In 1902 Abdul al-Aziz Ibn SAUD captured Riyadh and set out on a 30-year campaign to unify the Arabian peninsula. Today's Saudi Arabia has held on to its mystique by being incredibly difficult to visit - there's no such thing as a tourist visa in this country. www.lloydstsb2.lloydstsb.com/lonelyplanet/destinations/mea/sau.htm   In 2002 SA celebrated their first Centennial, the emblem from the occasion.

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The Saudi Arabia - Constitution Adopted by Royal decree of King Fahd Oct 1993
http://www.oefre.unibe.ch/law/icl/sa00000_.html

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Historical and Cultural Background
Some knowledge of the history leading to the formation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and, in particular, of the cultural background, is essential to an understanding of the principles which have guided the Kingdom's development.    www.saudinf.com/main/b1.htm

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King Abdul Aziz bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud (Ibn Saud) founder of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. King Abdul Aziz (known as Ibn Saud) was a tall, imposing figure, a natural leader of men. He knew instinctively how to judge men and, as his rule progressed, how best to exploit the natural resources of his country for the benefit of his people. www.saudinf.com/main/b42.htm

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Michael Crocker's Arabian Camelot  Bodyguards and young Princes of the Kingdom, late 1940's. www.arabiancamelot.com/photos_arabia_03.php?dir=02.02&start=1&rows=6

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King Saud bin Abdul Aziz was the second King of Saudi Arabia, reigning from 1953 to 1964. http://www.saudinf.com/main/b431.htm   pix: http://globalsecurity.org/military/world/gulf/saud.htm

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How many children did King Soud have?
When I met one of ex-King Soud's daughters, in 1965, I asked her, how many brothers and sisters she had. Her answer was not surprising, in her age level she had about 45 brothers and sisters. I reframed from asking if she knew all their names!

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King Faisal bin Abdul Aziz was the third King of Saudi Arabia, reigning from 1964 to 1975. www.saudinf.com/main/b44.htm

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Khalid bin Abdul Aziz was the fourth King of Saudi Arabia, reigning from 1975 to 1982. www.saudinf.com/main/b45.htm

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King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques was the fifth King of Saudi Arabia www.saudinf.com/main/b46.htm

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King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz  Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques is the sixth and present ruler of Saudi Arabia Born in Riyadh in 1924, he was given a formal religious education. www.saudinf.com/main/b471.htm

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Capital: Riyadh    Independence: 23 September 1932 (Unification of the Kingdom)
Constitution: governed according to Shari'a (Islamic law); the Basic Law that articulates the government's rights and responsibilities was introduced in 1993
Legal system: based on Islamic law, several secular codes have been introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction.

www.countryreports.org/content/saudiarabia.htm

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Labor force: 7 million    Unemployment rate: 25% (2002)  www.countryreports.org/content/saudiarabia.htm

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During the 2004 census, when the person came to our home, we were told that he had not been inside any Saudi home that did not have one OR MORE person that was unemployed.

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A full list of the Chiefs of State can be found at
www.theodora.com/wfb2003/saudi_arabia/saudi_arabia_chiefs.html

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Ministry of Information in Riyadh  w.du.edu/%7Eaalattas/pic.html

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Social Insurance Coverage
Employees of firms with 10 or more workers. (Establishments with fewer than 10 workers may have their Saudi employees covered voluntarily.)
Exclusions: Agricultural workers, seamen, domestic servants, family labor, and casual workers with less than 3 months' service.
Special contributory system for public employees.
Note: Since March 1987, foreign workers are no longer covered under this program.

www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/progdesc/ssptw/1999/saudiara.htm

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You can find more about the Royal Saudi Air Arms on these pages. On the Order of Battle page we show you where the main bases are. www.scramble.nl/sa.htm

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Military branches: Land Force (Army), Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, National Guard, Ministry of Interior Forces (paramilitary)

Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 3,431,281 ( 2003 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure: $18.3 billion (FY00)

www.countryreports.org/content/saudiarabia.htm

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KSA customs & duty:
What Not to Bring with you to Saudi Arabia

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We have always been very fortunate when returning to Jeddah after every vacation and never have had a problem with getting through customs. I have ALWAYS had loads of magazines and printed matter but had it pass without problems. Lately I have been waved through to the 'scanner' and not hand searches, it became the 'norm' during 2004.  On this site you can find a good list of items, that are a no no.   www.saudidiving.com/travel-tips.htm

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Saudi women to train for civil defense.

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Holidays in Saudi: There are only two official holidays in Saudi and these deal with two of the five pillars of the Islamic  faith. Eid al Fiter, after Ramadan and Eid al Adhah, after the Haj. Eid means, celebration.
  There is one more holiday, although not official, it is a semi gov't. holiday as well, the school year break, between semesters, also called spring break.
  The national day and even the prophet's birthday (pbuh) are only memorial days, not official holidays!

Read my notes about The Hajj and Ramadan

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Calendar

Officially, Saudi Arabia uses the Islamic, or Hijra, calendar. Islamic dates are calculated from the year that the prophet Mohammed (pbuh) migrated (hijra) from Makkah to Medina in the year 622 AD. The Islamic calendar is based on a lunar year rather than the solar one used in the West. A lunar month, therefore, is the time between two successive new moons. Although the Islamic year contains twelve months, the lunar year is shorter than the solar year by eleven days. As a result, the holy days and the months themselves shift gradually from one season to another.   www.arab.net/saudi/culture/sa_calendar.html

 

a good description about The Hijri Calendar  http://snahle.tripod.com/higri.htm

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You can read my notes about the Hijra year by clicking here

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You can find an Interfaith calendar at: www.interfaithcalendar.org/index.htm

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Saudi Arabia lifts the veil -- Conservative kingdom opening door to foreign tourists, BOTTOM LINE: VISAS: Saudi Arabia is by no means opening up to individual tourists. In fact, tourist visas are still non-existent. But small "educational groups" from universities, alumni organizations and museums are getting special travel permits through Saudi Arabian Airlines, the national carrier.  www.canoe.ca/TravelWorld/saudi_9905.html

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Traffic Fines and Penalties

Running a Red Light SR 900 or 3 days in jail ($240)
Wrong way on a one-way street SR 900 or 3 days in jail ($240)
Speeding SR 900 or 3 days in jail ($240)
Parking in a no-parking area SR 500 or 3 days in jail ($134)
Parking on the sidewalk SR 500 or 3 days in jail ($134)
Failure to carry a license SR 300 ($80)
Driving with an expired license SR 300 ($80)
Driving without a valid license SR 900 ($240)
Expired Vehicle Registration SR 500 or 3 days in jail ($134)
Passing in no-passing zone SR 900 or 3 days in jail ($240)
Leaving the scene of an accident SR 900 or 3 days in jail ($240)
Failure to stop for police SR 300 or 3 days in jail ($80)
Reckless Driving SR 1500 / 20 days in jail and/or 20 lashes ($400)
Accompanying a Reckless Driver SR 1500 / 20 days in jail and/or 20 lashes ($400)
www.saudidiving.com/travel-tips.htm

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Illicit drugs: death penalty for traffickers. (including small amounts!) www.sauditimes.com/

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National Anthem of Saudi Arabia

Hasten to glory and supremacy!
Glorify the Creator of the heavens
And raise the green, fluttering flag,
Carrying the emblem of Light!
Repeat - God is greatest!
O my country,
My country, may you always live,
The glory of all Muslims!
Long live the King,
For the flag and the country!

www.abacci.com/atlas/anthem3.asp?countryID=314

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Saudi Arabian Airline The only airline in the Kingdom

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In 1946 Saudi Arabian Airlines was set up as an operating agency of the Ministry of Defense. By its tenth anniversary, the airline had brought all outlying communities of the Kingdom to within a few hours’ journey of each other. http://www.saudiairlines.com (click on corporate profile)

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Saudi Arabian Airlines has completed a study to employ Saudi women as air stewardesses aboard its flights by the middle of this year, Al-Hayat Arabic newspaper reported. It said Saudi women would be given the new jobs based on certain conditions. "They have to be accompanied by a mehrem (a close male relative) and work solely in Saudi air space," the paper said. www.womenofarabia.netfirms.com/pages/news02.htm