Saudi Arabia is still a land of mystery largely due to its fundamentalist Islam state form and its rigid admission policy.About half of Saudi Arabia consists of uninhabitable desert. Here there are no permanent rivers and lakes and the average temperature in July is about 40ºC. These unfriendly circumstances have deeply influenced the Arab way of life. Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the Middle East. The Saudi Arabian state was first established in the central region of the Arabian Peninsula in the early 18th Century, but king Abdul Aziz Bin Abdul Rahman Al-Saud founded the present day state only in 1932.

Saudi Arabia is a fairly rich country, due to its vast oilfields, but this wealth is not evenly divided. The royal family effectively owns the country. There is minimal political freedom and little tolerance for opposition groups.The country's capital is Riyadh, situated in the very interior of the country, 300 km from the Persian Gulf. It's a modern oil booming city with lots of high rising buildings. Most interesting cities are the holy cities of Mecca and Medina .

History

Except for a few major cities and oases the harsh climate historically prevented much settlement of the Arabian Peninsula. People of various cultures have lived there over a span of more than 5 000 years. The Dilmun culture along the Gulf coast was contemporaneous with the Sumerians and ancient Egyptians and most of the empires of the ancient world traded with the states of the peninsula.

The Saudi state began in central Arabia in about 1750. A local ruler Muhammad bin Saud joined forces with an Islamic reformer Muhammad Abd Al-Wahhab to create a new political entity. 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. The modern Saudi state was founded by the late King Abdul Aziz Al-Saud (known internationally as Ibn Saud). In 1902 Abdul Aziz recaptured 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 Hijaz between 1913 and 1926. In 1932 these regions were unified as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia..

Boundaries with Jordan Iraq and Kuwait were established by a series of treaties negotiated in the 1920s with two "neutral zones"--one with Iraq and the other with Kuwait--created. The Saudi-Kuwaiti neutral zone was administratively partitioned in 1971 with each state continuing to share the petroleum resources of the former zone equally. Tentative agreement on the partition of the Saudi-Iraqi neutral zone was reached in 1981 and partition was finalized by 1983. 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. It remains undefined in many areas. The border between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates was agreed upon in 1974. Boundary differences with Qatar remained unresolved.

King Abdul Aziz died in 1953 and was succeeded by his eldest son Saud who reigned for 11 years. In 1964 Saud abdicated in favor of his half-brother Faisal who had served as Foreign Minister. Because of fiscal difficulties King Saud had been persuaded in 1958 to delegate direct conduct of Saudi Government affairs to Faisal as Prime Minister; Saud briefly regained control of the government in 1960-62. In October 1962 Faisal outlined a broad reform program stressing economic development. Proclaimed King in 1964 by senior royal family members and religious leaders Faisal also continued to serve as Prime Minister. This practice has been followed by subsequent kings.

Saudi forces did not participate in the Six-Day (Arab-Israeli) War of June 1967 but the government later provided annual subsidies to Egypt Jordan and Syria to support their economies. During the 1973 Arab-Israeli war Saudi Arabia participated in the Arab oil boycott of the United States and Netherlands. A member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Saudi Arabia had joined other member countries in moderate oil price increases beginning in 1971. After the 1973 war the price of oil rose substantially dramatically increasing Saudi Arabia's wealth and political influence.

In 1975 King Faisal was assassinated by a nephew who was executed after an extensive investigation concluded that he acted alone. Faisal was succeeded by his half-brother Khalid as King and Prime Minister; their half-brother Prince Fahd was named Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister. King Khalid empowered Crown Prince Fahd to oversee many aspects of the government's international and domestic affairs. Economic development continued rapidly under King Khalid and the kingdom assumed a more influential role in regional politics and international economic and financial matters.

In June 1982 King Khalid died and Fahd became King and Prime Minister in a smooth transition. Another half-brother Prince Abdullah Commander of the Saudi National Guard was named Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister. King Fahd's brother Prince Sultan the Minister of Defense and Aviation became Second Deputy Prime Minister. Under King Fahd the Saudi economy adjusted to sharply lower oil revenues resulting from declining global oil prices. Saudi Arabia supported neutral shipping in the Gulf during periods of the Iran-Iraq war and aided Iraq's war-strained economy. King Fahd played a major part in bringing about the August 1988 cease-fire between Iraq and Iran and in organizing and strengthening the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) a group of six Arabian Gulf states dedicated to fostering regional economic cooperation and peaceful development.

In 1990-91 King Fahd played a key role before and during the Gulf war. King Fahd's action also consolidated the coalition of forces against Iraq and helped define the tone of the operation as a multilateral effort to reestablish the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Kuwait. Acting as a rallying point and personal spokesman for the coalition King Fahd helped bring together his nation's GCC allies Western allies and Arab allies as well as nonaligned nations from Africa and the emerging democracies of Eastern Europe. He used his influence as Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to persuade other Arab and Islamic nations to join the coalition.

King Fahd suffered a stroke in November 1995. By the end of 1997 Crown Prince Abdullah had taken on much of the day-to-day responsibilities of running the government.

Saudi Arabia has the world’s largest oil reserves (about 20% of proven deposits) and is also currently the world’s largest producer. Oil and natural gas products now account for 35% of Saudi GDP, 75% of government revenue and 85% of export income.

The non-oil economy is devoted to agriculture and newly developed industries (considerable effort has been put into ensuring adequate irrigation and industrial water supplies in a country with extremely low rainfall). Agriculture, which supports a little over 10% of the workforce, produces wheat, fruit, vegetables, barley, eggs and poultry, in most of which the kingdom is now self-sufficient. In addition to oil and gas, there are other confirmed and exploitable mineral deposits including limestone, gypsum and marble plus phosphates, bauxite and gold.

The industrial sector produces petrochemicals, steel, engineering and construction materials and a wide range of consumer goods. The service sector is the fastest growing part of the economy at present, with finance and business services, consultancies and property services prominent.The rapid expansion of the Saudi economy from the 1960s onwards stalled during the late 1980s as overstretched finances and persistently low world oil prices forced the Saudi exchequer to rein in its spending plans (government debt is now nearly 100% of GDP – much of which, such as US$40 billion of loans to Iraq, may not be recovered).

This has had unfortunate consequences for the large body of foreign labour (an estimated 35% of the workforce) upon which the Saudis rely for much of their technical, managerial and menial labour. Foreigners are now barred from a range of occupations as the government seeks to tackle Saudi unemployment, which is estimated to be around 25%.Meanwhile, the average Saudi income has fallen by around 40% in the last 20 years. At present, the economy is picking up, growing by 6.6% in 2005.Since the late 1990s, the Saudis have gradually introduced economic reforms. A thriving private sector is viewed as essential to the government’s objective of diversifying the economy and reducing reliance on the oil and gas sector. Some state-owned businesses have been sold and a number of measures taken to deregulate the economy and open up domestic markets to foreign competition.

To that end, a trade agreement has been signed with the European Union, and Saudi Arabia is expected to join the World Trade Organization in due course. Saudi Arabia is the most influential member of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and of the Islamic Development Bank.

Arabic is the official language, but English is widely spoken. German and French are spoken by hotel staff.Arabic is spoken and understood in various forms by millions of people throughout the Middle East and beyond. It is one of the official languages of the United Nations. Classical Arabic, the language of the Muslim holy book, the Qur'an, is used only in writing and rarely in speech. A standardized modern Arabic is used for newspapers, for television and, with local variations, for conversation. Basic conversational Arabic is not difficult to learn.

Islam is one of the world's great monotheistic religions. The followers of Islam, called Muslims, believe in one God (Allah in Arabic) and that Muhammad is His Prophet. Today, the worldwide community of Muslims, which embraces the people of many races and cultures, numbers nearly one billion. There are approximately two million Muslims in the United States.Historically, Saudi Arabia has occupied a special place in the Islamic world as the very heartland of Islam. Indeed, it is toward the sacred Ka'abah in Makkah that Muslims turn devoutly in prayer five times a day. The Qur'an, the sacred scripture of Islam, was revealed and is universally recited in Arabic.A Muslim has five obligations, called the Five Pillars of Islam. First is the profession of faith: "There is no god but God; Muhammad is the messenger of God." Second is praying five times a day, facing the holy city of Makkah. Third is zakat (alms giving), which prescribes payment of fixed proportions of a Muslim's possessions for the welfare of the entire community and, in particular, for its neediest members. Fourth is fasting during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim calendar, at which time Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn to sunset. The fifth pillar is performing the hajj, or pilgrimage, to Makkah at least once in a lifetime. The hajj is a gathering of millions of Muslims from around the world.

The Kingdom continues to dedicate considerable financial and human resources to enable even more pilgrims to perform the hajj in comfort and safety. To Saudi Arabia, the holy cities of Makkah, the birthplace of Islam and the Prophet Muhammad, and Madinah, the Prophet's burial place, are a sacred trust exercised on behalf of all Muslims. Recognizing the unique and historic tradition these holy sites represent, King Fahd adopted the official title of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques as an expression of his deep sense of responsibility toward Islam.

Saudi Arabia has a desert climate. In Jeddah it is warm for most of the year. Riyadh, which is inland, is hotter in summer and colder in winter, when occasional heavy rainstorms occur. The Rub al Khali (‘empty Quarter’) seldom receives rain, making Saudi Arabia one of the driest countries in the world.

Required Clothing: Tropical or lightweight clothing.

Currency:
Saudi Arabian Riyal (SAR) = 100 halala; 5 halala = 20 qurush. Notes are in denominations of SAR500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1. Coins are in denominations of 50, 25, 10, and 5 halala, and 10, 5, 2 and 1 qurush.

Most foreign currencies can be exchanged at commercial banks and money-changers, which stay open longer.

Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs:
American Express, Diners, MasterCard and Visa are accepted but not widely used. Some large hotels, restaurants, travel agencies and shops in urban areas accept credit cards.

Traveller's Cheques
Widely accepted although they can be hard to change. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller’s cheques in Saudi Riyal, Euros, US Dollars or Pounds Sterling and to carry the purchase receipt.

Banking Hours
Sat-Wed 08:00-12:00 and 17:00-20:00; Thurs 08:00-12:00. Money-changers stay open longer.

• Time: GMT + 3

• Electricity: 127/220 volts AC, 60Hz.

• Country Code: 215.

Custom Regulation

The following items may be imported into Saudi Arabia without incurring customs duty:

• 600 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 500g of tobacco.

• A reasonable amount of perfume.

• A reasonable amount of cultured pearls for personal use.

Note: Duty is levied on cameras and typewriters, but if these articles are re-exported within 90 days, the customs charges may be refunded. It is advisable not to put film into cameras.

Prohibited Imports
Alcohol, all edible goods, narcotics and drugs (except medicines for personal use accompanied by a prescription), pornography, religious books (besides the Qu’ran), pork, firearms, natural pearls, live animals and birds, all types of palm trees, most foods and items listed as prohibited by the Arab League.

Getting there by Road:
The principal international routes from Jordan are Amman to Dammam, Medina and Jeddah. There are also roads to Yemen (from Jeddah), Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. A causeway links Al Khobar with Bahrain. There are regular international buses between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Syrian Arab Republic, Turkey and United Arab Emirates.

Traffic drives on the right. The road network is constantly being upgraded and expanded and, on the main routes, much of it is of the highest standard. The corniche that winds down the escarpment between Taif and Mecca is as spectacular a feat of engineering as may be seen anywhere, as is the King Fahed Gateway that links Saudi Arabia to Bahrain. However, standards of driving are erratic, particularly in the Eastern Province. As foreigners are tolerated rather than welcomed in Saudi Arabia, it is best to drive with extreme caution at all times. Women are not allowed to drive vehicles or ride bicycles on public roads. Non-Muslims may not enter Mecca or the immediate area; police are stationed to ensure that they turn off onto a specially built ring road, known amongst expatriates as the Christian Bypass.

Services have recently been developed by SAPTCO to serve inter-urban and local needs. Modern vehicles have been acquired, including air-conditioned double-deckers. All buses must have a screened-off section for the exclusive use of female passengers.Taxis are available in all cities, but often very expensive. Some have meters, and fares should be negotiated in advance.The major international car hire agencies have offices in Saudi Arabia. The minimum age is 25.A national driving licence is valid for up to three months if accompanied by an officially sanctioned translation into Arabic. An International Driving Permit (with translation) is recommended, but not required by law. Women are not allowed to drive. There are also restrictions on women travelling by car with men who are not related by blood or marriage.

Getting There by Boat
A fast car ferry runs between Duba and Hurghada twice daily on Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Dhows may be chartered for outings on both coasts..

Getting There by Air
There are many domestic airports and air travel is by far the most convenient way of travelling around the country. Saudi Arabian Airlines (SV) connects all main centres. Arabian Express economy class connects Jeddah with Riyadh in just over one hour and Riyadh with Dhahran in just under one hour. A boarding pass should be obtained the evening before departure. There are special flights for pilgrims arriving at or departing from Jeddah during the Hajj.

Getting Around by Rail
The railway is operated by the Saudi Railways Organisation. Children under four travel free. The main railway line is the 570km- (354-mile-) long Riyadh–Dammam line, which links Dhahran, Abqaiq, Hofuf, Harad and Al Kharj. There is a daily service in air-conditioned trains with dining car. An additional line links Riyadh with Hofuf. The railway on the west coast made famous by Lawrence of Arabia’s raid has long since been abandoned to the desert.

Required by all except the following:

• nationals of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and United Arab Emirates;
• transit passengers continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft within 18 hours, provided holding valid onward or return documentation, not leaving the airport and making no further landing in Saudi Arabia, except nationals of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Nigeria who always require a transit visa.
• holders of re-entry permits and ‘Landing Permits’ issued by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Restricted entry:

• Holders of an Israeli passport or passports with Israeli stamps in them.
• Passengers not complying with Saudi conventions of dress and behaviour, including those who appear to be in a state of intoxication, will be refused entry.
• There are special regulations concerning pilgrims entering Saudi Arabia.

A passport valid for at least six months and a visa are required for entry. Visas are issued for business and work, to visit close relatives, and for transit and religious visits. Visas for tourism are issued only for approved tour groups following organized itineraries. Airport and seaport visas are not available. All visas require a sponsor, can take several months to process, and must be obtained prior to arrival. In the past, travellers were refused a Saudi visa because their passports reflected travel to Israel or indicated they were born in Israel, although this has not happened recently. Women visitors and residents are required to be met by their sponsor upon arrival. Women traveling alone, who are not met by sponsors, have experienced delays before being allowed to enter the country or to continue on other flights.

Women considering relocating to Saudi Arabia should be keenly aware that women and children residing in Saudi Arabia as members of a Saudi household (including adult women married to Saudi men, adult women who are the unmarried daughters of Saudi fathers, and boys under the age of 21 who are the sons of Saudi fathers) are considered household property and require the permission of the Saudi male head of their household to leave the country. Married women require the permission of their husband to depart the country, while unmarried women and children require the permission of their father or male guardian. Mothers may not be able to obtain permission for the departure of minor children without the father’s agreement. Entering Saudi Arabia on visitor visas normally do not need an exit permit but may be prevented from departing the country if they are involved in a legal dispute. If involved in labor disputes or employment dismissal will not be granted an exit permit prior to court resolution or abandonment of the case by the you. Saudi sponsors have substantial leverage in the negotiations and may block departure or bar future employment in the country.

Visitors to Saudi Arabia should generally obtain a meningitis vaccination prior to arrival. A medical report or physical examination is required to obtain work and residence permits.Residents in Saudi Arabia who are departing the country must obtain an exit permit prior to leaving and an exit/reentry permit if they intend to return to Saudi Arabia. The Saudi sponsor’s approval is required for exit permits.

NOTE FOR DUAL NATIONALS: Several travellers of Saudi descent have encountered difficulty leaving the Kingdom after entering on a Laissez Passer, rather than a Saudi or U.S. passport. Saudi missions abroad for new Saudi passport applicants sometimes propose the solution of issuing a Laissez Passer rather than a Saudi passport, but it only leads to difficulties when the traveler wishes to depart the Kingdom to return home. This is because either a Saudi exit visa or a new Saudi passport may take months to obtain.

In particular, American citizens of Saudi descent should be aware that the Saudi government may refuse to recognize a U.S. passport presented by a Saudi passport applicant as valid for travel out of Saudi Arabia, if it was not used to enter Saudi Arabia. Also, American citizens of Saudi descent should understand that Saudi nationality is not confirmed quickly or easily, and documentary requirements encountered in Saudi Arabia may differ from those described by Saudi missions abroad.

We strongly recommend that American citizens who also have Saudi nationality enter Saudi Arabia with either a Saudi passport or U.S. passport and Saudi visa, but not with a Laissez Passer.

Al-Masjid al-Haram also known as al-Haram Mosque, Masjid al-Haram, Haram al-Sharif, Masjid al-Sharif and the Haram in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, is the holiest mosque in the world and the main destination of the Hajj pilgrimage.The mosque complex covers an area of 356,800 square meters and can accommodate up to 820,000 worshippers during the Haj and was first built in the 7th century under Caliph Omar Ibn al-Khattab and has been modified, demolished, rebuilt, and expanded on a regular basis. The Masjid al-Haram ("Holy Mosque") is the only mosque that has no qibla direction.

The Prophet's Mosque has a flat paved roof topped with 24 domes on square bases. Holes pierced into the base of each dome illuminate the interior. The roof is also used for prayer during peak times, when the 24 domes slide out on metal tracks to shade areas of the roof, creating light wells for the prayer hall. At these times, the courtyard of the Ottoman mosque is also shaded with umbrellas affixed to freestanding columns. The roof is accessed by stairs and escalators. The paved area around the mosque is also used for prayer, equipped with umbrella tents.