 Country name:
Conventional long form: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Conventional short form: Saudi Arabia
Local long form: Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
Local short form: Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
Government type:
Monarchy
Capital:
Name: Riyadh
Geographic coordinates:
24 38 N, 46 43 E
Time difference:
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
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
Independence:
23 September 1932 (unification of the kingdom)
National holiday:
Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)
Constitution:
Governed according to Islamic law; the Basic Law that articulates the government's Rights and responsibilities was promulgated by royal decree in 1992
Flag description:
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
Note: one of only three national flags that differ on their obverse and reverse sides - the others are Moldova and Paraguay
National anthem:
Name: "Aash Al Maleek" (Long Live Our Beloved King)
Lyrics/music: Ibrahim KHAFAJI/Abdul Rahman al-KHATEEB
Note: music adopted 1947, lyrics adopted 1984
|
Legal system:
Based on sharia law, several secular codes have been introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; male
Executive branch:
Chief of state: King and Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 1 August 2005); Heir Apparent Crown Prince SULTAN bin Abd al- Aziz Al Saud (half brother of the monarch); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government
Head of government:
King and Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 1 August 2005); Deputy Prime Minister SULTAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud; Second Deputy Prime Minister NAYIF bin Abd Al-Aziz Al Saud
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch every four years and includes many royal family members
(For more information visit the World Leaders website)
Elections:
none; the monarchy is hereditary; note - an Allegiance Commission created by royal decree in October 2006 established a committee of Saudi princes that will play a role in selecting future Saudi kings, but the system will not take effect until after Crown Prince Sultan becomes king
Legislative branch:
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
Judicial branch:
Supreme Council of Justice
Political parties and leaders:
None
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Ansar Al Marah (supports women's rights)
Other: gas companies; religious groups
|
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional member), AFESD, AMF, BIS, FAO, G-20, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, 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, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Chief of mission: Ambassador Adil al-Ahmad al-JUBAYR
Chancery: 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
Telephone: [1] (202) 342-3800
FAX: [1] (202) 944-3113
Consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Chief of mission: Ambassador James B. SMITH
Embassy: Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh
Mailing address: American Embassy, Unit 61307, APO AE 09803-1307; International Mail: P. O. Box 94309, Riyadh 11693
Telephone: [966] (1) 488-3800
FAX: [966] (1) 488-7360
Consulate(s) general: Dhahran, Jiddah (Jeddah)
|
