[470], As the Saudi population grows and oil export revenues stagnate, pressure for "Saudization" (the replacement of foreign workers with Saudis) has grown, and the Saudi government hopes to decrease the number of foreign nationals in the country. "[494], Saudi Arabia is one of the few countries that have "religious police" (known as Haia or Mutaween), who patrol the streets "enjoining good and forbidding wrong" by enforcing dress codes, strict separation of men and women, attendance at prayer (salat) five times each day, the ban on alcohol, and other aspects of Sharia (Islamic law). [380] Taking into account the impact of the real oil price changes on the Kingdom's real gross domestic income, the real command-basis GDP was computed to be 330.381 billion 1999 USD in 2010. For the next five years, he administered the two parts of his dual kingdom as separate units. [117], In 1980, Saudi Arabia bought out the American interests in Aramco. The Nabataeans ruled large portions of north Arabia until their domain was annexed by the Roman Empire. [206][207][208] The 345 reported executions between 2007 and 2010 were all carried out by public beheading. Saudi Arabia is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention. Islamic dietary laws are enforced: pork is not allowed and other animals are slaughtered in accordance with halal. [148] The king is also the prime minister, and presides over the Council of Ministers of Saudi Arabia and Consultative Assembly of Saudi Arabia. [29] The kingdom is categorized as a World Bank high-income economy with a very high Human Development Index[30] and is the only Arab country to be part of the G-20 major economies. [104] In 1902, Abdul Rahman's son, Abdul Aziz—later to be known as Ibn Saud—recaptured control of Riyadh bringing the Al Saud back to Nejd, creating the third "Saudi state". [623], The Kingdom has attempted to link lifestyle with health through a number of initiatives. [115], The second event was the Grand Mosque Seizure in Mecca by Islamist extremists. [565] In practice, it is very difficult for a Saudi woman to obtain a judicial divorce. Saudi Arabia is bordered by Jordan and Iraq to the north, Kuwait to the northeast, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates to the east, Oman [477], Saudi Arabia has centuries-old attitudes and traditions, often derived from Arab civilization. Various Human Rights entities have criticised Saudi Arabia's handling of the issue. [67] The capital of Midian was Qurayyah,[68] it consists of a large fortified citadel encompassing 35 hectares and below it lies a walled settlement of 15 hectares. Tribal identity remains strong and, outside of the royal family, political influence is frequently determined by tribal affiliation, with tribal sheikhs maintaining a considerable degree of influence over local and national events. The 334-square kilometre city will include a safari and a Six Flags theme park. [587], As of February 2018, Saudi women can now open their own business, without a male's permission. Most of the remainder of what became Saudi Arabia reverted to traditional tribal rule. [138] Critics regard it as a totalitarian dictatorship. [578] Women were allowed to vote and be candidates in the 12 December 2015 municipal elections. In the 1994 FIFA World Cup under the leadership of Jorge Solari, Saudi Arabia beat both Belgium and Morocco in the group stage before falling to defeat Sweden in the round of 16. [89] Al-Muntafiq tribe later took over the region and came under Ottoman suzerainty. Lashings are a common form of punishment[215] and are often imposed for offences against religion and public morality such as drinking alcohol and neglect of prayer and fasting obligations. Al-Magar statues were made from local stone, and it seems that the statues were fixed in a central building that might have had a significant role on the social and religious life of the inhabitants. [557][572] The restrictions include forcing women to sit in separate specially designated family sections in restaurants, to wear an abaya and to cover their hair. [194], Because the judge is empowered to disregard previous judgments (either his own or of other judges) and may apply his personal interpretation of Sharia to any particular case, divergent judgments arise even in apparently identical cases,[195] making predictability of legal interpretation difficult. [617][618] Following the 9/11 attacks, the government aimed to tackle the twin problems of encouraging extremism and the inadequacy of the country's university education for a modern economy, by slowly modernising the education system through the "Tatweer" reform program. In addition, students are required to take six science subjects which are Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geology and Computer. More than a billion Sunnis have simply had enough of them. [143] The main topographical feature is the central plateau which rises abruptly from the Red Sea and gradually descends into the Nejd and toward the Persian Gulf. Anti-Semitic expressions and calls to fight the Jews became fewer. [626], As part of the ongoing focus on tackling obesity, women-only gyms were allowed to open. The paragraphs dealing with the punishment of homosexuality or same-sex relations have been deleted, and expressions of admiration for the extremist martyrdom. Most online censorship generally falls into two categories: one based on censoring "immoral" (mostly pornographic and LGBT-supportive websites along with websites promoting any religious ideology other than Sunni Islam) and one based on a blacklist run by Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Media, which primarily censors websites critical of the Saudi regime or associated with parties that are opposed to or opposed by Saudi Arabia. In March 1992, he introduced the "Basic Law", which emphasized the duties and responsibilities of a ruler. [148] Royal decrees supplement Sharia in areas such as labour, commercial and corporate law. Bedouin poetry, known as nabaṭī, is still very popular. The enforcement of the anti-corruption laws is selective and public officials engage in corruption with impunity. [24][25] Saudi Arabia is sometimes called "the Land of the Two Holy Mosques" in reference to Al-Masjid al-Haram (in Mecca) and Al-Masjid an-Nabawi (in Medina), the two holiest places in Islam. [126], Since 2011, Saudi Arabia has been affected by its own Arab Spring protests. Although this is normally translated as "the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia" in English,[50] it literally means "the Saudi Arab kingdom",[51] or "the Arab Saudi Kingdom". [614] Critics have described the education system as "medieval" and that its primary goal "is to maintain the rule of absolute monarchy by casting it as the ordained protector of the faith, and that Islam is at war with other faiths and cultures". [528] Saudi Arabia also participates in the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas (ALIPH), created in March 2017, with a contribution of 18.5 million euros. Women's clothes are often decorated with tribal motifs, coins, sequins, metallic thread, and appliques. Saudi Arabia (officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia or KSA) is a Middle Eastern country that occupies most of the Arabian peninsula and has coastlines on the Persian Gulf and Red Sea. Blank maps are often used for geography tests or other classroom or educational purposes. Its modern existence, however, is attributable to it being effectively Abdullah's private army since the 1960s and, unlike the rest of the armed forces, is independent of the Ministry of Defense and Aviation. [405] The Al Jouf region has millions of olive trees and the expected number is expected to go up to 20 million trees soon. [564] A woman can only obtain a divorce with the consent of her husband or judicially if her husband has harmed her. [143], The Academic Ranking of World Universities, known as Shanghai Ranking, ranked 4 of Saudi Arabian institutions among its 2016–2017 list of the 980 top universities in the world. [81], The vast wealth generated by oil revenues was beginning to have an even greater impact on Saudi society. Saudi Arabia in brief Destination Saudi Arabia, a Nations Online country profile of the desert country in Arabia. [198] Final appeal from both Sharia courts and government tribunals is to the King and all courts and tribunals follow Sharia rules of evidence and procedure. The Red Sea also contains many offshore reefs including several true atolls. [502]), As of 2004[update], approximately half of the broadcast airtime of Saudi state television was devoted to religious issues. Saudi Arabia possesses a competitive advantage in its perpetual sunshine and wind, and vast tracts of unused land. [400] According to a report published by Bloomberg Economics in 2018, the government needs to produce 700,000 jobs by 2020 to meet its 9% unemployment target. [568] As of 2015[update], Saudi women constitute 13% of the country's native workforce despite being 51% of all university graduates. As of 2013[update] four cities were planned. Clash Over Khashoggi Case", "Top U.S. [585][586], In September 2017, King Salman issued a decree allowing women to drive, lifting the world's only ban on women drivers. [351], Saudi Arabia occupies about 80 percent of the Arabian Peninsula (the world's largest peninsula),[354] lying between latitudes 16° and 33° N, and longitudes 34° and 56° E. Because the country's southern borders with the United Arab Emirates and Oman are not precisely marked, the exact size of the country is undefined. The rate of literacy is 97.1% among males and is about 92.71% among females (2017). [495], Until 2016, the kingdom only used the lunar Islamic calendar, not the international Gregorian calendar,[496] but in 2016 the kingdom announced its switch to the Gregorian calendar for civil purposes. Among its most productive crops are watermelon, grapes, citrus fruits, onions, squash, and tomatoes. [72] The third state occurred during the early 3rd century BC with bursting economic activity between the south and north that made Lihyan acquire large influence suitable to its strategic position on the caravan road. [105] With the aid of the Ikhwan, Ibn Saud captured Al-Ahsa from the Ottomans in 1913. [citation needed] At the same time, the government became increasingly wasteful and extravagant. "[328], According to the new report from the Department of Global Affairs, Canada sold record-breaking amount of military hardware to Saudi Arabia in 2019, despite its poor human rights record. How Many Countries Are Recognized By The United States. It is also allied to the Asian countries dominated by the Islam religion forming Islam oriented organizations. Saudi Arabian dress strictly follows the principles of hijab (the Islamic principle of modesty, especially in dress). Challenges to the Saudi economy include halting or reversing the decline in per-capita income, improving education to prepare youth for the workforce and providing them with employment, diversifying the economy, stimulating the private sector and housing construction, and diminishing corruption and inequality. In 2007, the Allegiance Council was created to regulate the succession. [246] However, this[247] and Saudi Arabia's role in the 1991 Persian Gulf War, particularly the stationing of US troops on Saudi soil from 1991, prompted the development of a hostile Islamist response internally. However, in August 2019, the kingdom's strategy received criticism for appearing as a method of sportswashing soon after Saudi's US-based 2018 lobbying campaign foreign registration documentations got published online. [17] Following his death in 632, his followers rapidly expanded the territory under Muslim rule beyond Arabia, conquering huge and unprecedented swathes of territory (from the Iberian Peninsula in the west to modern-day Pakistan in the east) in a matter of decades. [630], The Saudi Minister of Health Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan AlRabiah received a global award on behalf of the Kingdom for combatting smoking through social awareness, treatment, and application of regulations. Saudi Arabia is home to a rich marine life. They were beaten, tortured, and electrocuted. [278] In early 2014 relations with Qatar became strained over its support for the Muslim Brotherhood, and Saudi Arabia's belief that Qatar was interfering in its affairs. [120] However, Saudi Arabia condemned the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990 and asked the US to intervene. The local dairy manufacturing company Almarai is the largest vertically integrated dairy company in the Middle East. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, SIPRI, in 2010–14 Saudi Arabia became the world's second-largest arms importer, receiving four times more major arms than in 2005–2009. "[307] The Saudi government denies these claims or that it exports religious or cultural extremism. The ulema have also been a key influence in major government decisions, for example the imposition of the oil embargo in 1973 and the invitation to foreign troops to Saudi Arabia in 1990. Netflix . [458] According to Pew Research Center there are 390,000 Hindus in Saudi Arabia, almost all foreign workers. [604] Also, the QS World University Rankings has ranked 19 Saudi universities among the top 100 Arab institutions, on its 13th edition. [545], Football is the national sport in Saudi Arabia. In 1991, Saudi Arabian forces were involved both in bombing raids on Iraq and in the land invasion that helped to liberate Kuwait. Theresa May backed the US call to end the coalition. [554], Only two years after Saudi Arabia signed a contract of 10 years with WWE, an increasing number of wrestlers denied to visit Riyadh. [143], Except for the southwestern regions such as Asir, Saudi Arabia has a desert climate with very high day-time temperatures during the summer and a sharp temperature drop at night. 15 of the 19 terrorists involved in September 11 attacks in New York City, Washington, D.C., and near Shanksville, Pennsylvania were Saudi nationals. An investigation led by The Sunday Telegraph, exposed the condition of African migrants who were detained in Saudi Arabia allegedly for containing Covid-19 in the kingdom. [106] Although the Arab Revolt of 1916 to 1918 failed in its objective, the Allied victory in World War I resulted in the end of Ottoman suzerainty and control in Arabia and Hussein bin Ali became King of Hejaz. [492][493] Prince Bandar bin Sultan, Saudi ambassador to the United States, stated: "The time is not far off in the Middle East when it will be literally 'God help the Shia'. [588], In March 2018, a law was passed allowing Saudi mothers to retain custody of their children after divorce without having to file any lawsuits. [citation needed], Shortly before the advent of Islam, apart from urban trading settlements (such as Mecca and Medina), much of what was to become Saudi Arabia was populated by nomadic pastoral tribal societies. Segregated seating, allowing women to enter, has been developed in three stadiums across major cities. There are six elements inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list:[527] Al-Qatt Al-Asiri, female traditional interior wall decoration in Asir; Almezmar, drumming and dancing with sticks; Falconry, a living human heritage; Arabic coffee, a symbol of generosity; Majlis, a cultural and social space; Alardah Alnajdiyah, dance, drumming and poetry in Saudi Arabia. [592], On 1 August 2019, Saudi Arabia allowed women to travel abroad, register a divorce or a marriage, and apply for official documents without the consent of a male guardian. [113] Khalid's reign saw economic and social development progress at an extremely rapid rate, transforming the infrastructure and educational system of the country;[81] in foreign policy, close ties with the US were developed. The US called for a ceasefire within 30 days. "[283], The pressure on Saudi to reveal the insights about Khashoggi's disappearance from the US and other European countries has increased. [265], In order to protect the house of Khalifa, the monarchs of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia invaded Bahrain by sending military troops to quell the uprising of Bahraini people on 14 March 2011. [110], The new kingdom was reliant on limited agriculture and pilgrimage revenues. A number of prominent Saudi Arabian princes, government ministers, and businesspeople, including Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, were arrested in Saudi Arabia in November 2017. King Abdullah Economic City) to be completed by 2020, in an effort to diversify the economy and provide jobs. [209] Studies have shown that Saudi Arabia has one of the lowest crime rates in the world although there are differing views as to whether this is attributable to the legal system or other factors such as social structures. It was colonized by Turkey until 1926 when it became a sovereign state. [490] The official and dominant form of Islam in the kingdom—Wahhabism—arose in the central region of Najd, in the 18th century. [344], On 2 October 2018, Saudi journalist and Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi went missing after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. [576] As of 2018, two women hold cabinet positions in the Saudi government: Dr Tamadur bint Youssef Al Ramah, who was appointed Deputy Labour Minister that year; and Norah bint Abdallah Al Faiz, who became deputy minister of education in charge of women's affairs in 2009. [citation needed], The emergence of what was to become the Saudi royal family, known as the Al Saud, began in Nejd in central Arabia in 1744, when Muhammad bin Saud, founder of the dynasty, joined forces with the religious leader Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab,[97] founder of the Wahhabi movement, a strict puritanical form of Sunni Islam.