History
Although the region in which the country stands today has an
ancient history, the emergence of the Saudi dynasty began in central Arabia
in 1744. That year,
Muhammad ibn Saud, the ruler of the town of
Ad-Dir'iyyah
near Riyadh,
joined forces with a cleric,
Muhammad ibn Abd-al-Wahhab, to create a new political entity. This alliance
formed in the 18th century and remains the basis of Saudi Arabian dynastic rule
today. Over the next 150 years, the fortunes of the Saud family rose and fell
several times as Saudi rulers contended with
Egypt, the
Ottoman Empire, and other Arabian families for control on the peninsula (see
First Saudi State and
Second Saudi State). The third and current Saudi state was founded in the
early 20th century by King
Abdul Aziz Al-Saud (known internationally as Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud).
First Saudi State (1744–1818)
The First Saudi State was established in 1744 when
Muhammad ibn Abd-al-Wahhab settled in
Diriyah and
Prince
Muhammed Ibn Saud agreed to support and espouse his cause in the hope of
cleansing Islamic practices of heresy. The
House
of Saud and its allies rose to become the dominant state in Arabia
controlling most of the
Nejd, but neither coast. This Saudi state lasted for about seventy-five
years.
Concerned at the growing power of the Saudis, the
Ottoman Sultan instructed
Mohammed Ali Pasha to reconquer the area. Ali sent his sons
Tusun
Pasha and
Ibrahim Pasha who were successful in routing the Saudi forces in 1818. It
would only be a few years before the Sauds would return to power, forming the
Second Saudi State.
Second Saudi State (1824–1891)
After a rebuilding period following the ending of the
First Saudi State, the
House
of Saud returned to power in the Second Saudi State in 1824. The
state lasted until 1891 when it succumbed to the
Al Rashid dynasty of
Ha'il. In 1902
Ibn Saud reconquered
Riyadh, the
first of a series of conquests leading to the creation of the modern
nation
state of Saudi Arabia in 1932. In 1902, at
the age of only 22,
Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud re-captured
Riyadh, the Al-Saud
dynasty's ancestral capital, from the rival
Al Rashid
family. Continuing his conquests, Abdul Aziz subdued
Al-Hasa, Al-Qatif,
the rest of Nejd,
and Hejaz between
1913 and 1926. On January 8, 1926, Abdul Aziz bin Saud became the King of Hejaz.
On January 29, 1927, he took the title King of Nejd (his previous Nejdi title
was Sultan). By the
Treaty of Jeddah, signed on May 20, 1927, the
United Kingdom recognized the independence of Abdul Aziz's realm, then known
as the
Kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd. In 1932, the principal regions of Al-Hasa, Qatif,
Nejd and Hejaz were unified to form the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
1900s to Present Day
Third Saudi State (present day) (
Saudi
Arabia)
The Third Saudi state was founded by the late King
Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia. In 1902 Ibn Saud captured
Riyadh, the Al-Saud
dynasty's ancestral capital, from the rival
Al-Rashid family. Continuing his conquests, Abdul Aziz subdued
Al-Hasa, the
rest of Nejd, and
the Hejaz between
1913 and 1926.
Boundaries with
Jordan, Iraq,
and Kuwait were
established by a series of treaties negotiated in the 1920s, with two "neutral
zones" created, one with
Iraq and the other
with Kuwait. On
January 8, 1926 Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud became the King of Hejaz. On January 29,
1927 he took the title King of Nejd (his previous Nejdi title was Sultan). By
the
Treaty of Jeddah, signed on May 20, 1927, the
United Kingdom recognized the independence of Abdul Aziz's realm (then known
as the Kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd). In 1932, these regions were unified as the
Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia. The discovery of
oil on
March 3, 1938 transformed the country. The country's southern boundary with
Yemen was partially defined by the 1934
Treaty of Taif, which ended a
brief border war between the two states.
Abdul Aziz's military and political successes were not mirrored economically
until vast reserves of
oil were
discovered in March 1938. Development programmes, which were delayed due to the
onset of the
Second
World War in 1939, began in earnest in 1946 and by 1949 production was in
full swing. Oil has provided Saudi Arabia with economic prosperity and a great
deal of leverage in the international community.
Prior to his death in 1953, Abdul Aziz, aware of the difficulties facing
other regional absolute rulers reliant on extended family networks, attempted to
regulate the succession.
Saud succeeded to the throne on his father's death in 1953. However, by the
early 1960s the Kingdom was in jeopardy due to Saud's economic mismanagement and
failure to deal effectively with a regional challenge from Egyptian president
Gamal Abdel Nasser. As a consequence, Saud was deposed in favour of Faisal
in 1964.
Intra-family rivalry was one of the factors that led to the assassination of
Faisal by his nephew,
Prince Faisal bin Musa'id, in 1975. He was succeeded by
King Khalid until 1982 and then by
King Fahd. When Fahd died in 2005, his half-brother,
Abdullah, ascended to the throne.
Geography
The Kingdom occupies about 80 percent of the
Arabian peninsula. In 2000 Saudi Arabia and
Yemen signed an
agreement to settle their long-running border dispute.[6]
A significant length of the country's southern borders with the
United Arab Emirates, and
Oman, are not
precisely defined or marked, so the exact size of the country remains unknown.
The Saudi government's estimate is 2,217,949 km² (856,356 sq mi). Other
reputable estimates vary between 1,960,582 km²[7]
(756,934 mi) and 2,240,000 km² (864,869 mi²). The kingdom is commonly listed as
the world's 14th largest state.
Saudi Arabia's geography is varied. From the western coastal region (Tihamah),
the land rises from sea level to a peninsula-long mountain range (Jabal al-Hejaz)
beyond which lies the plateau of
Nejd in the center.
The southwestern 'Asir
region has mountains as high as 3,000 m (9,840 ft) and is known for having the
greenest and freshest climate in all of the country, one that attracts many
Saudis to resorts such as
Abha in the summer
months. The east is primarily rocky or sandy lowland continuing to the shores of
the
Persian Gulf. The geographically hostile
Rub'
al Khali ("Empty Quarter") desert along the country's imprecisely defined
southern borders contains almost no life.
Desert view in Saudi Arabia. The reddish color of sand and rocky
hills in the background indicate this image was taken in the
middle/western part of the kingdom
Mostly uninhabited, much of the nation's landmass consists of
desert and
semi-arid regions, with a dwindling traditional
Bedouin
population. In these parts of the country, vegetation is limited to weeds,
xerophytic
herbs and shrubs. Less than two percent of the kingdom's total area is
arable
land. Population centers are mainly located along the eastern and western
coasts and densely populated interior oases such as
Hofuf and
Buraydah. In some extended areas, primarily the Rub' al-Khali and the
Arabian Desert, there is no population whatsoever, although the petroleum
industry is constructing a few planned communities there. Saudi Arabia has no
permanent year-round rivers or lakes; however, its coastline extends for
2,640 km (1,640 mi) and, along the
Red Sea,
harbors world-class coral reefs, including the
Gulf
of Aqaba.
Native animals include the
ibex,
wildcats,
baboons,
wolves, and
hyenas in the mountainous highlands. Small birds are found in the
oases. The
coastal area on the Red Sea with its
coral reefs
has a rich
marine life.
Climate
Extreme heat and aridity are characteristic of most of Saudi Arabia. It is
one of the few places in the world where summer temperatures above 50 °C
(122 °F)
have been recorded, with 51.1 °C (124 °F) being the highest temperature ever
recorded in Saudi Arabia at Dhahran in 1956[8].
In winter, frost or snow can occur in the interior and the higher mountains,
although this only occurs once or twice in a decade. The lowest recorded
temperature is −12.0 °C (10.4 °F), recorded at
Turaif. The
average winter temperature ranges from 8° to 20 °C (47° to 68 °F) in January in
interior cities such as
Riyadh and 19°
to 29 °C (66° to 83 °F) in
Jeddah, on the
Red Sea
coast. The average summer temperature range (in July) is 27° to 43 °C (81° to
109 °F) in Riyadh and 27° to 38 °C (80° to 100 °F) in Jeddah. Nighttime
temperatures in the central deserts can be famously chilly even in summer, as
the sand gives up daytime heat rapidly once the sun has set. Annual
precipitation is usually sparse (up to 100 mm or 4 in in most regions), although
sudden downpours can lead to violent
flash
floods in wadis.
Annual rainfall in Riyadh averages 100 mm (4 inches) and falls almost
exclusively between January and May; the average in Jeddah is 54 mm (2.1 in) and
occurs between November and January.
Government
The central institution of the Saudi Arabian government is the
Saudi
monarchy. The Basic Law of Government adopted in 1992 declared that
Saudi Arabia is a monarchy ruled by the sons and grandsons of the first king,
Abd Al Aziz Al Saud. It also claims that the
Qur'an is the
constitution of the country, which is governed on the basis of the
Sharia (Islamic
Law). According to
The
Economist's
Democracy Index, the Saudi government is the seventh most authoritarian
regime from among the 167 countries rated.
There are no recognized political parties or national elections, except the
local elections which were held in the year 2005 when participation was reserved
for male citizens only.[9]
The king's powers are theoretically limited within the bounds of Shari'a and
other Saudi traditions. He also must retain a consensus of the Saudi royal
family, religious leaders (ulema),
and other important elements in Saudi society. The Saudi government spreads
Islam by funding
construction of mosques and
Qur'an schools
around the world. The leading members of the royal family choose the king from
among themselves with the subsequent approval of the ulema.
Saudi kings have gradually developed a central government. Since 1953, the
Council of Ministers, appointed by the king, has advised on the formulation of
general policy and directed the activities of the growing bureaucracy. This
council consists of a prime minister, the first prime minister and twenty
ministers.
Legislation is by resolution of the Council of Ministers, ratified by
royal decree,
and must be compatible with the Shari'a. A 150-member
Consultative Assembly, appointed by the King, has limited legislative
rights. Justice
is administered according to the Shari'a by a system of religious courts whose
judges are appointed by the king on the recommendation of the Supreme Judicial
Council, composed of twelve senior jurists.
Independence of the judiciary is protected by law. The king acts as the
highest court of appeal and has the power to pardon. Access to high officials
(usually at a majlis; a public audience) and the
right to petitionon them directly are well-established traditions.
The combination of relatively high oil prices and exports led to a revenues
windfall for Saudi Arabia during 2004 and early 2005. For 2004 as a whole, Saudi
Arabia earned about $116 billion in net oil export revenues, up 35 percent from
2003 revenue levels. Saudi net oil export revenues are forecast to increase in
2005 and 2006, to $150 billion and $154 billion, respectively, mainly due to
higher oil prices. Increased oil prices and consequent revenues since the price
collapse of 1998 have significantly improved Saudi Arabia's economic situation,
with real GDP growth of 5.2 percent in 2004, and forecasts of 5.7% and 4.8%
growth for 2005 and 2006, respectively.
For
fiscal year 2004, Saudi Arabia originally had been expecting a
budget deficit.
However, this was based on an extremely conservative price assumption of $19 per
barrel for Saudi oil and an assumed production of 7.7 Mbbl/d (1,220,000 m³/d).
Both of these estimates turned out to be far below actual levels. As a result,
as of mid-December 2004, the Saudi Finance Ministry was expecting a huge budget
surplus of $26.1 billion, on budget revenues of $104.8 billion (nearly double
the country's original estimate) and expenditures of $78.6 billion (28 percent
above the approved budget levels). This surplus is being used for several
purposes, including: paying down the Kingdom's public debt (to $164 billion from
$176 billion at the start of 2004); extra spending on education and development
projects; increased security expenditures (possibly an additional $2.5 billion
dollars in 2004; see below) due to threats from terrorists; and higher payments
to Saudi citizens through subsidies (for housing, education, health care, etc.).
For 2005, Saudi Arabia is assuming a balanced budget, with revenues and
expenditures of $74.6 billion each.
Law
The
Basic Law, in 1992, declared that Saudi Arabia is a monarchy ruled by the
progeny of
King Abd Al Aziz Al Saud. It also declared the
Qur'an as the
constitution of the country, governed on the basis of
Islamic lawaw.[10]0]
Civil cases may also be tried under Sharia courts with one exception: Shia
may try such cases in their own courts. Other civil proceedings, including those
involving claims against the Government and enforcement of foreign judgments,
are held before specialized administrative tribunals, such as the Commission for
the Settlement of Labor Disputes and the Board of Grievances.[10]
Main sources of Saudi law are
Hanbali
fiqh as set out in
a number of specified scholarly treatises by authoritative jurists, other
schools of law, state regulations and royal decrees (where these are relevant),
and custom and practice.[11][11]
The Saudi legal system prescribes
capital punishment or
corporal punishment, including
amputations
of hands and feet for certain crimes such as
murder,
robbery,
rape, drug smuggling,
homosexual activity, and
adultery.
The courts may impose less severe punishments, such as
floggings, for less serious crimes against
public morality such as
drunkenness.[12]
Murder, accidental death and bodily harm are open to punishment from the
victim's family. Retribution may be sought in kind or through
blood money. The blood money payable for a woman's accidental death is half
as much as that for a man.[13]
The main reason for this is that, according to Islamic law, men are expected to
be providers for their families and therefore are expected to earn more money in
their lifetimes. The blood money from a man would be expected to sustain his
family, for at least a short time. Honor killings are also not punished as
severely as murder. This generally stems from the fact that honor killings are
within a family, and done to compensate for some dishonorable act committed.
Slavery was
abolished in 1962.[14][15]
Human rights
Main article:
Human rights in Saudi Arabia,
Human trafficking in Saudi Arabia,
Women's rights in Saudi Arabia
Several international
human
rights organizations, such as
Human Rights Watch,
Amnesty International and the
United Nations Human Rights Committee have issued reports critical of the
Saudi legal system and its human rights record in various political, legal, and
social areas, especially its severe limitations on the rights of women. The
Saudi government typically dismisses such reports as being outright lies or
asserts that its actions are based on its adherence to Islamic law.
In 2002, the
United Nations Committee against Torture criticized Saudi Arabia over the
amputations and floggings it carries out under the Shari'a. The Saudi delegation
responded defending its legal traditions held since the inception of Islam in
the region 1300 years ago and rejected "interference" in its legal system.[16]
Saudi Arabia is also the only country in the world where women are banned
from driving on public roads. Women may drive off-road and in private housing
compounds — some of which extend to many square miles.[17]
The ban may be lifted soon, although with certain conditions.[18]
The Government views its interpretation of Islamic law as its sole source of
guidance on human rights. In 2000, the Government approved the October
legislation, which the Government claimed would address some of its obligations
under the Convention Against Torture or Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading
Treatment or Punishment.[10]
Economy
Aramco, the Saudi national oil company, whose main offices are
in
Dhahran
Saudi Arabia is the largest exporter of
petroleum in the world
Saudi Arabia's economy is petroleum-based; roughly 75% of budget revenues and
90% of export earnings come from the oil industry. The oil industry comprises
about 45% of Saudi Arabia's
gross domestic product, compared with 40% from the private sector (see
below). Saudi Arabia officially has about 260 billion barrels (4.1×1010 m3)
of oil
reserves, comprising about 24% of the world's proven total petroleum
reserves.[23]
The government is attempting to promote growth in the private sector by
privatizing industries such as power and telecom. Saudi Arabia announced plans
to begin privatizing the electricity companies in 1999, which followed the
ongoing privatization of the telecommunications company. Shortages of water and
rapid population growth may constrain government efforts to increase
self-sufficiency in agricultural products.
In the 1990s, Saudi Arabia experienced a significant contraction of oil
revenues combined with a high rate of population growth. Per capita income fell
from a high of $11,700 at the height of the oil boom in 1981 to $6,300 in 1998.[24]
Recent[when?]
oil price increases have helped boost per capita GDP to $17,000 in 2007 dollars,[25]
or about $7,400 adjusted for inflation.[26]
Recent[when?]
oil price increases have triggered a second oil boom, pushing Saudi Arabia's
budget surplus to $28 billion (110SR billion) in 2005.
Tadawul (the
Saudi stock market index) finished 2004 with a massive 76.23% to close at
4437.58 points.
Market capitalization was up 110.14% from a year earlier to stand at $157.3
billion (589.93SR billion), which makes it the biggest stock market in the
Middle
East.
OPEC (the
Organization of Oil Exporting Countries) limits its members' oil production
based on their "proven reserves." The higher their reserves, the more OPEC
allows them to produce.[citation
needed] Saudi Arabia's published reserves have shown little change
since 1980, with the main exception being an increase of about 100 billion
barrels (1.6×1010 m3)
between 1987 and 1988.[27]
Matthew Simmons has suggested that Saudi Arabia is greatly exaggerating its
reserves and may soon show production declines (see
peak oil).[28]
To diversify the economy, Saudi Arabia launched a new city on the western coast
with investments exceeding $26.6 billion. The city, which is named "King
Abdullah Economic City", will be built near al-Rabegh industrial city north
to Jeddah. The new city, where construction work started in December 2005,
includes a port which is the largest port of the kingdom. Extending along a
coastline of 35 km, the city will also include petrochemical, pharmaceutical,
tourism, finance and education and research areas. Saudi Arabia officially
became a
World Trade Organization member in December 2005.
Development
Saudi Arabia is one of only a few fast-growing countries in the world with a
high
per capita income of $20,700 (2007). Saudi Arabia will be launching six
"economic cities" (e.g.
King Abdullah Economic City)[29]
which are planned to be completed by 2020. These six new industrialized cities
are intended to diversify the economy of Saudi Arabia, and are expected to
increase the per capita income. The King of Saudi Arabia has announced that the
per capita income is forecast, to rise from $15,000 in 2006 to $33,500 in 2020.[30]
The cities will be spread around Saudi Arabia to promote diversification for
each region and their economy, and the cities are projected to contribute $150
billion to the GDP.
However the
urban areas
of Riyadh and
Jeddah are
expected to contribute $287 billion dollars by the year 2020.[31]
Foreign labour
Despite the government's efforts to promote
Saudization, the country draws a significant portion of its labour force
from foreign countries, especially from
South
and
Southeast Asia (notably
India,
Pakistan,
Bangladesh,
Indonesia,
the
Philippines,
Nepal,
Sri Lanka),
East Asia,
East
Africa and from other
Middle
Eastern countries.[32]
There are also some people from North America, South America, and Europe.
Hundreds of thousands of low-skilled
workers and skilled workers from regions of the
developing world migrate to Saudi Arabia, sometimes only for a short period
of time, to work. Although exact figures are not known, skilled experts in the
banking and
services professions seek work in the Kingdom.
Demographics
Demographics of Saudi Arabia,
FAO data, 2005; Number of inhabitants in thousands
Saudi Arabia's population as of July 2006 is estimated to be about
27,019,731, including an estimated 5.5 million resident foreigners.[33]
Until the 1960s, a majority of the population was
nomadic; but
presently more than 95% of the population is settled, due to rapid economic and
urban growth. The birth rate is 29.56 births per 1,000 people. The death rate is
2.62 deaths per 1,000 people. Some cities and oases have densities of more than
1,000 people per square kilometer (2,600/sq mi).
About 23% of the population is made up of foreign nationals living in Saudi
Arabia, although the actual percentage is not measured in state censes.[34]
Approximately 12% of the population is
South Asian
or of South Asian ancestry, including Indians, Pakistanis, and Bangladeshis. In
addition, there are some citizens of
Asian,
Northeast African, and
Sub-Saharan ancestry. Many Arabs from nearby countries are employed in the
kingdom. There are over eight million migrants from countries all around the
world (including non-Muslims):[35]
Indian: 1.4 million,
Bangladeshi:
1 million,
Filipino: 950,000,
Pakistani:
900,000,
Egyptian: 900,000,
Yemeni: 800,000,
Indonesian:
500,000, Sri
Lankan: 350,000,
Sudanese: 250,000,
Syrian: 100,000 and
Turkish: 80,000.[36]
There are around 100,000
Westerners in Saudi Arabia, most of whom live in
compounds or
gated communities.
In the 1970s and 1980s, there was also a significant
community of South Koreans, numbering in the hundreds of thousands, but most
have since returned home.[37]
Saudi Arabia expelled 800,000 Yemenis in 1990 and 1991 to punish
Yemen for its
opposition to the
Gulf War
against Iraq. An
estimated 240,000
Palestinians are living in Saudi Arabia. They are not allowed to hold or
even apply for Saudi citizenship, because of
Arab
League instructions barring the Arab states from granting them citizenship
in order "to avoid dissolution of their identity and protect their right to
return to their homeland". Palestinians are the sole foreign group that cannot
benefit from a 2004 law passed by Saudi Arabia's Council of Ministers, which
entitles
expatriates of all nationalities who have resided in the kingdom for ten
years to apply for citizenship with priority being given to holders of degrees
in various scientific fields.[38]
The Articles 12.4 and 14.1 of the Executive Regulation of Saudi Citizenship
System can be interpreted as requiring applicants to be
Muslim.[39]
The majority of the population adheres to a theological interpretation within
Islam most commonly known as
Salafism or
Wahhabism. Writing in 2006 for the
Council on Foreign Relations Lionel Beehner estimated the
Shia population of the country at 15 percent.[40]
Shia in Saudi Arabia reside primarily in the eastern provinces on the Gulf,
southwestern provinces bordering
Yemen, Mecca and
particularly, Medina, as well as other larger cities in the kingdom.[citation
needed]
Culture
Arabian
Oud
an important instrument in the Country's Music tradition.
Saudi Arabian culture mainly revolves around the religion of
Islam. Islam's
two holiest sites,
Mecca and
Medina, are located in the country. Five times every day, Muslims are called
to prayer from the minarets of mosques which are scattered around the country.
The weekend begins on Thursday due to Friday being the holiest day for Muslims.
Most Muslim countries have a Thursday-Friday or Friday-Saturday weekend.[41]
The public practice of any religion other than Islam, Saudi Arabia's cultural
heritage is celebrated at the annual
Jenadriyah
cultural festival.
Music and dance
One of Saudi Arabia's most compelling folk rituals is the
Al Ardha, the
country's national dance. This
sword
dance is based on ancient
Bedouin
traditions: drummers beat out a rhythm and a poet chants verses while
sword-carrying men dance shoulder to shoulder.
Al-sihba folk music, from the
Hejaz, has its
origins in
al-Andalus. In
Mecca, Medina
and Jeddah,
dance and song incorporate the sound of the
mizmar, an
oboe-like
woodwind instrument in the performance of the
mizmar dance. The
drum is also an important instrument according to traditional and tribal
customs. Samri is
a popular traditional form of music and dance in which poetry is sung especially
in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabian Musical tradition depends
heavily on the modern Arabian oud.
Dresss
Saudi Arabian dress follows strictly the principles of
hijab (the
Islamic principle of
modesty,
especially in dress). The predominantly loose and flowing but covering garments
are helpful in Saudi Arabia's
desert climate.
Traditionally, men usually wear an ankle-length shirt woven from wool or cotton
(known as a thawb),
with a keffiyeh
(a large checkered square of cotton held in place by a cord coil) or a
ghutra (a
plain white square made of finer cotton, also held in place by a cord coil) worn
on the head. For rare chilly days, Saudi men wear a
camel-hair cloak
(bisht)
over the top. Women's clothes are decorated with tribal motifs, coins, sequins,
metallic thread, and appliques. Women are required to wear an
abaya
Food
Islamic dietary laws forbid the eating of
pork and the
drinking of
alcohol, and this law is enforced strictly throughout Saudi Arabia. Arabic
unleavened bread, or
khobz, is eaten with almost all meals. Other staples include
lamb,
grilled chicken,
falafel
(deep-fried
chickpea balls),
shawarma
(spit-cooked sliced lamb), and
Ful
medames (a paste of
fava beans,
garlic and
lemon).
Traditional
coffeehouses used to be ubiquitous, but are now being displaced by food-hall
style cafes. Arabic tea
is also a famous custom, which is used in both casual and formal meetings
between friends, family and even strangers. The tea is black (without milk) and
has herbal flavoring that comes in many variations.
Film and theatre
Public theatres and
cinemas are prohibited, as Wahhabi tradition deems those institutions to be
incompatible with Islam. However, lately, a reform is undergone in the country
and several cinemas and movies had been shown under high tentions from radical
Saudi groups. Also an
IMAX theater is available,[42]
and in private compounds such as
Dhahran and
Ras Tanura
public theaters can be found, but often are more popular for local music, arts,
and theatre productions rather than the exhibition of motion pictures. DVDs,
including American and British movies, are legal and widely available.
Literature
Some Saudi
novelists have had their books published in
Beirut,
Lebanon,
because of
censorship in Saudi Arabia. Despite signs of increasing openness, Saudi
novelists and
artists in film,
theatre, and
the
visual arts face greater restrictions on their freedom of expression than in
the West. Contemporary Saudi novelists include:
Religion
Due to the legal framework of the country, which does not provide legal
protection for freedom of religion, the public practice of non-Muslim religions
is prohibited. Indeed, the Government enforces a strict and conservative version
of
Sunni Islam. Muslims who do not follow the official interpretation, can face
severe repercussions at the hands of
Mutawwa'in (religious police).
For this reason, Saudi culture lacks the diversity of religious expression,
buildings, annual festivals and public events that is seen in countries where
religious freedom is permitted.[35]
Christianity in Saudi Arabia faces persecution.
Education
When the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was founded in 1932,
education
was not accessible to everyone and limited to individualized instruction at
religious schools in mosques in urban areas. These schools taught Islamic law
and basic literacy skills. By the end of the century, Saudi Arabia had a
nationwide educational system providing free training from preschool through
university to all citizens.
The primary education system began in Saudi Arabia in the 1930s. By 1945,
King Abdulaziz bin Abdelrahman Al-Saud, the country's founder, had initiated an
extensive program to establish schools in the Kingdom. Six years later, in 1951,
the country had 226 schools with 29,887 students. In 1954, the Ministry of
Education was established, headed by then Prince Fahd bin Abdulaziz as the first
Minister of Education. The first university, now known as
King Saud University, was founded in Riyadh in 1957.
Today, Saudi Arabia's nationwide public educational system comprises twenty
universities, more than 24,000 schools, and a large number of colleges and other
educational and training institutions. The system provides students with free
education, books and health services and is open to every Saudi. Over 25 percent
of the annual State budget is for education including vocational training. The
Kingdom has also worked on scholarship programs to send students overseas to the
United States,
Canada, France,
the
United Kingdom,
Australia,
Japan,
Malaysia
and other nations. Currently thousands of students are being sent to
higher-educations programs every year.
The study of Islam remains at the core of the Saudi educational system. The
Islamic aspect of the Saudi national curriculum is examined in a 2006 report by
Freedom House.[43]
The report found that in religious education classes (in any religious school),
children are taught to deprecate other religions, in addition to other branches
of Islam.[44]
The Saudi religious studies curriculum is taught outside the Kingdom in
madrasah
throughout the world.
Sports
Men can often be found playing sports. Women rarely participate in sports,
and always away from the presence of men; this often leads to indoor gyms. Even
though
football is the most popular sport, Saudi Arabia has recently participated
in the
Summer Olympic Games and in international competitions in
volleyball
and other sports. The Saudi Arabian national youth baseball team has also
participated in the Little League World Series. The
Saudi Arabia national football team is often most known for being in four
consecutive times in the
FIFA World Cup and six times in the
AFC
Asian Cup, which the team won three times and was runner-up three times.
Some popular football players include
Majed Abdullah,
Mohamed Al-Deayea,
Sami
Al-Jaber, and
Saeed Al-Owairan.
Sudan
