query: what type of government system does saudi arabia have?

title: Politics of Saudi Arabia

text: right to attend, meet, and petition the king directly through the traditional tribal meeting known as the majlis. Government is dominated by the vast royal family, the Al Saud, which has often been divided by internal disputes and into factions. The members of the family are the principal political actors allowed by the government. Political participation outside the royal family is limited. Saudi Arabia is one of only two countries (the other being Vatican City) that does not have a separate legislative body. Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy, although, according to the Basic Law of Saudi Arabia adopted by

title: Response of Saudi Arabia to ISIL

text: and other radical Sunni groups in the region." However it has been pointed out that this memo was probably written by Sidney Blumenthal and doesn't necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. government or Hillary Clinton. Response of Saudi Arabia to ISIL The response of Saudi Arabia to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant has taken many forms. For example, Saudi government agencies have worked with the United States since late 2014 to train and equip Syrian fighters hoping to engage with Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants. The Saudi people have suffered attacks at

title: Economy of Saudi Arabia

text: private sector and foreign investor participation in sectors such as power generation and telecom, and acceded to the WTO. During much of the 2000s, high oil prices enabled the government to post budget surpluses, boost spending on job training and education, infrastructure development, and government salaries. With its absolute monarchy system of government, large state sector and supply of welfare benefits, the Saudi economy has been described as The gross domestic product of Saudi Arabia fluctuates dramatically according to the price of oil (see below). Market prices estimated by the International Monetary Fund and other sources, with figures in millions

title: Judiciary of Saudi Arabia

text: Judiciary of Saudi Arabia The judiciary of Saudi Arabia is a branch of the government of Saudi Arabia that interprets and applies the laws of Saudi Arabia. The legal system is based on the Islamic code of Sharia, with its judges and lawyers forming part of the country's religious leadership or ulama. There are also non-Sharia government tribunals which handle disputes relating to specific royal decrees. Final appeal from both Sharia courts and government tribunals is to the King of Saudi Arabia and all courts and tribunals follow Sharia rules of evidence and procedure. The Sharia courts have general jurisdiction

title: Legal system of Saudi Arabia

text: the world where homosexual acts are not only illegal but punishable by execution. There have also been raids on "gay parties" and men have been arrested for "behaving like women". The usual penalties inflicted have been limited to flogging and imprisonment. Legal system of Saudi Arabia The legal system of Saudi Arabia is based on Sharia, Islamic law derived from the Qur'an and the Sunnah (the traditions) of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The sources of Sharia also include Islamic scholarly consensus developed after Muhammad's death. Its interpretation by judges in Saudi Arabia is influenced by the medieval texts of the

title: Legal system of Saudi Arabia

text: freedom and the activities of the Saudi Mutaween. Between 1996 and 2000, Saudi Arabia acceded to four UN human rights conventions and, in 2004, the government approved the establishment of the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR), staffed by government employees, to monitor their implementation. To date, the activities of the NSHR have been limited and doubts remain over its neutrality and independence. Saudi Arabia was one of only eight countries that did not accept the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights when it was launched in 1948. Now, only Saudi Arabia remains openly opposed to the declaration. In response

title: Legal system of Saudi Arabia

text: Legal system of Saudi Arabia The legal system of Saudi Arabia is based on Sharia, Islamic law derived from the Qur'an and the Sunnah (the traditions) of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The sources of Sharia also include Islamic scholarly consensus developed after Muhammad's death. Its interpretation by judges in Saudi Arabia is influenced by the medieval texts of the literalist Hanbali school of Islamic jurisprudence. Uniquely in the Muslim world, Sharia has been adopted by Saudi Arabia in an uncodified form. This, and the lack of judicial precedent, has resulted in considerable uncertainty in the scope and content of the

title: Basic Law of Saudi Arabia

text: Basic Law of Saudi Arabia The Basic Law of Saudi Arabia (alternative name: Basic System of Governance; Arabic: , "") is a constitution-like charter divided into nine chapters, consisting of 83 articles. The constitution of Saudi Arabia is "the Holy Qur'an, and the Sunna (Traditions)" of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, (as stated in Article One of the Basic Law), but the Basic Law contains many characteristics of what might be called a constitution in other countries ("The Law of Governance", "Rights and Duties"). The Basic Law is in accordance with the Salafi understanding of Sharia and does not override Islamic

title: Legal system of Saudi Arabia

text: In the areas of land and energy law the extensive proprietorial rights of the Saudi state (in effect, the Saudi royal family) constitute a significant feature. The current Saudi court system was created by King Abdul Aziz, who founded the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932, and was introduced to the country in stages between 1927 and 1960. It comprises general and summary Sharia courts, with some administrative tribunals to deal with disputes on specific modern regulations. Trials in Saudi Arabia are bench trials. Courts in Saudi Arabia observe few formalities and the country's first criminal procedure code, issued in

title: Economy of Saudi Arabia

text: one of these areas, consumers have raised serious concerns about the performance of these privatized entities." In recent years, Saudi Arabia sought to join the World Trade Organization. Negotiations have focused on the degree to which Saudi Arabia is willing to increase market access to foreign goods and services and the timeframe for becoming fully compliant with World Trade Organization obligations. In April 2000, the government established the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority to encourage foreign direct investment in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia maintains a negative list of sectors in which foreign investment is prohibited, but the government plans to

title: Saudi Arabia

text: threat to the government and have in recent years perpetrated a number of violent or terrorist acts in the country. However, open protest against the government, even if peaceful, is not tolerated. The king combines legislative, executive, and judicial functions and royal decrees form the basis of the country's legislation. The king is also the prime minister, and presides over the Council of Ministers of Saudi Arabia and Consultative Assembly of Saudi Arabia. The royal family dominates 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

title: Legal system of Saudi Arabia

text: sixteenth. According to Human Rights Watch, the Shia minority face systematic discrimination from the Saudi government in education, the justice system and especially religious freedom. Restrictions are imposed on the public celebration of Shia festivals such as Ashura and on the Shia taking part in communal public worship. In March 2014, the Saudi interior ministry issued a royal decree branding all atheists as terrorists, which defines terrorism as "calling for atheist thought in any form, or calling into question the fundamentals of the Islamic religion on which this country is based". Saudi Arabia is one of the few countries in

title: Legal system of Saudi Arabia

text: custom remain significant. For example, judges will enforce tribal customs pertaining to marriage and divorce. The Sharia court system constitutes the basic judiciary of Saudi Arabia and its judges and lawyers form part of the ulema, the country's religious leadership. There are also extra-Sharia government tribunals which handle disputes relating to specific royal decrees and since 2008, specialist courts, including the Board of Grievances and the Specialized Criminal Court. Final appeal from both Sharia courts and government tribunals is to the King and , all courts and tribunals followed Sharia rules of evidence and procedure. The Sharia courts have general

title: Legal system of Saudi Arabia

text: putting greater resources into combating unauthorized distribution of software, printed material, recordings and videos. However, illegally copied material is still widely available. Enforcement efforts have been supported by a fatwa, or religious ruling, that copyright infringement of software is forbidden under Islam. Saudi Arabia had been on the Special 301 Watchlist, the U.S.'s running log of countries considered to inadequately regulate or enforce intellectual property rights, but was removed in 2010. Saudi law recognizes only corporate or partnership entities established under Sharia or the Saudi Company Law of 1982. A contract with any other type of company will be void

title: Judiciary of Saudi Arabia

text: For example, as well as appointing a new Minister of Justice, a new chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council was appointed. The outgoing chairman was known to oppose the codification of Sharia. The king also appointed a new head of the Board of Grievances and Abdulrahman Al Kelya as the first chief justice of the new Supreme Court. Judiciary of Saudi Arabia The judiciary of Saudi Arabia is a branch of the government of Saudi Arabia that interprets and applies the laws of Saudi Arabia. The legal system is based on the Islamic code of Sharia, with its judges and

title: Environment of Saudi Arabia

text: Environment of Saudi Arabia The desert-covered Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the geographically largest country in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia does not have a strong history in environmentalism. Lack of environmental policy can be linked to an enormous reliance on oil. Due to intense fossil fuel usage, Saudi Arabia has generated a number of environmental issues. Urbanization and high standards of living contribute to ground, water, and air pollution. Agriculture and overconsumption of natural resources cause deforestation and desertification. Likewise, Saudi Arabia’s oil industry subsidizes energy use and magnifies carbon dioxide emissions. These environmental issues cause a variety of

title: Legal system of Saudi Arabia

text: as beheading, stoning, amputation and lashing, and the number of executions have also been strongly criticized. In 2010, the U.S. State Department stated that in Saudi Arabia "freedom of religion is neither recognized nor protected under the law and is severely restricted in practice" and that "government policies continued to place severe restrictions on religious freedom". No faith other than Islam is permitted to be practised, although there are nearly a million Christians, nearly all foreign workers, in Saudi Arabia. There are no churches or other non-Muslim houses of worship permitted in the country. Even private prayer services are forbidden

title: Vehicle registration plates of Saudi Arabia

text: combination is however allowed. The current plates were introduced in 2006. The former registration plates from 1996 used only 3 numbers and 3 letters with no translation. Above them was written Al-Saudia, in Arabic only. Numbers were sometimes padded by zeroes. Plates for trucks, public transport or diplomatic vehicles had blue, yellow, or green background, respectively. The colours have been preserved on the current system, except that on the older system the entire plate had such a background. Vehicle registration plates of Saudi Arabia Vehicle registration plates of Saudi Arabia are manufactured by Government Printing Press in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia

title: Legal system of Saudi Arabia

text: driving license is required by law and these are not issued to women. Thus, it is effectively illegal for women to drive, and the ban is enforced by the "mutawa". In 2013, Saudi Arabia registered its first female trainee lawyer, Arwa al-Hujaili. No political parties or national elections are permitted in Saudi Arabia and according to "The Economist's" 2010 Democracy Index, the Saudi government is the seventh most authoritarian regime from among the 167 countries rated. There is no legal protection of freedom of speech and Saudis are prohibited from publicly criticizing the government, Islam, or the royal family. The

title: Iran–Saudi Arabia relations

text: permit to enter Saudi Arabia. In April 13, Iran suspended minor hajj trips to Saudi Arabia until the Saudi government "applies a strong attitude" to the case. Saud al-Faisal, foreign minister of Saudi Arabia have pledged to Iran's Ambassador that his government will punish the two Saudi policemen, very soon. Mansour al-Turki, spokesman of Interior ministry of Saudi Arabia, informed that the accused airport staff members have been arrested and referred to court and Iranian ambassador to Saudi Arabia has been informed and the suspects have been referred for investigation. The 2015 Hajj stampede escalated tensions between Saudi Arabia and

title: Environment of Saudi Arabia

text: Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) program. The goal of the program is to increase international environmental awareness through education and technology. The courses implement environmental issues and solutions into every subject. GLOBE trains teachers and supplies them with instruction materials in both Saudi Arabia and the United States. Students are exposed to the complexity of international environmental issues and the environmental problems stemming from globalization. Environment of Saudi Arabia The desert-covered Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the geographically largest country in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia does not have a strong history in environmentalism. Lack of environmental policy can be linked

title: Norway–Saudi Arabia relations

text: "We could have just said no, in principal the ministry doesn't approve such things. But when we were first asked, we used the opportunity to add that an approval would be paradoxical as long as it's a crime to establish a Christian community in Saudi Arabia." Norway–Saudi Arabia relations Norway – Saudi Arabia relations are foreign relations between Norway and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia does not have a resident ambassador in Norway, and is represented by an embassy in Oslo. Norway has an embassy in Riyadh and a consulate-general in Jeddah. There are 84 Norwegians living in Saudi Arabia, according

title: Legal system of Saudi Arabia

text: traditions of Muhammad contained in the Sunnah; "ijma", or scholarly consensus on the meaning of the Qur'an and the Sunnah developed after Muhammad's death; and "Qiyas", or analogical reasoning applied to the principles of the Qur'an, Sunnah and "ijma". The Wahhabi interpretation of Islam used in Saudi Arabia uses "qiyas" only in cases of "extreme necessity". Muslim countries that retain or adopt Sharia usually determine which parts of the Sharia are enforceable and codify (and thereby modernize) them. Unlike other Muslim countries, Saudi Arabia regards uncodified Sharia in its entirety as the law of the land and does not interfere

title: Legal system of Saudi Arabia

text: employees must receive an "end-of-service" payment of a half a months' salary for each year employed going up to one month if employed for more than 5 years. Most land in Saudi Arabia is owned by the government and only cultivated land and urban property are subject to individual ownership. All land titles must be registered, but there is no accurate information as to the extent of registration. Real estate could only be owned by Saudi citizens until 2000, when the property laws were amended to allow foreigners to own property in Saudi Arabia. Property investments by non-Saudis of more

title: Legal system of Saudi Arabia

text: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932. In 1927, the king introduced a new court system to the Hejaz comprising general and summary courts and ordered that Hanbali fiqh should be used. However, Nejd's traditional system of judges was left in place in the face of conservative opposition from the Nejd religious establishment. After becoming familiar with the Hejaz court system in the following decades, the religious establishment allowed its introduction to the rest of the country between 1957 and 1960. Additionally, from the 1930s, Abdul Aziz created government tribunals or "committees" to adjudicate in areas covered by royal decrees such

title: Legal system of Saudi Arabia

text: years. Western-based human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have criticized the activities of both the Mabahith and the Mutawa, as well as a number of other aspects of human rights in Saudi Arabia. These include the number of executions, the range of offences which are subject to the death penalty, the lack of safeguards for the accused in the criminal justice system, the treatment of homosexuals, the use of torture, the lack of religious freedom, and the highly disadvantaged position of women. The Albert Shanker Institute and Freedom House have also reported that "Saudi Arabia's

title: Human rights in Saudi Arabia

text: Neither the Government nor society in general accepts the concepts of separation of religion and state, and such separation does not exist. The legal system is based on Shari'a (Islamic law), with Shari'a courts basing their judgments largely on a code derived from the Quran and the Sunna. According to Human Rights Watch, Saudi Arabia "systematically discriminates against its Muslim religious minorities, in particular Shia and Ismailis", but the Government permits Shi'a Muslims to use their own legal tradition to adjudicate noncriminal cases within their community. In 2014, Saudi Arabia enacted new "anti-terrorism" legislation. Human Rights Watch criticized the broad

title: Christianity in Saudi Arabia

text: a crime punishable by death if the accused does not recant. There have been no confirmed reports of executions for either crime in modern times. The Government does not permit non-Muslim clergy to enter the country for the purpose of conducting religious services. In spite of this, a 2015 study estimates that there are some 60,000 Christians with a Muslim background living in the country, though that does not mean that all of those are citizens of the country. International Christian Concern (ICC) protested what it reported as the 2001 detention of 11 Christians in Saudi Arabia, for practicing their

title: Saudi Arabia–Tunisia relations

text: unhappiness towards Saudi Arabia's decision to grant Ben Ali's asylum and has demanded the Saudi Government to extradite back to Tunisia for trials. Saudi Arabia–Tunisia relations Saudi Arabia–Tunisia relations refers to the bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and Tunisia. Two countries share historical commons, as both are majority Sunni Muslims and their Arabic cultural heritages. Despite of this, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia nonetheless have political differences. Saudi Arabia is a conservative Kingdom while Tunisia is a liberal Republic. However, two countries have engaged in larger cooperations in order to exert Saudi influence. Saudi Arabia has en embassy in Tunis, whilst

title: Norway–Saudi Arabia relations

text: Norway–Saudi Arabia relations Norway – Saudi Arabia relations are foreign relations between Norway and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia does not have a resident ambassador in Norway, and is represented by an embassy in Oslo. Norway has an embassy in Riyadh and a consulate-general in Jeddah. There are 84 Norwegians living in Saudi Arabia, according to the Norwegian embassy. The Muslim community in Tromsø wants to build the world's northernmost Mosque. With the help of funding from Saudi Arabia, the Mosque is planned as a local landmark building. But, the (then) Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre told "VG":

title: Geography of Saudi Arabia

text: much of the underground water. Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco) technicians have determined that very deep aquifers lie in many areas of northern and eastern Arabia and that the Wasia, the largest aquifer in Saudi Arabia, contains more water than the Persian Gulf. The Saudi government, Saudi Aramco, and the United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have made separate and joint efforts to exploit underground water resources. In the past, improperly drilled wells have reduced or destroyed any good they might have served by leaching the lands they were drilled to irrigate. Successive agricultural projects, many of

title: Saudi Arabia

text: consumers have raised serious concerns about the performance of these privatized entities." The Tadawul All Share Index (TASI) of the Saudi stock exchange peaked at 16,712.64 in 2005, and closed at 8,535.60, at the end of 2013. In November 2005, Saudi Arabia was approved as a member of the World Trade Organization. Negotiations to join had focused on the degree to which Saudi Arabia is willing to increase market access to foreign goods and in 2000, the government established the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority to encourage foreign direct investment in the kingdom. Saudi Arabia maintains a list of sectors

title: Freedom of religion in Saudi Arabia

text: Rights in Saudi Arabia: The Role of Women", Ali Al-Ahmed, Director of the Saudi Institute, stated: Saudi Arabia is a glaring example of religious apartheid. The religious institutions from government clerics to judges, to religious curricula, and all religious instructions in media are restricted to the Wahhabi understanding of Islam, adhered to by less than 40% of the population. The Saudi government communized Islam, through its monopoly of both religious thoughts and practice. Wahhabi Islam is imposed and enforced on all Saudis regardless of their religious orientations. The Wahhabi sect does not tolerate other religious or ideological beliefs, Muslim or

title: Censorship in Saudi Arabia

text: Censorship in Saudi Arabia Multiple forms of media including books, newspapers, magazines, films, television, and content published on the Internet are censored in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi government closely monitors media and restricts it under official state law. Changes have been made to lessen these restrictions; however, some government-led efforts to control information have also drawn international attention. In 2014, Reporters Without Borders described the government as, "relentless in its censorship of the Saudi media and the Internet," and in 2018, it ranked Saudi Arabia 169th out of 180 countries for freedom of the press. Though formal laws regarding censorship

title: Media of Saudi Arabia

text:
applications help them to gauge public consciousness. The important government members of Saudi Arabia are taken to their respective Facebook account as well as Twitter accounts to drive for reforms across Saudi Arabia state. Members of the Saudi Arabia ruling government such as Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, Minister of Commerce and Industry and Abdulaziz Khoja, Minister of Culture and Information utilize their own social media websites or platform to spread information related to government initiatives and policies.

 The younger generation of Saudi Arabia uses the Internet more in comparison to the older people. They use the internet mainly for the entertainment purposes

title: Legal system of Saudi Arabia

text: Saudi press is strictly censored and articles on Saudi dissidents are banned. Saudi censorship is considered among the most restrictive in the world and the country blocks broad swathes of the Internet. After protests occurred in early 2011, the government banned all public demonstrations and marches. Western-based organisations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have condemned both the Saudi criminal justice system and its severe punishments. However, most Saudis reportedly support the system and say that it maintains a low crime rate. Human Rights Watch, in their 2008 report on Saudi Arabian criminal justice system, noted that the

title: Shia Islam in Saudi Arabia

text: Local Ismaelis, who are often armed, retaliated, firing on security forces and burning some of their vehicles and killing dozens of them. Approximately 40 policemen and members of various security forces (all non-Ismaili) were killed and many more injured. Saudi Army reinforcements swept the area and made many arrests. Dozens of Ismaeli government employees were transferred away from Najran." Shia Islam in Saudi Arabia The government does not conduct census on religion and ethnicity but some sources estimated the percentage of Shiites in Saudi Arabia from 15% to 20% of approximately 20 million natives of Saudi Arabia. The modern Kingdom

title: Legal system of Saudi Arabia

text: among the educated Hejazi elite, as a result of oil wealth. The government has promoted polygamy as part of a return to "Islamic values" program. In 2001, the Grand Mufti (the highest religious authority) issued a fatwa, or opinion, calling upon Saudi women to accept polygamy as part of the "Islamic package" and declaring that polygamy was necessary "to fight against...the growing epidemic of spinsterhood". There is no minimum age for marriage in Saudi Arabia and the Grand Mufti reportedly said in 2009 that girls of the age of 10 or 12 were marriageable. Men have a unilateral right to

title: Saudi Arabia

text: be monopolized by the royal family leading to discontent among many Saudis who began to look for wider participation in government. In the 1980s, Saudi Arabia spent $25 billion in support of Saddam Hussein in the Iran–Iraq War. However, Saudi Arabia condemned the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990 and asked the US to intervene. King Fahd allowed American and coalition troops to be stationed in Saudi Arabia. He invited the Kuwaiti government and many of its citizens to stay in Saudi Arabia, but expelled citizens of Yemen and Jordan because of their governments' support of Iraq. In 1991, Saudi

title: Women's rights in Saudi Arabia

text: was widely supported in the online Saudi community. In 2013, the Saudi government sanctioned sports for girls in private schools for the first time. In their article, "Saudi Arabia to let women into sports stadiums," Emanuella Grinberg and Jonny Hallam explain how the conservative Saudi adhere to the strictest interpretation of Sunni in the world. Under their guardianship system, women can not travel or play sports without permission from their male guardians. Some of these strict rules in Saudi Arabia have started to change. The Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman allowed women in every part of Saudi society to practice

title: Saudi Arabia

text: Abd al-Wahhab in the eighteenth century. Other denominations, such as the minority Shia Islam, are systematically suppressed. According to estimates there are about 1,500,000 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 Arabian citizens who are Christians is officially zero, as Saudi Arabia forbids religious conversion from Islam (apostasy) and punishes it by death. According to Pew Research Center there are 390,000 Hindus in Saudi Arabia, almost all foreign workers. There may

title: Cinema of Saudi Arabia

text: throughout Saudi Arabia over the next five years. Video rental stores started appearing in the 1980s and offered Arabic, Western, and Asian movies. By the late 1990s, the increasing number of free-to-air satellite TV channels had led most video stores to close. A small number of films have been shot in Saudi Arabia with a Saudi cast since the early 2000s. However, due to the lack of cinemas in Saudi Arabia before April 2018, those listed have not been shown within Saudi Arabia itself. Notable Saudi films include: Cinema of Saudi Arabia The cinema of Saudi Arabia is a fairly

title: Legal system of Saudi Arabia

text: the worker' work permits have expired. The U.S. State department considers that “discrimination against women is a significant problem” in Saudi Arabia and that women have few political or social rights. After her 2008 visit, the UN special rapporteur on violence against women noted the lack of women's autonomy and the absence of a law criminalizing violence against women. The World Economic Forum 2012 Global Gender Gap Report ranked Saudi Arabia 131st out of 135 countries for gender parity, ahead of Syria, Chad, Pakistan and Yemen. Every adult woman has to have a close male relative as her "guardian". As

title: Demographics of Saudi Arabia

text: around five million illegal immigrants in Saudi Arabia, most of which come from Africa and Asia. These immigrants are planned to be deported within the next few years. There are around 100,000 Westerners in Saudi Arabia, most of whom live in compounds or gated communities. The government does not conduct census on religion, but estimates put the percentage of the majority Sunnis at 85–90% while Shiites, who comprise the largest Muslim minority, at 10–15% of the population. Shiites (Twelvers) are primarily concentrated in the Eastern Province, where they constitute over two-third of the population. Other smaller communities (Ismailis and Zaidis)

title: Domestic violence in Saudi Arabia

text: their country. In the petition, Aldosari addressed King Salman and urged him to consider the impact the guardianship system had on women in terms of poverty, exploitation and domestic violence. Since the United Nation Human Rights Council universal period reviews of Saudi Arabia's human rights policies in 2009 and 2013, the government has agreed to work towards abolishing the guardianship system. Small steps have been taken since to lessen control over women by their guardians alongside enactment of laws criminalizing domestic violence. Domestic violence in Saudi Arabia There is a deep cultural belief in Saudi Arabia that it is socially

title: Basic Law of Saudi Arabia

text: country despite all the misery and suffering of women for no reason other than their having been born female. Saudi writer and journalist Wajeha Al-Huwaider writes that "Saudi women are weak, no matter how high their status, even the 'pampered' ones among them - because they have no law to protect them from attack by anyone. The oppression of women and the effacement of their selfhood is a flaw affecting most homes in Saudi Arabia." Basic Law of Saudi Arabia The Basic Law of Saudi Arabia (alternative name: Basic System of Governance; Arabic: , "") is a constitution-like charter divided

title: Antisemitism in Saudi Arabia

text: Antisemitism in Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabian media often attacks Jews in books, news articles, at their Mosques and with what some describe as antisemitic satire. Saudi Arabian government officials and state religious leaders often promote the idea that Jews are conspiring to take over the entire world; as proof of their claims they publish and frequently cite The Protocols of the Elders of Zion as factual. Barring people with either Israeli passports or Israeli stamps in their passport from visiting Saudi Arabia, has been a long-established practice. When in February 2004, Saudi Arabia started issuing visas to non-Muslims for the

title: Media of Saudi Arabia

text:
Saudi Arabia tend to share knowledge, videos, pictures and news on the social media channels. The users spend too much of their time on their electronics and they share relative information and personal information with the relatives, family and the closed ones.

 Media of Saudi Arabia Most newspapers are privately owned but are subsidized and regulated by the government in Saudi Arabia. The "Basic Law" of the kingdom states that the media's role is to educate and inspire national unity, consequently most popular grievances go unreported in Saudi Arabia. As of 2013, BBC news reports that criticism of the government

title: Saudi Arabia

text: the 1951 UN Refugee Convention. As 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. Saudi Arabia expelled 800,000 Yemenis in 1990 and 1991 and has built a Saudi–Yemen barrier against an influx of illegal immigrants and against the smuggling of drugs and weapons. In November 2013, Saudi Arabia expelled thousands of illegal Ethiopian residents from the Kingdom. Various Human Rights entities have criticised Saudi Arabia's handling of the issue. Over 500,000 undocumented migrant

title: Armed Forces of Saudi Arabia

text: groups of people without a strong identity from the Nejd tribal system and people from urban areas. Spending on defense and security has increased significantly since the mid-1990s and was about US$67 billion in 2013. Saudi Arabia ranks among the top five nations in the world in government spending for its military, representing about 9% of GDP in 2013. Its modern, high-technology arsenal makes Saudi Arabia among the world's most densely armed nations, with its military equipment being supplied primarily by the United States, France, and Britain. According to SIPRI, in 2010–14 Saudi Arabia became the world's second largest arms

title: Shia Islam in Saudi Arabia

text: Shia Islam in Saudi Arabia The government does not conduct census on religion and ethnicity but some sources estimated the percentage of Shiites in Saudi Arabia from 15% to 20% of approximately 20 million natives of Saudi Arabia. The modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was formed in 1932 by the House of Saud, who are followers of a retroperspective movement within Sunni Islam known as Wahhabism or "the Wahhabite mission". Followers of the Wahhabite mission—who dominate religious institutions, courts and education of the kingdom—believe that "Muslims should return to the interpretation of Islam found in the classical texts, the Quran

title: Economy of Saudi Arabia

text: on expat workers. The government is also forcing small-business owners to hire Saudi nationals at comparatively higher wages than the foreign workers. Gaining money from large foreign direct investments is also not working in the favor of the government. Rich Saudis are reluctant to invest within the kingdom due to the fear of triggering government scrutiny. Saudi Arabia has one stock exchange, the Tadawul, whose financial markets are regulated by the Capital Market Authority. The stock market capitalisation of listed companies in Saudi Arabia was valued at $646 billion in 2005 by the World Bank. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

title: Culture of Saudi Arabia

text: the deadline (November 4, 2013), with authorities planning to expel another one million illegal foreigners in 2014. Ethiopians were a particular target of the campaign, with thousands expelled. Various Human Rights entities have criticised Saudi Arabia's handling of the issue. Prior to this workers were sometimes not hired or expelled as a way of registering Saudi disapproval of the workers' country. Saudi Arabia expelled 800,000 Yemenis in 1990 and 1991 during the Gulf War due to Yemen's support for Saddam Hussein against Saudi Arabia, and cut the number of Bangladeshis allowed to enter Saudi in 2013 after the Bangladeshi government

title: Israel–Saudi Arabia relations

text: Red Sea islands of Tiran and Sanafir to Saudi Arabia in April 2016, the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia said that his country would honor the terms of the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty regarding the islands however they will have no direct contact with Israel over the matter. The Israeli government did not signal any opposition to the deal. Tzachi Hanegbi who heads the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee said that the deal does not threaten Israel and welcomed it as a closing of ranks by Sunni Arab states that share Israel's hostility to Iran, Hezbollah and the Islamist extremist

title: Economy of Saudi Arabia

text: Saudi Arabia has the strongest economy in the Arab world. Saudi oil reserves are the second largest in the world, and Saudi Arabia is the world's leading oil exporter and second largest producer. Proven reserves, according to figures provided by the Saudi government, are estimated to be , which is about one-quarter of world oil reserves. Petroleum in Saudi Arabia is not only plentiful but under pressure and close to the earth's surface. This makes it far cheaper and thus far more profitable to extract petroleum in Saudi Arabia than in many other places. The petroleum sector accounts for roughly

title: Media of Saudi Arabia

text:
is one of the most active countries that use the social network. Many Saudi Arabians have been getting involved with multiple social media platforms, and about almost half the population use Twitter. Along with Twitter they also have a large wave of people other applications such as Path, Keek, and Instagram which are the most popular social media sites used in Saudi Arabia.

 Social media has morphed from a networking platform to a potent force for social change in Saudi Arabia. The government uses the social media platform to connect with the citizens all over the state. The social media

title: Unification of Saudi Arabia

text: Unification of Saudi Arabia The unification of Saudi Arabia was a military and political campaign, by which the various tribes, sheikhdoms, city-states, emirates, and kingdoms of most of the Arabian Peninsula were conquered by the House of Saud, or "Al Saud", between 1902 and 1932, when the modern-day Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was proclaimed under the leadership of Ibn Saud, creating what is sometimes referred to as the "Third Saudi State", to differentiate it from the Emirate of Diriyah, the "First Saudi State" and the Emirate of Nejd, the "Second Saudi State", also House of Saud states. The Al-Saud had

title: Economy of Saudi Arabia

text: the non-oil sector. The government also has set a target of creating 817,300 new jobs for Saudi nationals. Advertising expenditures have reached new peaks due to emphasis on value-added manufacturing. As part of its diversification, Saudi Arabia has been inking major refinery contracts with Chinese and other companies. Saudi Arabia has announced plans to invest about $47 billion in three of the world's largest and most ambitious petrochemical projects. These include the $27 billion Ras Tanura integrated refinery and petrochemical project, the $9 billion Saudi Kayan petrochemical complex at Jubail Industrial City, and the $10 billion Petro Rabigh refinery upgrade

title: Canada–Saudi Arabia relations

text: Canada–Saudi Arabia relations Canadian–Saudi relations are the relations between Canada and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The two share robust economic ties, with Saudi Arabia representing Canada's second largest trading partner in the Middle East, a relation that was bolstered in February 2014 with the purchase of C$15 billion worth of Canadian arms by Saudi Arabia. Until August 2018, there were over 16,000 Saudi students on government scholarships in Canada. Relations between the two have gradually soured after a diplomatic row which was sparked by the Canadian government's call for the immediate release of blogger Raif Badawi and his sister

title: Saudi Arabia

text: records in the world. Human rights issues that have attracted strong criticism include the extremely disadvantaged position of women (see Women below), capital punishment for homosexuality, religious discrimination, the lack of religious freedom and the activities of the religious police (see Religion below). Between 1996 and 2000, Saudi Arabia acceded to four UN human rights conventions and, in 2004, the government approved the establishment of the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR), staffed by government employees, to monitor their implementation. To date, the activities of the NSHR have been limited and doubts remain over its neutrality and independence. Saudi Arabia

title: Minister of Defense (Saudi Arabia)

text: post. Prince Salman became King of Saudi Arabia on 23 January 2015 and Prince Mohammad bin Salman was appointed Minister of Defense. Minister of Defense (Saudi Arabia) The Minister of Defense heads the Ministry of Defense (), a ministry in Saudi Arabia tasked with coordinating and supervising all major government agencies and federal departments of the government relating directly to national security and the Armed Forces of Saudi Arabia. The ministry was previously known as the Ministry of Defense and Aviation , founded on 10 November 1943. The name changed to the Ministry of Defense on the death of Saudi

title: Human trafficking in Saudi Arabia

text: the camel. The Government of Saudi Arabia does not comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so. Saudi Arabia has moved from Tier 2 to Tier 3 because of its lack of progress in anti-trafficking efforts, particularly its failure to protect victims and prosecute those guilty of involuntary servitude. Despite reports of trafficking and abuses of domestic and other unskilled workers and children, there is evidence of only one Saudi Government prosecution of a Saudi employer for a trafficking-related offense during the reporting period. Some victims of abuse, due

title: Media of Saudi Arabia

text: Media of Saudi Arabia Most newspapers are privately owned but are subsidized and regulated by the government in Saudi Arabia. The "Basic Law" of the kingdom states that the media's role is to educate and inspire national unity, consequently most popular grievances go unreported in Saudi Arabia. As of 2013, BBC news reports that criticism of the government and royal family and the questioning of Islamic tenets "are not generally tolerated. Self-censorship is pervasive." As of 2014, Freedom House rates the kingdom's press and internet "Not Free". As of 2006, the government has allowed some critical stories to be written

title: Legal system of Saudi Arabia

text: to the continuing criticism of its human rights record, the Saudi government points to the special Islamic character of the country, and asserts that this justifies a different social and political order. Because Sharia, as applied by Saudi courts, is uncodified and because judges are not bound by judicial precedent, the scope and content of the law is uncertain. A study published by the Albert Shanker Institute and Freedom House has criticized a number of aspects of the administration of justice in Saudi Arabia and concluded that the country's "practices diverge from the concept of the rule of law." The

title: Saudi Arabia

text: concerns. 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. The Saudi government considered the two-month uprising as a "security threat" posed by the Shia who represent the majority of Bahrain population. According to the Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki in March 2014, Saudi Arabia along with Qatar provided political, financial and media support to terrorists against the Iraqi government. On 25 March 2015, Saudi Arabia, spearheading a coalition of Sunni Muslim states, started a military intervention in

title: Legal system of Saudi Arabia

text: 2001, has been largely ignored. King Abdullah, in 2007, introduced a number of significant judicial reforms, although they are yet to be fully implemented. Criminal law punishments in Saudi Arabia include public beheading, hanging, stoning, amputation and lashing. Serious criminal offences include not only internationally recognized crimes such as murder, rape, theft and robbery, but also apostasy, adultery, witchcraft and sorcery. In addition to the regular police force, Saudi Arabia has a secret police, the "Mabahith", and "religious police", the "Mutawa". The latter enforces Islamic social and moral norms, but their powers have greatly been restricted over the last few

title: Censorship in Saudi Arabia

text: The government released a 1992 media policy statement, which outlined aims for journalists including both a religious and political component in favor of Islam and Saudi Arabia respectively. The government either had direct control over, or indirectly exerted power over, media sources in order to prevent any criticism of the royal family, the government, or Islamic values. Saudi Arabia is distinct from other Gulf Cooperation Council countries in that its constitution does not protect freedom of expression."" The Basic Law of Governance, enacted as an informal constitution in 1992, formally specified limits to free expression. Article 39 of the kingdom's

title: King of Saudi Arabia

text: King Salman will be from among his progeny. Sons of Ibn Saud are considered to have primary claim on the throne of Saudi Arabia. This makes the Saudi monarchy quite distinct from Western monarchies, which usually feature large, clearly defined royal families and orders of succession, and use the absolute primogeniture system of succession. Muhammad bin Nayef was the first grandson of Ibn Saud to be in the line of succession before being deposed from the position of Crown Prince by a royal decree in 2017. Saudi Arabia is ruled by Islamic law (Sharia) and purports to be an Islamic

title: King of Saudi Arabia

text: Islamic declaration of faith: King of Saudi Arabia The King of Saudi Arabia is Saudi Arabia's absolute monarch who serves as head of state and head of government. He is the head of the Saudi royal family, the House of Saud. The King is called the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques (), a title that signifies Saudi Arabia's jurisdiction over the mosques of Masjid al Haram in Mecca and Al-Masjid an-Nabawi in Medina, replacing His Majesty in 1986. King Abdulaziz (known in the West as Ibn Saud) began conquering today's Saudi Arabia in 1902, by restoring his family as

title: King of Saudi Arabia

text: King of Saudi Arabia The King of Saudi Arabia is Saudi Arabia's absolute monarch who serves as head of state and head of government. He is the head of the Saudi royal family, the House of Saud. The King is called the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques (), a title that signifies Saudi Arabia's jurisdiction over the mosques of Masjid al Haram in Mecca and Al-Masjid an-Nabawi in Medina, replacing His Majesty in 1986. King Abdulaziz (known in the West as Ibn Saud) began conquering today's Saudi Arabia in 1902, by restoring his family as emirs of Riyadh. He

title: Economy of Saudi Arabia

text: of Saudi Arabian Riyals (SR). Mean wages were $14.74 per man-hour in 2009. The following table shows the main economic indicators in 1980–2017. Inflation below 2% is in green. Saudi Arabia was a subsistence economy until the 1930s. In 1933, the Saudi government signed an oil concession agreement with Standard Oil Company of California. Development of oil fields continued in Saudi Arabia, managed mainly by Aramco, company formed by the partnership of Texaco and Chevron. By 1949, Saudi oil production reached 500,000 bpd, and rose rapidly to 1 million bpd in 1954. In 1960, OPEC was created with Saudi Arabia

title: China–Saudi Arabia relations

text: worth of relief materials. Chinese companies in Saudi Arabia have awarded scholarships to Saudi students allowing them to study abroad in China. The Chinese government is also offering scholarships directly to students and professionals for further training. On January 15, 2012, China and Saudi Arabia signed a deal signifying increased nuclear cooperation. According to Saudi Arabia, the goal is "to enhance cooperation between the two countries in the development and use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes." The deal sets the stage for strengthened scientific, technological, and economic cooperation between the People's Republic of China and Saudi Arabia, focusing on

title: Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia

text: King died. Muqrin was the first one to hold deputy crown prince position in 2014. Since 21 June 2017, the post of deputy crown prince has been vacant. Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia is the second most important position in Saudi Arabia, second to the King, and is his designated successor. Currently, the Crown Prince assumes power with the approval of the Allegiance Council after he is appointed by the King. This system was introduced to the country in the Abdullah Era. In the absence of the King, an order is issued to have

title: Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia

text: Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia is the second most important position in Saudi Arabia, second to the King, and is his designated successor. Currently, the Crown Prince assumes power with the approval of the Allegiance Council after he is appointed by the King. This system was introduced to the country in the Abdullah Era. In the absence of the King, an order is issued to have the prince manage the affairs of the state until the king's return. The order changes the prince's title temporarily from the "Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister" to "Vice

title: Legal system of Saudi Arabia

text: for Saudi Arabia's vast reserves of natural gas, believed to represent 4% of the world's reserves. This was the first time since the 1970s that foreign companies have been permitted to search for oil or gas. Currently, the electricity industry is in the hands of the 75% state-owned Saudi Electric Company, but plans have been announced to privatize the industry. Human rights issues and failings in the rule of law in Saudi Arabia have attracted strong criticism. These include criminal law punishments that are considered as cruel, as well as the position of women, religious discrimination, the lack of religious

title: Visa policy of Saudi Arabia

text: Visa policy of Saudi Arabia Visitors to Saudi Arabia must obtain a visa in advance unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries. Saudi Arabia does not currently issue tourist visas. All visitors must hold a passport valid for 6 months. Citizens of the following 4 countries do not require a visa to visit Saudi Arabia and may use national ID Cards to enter the country: Visa exemption also applies to holders of diplomatic and official passports of France. Following the severance of diplomatic ties on 5 June 2017, citizens of are refused admission. Qatari citizens were given

title: Visa policy of Saudi Arabia

text: Australia, Japan, South Korea, South Africa, Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore with more countries to be added later. Visa policy of Saudi Arabia Visitors to Saudi Arabia must obtain a visa in advance unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries. Saudi Arabia does not currently issue tourist visas. All visitors must hold a passport valid for 6 months. Citizens of the following 4 countries do not require a visa to visit Saudi Arabia and may use national ID Cards to enter the country: Visa exemption also applies to holders of diplomatic and official passports of France. Following the

title: Censorship in Saudi Arabia

text: fines, for criticizing the government on social media. The government has been reported to have a hand in utilizing bots and human "trolls" in order to minimize the work of its critics on Twitter. Saudi was also accused of infiltrating Twitter through a Saudi employee that joined the company in 2013 but was put on leave two years later after the potential plot was brought to the attention of Twitter. Censorship in Saudi Arabia Multiple forms of media including books, newspapers, magazines, films, television, and content published on the Internet are censored in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi government closely monitors

title: Saudi Arabia

text: elected Chair of the United Nations Human Rights Council panel that appoints independent experts. In January 2016, Saudi Arabia executed the prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr who had called for pro-democracy demonstrations and for free elections in Saudi Arabia. In August 2017, ten Nobel Peace Prize laureates, including Desmond Tutu and Lech Wałęsa, urged Saudi Arabia to stop the executions of 14 young people for participating in the 2011–12 Saudi Arabian protests. On 2 October 2018, Saudi journalist and "Washington Post" columnist Jamal Khashoggi went missing after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. According to Turkish government sources there

title: Saudi Arabia men's national ice hockey team

text: final game of the tournament Saudi Arabia won their first ever international game after they defeated Oman 3-1. Saudi Arabia finished third in the four team tournament with the United Arab Emirates winning gold. Saudi Arabia men's national ice hockey team The Saudi Arabian national ice hockey team () is the national ice hockey team of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is currently not a member of the IIHF and does not have any governing bodies of ice hockey in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabian Nationals first played ice hockey in the early 1990s. Ice hockey

title: Al Watan (Saudi Arabia)

text: we apologize to all regarding what our brothers, the members of the commission, have rushed into.” In August 2013, an editorial of the paper stated that a foreign military strike against Syria due to civil war in the country was inevitable whatever its form would be. "Al Watan" is a partner of Saudi Falcons, a Saudi motosport team of which one of its members is Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal. List of newspapers in Saudi Arabia Al Watan (Saudi Arabia) Al Watan (, ) is a daily newspaper in Saudi Arabia. The chairman of the newspaper is Bandar bin Khalid.

title: Cinema of Saudi Arabia

text: productions from the United States shown in Arabic, with English audio headphones available. In November 2005, a 1,400-seat cinema opened at a hotel in Riyadh for a limited run. The cinema was open for women and children only and showed foreign cartoons dubbed in Arabic. Following the public screenings, the cinema ban was put into question as the demand for movie theaters in Saudi Arabia increased. On 11 December 2017, the Saudi Arabian Minister of Culture and Information announced that public movie theaters would be allowed by 2018. The government hopes that by 2030, Saudi Arabia will already have more

title: Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia

text: Mohammad, who is his father's top aide. Since the time of the coup, the Kingship and the prime ministership have been one and the same. Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia The Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia is the chair of the Council of Ministers and formal head of government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Since the reign of King Faisal, the prime minister post has been held by the king. The office was created along with the Council of Ministers on 9 October 1953, by decree of King Saud. Due to unrest within the royal family over his rule,

title: Economy of Saudi Arabia

text: Economy of Saudi Arabia The Economy of Saudi Arabia is one of the top twenty economies in the world (G20). It is dependent on oil as the country has the second-largest proven petroleum reserves, and it’s the largest exporter of petroleum in the world. It also has the fifth-largest proven natural gas reserves and is considered an "Energy Superpower". With a total worth of US$34.4 trillion, Saudi Arabia has the second most valuable natural resources in the world. In 2016 the Saudi Government launched its Saudi Vision 2030 to reduce the country’s dependency on oil and diversify its economic resources.

title: History of the Jews in Saudi Arabia

text: Ten Tribes. There has been virtually no Jewish activity in Saudi Arabia since the beginning of the 21st century. Jewish (as well as Christian and other non-Muslim) religious services are prohibited from being held on Saudi Arabian soil. When American military personnel were stationed in Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War, permission for small Christian worship services was eventually granted, but Jewish services were only permitted on US warships. Census data does not identify any Jews as residing within Saudi Arabian territory. Persons with an Israeli government stamp in their passport or who are openly Jewish are generally not permitted

title: Iran–Saudi Arabia relations

text: 8 January 2016 to understand their stance regarding the conflict. He urged the Government of Pakistan to play a positive role to resolve the matter between both countries. Iran–Saudi Arabia relations The Islamic Republic of Iran and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have no diplomatic relations following an attack on the Saudi embassy in Tehran in January 2016. Bilateral relations between the countries have been strained over several geo-political issues such as the interpretations of Islam, aspirations for leadership of the Islamic world, oil export policy and relations with the United States and other Western countries. Saudi Arabia is a

title: Domestic violence in Saudi Arabia

text: a woman running the risk of facing criminal charges for having an extramarital affair if she enters the hospital to give birth without her male guardian. Although guardianship and other forms of domestic violence are still present in Saudi Arabia, there have been several successful attempts at reform in recent years. These issues have been recognized at a domestic level by King Abdullah, King Salman, and the government of Saudi Arabia alongside international institutions such as the United Nations. The United Nations has become involved in the attempted abolition of the guardianship system. For example. the 2009 ‘Report of the

title: Qatar–Saudi Arabia diplomatic conflict

text: a Qatari and other military intervention on the side of the revolutionary National Transitional Council. Since the civil war escalated in 2014, the Saudi bloc and Qatar have supported rival factions in Libya. Qatar supports the Internationally recognized government of Government of National Accord, while Saudi Arabia supports the Tobruk-based government of House of Representatives. Qatar has generally supported Hamas, while Saudi Arabia used to support many different Palestinian organisations, such as Hamas and the PLO/Fatah however as Hamas won the 2007 election, the level of funding from Saudi Arabia dropped, while level of funding from Iran increased. Turkey and

title: Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict

text: MEK Maryam Rajavi with Saudi backing. Syria Jordan United States France Pakistan Qatar–Saudi Arabia relations have been strained since the beginning of the Arab Spring. Qatar has been a focus of controversy in the Saudi-Iranian rivalry due to Saudi Arabia's longstanding concern about the country's relationship with Iran and Iranian-backed militant groups. In June 2017, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt, the Maldives, Mauritania, Mauritius, Sudan, Senegal, Djibouti, Comoros, Jordan, the Tobruk-based Libyan government, and the Hadi-led Yemeni government severed diplomatic relations with Qatar and blocked their airspace and sea routes, in addition to Saudi Arabia blocking the

title: Demographics of Saudi Arabia

text: Yemen. In the 1970s and 1980s, there was also a significant community of South Korean migrant labourers, numbering in the hundreds of thousands, but most have since returned home; the South Korean government's statistics showed only 1,200 of their nationals living in the kingdom . There are more than 100,000 Westerners in Saudi Arabia, most of whom live in private compounds in the major cities such as Riyadh, Jeddah, Yanbu and Dhahran. The government prohibits non-Muslims from entering the cities of Mecca and Medinah. As of July 2018 the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is estimated to have a population of

title: Saudi Arabia

text: a budget of approximately US$2 billion and focuses on moving teaching away from the traditional Saudi methods of memorization and rote learning towards encouraging students to analyze and problem-solve. It also aims to create an education system which will provide a more secular and vocationally based training. As of 2018, Saudi Arabia ranks 28 worldwide in terms of high-quality research output according to the renowned scientific journal Nature. This makes Saudi Arabia the best performing Middle Eastern, Arab and Muslim country. Saudi Arabia has a life expectancy of 74.6 years (73.3 for males and 76.3 for females) according to the

title: Saudi Arabia

text: U.S. became strained following 9/11. American politicians and media accused the Saudi government of supporting terrorism and tolerating a "jihadist" culture. Indeed, Osama bin Laden and fifteen out of the nineteen 9/11 hijackers were from Saudi Arabia; in ISIL-occupied Raqqa, in mid-2014, all 12 judges were Saudi. The leaked U.S. Department of State memo, dated 17 August 2014, says that "governments of Qatar and Saudi Arabia...are providing clandestine financial and logistic support to ISIS and other radical groups in the region." According to former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, "Saudi Arabia remains a critical financial support base for al-Qaida,

title: Antisemitism in Saudi Arabia

text: freedom "does not exist" in Saudi Arabia. Islam is the official religion of Saudi Arabia, and the tenets of that religion are enforced by law. Saudi textbooks vilify Jews (and Christians and non-Wahhabi Muslims): according to 21 May 2006 issue of "The Washington Post", Saudi textbooks claimed by them to have been sanitized of antisemitism still call Jews apes (and Christians swine); demand that students avoid and not befriend Jews; claim that Jews worship the devil; and encourage Muslims to engage in Jihad to vanquish Jews. The Center for Religious Freedom of Freedom House analyzed a set of Saudi Ministry

title: Ahmadiyya in Saudi Arabia

text: Ahmadiyya in Saudi Arabia Ahmadiyya is a persecuted branch of Islam in Saudi Arabia. Although there are many foreign workers and Saudi citizens belonging to the Ahmadiyya movement in Saudi Arabia, Ahmadis are officially banned from entering the country and from performing the pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina. This has led to criticisms from multiple human rights organizations. From the very early history of the Ahmadiyya Movement in the late 19th century, Ahmadis have had contact with the region in what were then a host of Ottoman provinces in the Arabian peninsula, primarily due to their spiritual connection to the

title: Croatia–Saudi Arabia relations

text: what I see in Croatia is that the tourism sector is extremely important. Tourism revenue in Croatia in last year was around 6 billion euros and you had 10 million visitors. There is a potential that I seek." Croatia exports military equipment to Saudi Arabia. In 2013 Croatia exported to Saudi Arabia weapons worth around 15 million euros (1.1 billion HRK). Croatia–Saudi Arabia relations Croatia–Saudi Arabia relations (, ) refers to the bilateral relationship between Croatia and Saudi Arabia. Diplomatic relations were established on June 18, 1995. Croatia is represented in Saudi Arabia through its embassy in Cairo (Egypt). Saudi

title: Environment of Saudi Arabia

text: cleaner initiatives. Scholars are developing plans to transition Saudi Arabia to renewable energy. As opposed to overall energy reduction, the government organization Saudi Aramco wishes to create a solar energy sector. Saudi Arabia has a goal to create 41 GW of renewable energy plants, which would place the country as a leading solar energy exporter. Currently, the country is at 17 MW of solar energy and as a ways to go before reaching the goal. Hydroelectric and water based powers are also being discussed as alternatives to carbon emitting energies. Concerns of inefficiency and expense are holding Saudi Arabia back

title: Religion in Saudi Arabia

text: land of the Hijaz has been forbidden territory for non-Muslims. According to the Hanbali school of Islamic jurisprudence, accepted by both the Saudi Arabians and the declaration's signatories, for a non-Muslim even to set foot on the sacred soil is a major offense. In the rest of the kingdom, non-Muslims, while admitted as temporary visitors, were not permitted to establish residence or practice their religion. While Saudi Arabia does allow non-Muslims to live in Saudi Arabia to work, they may not practice religion publicly. According to the government of the United Kingdom: The public practice of any form of religion

title: Minister of Defense (Saudi Arabia)

text: Minister of Defense (Saudi Arabia) The Minister of Defense heads the Ministry of Defense (), a ministry in Saudi Arabia tasked with coordinating and supervising all major government agencies and federal departments of the government relating directly to national security and the Armed Forces of Saudi Arabia. The ministry was previously known as the Ministry of Defense and Aviation , founded on 10 November 1943. The name changed to the Ministry of Defense on the death of Saudi Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz on 22 October 2011, when former Governor of Riyadh Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz was appointed to the

title: US–Saudi Arabia AWACS Sale

text: Selling AWACS to Saudi Arabia: The Reagan Administration and the Balancing of America's Competing Interests in the Middle East, Greenwood Publishing Group, [2002] US–Saudi Arabia AWACS Sale The sale of AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) surveillance planes to Saudi Arabia by the United States administration of President Ronald Reagan was a controversial part of what was then the largest foreign arms sale in US history. The sale saw objections from a majority of Americans, prominent US Senators, the State of Israel and the Israel lobby. The sale included five E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft and eight KE-3 refueling aircraft, with

title: Saudi Arabia

text: the Taliban, LeT and other terrorist groups... Donors in Saudi Arabia constitute the most significant source of funding to Sunni terrorist groups worldwide." Former CIA director James Woolsey described it as "the soil in which Al-Qaeda and its sister terrorist organizations are flourishing." The Saudi government denies these claims or that it exports religious or cultural extremism. In April 2016, Saudi Arabia has threatened to sell off $750 billion in Treasury securities and other U.S. assets if Congress passes a bill that would allow the Saudi government to be sued over 9/11. In September 2016, the Congress passed the Justice