Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and home to Islam's two holiest shrines in Mecca and Medina. The king's official title is the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The modern Saudi state was founded in 1932 by ABD AL-AZIZ bin Abd al-Rahman Al SAUD (Ibn Saud) after a 30-year campaign to unify most of the Arabian Peninsula. One of his male descendents rules the country today as required by the country's 1992 Basic Law. King ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz ascended to the throne in 2005. Following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Saudi Arabia accepted the Kuwaiti royal family and 400,000 refugees while allowing Western and Arab troops to deploy on its soil for the liberation of Kuwait the following year. The continuing presence of foreign troops on Saudi soil after the liberation of Kuwait became a source of tension between the royal family and the public until all operational US troops left the country in 2003. Major terrorist attacks in May and November 2003 spurred a strong on-going campaign against domestic terrorism and extremism. King ABDALLAH has continued the cautious reform program begun when he was crown prince. The king instituted an interfaith dialogue initiative in 2008 to encourage religious tolerance on a global level; in 2009, he reshuffled the cabinet, which led to more moderates holding ministerial and judicial positions, and appointed the first female to the cabinet. The 2010-12 uprising across Middle Eastern and North African countries sparked modest incidents in Saudi cities, predominantly by Shia demonstrators calling for the release of detainees and the withdrawal from Bahrain of the Gulf Cooperation Council's Peninsula Shield Force. Protests in general were met by a strong police presence, with some arrests, but not the level of bloodshed seen in protests elsewhere in the region. In response to the unrest, King ABDALLAH in February and March 2011 announced a series of benefits to Saudi citizens including funds to build affordable housing, salary increases for government workers, and unemployment benefits. To promote increased political participation, the government held elections nationwide in September 2011 for half the members of 285 municipal councils. Also in September, the king announced that women will be allowed to run for and vote in future municipal elections - first held in 2005 - and serve as full members of the advisory Consultative Council. During 2012, Shia protests increased in violence, while peaceful Sunni protests expanded. The country remains a leading producer of oil and natural gas and holds more than 20% of the world's proven oil reserves. The government continues to pursue economic reform and diversification, particularly since Saudi Arabia's accession to the WTO in December 2005, and promotes foreign investment in the kingdom. A burgeoning population, aquifer depletion, and an economy largely dependent on petroleum output and prices are all ongoing governmental concerns.

Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen

slightly more than one-fifth the size of the US

harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes

mostly uninhabited, sandy desert

petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper

frequent sand and dust storms

desertification; depletion of underground water resources; the lack of perennial rivers or permanent water bodies has prompted the development of extensive seawater desalination facilities; coastal pollution from oil spills

Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the world without a river; extensive coastlines on the Persian Gulf and Red Sea provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through the Persian Gulf and Suez Canal

Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%

Muslim (official) 100%

26,534,504 (July 2012 est.)

19.19 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

3.32 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

-0.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

RIYADH (capital) 4.725 million; Jeddah 3.234 million; Mecca 1.484 million; Medina 1.104 million; Ad Dammam 902,000 (2009)

24 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

2.26 children born/woman (2012 est.)

0.939 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

2.2 beds/1,000 population (2008)

13 provinces (mintaqat, singular - mintaqah); Al Bahah, Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah (Northern Border), Al Jawf, Al Madinah (Medina), Al Qasim, Ar Riyad (Riyadh), Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern), 'Asir, Ha'il, Jizan, Makkah (Mecca), Najran, Tabuk

23 September 1932 (unification of the kingdom)

Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)

governed according to Islamic law; the Basic Law that articulates the government's rights and responsibilities was promulgated by royal decree in 1992

Islamic (sharia) legal system with some elements of Egyptian, French, and customary law; note - several secular codes have been introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

21 years of age; male

Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (150 members and a chairman appointed by the monarch to serve four-year terms); note - though the Council of Ministers announced in October 2003 its intent to introduce elections for a third of the Majlis al-Shura incrementally over a period of four to five years, to date no such elections have been held or announced

Supreme Council of Justice

Ansar Al Marah (supports women's rights)

ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional member), AFESD, AMF, BIS, CAEU, CP, FAO, G-20, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

green, a traditional color in Islamic flags, with the Shahada or Muslim creed in large white Arabic script (translated as "There is no god but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God") above a white horizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist side); design dates to the early twentieth century and is closely associated with the Al Saud family which established the kingdom in 1932; the flag is manufactured with differing obverse and reverse sides so that the Shahada reads - and the sword points - correctly from right to left on both sides

palm tree surmounting two crossed swords

Saudi Arabia has an oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. It possesses about 17% of the world's proven petroleum reserves, ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC. The petroleum sector accounts for roughly 80% of budget revenues, 45% of GDP, and 90% of export earnings. Saudi Arabia is encouraging the growth of the private sector in order to diversify its economy and to employ more Saudi nationals. Diversification efforts are focusing on power generation, telecommunications, natural gas exploration, and petrochemical sectors. Over 5 million foreign workers play an important role in the Saudi economy, particularly in the oil and service sectors, while Riyadh is struggling to reduce unemployment among its own nationals. Saudi officials are particularly focused on employing its large youth population, which generally lacks the education and technical skills the private sector needs. Riyadh has substantially boosted spending on job training and education, most recently with the opening of the King Abdallah University of Science and Technology - Saudi Arabia's first co-educational university. As part of its effort to attract foreign investment, Saudi Arabia acceded to the WTO in December 2005 after many years of negotiations. The government has begun establishing six "economic cities" in different regions of the country to promote foreign investment and plans to spend $373 billion between 2010 and 2014 on social development and infrastructure projects to advance Saudi Arabia's economic development.

$740.5 billion (2012 est.)

$698.8 billion (2011 est.)

$652.8 billion (2010 est.)

$657 billion (2012 est.)

21.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

47.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

11.9% of GDP (2012 est.)

12.9% of GDP (2012 est.)

12.6% of GDP (2011 est.)

2.5% (31 December 2008)

6.8% (31 December 2012 est.)

7.2% (31 December 2011 est.)

$231.3 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$202.9 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$360.3 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$326.3 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$62.83 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$27.8 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$338.9 billion (31 December 2011)

$353.4 billion (31 December 2010)

$318.8 billion (31 December 2009)

wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons, dates, citrus; mutton, chickens, eggs, milk

$150 billion (2012 est.)

$158.5 billion (2011 est.)

$381.5 billion (2012 est.)

$364.7 billion (2011 est.)

petroleum and petroleum products 90%

Japan 13.9%, China 13.6%, US 13.4%, South Korea 10.2%, India 7.8%, Singapore 4.8% (2011)

$136.8 billion (2012 est.)

$120 billion (2011 est.)

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, motor vehicles, textiles

China 12.8%, US 11.9%, Germany 7.1%, South Korea 6%, Japan 5.6%, India 4.9%, Italy 4.1% (2011)

$626.8 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$541.1 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$127.4 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$107.1 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$221.2 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$204.1 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$20.83 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$17.73 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Saudi riyals (SAR) per US dollar -

212.3 billion kWh (2010 est.)

186.1 billion kWh (2009 est.)

44.49 million kW (2009 est.)

100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

10 million bbl/day (2012 est.)

6.88 million bbl/day (2011 est.)

0 bbl/day (2011 est.)

264.6 billion bbl (1 January 2012 est.)

1.914 million bbl/day (2010 est.)

2.817 million bbl/day (2011 est.)

951,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)

160,100 bbl/day (2010 est.)

99.23 billion cu m (2011 est.)

8.028 trillion cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

478.4 million Mt (2010 est.)

4.633 million (2011)

53.706 million (2011)

broadcast media are state-controlled; state-run TV operates 4 networks; Saudi Arabia is a major market for pan-Arab satellite TV broadcasters; state-run radio operates several networks; multiple international broadcasters are available (2007)

9.774 million (2009)

condensate 212 km; gas 2,846 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,183 km; oil 4,232 km; refined products 1,151 km (2010)

Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Jeddah, Yanbu al Bahr

Ministry of Defense and Aviation Forces: Royal Saudi Land Forces, Royal Saudi Naval Forces (includes Marine Forces and Special Forces), Royal Saudi Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Malakiya as-Sa'udiya), Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces, Royal Saudi Strategic Rocket Forces, Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG)

18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2004)

10% of GDP (2005 est.)

Saudi Arabia has reinforced its concrete-filled security barrier along sections of the now fully demarcated border with Yemen to stem illegal cross-border activities; Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue discussions on a maritime boundary with Iran; Saudi Arabia claims Egyptian-administered islands of Tiran and Sanafir

death penalty for traffickers; improving anti-money-laundering legislation and enforcement