At a Glance

Official Name: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Continent: Asia

Area: 756,982 square miles (1,960,582 sq. km)

Population: 22,757,092

Capital City: Riyadh

Largest City: Riyadh (1,800,000)

Unit of Money: Saudi riyal

Major Languages: Arabic

Natural Resources: Petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper

The Place

Saudi Arabia occupies more than three-fourths of the Arabian Peninsula. Jordan, Iraq, and Kuwait border Saudi Arabia to the north; the Persian Gulf and the United Arab Emirates to the east; Oman and Yemen to the south; and the Red Sea to the west. Much of the country consists of vast deserts where few people live and little or nothing grows. Saudi Arabia is the world's leading producer of petroleum. Wealth from oil and natural gas exports has made Saudi Arabia a leading economic power in the world. The landscape of Saudi Arabia is mainly barren. Coastal plains and rugged mountains cover the western region. Saudi Arabia's central area is a high plateau that has some oases where crops are grown. Deserts hem in the plateau to north, south, and east. Most of Saudi Arabia's rich oil fields lie within the eastern desert and along the Gulf coast.

The People

The people of Saudi Arabia trace their origin mainly to Arab tribes. In the past, however, many black Africans were brought to the region as slaves. Many who gained their freedom married Arabs and people of other ethnic backgrounds. In the western region, people of African, Indonesian, and Indian ancestry comprise part of the population. People whose ancestors were Turkish also live in the west. Saudis in the east include descendants of people from Iran, as well as descendants of African slaves. Most Saudis, in both urban and rural areas, wear traditional Arab clothes. Men wear an ankle-length cotton or wool garment called a thawb, which may be covered by a jacket or cloak. A head covering called a ghutra provides protection against the sun and wind. It consists of a piece of cloth held in place by a rope band called an iqal. Outside, most women cover their hair with a scarf and their face with a veil, and they wear a floor-length robe called an abayah. Life expectancy is 71 years.

Education

About 80% of all Saudi children, boys and girls, attend elementary school. About half go on to high school. The Saudi government provides free university education for all citizens. Before 1960, few women received any formal education, and almost no women held jobs outside the home. Since then, the government has improved educational opportunities for women. Today, many educated Saudi women hold jobs in journalism, administration, and research, and in shops and banks that provide goods and services.

Popular Culture/Daily Life

Family ties are strong among Saudis. Outside the home, Saudi women have traditionally had little freedom or opportunity for personal advancement. As the country has developed, however, it has undergone a number of social changes. Some changes have affected the daily life of Saudi women, especially in cities. Increasing numbers of women work in such fields as teaching and social work. Some activities, however, are still restricted. For example, women are not allowed to drive cars or to travel without permission of a male guardian. Socializing with friends and family remains the most popular form of entertainment.