ▁Arab ian ▁cu isine . ▁The ▁earliest ▁substant iated ▁evidence ▁of ▁either ▁coffee ▁drinking ▁or ▁knowledge ▁of ▁the ▁coffee ▁tree ▁is ▁from ▁the ▁ 1 5 th ▁century , ▁in ▁the ▁S uf i ▁monaster ies ▁of ▁Arabia . ▁ ▁Women ▁ ▁Women ▁do ▁not ▁have ▁equal ▁rights ▁to ▁men ▁in ▁the ▁kingdom ; ▁the ▁U . S . ▁State ▁Department ▁considers ▁Saudi ▁Arab ian ▁government ' s ▁discrimination ▁against ▁women ▁a ▁" sign ific ant ▁problem " ▁in ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁and ▁notes ▁that ▁women ▁have ▁few ▁political ▁rights ▁due ▁to ▁the ▁government ' s ▁discrim in atory ▁policies . ▁The ▁World ▁Economic ▁Forum ▁ 2 0 1 0 ▁Global ▁G ender ▁G ap ▁Report ▁ranked ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁ 1 2 9 th ▁out ▁of ▁ 1 3 4
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▁countries ▁for ▁gender ▁par ity . ▁Other ▁sources ▁had ▁complained ▁of ▁an ▁absence ▁of ▁laws ▁criminal izing ▁violence ▁against ▁women . ▁ ▁Under ▁Saudi ▁law , ▁every ▁adult ▁female ▁must ▁have ▁a ▁male ▁relative ▁as ▁her ▁" guard ian " ▁( w ali ), ▁As ▁of ▁ 2 0 0 8 , ▁a ▁woman ▁was ▁required ▁to ▁have ▁permission ▁from ▁her ▁male ▁guard ian ▁in ▁order ▁to ▁travel , ▁study , ▁or ▁work . ▁A ▁royal ▁dec ree ▁passed ▁in ▁May ▁ 2 0 1 7 ▁allowed ▁them ▁to ▁av ail ▁government ▁services ▁such ▁as ▁education ▁and ▁healthcare ▁without ▁the ▁need ▁of ▁a ▁consent ▁of ▁a ▁male ▁guard ian . ▁The ▁order ▁however ▁also ▁stated ▁that ▁it ▁should ▁only ▁be ▁allowed ▁if ▁it ▁does ▁not ▁contrad ict ▁the ▁Sh aria ▁system . ▁ ▁According ▁to ▁a ▁leading ▁Saudi ▁femin ist ▁and ▁journalist , ▁W aje ha ▁al - H u wa ider , ▁" S aud i ▁women ▁are ▁weak , ▁no ▁matter ▁how ▁high ▁their ▁status , ▁even ▁the ▁' p am per ed ' ▁ones ▁among ▁them , ▁because ▁they ▁have ▁no ▁law ▁to ▁protect ▁them ▁from ▁attack ▁by ▁anyone ." ▁ ▁Women ▁face ▁discrimination ▁in ▁the ▁courts , ▁where ▁the ▁testimony ▁of ▁one ▁man ▁equals ▁that ▁of ▁two ▁women ▁in ▁family ▁and ▁inherit ance ▁law . ▁Pol yg amy ▁is ▁permitted ▁for ▁men , ▁and ▁men ▁have ▁a ▁un il ateral ▁right ▁to ▁divorce ▁their ▁wives ▁( t ala q ) ▁without ▁needing ▁any ▁legal ▁just ification . ▁A ▁woman
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▁can ▁only ▁obtain ▁a ▁divorce ▁with ▁the ▁consent ▁of ▁her ▁husband ▁or ▁jud ic ially ▁if ▁her ▁husband ▁has ▁har med ▁her . ▁In ▁practice , ▁it ▁is ▁very ▁difficult ▁for ▁a ▁Saudi ▁woman ▁to ▁obtain ▁a ▁jud icial ▁divorce . ▁With ▁regard ▁to ▁the ▁law ▁of ▁inherit ance , ▁the ▁Q ur an ▁spec ifies ▁that ▁fixed ▁portions ▁of ▁the ▁dece ased ' s ▁estate ▁must ▁be ▁left ▁to ▁the ▁Q ur ' an ic ▁he irs ▁and ▁generally , ▁female ▁he irs ▁receive ▁half ▁the ▁portion ▁of ▁male ▁he irs . ▁ ▁The ▁average ▁age ▁at ▁first ▁marriage ▁among ▁Saudi ▁females ▁is ▁ 2 5 ▁years ▁in ▁Saudi ▁Arabia , ▁with ▁child ▁marriage ▁no ▁longer ▁common . ▁, ▁Saudi ▁women ▁const itute ▁ 1 3 % ▁of ▁the ▁country ' s ▁native ▁work force ▁despite ▁being ▁ 5 1 % ▁of ▁all ▁university ▁gradu ates . ▁Fem ale ▁liter acy ▁is ▁estimated ▁to ▁be ▁ 8 1 %, ▁lower ▁than ▁male ▁liter acy . ▁ ▁Ob es ity ▁is ▁a ▁problem ▁among ▁middle ▁and ▁upper ▁class ▁Saud is ▁who ▁have ▁domestic ▁servants ▁to ▁do ▁traditional ▁work ▁but , ▁until ▁ 2 0 1 8 , ▁were ▁for bidden ▁to ▁drive ▁and ▁so ▁are ▁limited ▁in ▁their ▁ability ▁to ▁leave ▁their ▁home . ▁As ▁of ▁April ▁ 2 0 1 4 , ▁Saudi ▁authorities ▁in ▁the ▁education ▁ministry ▁have ▁been ▁asked ▁by ▁the ▁Sh our a ▁Council ▁to ▁consider ▁lifting ▁a ▁state ▁school ▁ban ▁on ▁sports ▁for ▁girls ▁with ▁the ▁prov iso
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▁that ▁any ▁sports ▁conform ▁to ▁Sh aria ▁rules ▁on ▁dress ▁and ▁gender ▁seg regation , ▁according ▁to ▁the ▁official ▁S PA ▁news ▁agency . ▁ ▁The ▁religious ▁police , ▁known ▁as ▁the ▁mut awa , ▁imp ose ▁many ▁restrictions ▁on ▁women ▁in ▁public ▁in ▁Saudi ▁Arabia . ▁The ▁restrictions ▁include ▁forcing ▁women ▁to ▁sit ▁in ▁separate ▁spec ially ▁designated ▁family ▁sections ▁in ▁restaurants , ▁to ▁wear ▁an ▁ab aya ▁and ▁to ▁cover ▁their ▁hair . ▁ ▁Although ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁im poses ▁a ▁strict ▁dress ▁code ▁on ▁women ▁throughout ▁the ▁country ▁by ▁using ▁religious ▁police , ▁female ▁anch ors ▁working ▁for ▁Al - Ar ab ia ▁news ▁network ▁which ▁is ▁partly ▁owned ▁by ▁Prince ▁Abd ul az iz , ▁the ▁son ▁of ▁the ▁late ▁King ▁F ah ad , ▁are ▁prohib ited ▁from ▁wearing ▁a ▁ve il ▁and ▁are ▁encouraged ▁to ▁adopt ▁a ▁Western ▁dress ▁code . ▁ ▁A ▁few ▁Saudi ▁women ▁have ▁ris en ▁to ▁the ▁top ▁of ▁the ▁medical ▁profession ; ▁for ▁example , ▁Dr . ▁Gh ada ▁Al - Mut air i ▁heads ▁a ▁medical ▁research ▁center ▁in ▁California ▁and ▁Dr . ▁Sal wa ▁Al - H az za a ▁is ▁head ▁of ▁the ▁o ph thal m ology ▁department ▁at ▁King ▁F ais al ▁Special ist ▁Hospital ▁in ▁R iy ad h ▁and ▁was ▁the ▁late ▁King ▁F ah ad ' s ▁personal ▁o ph thal m ologist . ▁ ▁In ▁February ▁ 2 0 1 7 , ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁appointed ▁its ▁first ▁woman ▁to ▁head ▁the ▁Saudi ▁Stock ▁Exchange
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. ▁As ▁of ▁ 2 0 1 8 , ▁two ▁women ▁hold ▁cabinet ▁positions ▁in ▁the ▁Saudi ▁government : ▁Dr ▁Tam ad ur ▁b int ▁Y ous se f ▁Al ▁Ram ah , ▁who ▁was ▁appointed ▁deputy ▁labor ▁minister ▁that ▁year ; ▁and ▁Nor ah ▁b int ▁Abd all ah ▁Al ▁Fa iz , ▁who ▁became ▁deputy ▁minister ▁of ▁education ▁in ▁charge ▁of ▁women ’ s ▁affairs ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 9 . ▁ ▁Political , ▁economic , ▁and ▁social ▁changes ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 0 s ▁ ▁On ▁ 2 5 ▁September ▁ 2 0 1 1 , ▁King ▁Abd ull ah ▁announced ▁that ▁Saudi ▁women ▁would ▁gain ▁the ▁right ▁to ▁vote ▁( and ▁to ▁be ▁candidates ) ▁in ▁municipal ▁elections , ▁provided ▁that ▁a ▁male ▁guard ian ▁grants ▁permission . ▁Women ▁were ▁allowed ▁to ▁vote ▁and ▁be ▁candidates ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 2 ▁December ▁ 2 0 1 5 ▁municipal ▁elections . ▁ ▁In ▁August ▁ 2 0 1 3 , ▁a ▁law ▁was ▁passed ▁that ▁criminal ized ▁domestic ▁violence ▁against ▁women . ▁The ▁ban ▁includes ▁pen alties ▁of ▁a ▁ 1 2 - month ▁jail ▁sentence ▁and ▁fin es ▁of ▁up ▁to ▁ 5 0 , 0 0 0 ▁ri y als ▁($ 1 3 , 0 0 0 ). ▁ ▁In ▁February ▁ 2 0 1 7 , ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁appointed ▁its ▁first ▁woman ▁to ▁head ▁the ▁Saudi ▁Stock ▁Exchange . ▁ ▁In ▁April ▁ 2 0 1 7 , ▁bin ▁Sal man ▁announced ▁a ▁project
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▁to ▁build ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁world ' s ▁largest ▁cultural , ▁sports ▁and ▁entertainment ▁cities ▁in ▁Al ▁Q idi ya , ▁south west ▁of ▁R iy ad h . ▁The ▁ 3 3 4 - square ▁kilomet re ▁city ▁will ▁include ▁a ▁saf ari ▁and ▁a ▁Six ▁Fl ags ▁theme ▁park . ▁ ▁As ▁of ▁February ▁ 2 0 1 8 , ▁Saudi ▁women ▁can ▁now ▁open ▁their ▁own ▁business , ▁without ▁a ▁male ' s ▁permission . ▁ ▁In ▁March ▁ 2 0 1 8 , ▁a ▁law ▁was ▁passed ▁allowing ▁Saudi ▁mothers ▁to ▁retain ▁custody ▁of ▁their ▁children ▁after ▁divorce ▁without ▁having ▁to ▁file ▁any ▁law su its . ▁ ▁In ▁April ▁ 2 0 1 8 , ▁the ▁first ▁public ▁cinema ▁opened ▁in ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁after ▁a ▁ban ▁of ▁ 3 5 ▁years , ▁with ▁plans ▁to ▁have ▁more ▁than ▁ 2 , 0 0 0 ▁screens ▁running ▁by ▁ 2 0 3 0 . ▁ ▁In ▁June ▁ 2 0 1 8 , ▁King ▁Sal man ▁issued ▁a ▁dec ree ▁allowing ▁women ▁to ▁drive , ▁lifting ▁the ▁world ' s ▁only ▁ban ▁on ▁women ▁drivers . ▁ ▁Other ▁domestic ▁reform s ▁include ▁significant ▁regulations ▁restrict ing ▁the ▁powers ▁of ▁the ▁religious ▁police ▁and ▁establishing ▁a ▁national ▁entertainment ▁authority ▁that ▁has ▁hosted ▁comedy ▁shows , ▁pro ▁wrest ling ▁events , ▁and ▁monster ▁truck ▁r all ies . ▁Further ▁cultural ▁developments ▁include ▁the ▁first ▁Saudi ▁public ▁conc erts ▁by ▁a ▁female ▁singer , ▁the ▁first ▁Saudi ▁sports ▁stadium s ▁to ▁admit
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▁women , ▁and ▁an ▁increased ▁presence ▁of ▁women ▁in ▁the ▁work force . ▁ ▁On ▁ 1 ▁August ▁ 2 0 1 9 , ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁allowed ▁women ▁to ▁travel ▁abroad , ▁register ▁a ▁divorce ▁or ▁a ▁marriage , ▁and ▁apply ▁for ▁official ▁documents ▁without ▁the ▁consent ▁of ▁a ▁male ▁guard ian . ▁The ▁laws ▁also ▁grant ▁the ▁women ▁the ▁el ig ibility ▁for ▁the ▁guard ians hip ▁of ▁minor ▁children . ▁ ▁On ▁ 2 7 ▁September ▁ 2 0 1 9 , ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁announced ▁new ▁changes ▁to ▁tourist ▁vis as ▁for ▁non - rel igious ▁visits , ▁allowing ▁citizens ▁of ▁ 4 9 ▁countries ▁to ▁apply ▁for ▁E - Vis a ▁for ▁ 9 0 ▁days . ▁In ▁ 2 ▁January ▁ 2 0 2 0 , ▁Saudi ▁Arabia ▁announced ▁three ▁days ▁Events - Only ▁visa ▁for ▁exp ats ▁living ▁in ▁United ▁Arab ▁Em ir ates , ▁B ahr ain ▁and ▁Ku wait . ▁ ▁Education ▁ ▁Education ▁is ▁free ▁at ▁all ▁levels . ▁The ▁school ▁system ▁is ▁composed ▁of ▁elementary , ▁intermediate , ▁and ▁secondary ▁schools . ▁A ▁large ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁curriculum ▁at ▁all ▁levels ▁is ▁devoted ▁to ▁Islam , ▁and , ▁at ▁the ▁secondary ▁level , ▁students ▁are ▁able ▁to ▁follow ▁either ▁a ▁religious ▁or ▁a ▁technical ▁track . ▁The ▁rate ▁of ▁liter acy ▁is ▁ 9 7 . 1 % ▁among ▁males ▁and ▁is ▁about ▁ 9 2 . 7 1 % ▁among ▁females ▁( 2 0 1 7 ). ▁Class es ▁are ▁seg reg ated
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▁by ▁sex . ▁Hig her ▁education ▁has ▁expanded ▁rapidly , ▁with ▁large ▁numbers ▁of ▁Univers ities ▁and ▁colleges ▁being ▁founded ▁particularly ▁since ▁ 2 0 0 0 . ▁Institut ions ▁of ▁higher ▁education ▁include ▁the ▁country ' s ▁first ▁university , ▁King ▁Saud ▁University ▁founded ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 7 , ▁the ▁Islamic ▁University ▁at ▁Med ina ▁founded ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 1 , ▁and ▁the ▁King ▁Abd ul az iz ▁University ▁in ▁Jed d ah ▁founded ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 7 . ▁King ▁Abd ull ah ▁University ▁of ▁Science ▁and ▁Technology , ▁known ▁as ▁K A UST , ▁founded ▁recently ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 9 . ▁Other ▁colleges ▁and ▁universities ▁emphas ize ▁cur ric ula ▁in ▁sciences ▁and ▁technology , ▁military ▁studies , ▁religion , ▁and ▁medicine . ▁Inst itutes ▁devoted ▁to ▁Islamic ▁studies , ▁in ▁particular , ▁ab ound . ▁Women ▁typically ▁receive ▁college ▁instruction ▁in ▁seg reg ated ▁institutions . ▁ ▁The ▁Academ ic ▁Rank ing ▁of ▁World ▁Univers ities , ▁known ▁as ▁Shanghai ▁Rank ing , ▁ranked ▁ 4 ▁of ▁Saudi ▁Arab ian ▁institutions ▁among ▁its ▁ 2 0 1 6 – 2 0 1 7 ▁list ▁of ▁the ▁ 9 8 0 ▁top ▁universities ▁in ▁the ▁world . ▁Also , ▁the ▁Q S ▁World ▁University ▁Rank ings ▁has ▁ranked ▁ 1 9 ▁Saudi ▁universities ▁among ▁the ▁top ▁ 1 0 0 ▁Arab ▁institutions , ▁on ▁its ▁ 1 3 th ▁edition . ▁The ▁latest ▁list ▁of ▁Academ ic ▁Rank ing ▁of ▁World ▁Univers ities
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