Library of Congress – Federal Research Division Country Profile: Saudi Arabia, September 2006 

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COUNTRY PROFILE: SAUDI ARABIA 

September 2006 

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COUNTRY 

Formal Name: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah 

as Suudiyah). 

Short Form: Saudi Arabia. 

Term for Citizen(s): Saudi Arabian(s) or Saudi(s). 

Capital: Riyadh (estimated population 3.6 million). 

Major Cities: Population estimates for 2006 show continued growth for Saudi Arabia’s major 

urban areas: Jiddah (2.9 million), Mecca (1.6 million), Ad Dammam/Khobar/Dhahran (1.6 

million), and Medina (854,500). Mecca and Medina have religious significance that far 

outweighs their respective populations. 

Independence: Following Ottoman dominance, Egypt controlled Arabia from 1818 to 1824. For 

the remainder of the nineteenth century, Egypt, Britain, and the Ottomans vied for control of the 

region. On September 23, 1932, Abd al Aziz ibn Abd ar-Rahman Al Saud established the 

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Unification brought together competing tribes into a modern state, 

covering an area approximating present boundaries. 

Public Holidays: In accordance with Wahhabi theology, Eid al Fitr and Eid al Adha are Saudi 

Arabia's only national holidays. Both holidays are dependent on the Islamic lunar calendar, and 

thus the dates of celebration vary from year to year. In recent years, Shia Muslims have been 

allowed to celebrate the holiday of Ashura in select cities of Eastern Province and in the south. 

Ashura is not, however, a national holiday. Saudis commemorate September 23 as their 

Independence Day. 

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Flag: The Saudi flag features white lettering on a green background. The Arabic 

text reads: “There is no god but God: Muhammad is the Messenger of God.” 

Below the letters, also in white, is a sword. 

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 

Pre-Islamic Period: By 1000 B.C., southern Arabia had evolved significantly as a result of 

steady contact with the outside world via the trade routes that spanned the region. Exports in 

frankincense and myrrh brought wealth and global connections to present-day Bahrain, Yemen, 

Oman, and southern Saudi Arabia. While the Persians and Romans fought to control the Near 

East, Arab society benefited from the exchange of ideas that came with the camel caravans. 
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Multiple religions were present in the region, including Christianity, Judaism, and various 

polytheistic paganisms. 

Early Islam: The birth of the Prophet Muhammad in A.D. 570 forever shaped Saudi Arabia. 

Today, many Arabs refer to the era before the introduction and spread of Islam as “the time of 

ignorance.” Muhammad was born in the city of Mecca into the prominent Quraysh tribe. His life 

and ministry did much to unify Arabia. Until the seventh century, the peninsula’s tribes fought a 

destructive series of wars for control of the region. The situation had changed dramatically by the 

time of Muhammad’s death in A.D. 632. Muhammad, as well as his political successor Abu 

Bakr, enjoyed the loyalty of almost all of Arabia. Although the Prophet did not appoint a 

spiritual successor, the institution of the caliphate emerged and expanded the Islamic empire. 

For the first 30 years following the Prophet’s death, caliphs ruled the Islamic world from 

Yathrib, today known as Medina. Responding to threats from the Byzantine and Persian empires, 

the caliphs demanded allegiance from the Arab tribes. In a relatively short span of time, the 

Islamic empire expanded northward into present-day Spain, Pakistan, and the Middle East. 

However, maintaining unity proved to be a continual challenge. Following the death of the third 

caliph, Uthman, in 656, splits appeared in the burgeoning Islamic empire. The Umayyads (661–

750) established a hereditary line of caliphs centered in Damascus. The Abbasids, claiming a 

different hereditary line, overthrew the Umayyads in 750 and moved the caliphate to Baghdad. 

Although the spiritual significance of Mecca and Medina remained constant, the political 

importance of Arabia in the Islamic world waned. 

The Al Saud and Wahhabi Islam: The Al Saud family emerged as the dominant factor in Saudi 

Arabia’s history. The clan’s origins can be traced to Najd, near Riyadh, beginning in about 1500. 

As a small town developed, the Al Saud came to be recognized as its leaders, and the clan’s 

power and influence grew. The rise of the Al Saud coincided with that of the Muslim scholar 

Muhammad ibn Abd al Wahhab (1703–87), who wrote and preached against leaders and 

traditions that he deemed contradictory to the idea of a unitary god. Unlike other religious 

leaders who preached unitarianism, Muhammad ibn Abd al Wahhab demanded that political 

power be used to implement his theology. In 1744 Muhammad ibn Abd al Wahhab found a 

political partner in Muhammad ibn Saud, and the two swore a traditional oath to work together in 

order to establish a state ruled according to Islamic principles. The alliance was based on 

Muhammad ibn Abd al Wahhab’s claim of religious legitimacy and Muhammad ibn Saud’s 

readiness to undertake jihad in defense of such principles. By 1765, Muhammad ibn Saud’s 

forces had established Wahhabism and with it Al Saud political authority over most of Najd. 

After Muhammad ibn Saud died in 1765, his son, Abd al Aziz, continued the Wahhabi advance. 

In 1802 the Al Saud–Wahhabi armies sacked Karbala, including the Shia shrine commemorating 

Husayn, the martyred grandson of the Prophet Muhammad whom Shia Muslims regard as their 

spiritual forefather. In 1803 Wahhabi forces moved on to Mecca and Medina. With the assault on 

the Hijaz, the region of pilgrimage, the Al Saud invited conflict with much of the rest of the 

Islamic world. Recognizing the symbolic importance of the region, the Ottoman sultan ordered 

the recapture of the Hijaz, and in 1812 and 1813 Egyptian forces, fighting on behalf of the sultan, 

regained control of Mecca and Medina. Meanwhile, Muhammad ibn Abd al Wahhab had died in 

1792, and Abd al Aziz died shortly before the capture of Mecca. 
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Nineteenth-Century Arabia: Following a six-year period of Egyptian interference, the Al Saud 

regained political control of the Najd region in 1824 under Turki ibn Abd Allah, who rebuilt 

Riyadh and established it as the new center of Al Saud power. Although they did not control a 

centralized state, the Al Saud successfully controlled military resources, collected tribute, and 

resisted Egyptian attempts to regain a foothold in the region. From 1830 to 1891, the Al Saud 

maintained power and protected Arabia’s autonomy by playing the British and Ottomans against 

each other. External threats were largely kept at bay, but internal strife plagued the Al Saud 

throughout much of the century. After the assassination of Turki in 1834, the family devolved 

into a series of competing factions. The infighting and constant civil war ultimately led to the 

decline of the Al Saud and the rise of the rival Al Rashid family; the Al Saud were driven out of 

Riyadh and forced to take refuge in Kuwait. 

Establishing a Modern State: Abd al Aziz laid the groundwork for the modern state of Saudi 

Arabia while exiled in Kuwait. In 1902 he led a small force in a raid against the Al Rashid 

garrison in Riyadh, successfully gaining a foothold in Najd. From there, he cultivated his 

Wahhabi connections, establishing himself as the Al Saud leader and as a Wahhabi imam. 

During the next 25 years, Abd al Aziz gradually extended his authority. This slow process 

culminated in the conquest of the Hijaz in 1924. Thus, after nearly 40 years the Al Saud again 

controlled Islam’s most holy land. 

Unlike most other Arab countries, Saudi Arabia existed independent of Western control. That 

autonomy had been achieved in large part because of the military strength of the radical Ikhwan 

forces, desert warriors organized by Abd al Aziz and dedicated to promoting Wahhabi Islam. 

With victory achieved, the Ikhwan expected a strictly Wahhabi state. Ultimately, however, Abd 

al Aziz moved to rein in the Ikhwan. He assembled a diverse and committed political coalition 

and was able to maintain a delicate political balance between religion and modernization. The 

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia became an official state in 1932 and subsequently faced severe 

economic constriction in the 1930s. Fortunately, however, following the worldwide depression, 

geologists made a discovery that significantly buoyed the region’s economic outlook—enormous 

and easy-to-access deposits of oil. 

Abd al Aziz’s Successors: Following Abd al Aziz’s death in 1953, Saud succeeded his father as 

king in a reign largely characterized by wasteful state expenditures and the polarization of 

wealth. In 1964 the royal family and ulama, responding to public discontent, deposed Saud and 

appointed his half-brother Faisal as king. King Faisal aggressively pursued modernization, 

introduced Western technology, and increased public education. His reign (1964−75) witnessed 

increasing diplomatic complexity both within the Arab world and beyond its borders. When 

conflict broke out in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia remained on the periphery. In 1967 Saudi 

Arabia claimed neutrality during the Six-Day War between Arab and Israeli forces. During the 

1973 Arab-Israeli conflict, Saudi Arabia again decided not to participate militarily, but it did join 

the Arab oil boycott of the United States. 

External conflicts were coupled with internal threats. In 1975 Faisal fell victim to an 

assassination plot carried out by one of his nephews. The assassin was only one member of a 

larger group of discontented royal family members. Although ultimately it was determined that 

the assassin acted alone, the threat of internal strife loomed over the kingdom, now led by 
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Faisal’s half-brother Khalid. In 1979 internal revolt once again reared up in Saudi Arabia, as 500 

dissidents seized the Grand Mosque in Mecca, claiming that Saudi Arabia had abandoned its 

traditionalist roots in favor of Western corruption. After two weeks of careful planning, the Saudi 

military overtook the dissidents, and all of the surviving male radicals were beheaded. Far from 

discounting the dissidents, however, King Khalid made some effort to address their grievances. 

Khalid’s half-brother, Crown Prince Fahd, ascended the throne following Khalid’s death after a 

short illness in June 1982. The crash of oil prices in 1986 brought economic challenges to the 

entire Middle East region. Saudi Arabia functioned as a stabilizing force in the region throughout 

the turbulent 1980s. King Fahd played an important role in bringing about a cease-fire between 

Iraq and Iran in August 1988. He also supported the formation and strengthening of the Gulf 

Cooperation Council (GCC), an alliance of the six Persian Gulf states of the Arabian Peninsula, 

with headquarters in Riyadh. The Gulf War in 1991 changed regional diplomatic relationships 

significantly. Faced with the threat of Iraqi imperialism following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, 

Saudi Arabia requested the assistance of the United States and a multinational coalition to defend 

the Saudi border, and King Fahd played a pivotal role in bringing together Western allies with 

GCC and other Islamic states. Throughout the 1990s, Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic and economic 

relationship with the United States remained strong. But, while proving advantageous to Saudi 

Arabia’s global position, it aroused criticism in the Arab world and exposed Saudi Arabia to the 

ire of radical Islamists. Nevertheless, widespread oil prosperity defused many regional tensions. 

King Fahd, who had proved to be an effective leader capable of instituting liberal reforms and 

strengthening bonds among Arab countries, suffered a massive stroke in 1995. He survived, but 

with limited capacities. His half-brother, Crown Prince Abd Allah (Abdullah), served as the de 

facto ruler of Saudi Arabia until formally becoming king upon King Fahd’s death on August 1, 

2005. King Abd Allah has served effectively in the face of continuing external and internal 

challenges, including terrorism, Islamic extremism, regional instability, and burgeoning domestic 

unrest. In particular, the attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, brought unwanted 

attention to the Saudi connection to terrorism, given that 15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudis. The 

Saudi government has, for the most part, cooperated with the United States in fighting the spread 

of terrorism and Islamic extremism in the region. Its traditional ties to the United States have 

grown closer as a result of increased U.S. emphasis on security over political reform in Saudi 

Arabia since the September 11 attacks. 

Democratic Reforms: Since 1995, Saudi Arabia has made subtle changes in its governance 

structure. Concerns over balancing the various factions of the royal family led to the creation of 

new advisory groups and a slight diffusion of power. In 2003 the government announced a 

reorganization of the Council of Ministers and then plans to create municipal councils and to 

hold democratic elections. Originally scheduled for October 2004, the first stage of the municipal 

elections finally took place February 10, 2005. In general, the candidates exhibited far more 

enthusiasm than the voters. More than 1,800 candidates sought election to 592 seats, but only 

about 25 percent of eligible male voters (and possibly as few as 15–20 percent) cast votes. While 

some observers viewed the elections as a mark of progress, critics concluded that the poor 

turnout reflected a general dissatisfaction with the limited extent of the legislative reforms. 
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GEOGRAPHY

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Location: Saudi Arabia is located in the Middle East, occupying 

about 80 percent of the Arabian Peninsula. 

Size: Saudi Arabia has a land area of 1,960,582 square kilometers 

according to U.S. government statistics. Saudi figures, however, 

denote a land area of 2,250,000 square kilometers. Either way, 

Saudi Arabia is approximately one-fifth the size of the United States. 

Land Boundaries: Saudi Arabia has a total of 4,431 kilometers of borders with Yemen (1,458 

kilometers), Iraq (814 kilometers), Jordan (744 kilometers), Oman (676 kilometers), the United 

Arab Emirates (457 kilometers), Kuwait (222 kilometers), and Qatar (60 kilometers). 

Disputed Territory: Only portions of the border with Yemen, demarcated in 1934, are clearly 

defined. The discovery of new oil repositories in the 1990s led to border disputes between Saudi 

Arabia and both Yemen and Jordan, some of which were resolved in the early 1990s. 

Additionally, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait share two Divided Zones, one administered by each 

country, along their short border. The zones contain about 5 billion barrels of proven oil reserves. 

Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have allowed foreign countries to operate oil fields in the zones while 

taking an equal share of the revenues. 

Length of Coastline: Saudi Arabia has 2,640 kilometers of coastline—nearly 1,800 kilometers 

along the Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea and the remainder along the Persian Gulf. 

Maritime Claims: Saudi Arabia claims a territorial sea of 12 nautical miles and a contiguous 

zone of 18 nautical miles, as well as some small islands, seabed, and subsoils beyond the 12-

nautical-mile limit. 

Topography: The Arabian Peninsula is an ancient massif whose geologic structure developed 

concurrently with the Alps. Geologic movements caused the entire mass to tilt eastward and the 

western and southern edges to tilt upward. In the valley created by the fault, called the Great Rift, 

the Red Sea formed. On the Arabian Peninsula, the eastern line of the Great Rift fault is visible 

in the high escarpment that parallels the Red Sea between the Gulf of Aqaba and the Gulf of 

Aden. The eastern slope of the escarpment descends gradually. A second, lower escarpment, the 

Jabal Tuwayq, runs north to south through the area of Riyadh. In the south, a coastal plain rises 

gradually from the sea to the mountains. The southern region boasts the country’s highest 

mountain ranges, reaching about 3,000 meters. The central plateau, Najd, extends east to the 

Jabal Tuwayq and slightly beyond. A long, narrow strip of desert separates Najd from eastern 

Arabia, which slopes eastward to the sandy coast along the Persian Gulf. North of Najd, a larger 

desert isolates the heart of the peninsula from the steppes of northern Arabia. South of Najd lies 

one of the largest sand deserts in the world, the Rub al Khali. Extensive coral reefs buttress much 

of Saudi Arabia’s coastline, making natural ports rare. 

Principal Rivers: Saudi Arabia has no permanent rivers or lakes. However, in eastern Arabia, 

artesian wells and springs provide valuable water resources. Additionally, in many areas of 
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northern and eastern Arabia significant underground aquifers lie beneath the desert. The largest 

contains more water than the entire Persian Gulf. 

Climate: The climate in Saudi Arabia differs greatly between the country’s two distinct regions: 

the coast and the interior. High humidity coupled with more moderate temperatures is prevalent 

along the coast, whereas aridity and extreme temperatures characterize the interior. Temperatures 

along the coast rarely exceed 38° C. In the interior, mostly desert, the average daytime 

temperature in the summer is 45° C, but it is not uncommon for temperatures to reach 54° C. The 

capital, Riyadh, has an average temperature of 42° C in July and 14° C in January. Temperatures 

rarely drop below freezing. Most of Saudi Arabia receives only infrequent rainfall. However, the 

southwestern province of Asir experiences monsoons between May and October, bringing an 

average of 300 millimeters of precipitation. 

Natural Resources: Saudi Arabia’s vast oil resources have shaped the kingdom’s development. 

The country also has large natural gas reserves, as well as deposits of bauxite, coal, copper, gold, 

iron, phosphates, platinum, silver, tungsten, uranium, and zinc. Non-mineral resources include 

limestone, glass sand, and stone. 

Land Use: Most of Saudi Arabia consists of arid or semi-arid land. Uninhabitable desert covers 

nearly half the country. According to 2005 statistics, only 1.67 percent of Saudi land is classified 

as arable, and only 0.09 percent of the country’s land is planted to permanent crops. Irrigated 

land totaled an estimated 16,200 square kilometers in 1998. In the more temperate regions of the 

kingdom, adequate forage exists to support cattle grazing. 

Environmental Factors: Saudi Arabia faces numerous environmental challenges. The country 

has very little arable land. Water scarcity is a constant concern, as are the related issues of 

desertification and creeping sands. The region’s dryness results in frequent dust and sand storms 

that can cripple transportation. The lack of perennial rivers or permanent bodies of water poses a 

continual challenge, as does the depletion of underground water resources. Additionally, coastal 

oil spills, though infrequent, contribute to pollution. 

Time Zone: Saudi Arabia operates on Greenwich Mean Time plus 3 hours. 

SOCIETY

Population: In July 2006, estimates placed Saudi Arabia’s population at 27,019,731, with an 

annual growth rate of 2.18 percent. The population total includes nearly 6 million non-nationals. 

Approximately 100,000 foreigners enter the country each year, mostly to fill specific job 

openings. Immigrant workers come primarily from other Arab and Muslim countries, including 

many from South Asia and the Philippines. Fewer than 100,000 Westerners work and live in 

Saudi Arabia. Because most of the terrain is unsuitable for cultivation, the coastal areas and 

interior oases support the vast majority of the population. Some cities have reported densities of 

1,000 people per square kilometer. The Mecca region, which also contains the major city of 

Jiddah, is the most populated area of the country, with nearly 26 percent of the total population. 

Other population centers include Riyadh and the clustered Eastern Province cities of Ad 
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Dammam, Khobar, and Dhahran. The least populated regions lie at the kingdom’s periphery, to 

the extreme north and south. 

Demography: Saudi Arabia has an overwhelmingly young population. According to 2006 

estimates, 38.2 percent of Saudis are under the age of 15, 59.4 percent are 15–64 years of age, 

and only 2.4 percent are 65 and older. The median age for males is 22.9, for females 19.4. The 

sex ratio is 1.2 males/female. The birthrate and death rate are estimated to be 29.34 per 1,000 and 

2.58 per 1,000, respectively. Saudi Arabia has a relatively low infant mortality rate, estimated to 

be 13.7 deaths per 1,000 live births. It has a relatively high level of life expectancy: 73.66 years 

for males and 77.78 years for females, or 75.67 years overall. The country’s fertility rate is 4.1 

children per woman, a significant drop in the past 20 years from 6.4 births per woman in 1985. 

Ethnic Groups and Languages: Saudi Arabia’s population is very homogeneous. The native 

population is 90 percent Arab and 10 percent Afro-Asian. Arabic is the official language. 

Religion: Islam is the official religion of Saudi Arabia. Islamic law forms the basis for the 

country's legal code, and all citizens must be Muslim. Eighty-five percent of Saudis are Sunni 

Muslims, most adhering to the Wahhabi sect. About 2 million Shia Muslims live in Saudi 

Arabia, primarily in the east. The presence of religions besides Islam results almost exclusively 

from the presence of foreign nationals, including a sizable number of Hindus and Christians. The 

U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has estimated that between 500,000 and 1 million Catholics 

currently reside in Saudi Arabia. In recent years, the Saudi government has stated a policy of 

allowing non-Muslim foreigners to practice their religion privately, but no change in the law 

reflects this sentiment. Public worship of other religions is prohibited by law and regulated and 

punished by the state's Committees for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. 

Proselytizing by non-Muslims and by non-Sunni Muslims is strictly prohibited. Conversion from 

Wahhabi Islam to another religion is a crime. The government controls all mosques and is the 

direct employer of imams. It also operates centers designed to facilitate the conversion of 

foreigners to Islam. Non-Sunni Muslims are largely eliminated from consideration for 

government employment and educational opportunities. 

Education and Literacy: The U.S. Department of State estimates the Saudi literacy rate to be 

84.7 percent for males and 77.8 percent for females. Saudi Arabia’s nationwide public education 

system includes eight public universities and more than 20,000 schools. Public education—from 

elementary through high school—is a major government priority and is open and free to every 

citizen. In 2005 the government devoted 25 percent of total expenditures to education. Parents 

are not, however, required to send their children to school. Estimates from 2001 suggest that 59 

percent of age-relevant children enroll in primary education. About 61 percent of those eligible 

attend intermediate and secondary schools, according to 1996 data. Education remains closely 

tied to Islamic teachings. All curricula must conform to Islamic laws and the Quran, and 

traditional gender roles still limit the educational opportunities available to females. The 

education of females has increased dramatically in recent years, from 25 percent of all students 

in 1970 to 47.5 percent in 2001. However, classroom instruction remains strictly segregated. 

Additionally, women can only attend six of the nation’s eight universities, and they are 

prohibited from studying certain subjects. Whereas men may travel to foreign countries to pursue 
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education, women are discouraged from doing so and generally must be accompanied by a 

spouse or male relative. 

Health: Health benefits for Saudi citizens have increased exponentially since the implementation 

of the first five-year development plan in 1970. Today, according to the Saudi government, every 

citizen has access to unlimited, free medical care. The government provides the bulk of financing 

to build and operate hospitals throughout the country. As of 2006, the Saudi Ministry of Health 

operated 62 percent of the country’s hospitals and 53 percent of its nonurgent-care centers. 

Expenditures for health and social services account for about 13 percent of the government’s 

2006 budget. Although spending has increased, management problems have hindered 

coordination among the various state, private, and military health care providers. 

Saudi Arabia has a two-tiered health care system. A series of clinics, many of them mobile units 

that serve the country’s remote rural towns, provide minor and preventative health care. Most of 

the doctors in the country are not Saudi⎯only about 20 percent according to recent estimates. 

Government officials expect this number to increase as education for doctors improves in the 

country. Saudi Arabia’s medical advances can be seen clearly in the increasing number of 

specialized service providers. As recently as 1980, most Saudi hospitals provided only general 

medical care, but in May 2006 Saudi Arabia terminated its long-standing practice of sending 

patients to the United States for more complicated procedures. Government attention instead has 

focused on continuing to improve Saudi facilities and expertise. 

Statistics indicate a relatively high level of health in Saudi Arabia. According to 2002 estimates, 

there are 1.5 doctors and 2.3 hospital beds per 1,000 persons. Nearly the entire Saudi population 

has access to sanitation, and 95 percent of Saudis have access to clean water. Similarly, nearly 

100 percent of the population has access to affordable essential drugs. The immunization rate for 

children approaches 100 percent. For example, immunization against tuberculosis and measles 

has increased to 94 percent of all one-year-olds. Of births occurring in 2002, 91 percent were 

attended by a trained health professional. 

The Saudi government does not release comprehensive health statistics, but United Nations 

estimates on human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome 

(HIV/AIDS) for 2006 place the adult prevalence rate at less than 0.02 percent. Since 1985, Saudi 

Arabia has nearly eradicated diphtheria, poliomyelitis, whooping cough, and measles. 

Tuberculosis and hepatitis B have proved more difficult to eliminate. The health status of women 

and children has attracted some concern from international organizations. Health workers report 

that physical spousal abuse and violence against women and children appear to be common 

problems. A 2003 report by the Saudi Ministry of Interior estimated that 21 percent of females 

suffered some form of abuse. To address this problem, the Saudi government has now mandated 

that hospitals report any suspicions of violence against women, domestic or otherwise, to law 

enforcement officials. 

Welfare: Among developing nations, as categorized by the United Nations in 2005, Saudi 

Arabia ranks thirty-second out of 103 countries on the Human Poverty Index (an assessment of 

standard of living), ahead of most of its Middle East neighbors, and seventy-seventh out of 177 

nations on the Human Development Index (a comparative measure of well-being and child 
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welfare). Through its series of five-year development plans, Saudi Arabia continues to try to 

transform oil wealth into broader economic prosperity. But despite high oil prices and rising oil 

production, the average Saudi’s standard of living has fallen, and unemployment, especially 

among young adults, continues to rise. Moreover, the perception that oil revenues are not 

equitably distributed throughout the population continues to create some social discontent. 

Saudi Arabia’s General Organization for Social Insurance, a semi-state body, was established in 

1969. A 9 percent payroll tax funds social insurance programs. Saudi businesses and individuals 

are also responsible to the Ministry of Finance for the zakat (almsgiving), the Islamic tithe of 2.5 

percent of one’s net worth. Old-age pensions are paid to retired workers at a rate of 2.5 percent 

of the last average salary. Men must be 60 years of age and women 55 in order to begin receiving 

payments. Additionally, all Saudis are granted a plot of land and a small loan to build a house. 

ECONOMY 

Overview: Saudi Arabia has a robust economy that experienced rapid growth from 2003 to 2005 

but remains largely dependent on the production and exportation of oil. Saudi Arabia produces 

more oil and natural gas liquids than any other country in the world. The Saudi Arabia Oil 

Company (Saudi Aramco), which was fully nationalized in 1988, controls this vitally important 

resource. Even as the demand for oil, and consequently the price per barrel, remain at historic 

highs, Saudi Arabia faces the challenge of diversifying its economy. In 1999 a royal decree 

established the Supreme Economic Council under the leadership of the crown price and charged 

it with bringing Saudi Arabia’s economy into the twenty-first century. Since the 1970s, the Saudi 

government has used five-year development plans to try to make its economy less susceptible to 

fluctuations in oil prices. Currently in its eighth five-year plan (2005–8), the government has 

goals of achieving modest but consistent gross domestic product (GDP) growth, increasing the 

role of the private sector in the economy, and creating significant numbers of new jobs for Saudi 

citizens. 

Despite ambitious government plans for economic modernization and diversification, the 

development of the non-oil economy has proceeded slowly, and attempts in the past decade to 

encourage private investment have been hampered by the many vested interests of the royal 

family, which continues to dominate the economy. Strong oil sales have boosted government 

revenues and enabled robust government spending (a trend expected to continue in the near 

term), but analysts note a long-term decline in national living standards. Compared to some other 

oil-dominant economies, such as the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, Saudi Arabia has a 

relatively low per capita GDP. Popular discontent has been rising for years among Saudi citizens 

who feel that not enough of the country’s oil wealth goes back to the people. Although 

production has boomed, there is actually less oil money to go around. Saudi Arabia’s per capita 

oil export revenue in 2004, US$4,500 per person, was far less than the high of nearly US$23,000 

reached in 1980. Economic discontent will likely continue to reverberate as high levels of 

unemployment plague the country’s young male population. 

Gross Domestic Product (GDP): According to estimates, Saudi Arabia’s gross domestic 

product (GDP) will reach between US$308 billion and US$338 billion in 2005. Should these 
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estimates prove accurate, the total would represent a healthy increase over the US$215 billion to 

US$251 billion posted in 2003 and 2004. Estimated per capita GDP was US$12,800 in 2005. 

Projections for future GDP growth remain bright: 5.4 percent for 2006 and 4.6 percent for 2007, 

following high annual growth rates of 7.7 percent, 5.2 percent, and 7.5 percent, respectively, in 

2003–5. Oil prices and production will undoubtedly determine the validity of such forecasting. 

Government Budget: Since 2002, when oil revenues began to increase dramatically, Saudi 

Arabia has produced large budgetary surpluses. Before that time, high defense spending and 

government subsidies to consumers, coupled with low oil production rates and prices, generally 

yielded significant budgetary deficits. Saudi Arabia’s 2006 budget includes government 

spending of nearly US$90 billion, a 20 percent increase over 2005. This plan will continue the 

government’s strategy of using record oil revenues to provide broad economic stimulus. 

Government spending priorities include education, health and social affairs, municipal services, 

transportation, and infrastructure. Even with its ambitious spending plans, the government 

projects a budget surplus of US$15 billion in 2006, based on estimated 2006 revenues of US$104 

billion. About 20 percent of revenue will be from non-oil income. Government officials expect 

tariff and duty revenue to decrease as the full effects of Saudi Arabia’s ascension to the World 

Trade Organization are borne out. 

Because of the significance of oil revenue, Saudi Arabia imposes only minimal income taxes on 

Saudis and does not have a capital gains or value-added tax, although a payroll tax supports 

social insurance programs, and the government collects the Islamic tithe of 2.5 percent of net 

worth from both businesses and individuals. Joint ventures and non-Saudi individuals and 

businesses are taxed at varying rates. 

Inflation: Saudi Arabia controls internal inflation through a series of price subsidies. When 

necessary or expedient, the government intervenes to drive market prices down for consumers. 

For example, in April 2006 the government slashed automobile gas prices by 20 percent.

Externally, however, the weak U.S. dollar, to which the riyal is pegged, continues to drive up the 

cost of imported goods. According to the cost of living index calculated by Saudi authorities, 

consumer prices rose by 1.1 percent in 2005. Inflation is expected to remain very low in the 

kingdom at between 0.4 and 0.5 percent through 2006. 

Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing: The agriculture sector accounted for 4 percent of Saudi 

Arabia’s 2004 gross domestic product (GDP), down from 5.1 percent in 2002. Agriculture 

employs about 6 percent of working citizens. The scarcity of water and fertile soil limits the 

crops that can be grown. The principal crop in recent years has been wheat. In 2003 Saudi 

farmers produced more than twice as much wheat as any other agricultural commodity. Other 

significant crops include dates, potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, and sorghum. Saudi Arabia is 

self-sufficient in the production of most dairy products. Saudi agriculturalists annually produce a 

surplus of eggs and broiler chickens. Nearly 75 percent of the country’s land is still used for lowgrade grazing of livestock rather than for cultivation. This has led the Ministry of Agriculture to 

establish a research center dedicated to finding the most efficient and profitable means of 

utilizing and protecting pastureland. 
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11

According to Saudi estimates, the country possesses nearly 6 million acres of forested land, but 

this area cannot sustain a forestry industry. The Saudi government has taken measures in recent 

years to conserve existing forests. It set up 20 nurseries across the country to cultivate seedlings 

and produce fertilizers and planted tree barriers along the edges of selected forests in order to 

guard against creeping sand and desertification. The fishing industry, through capture and 

aquaculture, produced an annual catch of 55,000 metric tons in 2002. 

Mining and Minerals: Extraction efforts in Saudi Abaia focus on petroleum and natural gas. 

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, oil makes up 90−95 percent of Saudi 

Arabia’s exports, 70−80 percent of state revenues, and about 40 percent of the country’s GDP. 

Despite its economic clout, however, the oil industry employs only 1.5 percent of the working 

population. Government-controlled Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest producer of petroleum, 

facilitates the oil industry in Saudi Arabia and in fact dominates the entire mining industry. 

Moreover, the company’s influence and role in overall economic planning and performance 

cannot be overstated. 

Saudi Arabia has proven oil reserves of more than 261.9 billion barrels, which will allow 

continued production at present rates (nearly 11 million barrels per day in 2005) for about 50 

years. In order to control prices and guard against glutting the world market, Saudi Arabia 

adheres to the quotas set by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), of 

which it is an influential member. Saudi Aramco officials claim that oil production could be 

ramped up to 15 million barrels per day if the market justified such an expansion. The country’s 

oil infrastructure has grown rapidly, doubling the number of drilling rigs in the country (90), 

between 2004 and 2006. Nevertheless, challenges still lie ahead, including guarding against the 

threat of terrorism and addressing the decline of oil fields. A typical decline rate of 5−12 percent 

annually means that Saudi Arabia must boost production by 500,000 to 1 million barrels daily 

just to maintain current output. 

In addition to oil, Saudi Arabia has large deposits of natural gas—235 trillion cubic feet, the 

fourth largest natural gas reserves in the world, representing nearly 4 percent of the world’s total 

natural gas reserves. In 2002 Saudi Arabia completed construction on the world’s largest natural 

gas plant, located in Hawiya. Saudi officials hope that the plant will increase production by up to 

30 percent. Iron ore, gold, and copper also are major mining industries. On a smaller scale, the 

extraction of limestone, gypsum, marble, and clay augment the mining industry’s annual output. 

Industry and Manufacturing: Manufacturing in 2004 contributed 8.8 percent of gross domestic 

product (GDP) and in 2002 provided employment to 8.1 percent of the Saudi workforce. Experts 

projected a manufacturing production growth rate of 7.1 percent for 2005. Most manufacturing 

jobs are tied in some manner to the minerals sector. Refining petroleum continues to be the most 

important activity. In 2005 Saudi Aramco increased production of refined products by 3 percent. 

Cement production rose by 2 percent. Additionally, the manufacturing of fertilizer and steel 

contribute significantly to the country’s economy. Ship repair, commercial airline repair, and 

construction also provide the region with much-needed industrial jobs. 

Energy: Most of the country’s electric energy comes from thermal power stations, which use the 

country’s petroleum resources. Additionally, electricity produced through the desalinization of 
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seawater has become increasingly important in the past decade. Saudi Arabia produced 145.1 

billion kilowatt-hours of electricity while consuming only 134.9 billion kilowatt-hours in 2003. 

Demand for electricity has expanded as a result of the country’s growing population and 

artificially low consumer prices (as a result of government subsidies). According to the Ministry 

of Industry and Mining, the demand for electric power grows by 7 percent a year; thus, further 

expansion of electricity production will be needed. The government has taken steps to encourage 

private investment in this sector in order to meet the exorbitant cost of such rapid growth. 

In the 1970s, the government pushed for consolidation in the energy sector, and small, private 

companies were merged as a result. In 1998 government consolidated the producers of electricity 

even further, creating a public company, the Saudi Electric Company, with shares for purchase 

on the stock market. This government control did not last, however. In order to expand the 

energy grid to include all regions of the country (currently 20 percent of Saudis are not served by 

the national grid) and to meet future needs, the Saudi government has eased restrictions on 

Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and Independent Water and Power Projects (IWPPs). The 

recently completed Ghazlan II power project was the first in Saudi history to receive a significant 

portion of its funding from an international commercial loan (US$500 million of the US$1.7 

billion total cost of the project). The Saudi government plans to establish 10 IWPPS by 2016. 

Services: The services sector produced 44.1 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) in 

2002 and employed 73 percent of the workforce. In 2005 it produced an estimated 35−38 percent 

of GDP. According to a 2002 survey of the services sector, 16 percent of Saudis worked in retail, 

12 percent in education, and 10 percent in domestic service. 

Banking and Finance: Saudi Arabia has a profitable and stable banking industry, closely 

regulated by the Saudi Arabia Monetary Fund (SAMA). Saudi banks that conform to Islamic law 

prohibiting interest payments have the benefit of not paying their depositors to hold their money. 

This, along with high oil revenues, has led to high profits for Saudi banks in recent years. SAMA 

reported that total bank deposits reached US$138 billion in the first quarter of 2006. SAMA 

estimates that non-performing loans comprise only about 9 percent of the banking industry’s 

lending portfolio. No bank has ever failed in Saudi Arabia. 

The banking sector is composed of 13 Saudi-owned banks and eight branches of foreign banks. 

The country’s largest bank, the National Commercial Bank, is controlled by the Saudi 

government and operates under Islamic principles. Saudi Arabia only recently began opening its 

doors to foreign banks. The Gulf International Bank (Bahrain) arrived first in 2000, followed by 

the Emirates Bank International (United Arab Emirates), the National Bank of Kuwait, and the 

National Bank of Bahrain in 2002. The Capital Market Law, passed in 2003, eliminated further 

barriers to foreign financial institutions. In addition to commercial banks, which meet general 

banking needs, five government-developed credit institutions are designed to meet private and 

corporate financing needs: the Real Estate Development Fund, established in 1974; the Saudi 

Industrial Development Fund; the Saudi Arabian Agricultural Bank, which was founded in 1964; 

the Public Investment Fund, which lends to “commercially oriented public corporations;” and the 

Saudi Credit Bank, established in 1971 to make personal loans to low-income Saudi citizens for 

marriage expenses, vocational training, and building projects. Besides commercial banks and the 

five government funds, only a few investment banks and other financial intermediaries exist. The 
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venture capital and entrepreneur finance sectors of the economy remain underdeveloped, as most 

Saudis continue to rely on either family or friends to provide capital for business development. 

Insurance companies are in their infancy. Prior to passage of the Co-operative Insurance 

Companies Control Law of July 2003, the government had a monopoly on the insurance 

industry. 

The Saudi stock market is the largest in the Arab world, with a total market capitalization valued 

at nearly US$650 billion at the end of fiscal year 2005, a 111 percent increase from one year 

prior. Established in 1990 by SAMA, Saudi Arabia’s stock market only opened to investors 

outside the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in 1997. Public interest and participation have 

increased during the past few boom years. Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and initial public 

offerings (IPOs) have become common investment strategies for the country’s financially aware 

citizens. In 2001 SAMA established an online trading system called Tadawul that made 

securities more accessible. Additionally, the Capital Market Law of 2003 established an official 

trading floor for the Saudi Arabia Stock Exchange. Still, the legacies of corporate secrecy and 

government interference in business remain stumbling blocks to wide participation in the 

securities market. Moreover, the decline of the stock market in February 2006 after three years of 

record gains provided a sobering warning to investors. 

Tourism: Saudi Arabia is aggressively pushing the development of its tourist industry. The 

secretary general of the Tourism Higher Authority (THA) boldly predicted that Saudi Arabia 

would have 45.3 million tourists in 2020. Presently the THA has embarked on an aggressive 

expansion of tourist facilities. An estimated 4.8 million tourists came to Saudi Arabia in 1999, 

generating receipts of more than US$1.4 billion. The World Tourism Organization estimated that 

in 2004 Saudi Arabia received 8.6 million visitors who spent a combined total of US$6.5 billion. 

The hajj is the bedrock of Saudi tourism. In 2004 nearly 2 million pilgrims came to Saudi 

Arabia. Additionally, nearly 500,000 Saudis take part in hajj activities each year. Currently, 

expansion projects are underway in order to increase the number of pilgrims that can be 

accommodated. Outside of the hajj period, visitors performing the omra, or minor pilgrimage, 

visit Mecca and Medina. Until recently, these pilgrims were restricted to the primary religious 

cities. However, in 2000 the government approved tourist visas that would permit further travel 

in the kingdom, and travel companies can now conduct group tours, although restrictions on who 

can enter the country remain in effect. Significant barriers to tourism still exist for non-Muslims, 

although Saudi Arabia initiated a pilot program of granting tourist visas in early 2006. 

Since non-hajj tourism has never been a significant industry in Saudi Arabia, many touristfriendly operations that other countries take for granted are not in place. To begin rectifying this 

situation, the Supreme Commission for Tourism has proposed instituting a hotel rating system, 

developing roadside rest areas, funding hotels in rural regions, encouraging archeological and 

museum visitors, and licensing tourist companies. The commission has also developed plans for 

expanding education opportunities for those interested in the hospitality and hotel industries. 

Labor: Labor, or rather sufficient employment, is a significant problem in Saudi Arabia. The 

unemployment rate has risen to nearly 25 percent (estimates vary from 13 percent by the Saudi 

government to 25 percent by the U.S. government), and the economy remains dependent on the 
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14

skills and expertise provided by the 6 million foreign nationals residing in the country. Current 

estimates place the workforce in Saudi Arabia at 6.76 million, with foreign workers constituting 

nearly one-third of that total. Resolution No. 50, passed in 1995, required that the workforce of 

any company with more than 20 employees be at least 5 percent Saudi. This requirement was 

raised to 10 percent in 1999. Additionally, in 2001 the Saudi government prohibited the 

awarding of contracts to companies not complying with Saudiization and stipulated that foreign 

workers applying to change jobs would be charged a fee. 

Saudi Arabia does not have a minimum wage, but most workers earn a wage adequate to meet 

their family’s basic needs. Overtime must be paid for hours worked beyond the federally 

mandated 48-hour workweek. The government prohibits the formation of labor unions and 

collective bargaining, although it has begun to allow the establishment in larger companies of 

“labor committees,” whose members must be approved by the Ministry of Labor and Social 

Affairs. 

Numerous reports exist of maltreatment of workers in Saudi Arabia. Charges include forced 

labor, martial punishment, and using trafficking victims to meet labor needs. Foreign workers are 

particularly vulnerable to exploitation because contracts generally favor employers, and 

reporting a grievance to the labor courts often takes months. The government offers arbitration 

services between workers and employers in cases of alleged abuse. 

Foreign Economic Relations: Because of its massive oil revenues, Saudi Arabia regularly 

produces a significant trade surplus. The country’s major trade partners are Japan, the United 

States, and the European Union. Saudi Arabia maintains memberships in most of the region’s 

economic organizations, including the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, 

Islamic Development Bank, Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries, and 

Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. Saudi Arabia became the 149th member of 

the World Trade Organization (WTO) in December 2005, evidence that it is making strides 

toward market modernization. 

Saudi Arabia maintains a close economic relationship with the United States and other oilconsuming nations. The United States, followed by Japan, South Korea, and China, receives the 

majority of Saudi exports. In 2004 the United States was both the leading market for Saudi 

exports and the leading supplier of imports, as it had been in previous years. Japan also does 

significant business with Saudi Arabia. In addition to trade connections, the Saudi riyal is pegged 

to the U.S. dollar. Thus, when U.S. officials adjust monetary or fiscal policy, Saudi leaders 

typically follow suit. 

Imports: Increasing demands for consumer goods in Saudi Arabia have driven up overall 

imports in the kingdom, a trend that is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. The total 

value of imported goods in 2006 is expected to increase from the estimated total of US$51 

billion in 2005. The largest categories of imported goods are machinery and vehicles, which 

make up about 50 percent of all imports, as well as appliances, electrical equipment, sound and 

television apparatus, aircraft, and cars. The United States continues to be Saudi Arabia’s leading 

source of imports (13 percent in 2005). Imports from the United States include military 
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equipment, machinery, foodstuffs, and transport equipment. European countries, including 

Germany, France, and Britain, are other leading suppliers. 

Exports: Nearly 90 percent of Saudi exports are related to oil. Petrochemicals, plastics, 

construction materials (cement especially), and agricultural products make up the remainder of 

Saudi exports. Export earnings (mainly from oil and petroleum products) totaled an estimated 

US$175 billion in 2005. The value of exports is expected to increase in 2006, as increased 

production likely will offset any reduction in the price of oil. The United States and Japan 

receive the largest share of Saudi exported commodities⎯about 17 and 14 percent, respectively, 

of the 2005 total. Other primary destinations include South Korea, China, Singapore, and 

Taiwan. 

Trade Balance: Saudi Arabia annually produces a significant trade surplus. Even in the wake of 

the 1973 oil shock, revenues from exports exceeded the cost of imports. Saudi Arabia posted a 

trade surplus of nearly US$124 billion in 2005, almost solely the result of a banner year for oil 

production and prices. 

Balance of Payments: Saudi Arabia’s significant trade surplus in goods is offset by deficits in 

the exchange of services and investment. In contrast to the goods sector, Saudi Arabia annually 

experiences a trade deficit in the services sector. The Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) 

projects that the country will experience a deficit of US$35.8 billion for services and transfers in 

2005. On average, Saudi Arabia spends about four times as much on importing foreign services 

as it receives from foreign entities purchasing Saudi services. Nevertheless, overall Saudi Arabia 

has enjoyed a positive balance of payments over the past few years. The country last recorded a 

negative balance of payments in 1998. For 2005 SAMA recorded a record US$90 billion current 

account balance. 

External Debt: In 2005 Saudi Arabia’s public debt was an estimated $38.78 billion, or 

approximately 11 percent of gross domestic product. Saudi Arabia maintains about US$27 

billion in reserves of foreign exchange and gold. 

Foreign Investment: As a result of the improving climate for foreign investment in Saudi 

Arabia and sustained high oil prices, foreign direct investment has boomed since 2000. After 

years of rhetoric without substantial change, Saudi Arabia made its first real allowances to 

foreign investors with the Foreign Investment Act of 2000. The law guaranteed foreigners 

protection against Saudi nationalization of particular industries and reduced the income tax on 

foreigners. The Capital Market Law of 2003 created further opportunities, allowing for initial 

public offerings and denationalizing some industries. In 2004 Saudi Arabia received about 

US$300 million in foreign direct investment. According to the Saudi Arabian General 

Investment Authority (SAGIA), investment capital secured through investment licenses 

increased 787 percent in the first quarter of 2005 over the same quarter in 2004. Despite these 

advances, foreign investors have been hesitant to participate in Saudi ventures because of the 

long tradition of government interference in the marketplace, bureaucratic nuisances, and 

concerns about instability and terrorism. Moreover, the government continues to ban foreign 

investment in national defense or certain sectors with religious significance such as health and 

pilgrimage services. 
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The acceptance of foreign capital in Saudi Arabia has made it easier for foreign businesses to 

follow. Foreign companies, however, face a distinct disadvantage in terms of taxes. Saudi-owned 

businesses pay only the zakat (a 2.5 percent alms tax) on company assets and property while 

foreign-owned companies face a tax rate of up to 20 percent (or even as high as 80 percent in the 

hydrocarbon sector). Restrictions on the Saudi stock exchange have reinforced the government’s 

prominent role in economic development and discouraged foreign investors. The Saudi stock 

exchange is now partially open to foreign investors, but trading remains limited. Non-Gulf 

Cooperation Council citizens can only invest in Saudi Arabia’s equity market by purchasing 

mutual funds managed by Saudi banks. Foreign investment in the Saudi stock market probably 

will not become widespread until foreigners can purchase stocks and equities directly. 

With the collapse, beginning in 1998, of the Saudi government’s National Gas Initiative, which 

sought to free up crude oil for export by locating new gas supplies to meet domestic needs, a 

distinct opportunity has emerged for foreign investors in the gas sector. International oil 

companies, including the U.S. firm Chevron Texaco, have been allowed to pursue a number of 

“upstream” gas development sites. Additionally, the Saudi government has recently opened the 

insurance, education, pipeline services, and mobile telephone sectors to foreign investment. The 

government also has tried, with limited success, to force its largest foreign investors to disperse 

their money more widely in the Saudi economy. The Saudi offset program mandates that 

companies with large military and, in some cases, commercial contracts invest a portion of their 

profits in Saudi industries. 

Foreign Aid: Saudi Arabia gives aid to less affluent nations, primarily Arab and other Muslim 

states. In 1974 a royal decree established the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), which 

provides grants and loans to developing countries. Specifically, the SFD supports the export of 

non-crude-oil commodities by providing the financing to get such operations underway. 

According to the Saudi government, 68 different nations have been party to 369 SFD loan 

agreements. Saudi officials also claim that assistance to poor countries has at times reached as 

high as 6 percent of Saudi Arabia’s gross national product and that the country has given more 

than US$20 million to developing Islamic countries in the past 15 years. 

Not surprisingly, Saudi Arabia has given more generously during times of high oil revenues. 

Since 2000, Saudi officials have earmarked the following aid packages: Palestine (US$307 

million), Iraq (US$1 billion in loans and export guarantees, US$133 in grants), and Pakistan 

(US$153 million for earthquake recovery). 

Currency and Exchange Rate: Saudi Arabia’s currency, the riyal (SAR), is pegged to the U.S. 

dollar. Therefore, the rate in terms of U.S. value remains stable: SAR3.75=US$1. 

Fiscal Year: Saudi Arabia’s fiscal year coincides with the calendar year. 
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TRANSPORTATION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS 

Overview: Once accessible only via camel caravan, Saudi Arabia has made rapid improvements 

in its transportation and communications networks through its five-year development plans. 

Improvements in roads, railroads, airports, and telecommunications have come rapidly since 

1970. However, with agricultural and industrial development, traffic also has increased rapidly. 

Continuing improvements will be necessary to allow for long-term economic growth as well as 

to decrease congestion and preserve the quality of urban life. 

Roads: Saudi Arabia is served by more than 156,000 kilometers of roads, about one-third of 

which are paved and the rest, improved earth. This network is vital not only for use by private 

citizens, but also to allow the oil industry to grow and prosper. The Trans-Arabian Highway 

serves to link Saudi Arabia’s major cities—Ad Dammam, Riyadh, Jiddah, Mecca, and Medina. 

Most villages in Saudi Arabia, even in remote areas, are now connected to the larger road 

network. The road system also has connected Saudi Arabia more closely to its neighbors, both 

literally and diplomatically. The King Fahd Causeway (known also as the Bahrain Causeway), 

completed in 1986, connects Saudi Arabia to Bahrain. Whereas the emphasis has largely shifted 

to maintaining the network of roads already in place, one future project under consideration is a 

causeway that would link Saudi Arabia to Egypt. 

Railroads: As of 2004, Saudi Arabia had 1,392 kilometers of railroads, all at a standard 1.435-

meter gauge. In 2001, 790,000 passengers traveled on Saudi trains. In addition, Saudi trains 

carried 1.5 million tons of cargo. In comparison to the other means of transport in the country, 

however, railroads remain relatively undeveloped. The difficult terrain has made laying track a 

costly endeavor. Currently, the country’s most significant railroad is one that covers 570 

kilometers between Riyadh and Ad Dammam, linking the capital with a significant port and 

industrial city. The Saudi Railways Organization (SRO), which oversees the country’s rail 

network, has gained approval from the Supreme Economic Council for two major expansions 

that will add nearly 3,000 kilometers to the rail network. The Saudi Landbridge project will 

connect the port cities of Jiddah, Al Damman, Al Jubayl, and Riyadh with a modern rail system 

useful for both cargo and passenger transport. The Mecca−Medina Rail Link will connect Saudi 

Arabia’s two holiest cities, making the transport of pilgrims more efficient and safe. 

Ports: Saudi Arabia has 21 modern ports that handled 132 million tons of cargo and welcomed 

more than 1 million passengers in 2005. The major Red Sea ports are located in Jiddah, Yanbu, 

and Jizan. On the Persian Gulf, Ad Dammam and Al Jubayl are Saudi Arabia’s most significant 

ports. In 2004 the industrial ports at Al Jubayl, Jiddah, and Yanbu each handled more than 30 

million tons of cargo. Together, they handled more than 80 percent of the kingdom’s cargo. The 

Jiddah Islamic Port, as it is officially titled, also serves as the main entry port for pilgrims 

arriving to visit Mecca and Medina. The port at Ad Dammam, like the one in Jiddah, has a fully 

equipped repair yard. The newest major port to be completed, located at the northern end of the 

Red Sea at Dhiba, is the closest port to the Suez Canal and Egyptian ports. The Saudi 

government, through its port authority, regulates all ports. As in most sectors of the economy, 

privatization is being attempted at a gradual pace. In 1999 some of the service aspects of port 

operation, including maintenance and management of docks, were opened to private contracts. 
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Inland Waterways: Saudi Arabia has no permanent rivers or waterways. 

Civil Aviation and Airports: According to U.S. government statistics, Saudi Arabia has a total 

of 202 airports including 73 with paved runways and 129 with unpaved runways. The country 

also boasts six heliports. Saudi Arabia has four major international airports, located in Jiddah, 

Riyadh, Al Hufuf, and Dhahran. King Abd al Aziz International Airport serves Jiddah and 

currently handles about 13 million passengers annually. Plans exist for expansion in Jiddah to 

include a Hajj Terminal to further accommodate Muslim pilgrims. King Khalid International 

Airport serves the capital city of Riyadh. It currently has the capacity to handle 7.5 million 

passengers annually, but there are plans for expansion. A system of 24 regional airports connects 

the remote regions of the country to the international airports and consequently to the rest of the 

world. Currently, Saudi Arabian Airlines is the major operator for the region. With a fleet of 

more than 100 aircraft, it transports more than 10 million passengers annually and is the largest 

airline company in the Middle East. 

Pipelines: According to U.S. estimates, Saudi Arabia has a total of 9,413 kilometers of pipeline. 

This total includes pipeline designated for condensate, 212 kilometers; gas, 1,780 kilometers; 

liquid petroleum, 1,191 kilometers; oil, 5,068 kilometers, and other refined products, 1,162 

kilometers. 

Telecommunications: In 1998 Saudi Arabia’s telecommunications industry was largely 

privatized. The sector is now dominated by the Saudi Telecommunications Company, which 

employs more than 70,000 Saudis. The Ministry of Telecommunications and Information 

Technology provides governmental oversight. 

Statistics gathered in 1998 showed that there were 43 AM, 31 FM, and two short-wave radio 

stations in operation in Saudi Arabia, and Saudis owned about 6.3 million radios (in 1997). 

Currently, two television channels broadcast in Saudi Arabia—one in English and one in Arabic, 

with 117 stations providing coverage throughout the country. Estimates from 2000 show that 

Saudis had 5.7 million television sets. 

Saudi Arabia has a modern and expanding telephone system, with more than 3.6 million main 

lines in use in 2004. The technology used for domestic lines includes microwave radio relay, 

coaxial cable, and fiber-optic cable stems. Seven “earth stations” are linked to the Intelstat 

Satellite System, which allows Saudi citizens direct dialing access to more than 200 countries 

around the globe. According to 2002 statistics, Saudi Arabia had 151 telephone mainlines per 

1,000 people. Mobile and cellular phones have become increasingly popular in the last decade. 

More than 9 million Saudis had cellular phones in 2004. 

The use of personal computers and the Internet has increased rapidly in the early 2000s. Internet 

service first became available in Saudi Arabia in 1999. With access routed through a state server, 

the government, as it has in many industries, took control of the technological and economic 

development of the Internet. The number of Internet users in the country nearly doubled between 

2003 and 2005, reaching 2.5 million. 
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GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS 

Political System: Although some democratic reforms have been implemented, Saudi Arabia still 

operates as a near-absolute monarchy. Elections in 2005 for the first time allowed Saudi male 

citizens to choose municipal representatives. Very low voter turnout and skepticism about the 

elected officials’ real power, however, have tempered any discussion of the development of 

unfettered democracy in Saudi Arabia. Nevertheless, the king does not have unfettered power. 

The Basic Law established in 1993 articulates the government’s rights and regulations and sets 

forth the civil rights, system of government, and administrative divisions by which the state is 

run. Foremost, the Basic Law mandates that Islamic Law must come before all other 

considerations. The Quran and sunna (Islamic custom and practice based on Muhammad’s words 

and deeds) are the state’s constitution, and both the government and the society as a whole 

dismiss the notion that separation should exist between church and state. The king must not only 

respect Islamic law and tradition but also build consensus among members of the royal family 

and religious leaders (the ulama). He can be removed if a majority of the royal family calls for 

his ouster. The assumption of the throne by King Abd Allah (Abdullah) following the death of 

King Fahd on August 1, 2005, proceeded seamlessly. King Fahd’s lengthy illness following an 

incapacitating stroke in 1995 and Abd Allah’s tenure as crown prince undoubtedly facilitated the 

succession, defusing any potential conflict among vying factions of the royal family. 

Succession in Saudi Arabia has proceeded smoothly during the country’s short history, following 

the pattern set by Abd al Aziz of appointing an heir apparent as crown prince and first deputy 

prime minister. Since 1975 Saudi monarchs have also appointed a second deputy prime minister 

to serve as next in line on the unofficial succession slate. While other Middle Eastern countries 

such as Bahrain, Jordan, and Qatar have recently experienced a generational transfer of 

leadership, Saudi Arabia still has drawn only from among the sons of King Abd al Aziz in 

designating a ruler. As a result, Saudi leaders are taking the throne at a more and more advanced 

age. King Abd Allah and his half-brother Crown Prince Sultan are both between 75 and 90 years 

old. Because of their ages, the choice of a second deputy prime minister among Abd al Aziz’s six 

remaining sons has increased significance, but King Abd Allah has thus far chosen to leave the 

position of second deputy prime minister vacant. Succession in Saudi Arabia will only become 

more challenging as the pool of potential candidates expands. The Basic Law clarified that the 

king must come from the Al Saud family, but once beyond Abd al Aziz’s sons and grandsons, 

the number of possible kings will expand well into the thousands. Fractures within the royal 

family could form between reformists and traditionalists. 

The Council of Ministers, created in 1953, is responsible for drafting legislation to be presented 

to the king. The council acts upon majority decision, but laws become official only with the 

king’s decree. All legislation must be in accordance with Islamic law. The Council of Ministers 

includes a prime minister (the king), a first and second deputy prime minister, 23 ministers with 

portfolio (including the second deputy prime minister, who also serves as a minister), and five 

ministers of state. 

In addition to the Council of Ministers, the Consultative Council serves at the king’s pleasure. 

Following its inception in 1993, King Fahd restructured the council in 1997 and 2001 to expand 

the number of councilors. Currently, 120 councilors serve four-year terms. The king must 
Library of Congress – Federal Research Division Country Profile: Saudi Arabia, September 2006 

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approve all members. Most of the members are individuals with ties to the Al Saud family and 

tribal leaders, but the body also includes businessmen, academics, and some religious leaders. 

The consultative body has no power to act independently but it is empowered to hold debates, 

initiate investigative hearings, and enforce government-sponsored legislation. Since 2003, the 

Consultative Council has been increasingly included in the process of creating legislation. 

The royal family dominates government and politics in Saudi Arabia. The family’s vast numbers 

(hundreds in the main family alone) allow it to control most of the kingdom’s important posts. 

Most members of the Council of Ministers and provincial governors come from the royal family. 

The increasing power of the Consultative Council represents a threat to royal family power, even 

though the king has largely supported its development. The possibility of electing half of the 

council, as proposed by some reformers, would further dilute the power of the royal family. 

Currently, the royal family remains firmly entrenched in power, but popular discontent has been 

building for years. 

Administrative Divisions: A royal decree put forth in 1993 divided the kingdom into 13 

provinces (mintiqat; sing., mintiqah): Al Bahah, Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah, Al Jawf, Al 

Madinah, Al Qasim, Ar Riyad, Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern Province), Asir, Hail, Jizan, Makkah, 

Najran, and Tabuk. A royal decree issued in 1994 subdivided the 13 provinces into 103 

governorates. 

Provincial and Local Government: In 1993 the king determined that a system of provincial 

government should exist. Subsequently, officials divided the country into 13 provinces, each of 

which was placed under the jurisdiction of a governor, usually a prince or close relative of the 

royal family. Four times each year, each governor meets with his provincial council to evaluate 

the province’s development and make recommendations to the Council of Ministers regarding 

the province’s needs. In October 2003, it was announced that 178 municipal councils would be 

created to advise the provincial governors. One-half of the new municipal council members were 

to be elected through universal male suffrage and one-half appointed by the central government. 

After numerous delays, the first of a planned three phases of elections took place in February 

2005. Voter turnout reportedly was only about 25 percent or possibly even lower (15–20 percent) 

according to unofficial estimates. Numerous candidates, however, emerged. More than 1,800 

candidates competed for a total of 592 seats on the 178 municipal councils. In Riyadh alone, 

more than 600 candidates competed for seven seats. The second phase took place in March 2005 

in the Eastern, Asir, Jizan, Najran, and Al Bahah provinces. Low voter turnout again undercut 

the effort. Only 12 percent of eligible men voted. The final stage of the elections was held in 

April 2005. 

The role of municipal councils is both to carry out on a local level the resolutions passed by the 

Council of Ministers and to mitigate regional concerns. According to the Basic Law, every 

citizen has the right to address his concerns with either the king or a royal prince. The king and 

princes hold open meetings for public discussion, as do municipal and regional leaders. The 

democratic election of some of those leaders will for the first time give Saudis a more direct 

voice in their government. 
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Judicial and Legal System: In contrast to its legislative branch, Saudi Arabia’s judicial branch 

operates on a mostly independent basis, as stipulated in the Basic Law. However, members of the 

royal family are exempt from appearing before the courts, and allies of the family have received 

preferential treatment from judges in the past. Before the modernization of the judicial system in 

1928, the system was severely fragmented among various judges who adhered to one of four 

schools of Islamic theology. After “unification,” all courts were mandated to use the Quran and 

sunna as the basis for judgments without being limited to a particular school. Over time, some 

secular codes have been introduced to augment Islamic law. 

The Ministry of Justice was created in 1970 to further unify the kingdom’s vast system of courts 

and judges. In the same year, King Faisal formed the Supreme Judicial Council, with the 

responsibility of overseeing the court system and reviewing legal decisions. The Supreme 

Judicial Council assumed the task of approving all death, amputation, and stoning sentences. As 

of 2005, these forms of punishment had decreased in frequency, but they still exist. The king 

may grant pardons at his discretion, except to felons convicted of killing another individual. In 

this instance, the king must gain the approval of the victim’s next of kin to grant a pardon. 

A hierarchical court system allows the accused a process of appeal. The Ministry of Justice 

oversees the entire system. The General Courts, also referred to as the Courts of First Instance, 

are the first to hear cases and make decisions. The decisions of these courts may be appealed to 

the Supreme Judicial Council. Further appeals may be made to the Council of Ministers, but any 

decision of the council, signed by the king, is final. The law prohibits imprisonment for more 

than three days without being charged with a crime. There are reports, however, that this law has 

been ignored, especially by the religious police. According to the sharia, the court system should 

not give the testimony of a woman the same weight as that of a man. Additionally, a judge may 

throw out the testimony of non-Muslims. 

A military justice system exists to try all members of the military and those persons accused of 

violating military regulations. The minister of defense and king review all decisions made by the 

military court. 

Electoral System: Saudi Arabia had no history of electoral government until February 2005, 

when, in an election open only to male voters age 21 and older, Saudi citizens cast votes to select 

one-half the members of the municipal councils. The three-stage elections, which continued in 

March and April 2005, represented a fundamental step away from Saudi Arabia’s absolute 

monarchy. There are also signs that a portion of the Consultative Council might be chosen via 

election in the near future. In general, the expanding power of the Consultative Council, in 

comparison to the traditional dominance of the Council of Ministers, is a positive sign for liberal 

reformers in the kingdom hoping for increased popular sovereignty. Nevertheless, out of a 

population of nearly 27 million, only about 3 million (males only) are eligible to vote. Women 

do not yet have the right to vote. 

Politics and Political Parties: Political parties are illegal in Saudi Arabia, but distinct political 

divisions exist. Members of the royal family fill most of the important political positions in the 

kingdom, and the king and the Al Saud family rule by consensus. The ulama, a large and 

powerful group of religious leaders, perhaps numbering 10,000, ensure that the king observes 
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22

Islamic law above all other considerations. In order to placate the powerful religious majority of 

Saudi society, the Al Saud pays close attention to the interests espoused by religious leaders. 

Saudi Arabia’s history of tribal organization also plays into the kingdom’s political mix. Leaders 

of the principal tribes still command respect and authority. The traditional merchant families of 

Saudi Arabia also have a measure of political influence. The royal family has depended on the 

merchants at various times for financial support, and merchant revenues continue to be a steady 

source of government income. Finally, the new class of Saudi professionals and technocrats, 

emerging as a result of increased privatization of the economy, has informal influence on 

government ministers. Petitions signed by members of this class have encouraged some reforms. 

Mass Media: Newspapers are privately owned but are subsidized and regulated by the 

government. Because the Basic Law states that the media’s role is to educate and inspire national 

unity, most popular grievances go unreported in Saudi Arabia. In recent years, however, the 

government has allowed some critical stories to be written by selected journalists. Although selfcensorship continues to be a method of self-preservation for the nation’s media outlets, 

government censorship seems to be decreasing, especially on journalistic inquiries into crime 

and terrorism. 

The government owns and operates the radio and television companies in Saudi Arabia. Censors 

remove objectionable material deemed offensive by the standards of Islam, including references 

to pork, Christianity and other religions, alcohol, and sex. Saudi citizens, however, have greater 

access to previously banned television broadcasts than ever before. According to the U.S. State 

Department’s annual report on human rights practices, several million Saudis have satellite 

dishes that allow them to receive foreign television stations. Additionally, government 

censorship of the Internet has proved difficult. Although government officials monitor Internet 

sites for material deemed pornographic, politically offensive, or anti-Islamic, Saudi Internet users 

can gain access to most sites by simply connecting through an alternative server. The 

government recently created an appeals process by which citizens can request that particular 

Web sites be unblocked. 

Foreign Relations: Saudi Arabia has strong ties to the nations of the Middle East as well as to 

other Muslim states and developed nations such as the United States and Japan. As the guardian 

of Islam’s holy places, Saudi Arabia hosts millions of pilgrims from neighboring Islamic 

countries annually. Additionally, the mutual concern over oil prices has led to cooperation 

among oil-producing countries in the Middle East. As one of the more affluent countries in the 

region, Saudi Arabia has pursued aid and development for less developed Arab and Muslim 

states. Although Saudi Arabia has, at different times, suspended diplomatic relations with Iran 

and Egypt, among others, it continues to play a dominant role in the region. Saudi Arabia has its 

strongest diplomatic relations in the region with other members of the Gulf Cooperation Council 

(GCC): Bahrain, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In 2005, however, relations 

between these countries cooled somewhat when Bahrain, Oman, and the UAE each signed 

individual trade agreements with the United States. Saudi Arabia argued that the GCC should 

negotiate corporately and that the individual agreements violated the GCC’s external tariff treaty. 

Saudi Arabia maintains a complex diplomatic position between the Middle East and the West. It 

has consistently sought to promote Arab unity, defend Arab and Islamic interests, and support a 
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23

peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (insisting, however, that Israel must 

withdraw from the territories occupied in 1967). On the other hand, Saudi Arabia has been a 

partner with the West in economic endeavors and the war against terrorism. Some in the Arab 

world castigate Saudi Arabia for its continuing relationship with the United States, viewed as 

Israel’s most ardent protector. When Saudi Arabia called for military assistance following the 

1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, Yemen, Jordan, and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) 

refused to support the Saudi coalition. Not until five years after the Gulf War did Saudi Arabia 

normalize relations with the PLO or Jordan. 

Saudi Arabia has attempted to play the role of peacemaker, with mixed results. In 1981 King 

Fahd offered a “land for peace” initiative designed to ease tensions between the PLO and Israel, 

and in 2002 Saudi officials issued an updated version of the proposal known as the “Arab peace 

plan.” However, the Saudi initiative was sidetracked when the United States initiated its own 

“roadmap” for peace in 2003. In early 2005, Saudi Arabia pressured Syria to withdraw its forces 

from Lebanon and helped defuse a potentially violent situation. Regarding the election of Hamas 

extremists to the leadership of the Palestinian Authority (PA), Saudi Arabia has maintained 

diplomatic contact while urging that the new government honor former Palestinian agreements 

on Israel. Saudi Arabia has hinted that its aid to the PA will be contingent on continuation of a 

moderate stance. In July–August 2006, Saudi Arabia called on the United States to intervene in 

the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah forces in Lebanon. 

Saudi Arabia’s economic and security relationship with the United States remains strong but not 

without tension. The terrorist attack on the United States in September 2001 placed considerable 

strain on the relationship since Saudi Arabia had been one of only two governments to recognize 

the Taliban administration in Afghanistan, and 15 of the 19 hijackers were of Saudi descent. In 

the ensuing war on terrorism, criticisms have been traded over the handling of prisoners, U.S. 

press coverage of Saudi connections to and financing of terrorist organizations, and a civil 

lawsuit brought against the Saudi government by relatives of the victims of September 11. Even 

as tensions mounted between the United States and Saudi Arabia, terrorists carried out attacks on 

Western interests and targets in Saudi Arabia in response to Saudi cooperation with the United 

States. Although seen as soft toward the West in parts of the Middle East, King Abd Allah, then 

crown prince, condemned the U.S. war with Iraq and refused to commit Saudi troops. 

Membership in International Organizations: After a lengthy waiting and reform period, Saudi 

Arabia gained full membership into the World Trade Organization in December 2005. Saudi 

Arabia also maintains membership in the United Nations (UN), most UN specialized agencies, 

and numerous other international organizations. Regionally, Saudi Arabia has fostered close ties 

to other Arab and Islamic states through memberships in the Arab Bureau of Education for the 

Gulf States, Arab Monetary Fund, Arab Sports Federation, Gulf Cooperation Council, Islamic 

Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector, League of Arab States, Muslim World 

League, Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries, Organization of the Islamic 

Conference, and Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Saudi Arabia also 

has membership in the International Monetary Fund. 

Major International Treaties: Saudi Arabia is a party to many significant treaties, including 

international agreements on Biodiversity, Biological Weapons, Chemical Weapons, Climate 
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Change, Conservation, Desertification, Endangered Species, Gas Warfare, Genocide, Hazardous 

Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Nonproliferation, Ozone Layer Protection, and Torture. Saudi 

Arabia is not a signatory to the Kyoto Protocol or to conventions on Traffic in Women and 

Children or Terrorism. In 2005 Saudi Arabia ratified the World Health Organization’s first 

convention on tobacco control. Treaties in Saudi Arabia are confirmed by a royal decree. 

NATIONAL SECURITY 

Armed Forces Overview: Over the past decade, Saudi Arabia has devoted significant resources 

to improving its military. Flush with oil revenue, Saudi Arabia increased military spending in 

2005 by 21 percent over the 2004 level. Military spending (US$25 billion) actually surpassed the 

budget allotment. The Saudi military consists of an army, air force, navy, air defense, and 

paramilitary forces with nearly 200,000 active-duty personnel. In 2005 the armed forces had the 

following personnel: army, 75,000; air force, 18,000; air defense, 16,000; and navy, 15,500 

(including 3,000 marines). In addition, the Saudi Arabian National Guard had 75,000 active 

soldiers and 25,000 tribal levies. 

Foreign Military Relations: Since the Cold War era, Saudi Arabia has been militarily aligned 

with the United States. Saudi Arabia sided with Iraq in the Iran–Iraq war, but King Fahd called 

for the United States to intervene when Iraq invaded Kuwait and threatened the Saudi border in 

1991. The United States and Saudi Arabia led an international coalition of forces to victory over 

Iraq in the ensuing Gulf War. The United States had served as the primary arms provider for 

Saudi Arabia until Britain supplanted it in 1988. Following the Gulf War, however, the United 

States again emerged as Saudi Arabia’s primary arms supplier. In 1998 U.S. military exports to 

Saudi Arabia totaled US$4.3 billion, making Saudi Arabia the leading importer of U.S. military 

goods. The United States and Saudi Arabia continue to share a common concern over the 

regional stability of the Middle East—for both security and economic reasons. There have, 

however, been tensions between U.S. and Saudi military objectives. Saudi Arabia severed 

diplomatic relations with the Taliban in 2001 following the terrorist attacks on the United States 

but later lambasted the U.S. decision to attack the country and refused U.S. requests to operate 

from Saudi soil. Saudi Arabia also declined to participate in the 2003 Iraq war. 

Saudi Arabia also provides the home base, as well as personnel and resources, for a small 

contingent of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) troops. The GCC force, called the Peninsula 

Shield Force, numbers about 10,000 men but has suffered from lagging commitment from GCC 

members. Discrepancies over how to train, arm, and fund the outfit have limited progress. 

External Threats: Following the 1991 Gulf War, Saddam Hussein’s Baathist regime in Iraq 

represented the greatest military threat to Saudi Arabia. Thus, Saudi officials closely monitored 

the movements of Iraqi troops. In 1999 Saudi Arabia broke precedent by openly calling for Iraqis 

to topple their leader. When fighting came in 2003, however, Saudi Arabia insisted on 

maintaining its distance from the war against Iraq. With the fall of the Iraqi regime in 2003, new 

and more amorphous forces have emerged as those most threatening to Saudi security. Like the 

other Arab countries in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia regards Israel as an ever-increasing threat 
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to the region. Although Saudi ties to the United States mitigate some fear of Israel, Saudi Arabia 

has been active in pursuing a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 

Iran is also a source of concern among Saudi officials in view of its military strength, potential 

nuclear capabilities, ties to Hezbollah and other radical Shia Islamists, alleged meddling in Iraq’s 

civil unrest, and growing political influence in the region. Additionally, Saudi officials view the 

largely uncontrolled migration of tribesmen back and forth across the border from Yemen as a 

potential security risk. Relations between Saudi Arabia and Yemen suffered fromYemen’s 

refusal to join the Gulf War coalition against Iraq and from a long-standing border dispute. A 

border agreement reached in 2000 lessened the tension between Saudi Arabia and Yemen 

significantly, but the porous border continues to elicit concern among Saudi defense officials. 

Defense Budget: Spending on military and security forces totaled about US$25.4 billion in 

2005. Saudi Arabia ranks among the top 10 in the world in government spending for its military. 

Military expenditures represent about 7 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), down from 10 

percent in 2002. It seems likely that military expenses will continue to increase in the coming 

years. Because Saudi Arabia imports most of its military arms and equipment, the Saudi 

economy derives little benefit from growth of the defense sector. 

Major Military Units: The Saudi military is divided into army, air force, navy, and air defense 

forces. The Saudi marines serve as part of the navy. The army is organized into three armored 

brigades, five mechanized brigades, one airborne brigade, one Royal Guard brigade, and eight 

artillery battalions. The army also has one aviation command with two aviation brigades. The 

navy is divided into two fleets with Naval Forces Headquarters in Riyadh. The Western Fleet has 

bases in Jiddah (Headquarters), Jizan, and Al Wajh. The Eastern Fleet has bases in Al Jubayl 

(Headquarters), Ad Dammam, Ras al Mishab, and Ras al Ghar. The marines are organized into 

one infantry regiment with two battalions. Saudi Arabia has at least 15 active military airfields. 

The air force is organized in seven fighter/ground-attack squadrons, six fighter squadrons, and 

seven training squadrons. The National Guard, augmented by 25,000 tribal levies, is organized 

into three mechanized infantry brigades, five infantry brigades, and one ceremonial cavalry 

squadron. 

Major Military Equipment: Saudi Arabia ranks among the world’s most densely armed 

nations, and it has ambitious plans to further upgrade its arsenal. In 2005 Saudi Arabia entered 

into an agreement with Britain to purchase 72 Eurofighter Typhoon fighter planes to replace its 

outdated Tornado planes. Additionally, Saudi Arabia plans to strengthen its National Guard by 

purchasing US$1 billion worth of armored vehicles from the United States. 

The military already possesses a modern arsenal. The army’s main equipment consists of a 

combination of French- and U.S.-made armored vehicles. According to the International Institute 

of Strategic Studies, the army is equipped with 315 M–1A2 Abrams, 290 AMX–30, and 450 

M60A3 main battle tanks, many of which are in store; 300 reconnaissance vehicles; 570+ AMX–

10P and 400 M–2 Bradley armored infantry fighting vehicles; 3,000+ armored personnel 

carriers, including the Al-Fahd, produced in Saudi Arabia; 200+ towed artillery pieces; 110 selfpropelled artillery pieces; 60 multiple rocket launchers; 400 mortars; 10 surface-to-surface 
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missiles; about 2,000 antitank guided weapons; about 200 rocket launchers; 450 recoilless 

launchers; 12 attack helicopters; 50+ transport helicopters; and 1,000 surface-to-air missiles. 

The navy’s inventory includes 11 principal surface combatants, 65 patrol and coastal combatants, 

7 mine warfare vessels, 8 amphibious craft, and 7 support and miscellaneous craft. Naval 

aviation forces have 19 helicopters (armed) serving in naval support. 

The air force has a fleet of nearly 300 combat aircraft but no armed helicopters. However, its 

operational capabilities are believed to have fallen considerably since the Gulf War. The fighter 

planes owned by the kingdom are primarily outdated F–5 models. After oil prices rose in 1999, 

Saudi officials began to look at purchasing more F–15 models. Increased internal security risks, 

however, diverted the funds that would have been necessary for such acquisitions. Currently 

Saudi Arabia has 291 combat aircraft, but most are nearing obsolete status. If Saudi Arabia’s 

proposed purchase of British planes goes through, Saudi air power will be effectively 

modernized. 

Military Service: The Saudi military is an all-volunteer force. Females do not serve in the 

military. 

Paramilitary Forces: Saudi Arabia’s paramilitary forces number more than 15,000 men, with 

10,500 active troops in the Frontier Force and 4,500 in the Coast Guard, which is based at 

Azizam. Saudi Arabia also has a Special Security Force with 500 personnel. 

Foreign Military Forces: Before the 9/11 attacks on the United States, about 5,000 U.S. 

military personnel, mostly air force, were stationed in Saudi Arabia. During 2003, the U.S. 

military redeployed most of its forces to Qatar. As of 2005, the United States has about 300 

troops in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia also provides a base for the 10,000 troops of the Peninsula 

Shield Force, the fledgling multinational force created by the Gulf Cooperation Council. 

Military Forces Abroad: Although Saudi Arabia maintains an extensive military infrastructure 

within its borders, it has a policy of avoiding the foreign deployment of its troops except as 

required to protect the kingdom’s direct security. 

Police: The police force is controlled by the central government through the Ministry of Interior. 

The Saudi Arabia National Guard contributes significantly to security efforts. The Committees 

for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice are the nation’s religious police, which 

enforce compliance with religious laws. 

Internal Threats: Neither petty crime nor organized crime is a problem in Saudi Arabia, 

although comprehensive statistics are not available. However, Saudi Arabia’s quest to be both a 

modern and Islamic country has long aroused unrest. Connections to the West have caused some 

factions to call for the overthrow of the Al Saud ruling establishment. Minority groups of the left 

and the right seek to have more influence in the nation’s governance. High unemployment and a 

generation of young males filled with contempt toward the West pose a significant threat to 

Saudi stability. Additionally, the Shiite minority, located primarily in the Eastern Province, has 

created civil disturbances in the past and could do so again. The government reportedly has 
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expressed concern that instability in Iraq might promote restiveness among Saudi Arabia’s Shia 

population. The presence of more than 6 million foreign workers also is thought by some to 

represent a threat to national stability. Finally, terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia have made it clear 

that Saudi Arabia does harbor indigenous terrorists with probable ties to al Qaeda and other 

terrorist organizations. 

An attack on Saudi Arabia’s most productive oil complex in February 2006 renewed concerns 

about protecting the country’s most valuable industry. Protection of the vital oil industry has 

long been and continues to be a priority. Saudi Aramco employs nearly 5,000 security personnel 

to guard its oil facilities, and both the Saudi National Guard and the Saudi military frequently are 

called upon to guard oil-producing facilities and pipelines. 

Terrorism: Since the June 1996 attack by Iranian-backed terrorists on a Saudi military housing 

complex that killed 19 U.S. military personnel and wounded 500 people including 372 

Americans, the Saudi government has increased efforts to fight terrorist elements within its own 

borders. The Saudi army has been successful in detaining several key militant/terrorist leaders. 

However, a series of bombings in 2003, an attack on the U.S. consulate in Jiddah and two car 

bombings in Riyadh in December 2004, and a February 2006 attack on an oil complex are 

evidence that elements linked to al Qaeda are present. Osama bin Laden was born in Saudi 

Arabia, and 15 of the hijackers carrying out the September 11 attacks were Saudi citizens. 

Recruitment of Saudi militants to engage in jihad against the United States and the West will

likely continue. 

Saudi Arabia does not openly support terrorist groups, but the United States has expressed 

concerns about Saudi financial ties to terrorism. Islamic networks originating in Saudi Arabia 

reportedly provide financial backing for terrorist groups that operate in the Middle East and 

around the world. The fact that many militant groups are mosque-based makes crackdowns 

difficult, but Saudi leaders have now accepted the need to control militant Islamist elements in 

the country. Moreover, officials have acknowledged that violence-inciting mosques and radical 

clerics cannot be ignored in the fight against terrorism. In February 2005, Saudi Arabia hosted 

its first-ever Counter-Terrorism International Conference. The government also began a public 

relations campaign discouraging religious radicalism and terrorism. 

Human Rights: The U.S. State Department annual report on human rights is critical of several 

aspects of Saudi society. The report notes the lack of elected officials or political parties and the 

almost unlimited power of the king. Municipal elections have not abated concerns that the royal 

family holds too much power. The report finds that internal security forces have committed 

various human rights offenses, including torture and abuse of detainees, arbitrary arrests, and 

intimidation of non-Muslims and foreigners. The legal code permits corporal punishment, such 

as flogging, as well as amputation, stoning, and execution by beheading, although the use of such 

punishments reportedly has declined. 

Freedom of speech and press are severely restricted in Saudi Arabia, although some reforms are 

underway. The government owns the country’s television and radio companies and heavily 

subsidizes the country’s newspapers. Both in law and practice, the Saudi government makes little 

pretext of providing freedom of religion. Non-Muslims may only practice their religions in 
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private, and conversion from Islam to another religion is illegal, punishable in theory, if not in 

recent practice, by execution. The rights of women are improving, but they are still far from 

equal to those of men. For example, women cannot drive or travel without a male family 

member, and women must demonstrate significant cause in order to obtain a divorce while men 

are not required to do so. Women still face discrimination when entering non-traditional fields of 

employment and frequently are segregated from their male co-workers. Women were not 

permitted to vote in the recent municipal elections. The Basic Law does not guarantee the right 

to assemble, and the Saudi Government strictly limits the practice.