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Country Guide > Middle East > Saudi Arabia | |
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General Information Area 2,240,000 sq km (864,869 sq miles).
Population 23,370,000 (official estimate 2002). Population Density 10.4 per sq km. Capital Riyadh (royal). Population: 4,761,000 (UN estimate 2002; including suburbs). Jeddah (administrative). Population: 3,192,000 (UN estimate 2001; including suburbs). Geography Saudi Arabia occupies four-fifths of the Arabian peninsula. It is bordered to the northwest by Jordan, to the north by Iraq and Kuwait, to the east by the Gulf of Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman, and to the south by Yemen. To the west lies the Red Sea. Along the Red Sea coast is a narrow coastal strip (Tihama) which becomes relatively hotter and more humid towards the south and has areas of extensive tidal flats and lava fields. Behind this coastal plain is a series of plateaux reaching up to 2000m (6560ft). The southern part of this range, Asir, has some peaks of over 3000m (9840ft). North of these mountains, in the far north, is An Nafud, a sand sea, and further south the landscape rises to Najd, a semi-desert area scattered with oases. Still further south the land falls away, levelling out to unremitting desert, the uninhabited ‘Empty Quarter’ or Rub al Khali. Along the Gulf coast is a low fertile plain giving way to limestone ridges inland. Government Absolute monarchy since 1932. Head of State and Government: King Abdullah since the death of King Fahd Ibn Abd al-Aziz Al-Sa'ud on 1 August 2005. Language Arabic. English is spoken in business circles. Religion The majority of Saudi Arabians follow Islam; around 85 per cent are Sunni Muslim, but Shia Muslims predominate in the Eastern Province. Time GMT + 3. Electricity 127/220 volts AC, 60Hz. Communications Telephone A sophisticated telecommunications network and satellite, microwave and cable systems span the country. Full IDD is available. Outgoing international code: 00. Mobile telephone GSM 900 band networks are available in over 45 cities. Main network providers are Etihad Etisalat (website: http://etihadetisalat.com.sa) and Saudi Telecom Company (website: www.stc.com.sa). Fax Major hotels provide facilities. Internet The Ministry of Post, Telegraph and Telephones provides Internet facilities in most cities. E-mail can also be accessed from many hotels and Internet cafes. Main ISPs include Arab Net (website: www.arab.net.sa) and Shabakah (website: www.shabakah.net.sa). Telegram Telegrams can be sent from all post offices. Post Internal and international services available from the Central Post Office. Post is delivered to box numbers. Airmail to Europe takes up to one week. Surface mail takes up to five months. Press The main newspapers include Al-Jazirah, Ar-Riyadh and Okaz. English-language dailies include Arab News, Riyadh Daily and Saudi Gazette. Radio BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online. |
