Saudi Arabia is one of the most closed and at the same time most visited states in the world. It is located on the Arabian Peninsula, where it is washed by the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea. Until recently, a predominantly religious pilgrimage has developed in the kingdom, but in recent years, active work has been carried out to introduce tourist visas.
General information about Saudi Arabia
This country is an amazing combination of highly developed technology and Islamic. It is Islam that is the official religion of Saudi Arabia and has a direct impact on all aspects of its life. Even the country's constitution was written in strict accordance with the Sunnahs of holy scripture. By the way, the constitution states that the official language of Saudi Arabia is Arabic.
The area of Saudi Arabia is more than 2 million square meters. km. Thanks to this, it is included in the top 20 largest countries in the world. Despite such a territory, its population density is relatively low. So, as of 2017, the population of Saudi Arabia is just over 33 million people. Of these, 55.2% are men and 44.8% are women.
The official currency of Saudi Arabia is the Saudi riyal, or rial. The current king is depicted on the banknotes.
Saudi Arabia's ISO code is SA. This means that the country is a member of the UN organization and its specialized agencies.
Geolocation
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the largest state on the Arabian Peninsula, occupying 80% of its territory. The rest are located, Yemen, Iraq and Syria.
Due to the fact that the country occupies a border position between Africa and Eurasia, many still have difficulties in determining its location. Some tourists find it difficult to answer the question of where Saudi Arabia is located on the world map. Turning the globe, you can see that the kingdom is located neatly between the two continents. For those who do not know which mainland Saudi Arabia is located on, it will be interesting to know that this is Eurasia. The country occupies a border position between Africa and mainland Asia.
Climate and nature of Saudi Arabia
The country is located about 2000 km from the equator, but, nevertheless, its influence is very noticeable here. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is characterized by a tropical, subtropical and sharply continental climate at the same time. The average air temperature in July is + 38 ° C, and in January - + 22 ° C.
The borderline geographical position of Saudi Arabia and the proximity to the equator have become the reason that there are many deserts on its territory, which are combined into one name - the Great Deserts. Seasonal winds (samum, khamsin, shemal) and sandstorms dominate here. The average annual rainfall is 70-100 mm.
Many travelers are interested in how many rivers there are in Saudi Arabia. There are no permanent sources in the country. Rivers are formed after heavy rains, and dry up after a while.
State system and symbols of Saudi Arabia
The kingdom is known not only for Muslim shrines. Until 1928, there was a tomb in Saudi Arabia in which the first woman on Earth was supposedly buried. The religious authorities destroyed and concreted the burial. In 2015, the Ark of Gabriel was found in Saudi Arabia. When trying to excavate it, 4,000 people died. Some blame plasma emissions for this, others - the crush.
Saudi Arabia Accommodation
Until recently, the entire tourism industry in the country was focused on serving religious pilgrims. They were all focused on them and. Despite the narrow target audience, there is a wide variety of accommodation options in the country. The most famous hotels are:
- Radisson Blu in Riyadh;
- Raffles Makkah Palace in Mecca;
- Crowne Plaza in Jeddah;
- Mövenpick Hotel in Medina.
You can count on more or less secular conditions in Jeddah. This city of Saudi Arabia has created excellent conditions for recreation on the Red Sea. The level of service here meets all European standards.
In order to develop the tourism sector in Saudi Arabia, the tallest hotel in the world, The Abraj Kudai, will soon be opened. It will consist of twelve 45-storey towers with 10,000 rooms, 70 restaurants and 5 helipads.
Saudi Arabia restaurants and cuisine
The culinary traditions of the kingdom developed under the influence of the climatic conditions and customs of Islam. For the most part, the cuisine of Saudi Arabia is similar to the cuisines of other countries in the Middle East. Her recipes are based on the use of lamb and chicken, rice and a huge amount of spices. Pork is not eaten in the country, and all other types of meat are prepared in strict accordance with halal. Tea, coffee and various sweets play an important role in local feasts.
You can appreciate the color and variety in the best restaurants:
- The Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh;
- Pullman Zamzam in Mecca;
- Le Méridien in Medina;
- Belajio in Jeddah.
In accordance with the laws of Saudi Arabia, drinking alcohol is prohibited here.
Public life
The Kingdom has 25% of the world's oil reserves, therefore it is one of the largest exporters of raw materials on the world stage. This significantly affects the standard of living in Saudi Arabia. VAT here is only 5%, and any local resident can take an absolutely interest-free loan. But the market system is deprived of a large part of the working population - women. In general, the rights of the fairer sex, or rather their absence, still excites the inhabitants of the Western world. The head of state of Saudi Arabia determines how the inhabitants of the country should look. For a long time they had to wear a black abaya, covering them from the gaze of unfamiliar men, and only in March 2018 this requirement became a thing of the past.
The country has a low crime rate. According to the customs of Saudi Arabia, the public order is maintained by representatives of the Sharia police. However, since 2016, her rights have been significantly curtailed.
The culture of Saudi Arabia has developed and continues to develop in accordance with the traditions of Islam. The construction of Christian churches, Jewish synagogues and Buddhist temples is prohibited here. Five times a day, a devout Muslim is obliged to perform namaz, to which the muezzin calls.
Saudi Arabia Transport
The country is one of the world's largest oil suppliers, which has affected all its industries. Saudi Arabia is characterized by a high level of automotive development. The total length of all its roads is almost 222,000 km.
There are 208 in total in Saudi Arabia. Six of them have international status. These are the airports:
- King Fahd at Em-Dammam;
- King Abdulaziz in Jeddah;
- King Khalid in Riyadh;
- Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz in Medina;
- Al-Asa in Al-Hofuf;
- Prince Abdul Mohsin bin Abdulaziz in Yanbu.
The length of the railways of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is several hundred kilometers. A 440 km long line is under construction to connect Mecca and Medina. Public transport in the country is underdeveloped. It is easier to get around by taxi within the cities of Saudi Arabia.
How to get to Saudi Arabia?
Until now, the country's air gates have been open only for charter flights with pilgrims. They are operated by Royal Jordanian and Qatar Airways, which fly three times a week. In addition, many airlines of the world (Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, Alitalia, KLM, Air Canada) send regular flights here, and from 2018 it will be possible to fly to Saudi Arabia from Russia.
From Egypt, Sudan, Iran and Eritrea, you can get to the economic capital of Saudi Arabia, Jeddah, by ferries. They depart from Suez, Port Sudan, Em Dammam and Massawa.
Saudi Arabia is connected to all neighboring states except Iraq by regular bus service. Approximately 5-7 buses per day arrive from, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait. Minibuses from Oman and Jordan also travel through the UAE.
Citizens of Russia and the CIS countries need to enter Saudi Arabia. You can get to the country with a visitor, transit, student, work, business and tourist visa. There are also such types of visas as pilgrimage (for the Hajj or Omra) and for permanent residence.
Saudi Arabia flag
The flag of the first state was a green banner with a white crescent. However, the Wahhibis used a green cloth as a banner with a shahada (Islamic creed: "There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah") in Arabic. In 1902, he adopted the flag with the shahadah as the state flag, adding a sword to it. The design of the flag changed several times: white edges appeared and disappeared, the font changed, there were two swords. The modern design of the flag was approved in 1973.
Of the features of the flag, it should be noted that it is sewn from two panels so that the text can be read from both sides. Since the shahada is sacred for Muslims, the Saudi flag is forbidden to be depicted on T-shirts (in case of emergency, for example, on the uniform of athletes during international competitions, a flag is depicted with only one sword), and it is not lowered in case of mourning.
Coat of arms of Saudi Arabia
The coat of arms of Saudi Arabia was approved in 1950. It depicts a palm tree and two swords. Palm is the main tree of Saudi Arabia, and two swords symbolize the two families that founded Saudi Arabia: and al-Wahhab.
States on the territory
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
المملكة العربية السعودية (Al-Mamlaka al-Arabiyya al-Saudiyya)
Since the third millennium BC, the territory of the Arabian Peninsula was inhabited by nomadic Semitic tribes - the ancestors of modern Arabs, who assimilated the Negroid population of the south of the peninsula. In the first millennium BC, in the south of the peninsula, ancient Arab states - kingdoms - began to take shape. For a long time, tribal relations prevailed among the population of North Arabia, but gradually slave-owning states began to form there from tribal unions, in particular. In the 1st century BC, North Arabia came under power, and after its collapse it became an arena of struggle between and. As for the west and south of the peninsula (Hejaz, Asir and Yemen), they found themselves at the intersection of trade routes between the Mediterranean, India and Africa, which contributed to the emergence and growth of cities such as Makoraba (Mecca) and Yathrib (Medina). Simultaneously with the development of trade, Christianity and Judaism began to spread in these areas.
By the 5th century AD, an alliance of Arab tribes headed by the Kinda tribe was formed in the central region of Arabia - Najdeh, which extended its influence to the south and east of the peninsula. Around 529, the alliance fell apart, and Arabia became the arena of struggle between Ethiopian and Persian rulers. The fight against the invaders was led by a tribe of Quraish from Mecca. From this tribe came the prophet Muhammad, thanks to whose activities in the 7th century a new religion arose in Arabia - Islam. It was Islam that became the pivot around which the scattered nomadic tribes of the Arabian Peninsula united into an Arab nation, and a new theocratic state arose - with its capital in Medina.
As a result of the rapid expansion, by the middle of the 8th century, in addition to Arabia, Mesopotamia, Palestine, Syria, Persia, Transcaucasia, North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula were under the rule of the caliphs. The capital of the Caliphate was moved from Medina, first to Damascus and then to Baghdad. This led to the fact that Arabia became the outskirts of a huge state.
In 1901, against the backdrop of the Kuwait crisis, in which the leading world powers were involved, resumed the struggle for Riyadh. In January 1902, as a result of a daring raid, the son took Riyadh, and by the spring of 1904 he had restored power over most of Najd. The Rashidids appealed for help to, but the Sultan's troops were defeated and were forced to leave the peninsula. The Sultan was recognized as his vassal in Najd. In 1906, the emir recognized power over Najd and Kasim, and the sultan confirmed this agreement.
Najd and Hijaz in 1923
After gaining independence, clashes between Arab states resumed. In 1920, the troops of Najd captured Upper Asir, and the next year it was annexed to the possessions. On August 22, 1921, he was proclaimed Sultan of Najd and the dependent territories. In the next two years, they captured El Jauf and Wadi al-Sirhan and moved their troops north, to, and. Not wanting to over-strengthen Najd, the British supported the Hashemite rulers and. were defeated.
In 1928, an out-of-control uprising broke out in the kingdom Ikhvanov... Having received blessings from the ulema, he formed a small army of members of the tribes loyal to him and drove the rebels into the territory. There they were surrounded by British troops, and their leaders were extradited. With defeat Ikhvanov tribal associations lost their role as the main military base. During the civil war, the rebellious sheikhs and their squads were completely destroyed. This victory was the final stage on the way to the creation of a single centralized state.
The new monarch embarked on a gradual modernization of the kingdom. Under him, the introduction of Western technologies in industry and the social sphere began, a reform of health care and education systems was carried out, and a national television appeared. In foreign policy, border disputes with, and were resolved. In 1970, the civil war in the YAR was ended, where Saudi Arabia supported the supporters of the ousted imam. In the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, Saudi Arabia supported and even for some time imposed an embargo on the supply of oil to the United States. The normalization of relations with America took place only after the signing of an armistice between Israel, and in 1974.
In 1975, the king was assassinated by one of his nephews and his brother ascended the throne. He was in poor health, and therefore the actual power was in the hands of his brother. He continued the conservative policy of his predecessor. Thanks to its huge oil revenues and its military-strategic position, the kingdom's role in regional politics and international economic and financial issues has increased.
The Islamic Revolution of 1978-79 in Iran led to an outbreak of Islamic fundamentalism in the world. There have been major anti-government protests in Saudi Arabia. In addition, in the early 1980s, oil prices and demand fell sharply, which led to a crisis in the Saudi economy, another exacerbation of internal contradictions and the foreign policy situation in the region.
Gulf war
During the Iran-Iraq war, Saudi Arabia supported. In response, Ayatollah Khomeini's followers regularly tried to disrupt the annual Hajj to Mecca. Saudi Arabia was forced to sever diplomatic relations with. During the Gulf War of 1990-91, Saudi Arabia was threatened by an Iraqi invasion. Thousands of American and allied military forces were deployed on the territory of the country. The king made a great personal contribution to the creation of the anti-Iraqi coalition of Arab states.
After the Gulf War, under pressure from the liberals, he embarked on political reforms. In particular, the Consultative Council was created, the Council of Ministers was reformed and the administrative-territorial division of the country was changed. However, the reforms failed to resolve the contradictions that have matured in Saudi society. The presence of American troops on Saudi territory was contrary to the doctrines of Wahhabism, and in the 1990s, several terrorist attacks against Americans took place in the kingdom. Saudi Arabia was one of two countries that recognized the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. Relations with the United States deteriorated further after the events of September 11, 2001. Washington accused Saudi Arabia of financing international terrorist organizations, in particular, Al-Qaeda. However, the United States did not agree to break off relations with Saudi Arabia.
In 2003, two human rights organizations were established in Saudi Arabia, and in 2005, local elections were held for the first time.
Despite the reforms carried out, Saudi Arabia is one of the most closed and conservative countries in the world. All power is in the hands of the king, he is also the spiritual leader of the country. His power is limited only by the norms of Sharia. This makes Saudi Arabia alongside the only absolute theocratic monarchy in the world. The throne is inherited. The right to the throne is legally assigned to the sons and grandchildren of the first king, but the order of succession is not clearly defined: the heir is chosen by a special Council from among the most influential members of the royal family.
The Koran is declared the Constitution of Saudi Arabia; all legislation is based on Islamic law. Any discussion of the existing system is prohibited in the country. Religious police ( muttava), which monitors the observance of the norms of Islam. The use of alcohol and drugs, theft and murder are severely punished; public executions are practiced. Women's rights are severely limited, and all restrictions apply to foreign citizens in Saudi Arabia. Despite allied relations with the West, Saudi Arabia is often criticized for condescending to Islamic radicalism. Saudi Arabia is home to former international "terrorist No. 1" Osama bin Laden; many Islamic militants find refuge on its territory.
The unrest in the Arab world in 2011 hardly touched Saudi Arabia. Only the unrest of the Shiites in al-Katif, suppressed by the authorities with the use of weapons, was recorded. Currently, any rallies and demonstrations in Saudi Arabia are prohibited as contrary to Sharia law. The police received the right to use any means to curb illegal gatherings.
At the end of 2017, several dozen members of the elite, including princes, were arrested in Saudi Arabia. Officially, they are accused of corruption, but in reality, most likely, there is a process of "clearing" the political field for Crown Prince Mohammed ibn Salman from representatives of the conservative opposition.
Capital: Riyadh.
Area: 2 149 690 sq. km.
Population: 26 939 583 people.
Official language: Arabic.
Official currency: Saudi riyal.
Saudi Arabia is one of the most "closed" countries in the world. To visit it, you will have to fulfill a number of conditions and rules. But those who at least once saw its endless deserts and felt the influence of local culture will hardly regret being there ...
Saudi Arabia occupies about 80% of the Arabian Peninsula - the largest in the world. In the north and northeast, it borders Jordan, Iraq and Kuwait, in the east - with Qatar and the UAE, and in the south - with Oman and Yemen. With the island state of Bahrain, which is located in the waters of the Persian Gulf, Saudi Arabia is connected by a huge King Fahd Bridge. It sits entirely on piles driven into the bottom of the bay.
On the political map between Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Oman, the border is drawn not by a solid line, as is usually done, but by an intermittent one, because this border is conditional. It runs through the desert and is not marked on the ground. Because of this, the area of the country is always indicated approximately.
The inhabitants of the country are Muslims. They live according to the laws of Sharia (Islamic law), which will seem very strict to foreigners. For example, in Saudi Arabia, public entertainments (theaters, cinemas, etc.), rallies and parades are prohibited, there are no holidays except religious ones, pets are prohibited, and a hand is cut off for theft ...
Celebrating New Year and Christmas in Saudi Arabia is banned. These are Christian holidays, for which the punishment is imposed.
Saudi Arabia is an absolute theocratic monarchy. This means that the power in the country (both secular and spiritual) belongs to the king and is not limited by anyone else. The role of the constitution in the state is performed by the holy book of Muslims - the Koran.
King Abdullah Ibn Abdel Aziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia is one of the richest rulers in the world. His fortune is $ 63 billion.
At the beginning of the 20th century. Saudi Arabia was one of the poorest countries in the world, now it is one of the richest. Oil helped the Saudis to get rich, huge deposits of which were found on the territory of the country. Thanks to "black gold" over the past 20 years, Saudi Arabia has turned from a backward medieval state into a modern developed state.
Saudi Arabia is the world leader in oil production.
Gasoline in Saudi Arabia costs several times cheaper than water, and not because there is little of it in the desert, but because there is a lot of oil from which it is obtained.
They say that in Saudi Arabia, men own everything and women own nothing. The woman has few rights here. She can only go outside accompanied by a man, even if he is only 6 years old! She is forbidden to drive or work. In the country, even shops are divided into women and men.
Desert garden
Go out of town - and find yourself ... in the desert. Yes, this is possible not only in imagination, but also in reality. The capital of Saudi Arabia - Riyadh - is surrounded by deserts. Walk quite a bit - and the city streets give way to endless hot sands. 
The life of Riyadh is divided into two periods: before the discovery of oil fields and after. When black gold was found in the country, the Saudi king spared no expense to rebuild the main city. He invited the best engineers, designers, who created an oasis called Riyadh (translated from Arabic, this means "garden".)
You can find out how Riyadh looked like in the past by walking through the central part of the city - al-Bataa. A quarter with narrow streets and low adobe houses is still preserved here.
At first glance, it seems that no one lives in them anymore. But satellite "dishes" on the roofs will tell you that this is not the case.
Riyadh is famous for its camel market, which attracts buyers and sellers from all over the Middle East. The price of a "desert ship" here reaches tens of thousands of dollars!
Riyadh is a city of mosques. There are more than 150 of them here, and each is not like the others!
The capital of Saudi Arabia is considered one of the hottest cities in the world. In summer, the air temperature rises to +45 ° C! It almost never rains here. Despite this, the city is recognized as the greenest capital in the Middle East. This unusual fact is explained by the fact that Riyadh lies in a small but fertile lowland.
Modern Riyadh is a city with wide streets and glass skyscrapers, among which there are very interesting buildings. For example, the Kingdom Center is the tallest building in Saudi Arabia. The height of the skyscraper is 311 m, it has 99 floors! Because of its appearance, the locals nicknamed it "opener".
In the future, an unusual metro station should appear in Riyadh. It will be built in the form of a huge bowl with a large hole on top. Through it, the sun's rays will fall deep into the station and illuminate it. Thus, the Saudis are planning to use a natural light source.
The old capital of Saudi Arabia, Diraya, is located 20 km from Riyadh. Once this city was very rich, trade routes passed through it, but then it was destroyed. Only a few palaces and mosques remained from it. Archaeological excavations are being actively carried out in the city.
Saudi Arabia is very fond of football. The national team of this country has become the champion of Asia more than once. King Fahd Stadium is one of the most remarkable buildings in the capital: it was built in the form of an Arab tent.
In an ocean of sand
On the physical map of the world, Saudi Arabia is colored yellow. This means that the territory of the country is occupied by deserts. 
The largest of the Saudi deserts is Rub al-Khali. Translated from Arabic, it means "empty quarter". Only the desert, contrary to its name, occupies not a quarter of the country, but its entire third! Rub al-Khali is a boundless sea of hot sand, which is constantly moving thanks to the wind. The height of sand waves (dunes) can reach 250 m, and this is the height of a nine-story building! The sands of this desert are legendary. They say that they buried more than one caravan.
And once the whole city - Ubar - drowned in a sand stream. It was a large shopping center where many wealthy people lived. But wealth made them greedy and angry. There was a city, it was, and it swam ... As if it disappeared forever in the desert ...
In the north of Saudi Arabia lies the "sister" of Rub al-Khali - the Great Nefud Desert. She is called the most beautiful in the world. The surface of this desert is bright red in the morning and white in the evening. She is transformed due to the fact that her grains of sand contain a lot of iron and change color depending on the lighting. This is the hottest and most stuffy place on earth. During the day, the temperature in the desert rises to 60 degrees, and the sand warms up to 70! There is life here only in oases where the “bread of the desert” - dates - grows.
Fantastic phenomena can be observed in the desert, such as stone roses. Fancy flowers are created underground over the years. They consist of gypsum and sand, and are obtained due to the strong evaporation of water. Over time, thanks to the wind, they end up on the surface. These stone flowers are considered a trophy. They are hunted by fossil gatherers. One such desert flower costs thousands of euros!
The King of Saudi Arabia regularly conducts prayers for rain. This ritual is one of the traditions of Saudi Arabia. It was started by the prophet Muhammad himself.
The east and west of Saudi Arabia are different. The climate on the Red Sea coast is more favorable for life. The mountains of Hejaz and Asir stretch here, where the highest point of the country is located - the city of Nabi-Shuayb (3353 m). They prevent the penetration of heated air from the center of Arabia and serve as a sand barrier. It is very hot on the east coast and the humidity is so high that a wet handkerchief hung out in the sun does not dry out for a long time.
Baboon monkeys literally attack the Saudis. In the mountains, because of the heat, they have nothing to eat, so they move closer to people. Baboons run freely through the streets of Saudi cities and rob local residents: they climb into houses or cars and steal vegetables and fruits.
In the summer, the inhabitants of Saudi Arabia, like the Belarusians, go to the south of the Arabian Peninsula. Only we strive for warmth, and the Saudis strive for coolness, because on the southern coast it is not as hot as in the center or in the north of Arabia.
In winter, the wind rises over the Arabian Peninsula, causing strong sandstorms. Clouds of sand and dust cover most of Saudi Arabia's localities. In cities, car traffic is closed, children do not go to school, life freezes. Everyone is trying to sit out this period at home.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, whose population dates back to the second millennium BC (it was then that indigenous Arab tribes occupied the entire Arabian Peninsula), today is the main member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. The state ranks second in the world in the production and export of oil and oil products. In addition, referring to Mecca and Medina - the main holy cities of Islam - Saudi Arabia is called the Land of Two Shrines. It is the rich deposits of black gold and the penetration of religion into many spheres of life that distinguish the kingdom.
General information about Saudi Arabia
The state from where Islam spread occupies about 80% of the territory of the Arabian Peninsula. Most of the country is occupied by desert areas, foothills and mountains of medium height, so less than 1% of the land is suitable for cultivation. The Arabian Peninsula is one of the few places on Earth where the air temperature constantly exceeds 50 degrees during the summer.
The capital of Saudi Arabia is Riyadh. Other major cities are Jeddah, Mecca, Medina, Em-Dammam, El-Khufuf. There are a total of 27 settlements with a population of more than 100 thousand people, and there are four millionaire cities. The capital of Saudi Arabia is traditionally not only the administrative, but also the political, scientific, educational and business center of the country. Religious and cultural centers, shrines of the state - Mecca and Medina.
The official symbols are the Saudi Arabian flag, coat of arms and anthem. The flag is a green cloth with a sword, symbolizing the victories of the founder of the state, and an inscription - the Muslim creed (shahada). Interestingly, the flag of Saudi Arabia is never at half-mast on the occasion of mourning. Also, the image cannot be applied to clothing and souvenirs, since the shahada is considered sacred for Muslims.
The king of Saudi Arabia, who today rules the state, is a direct descendant of the first king, Abdel Aziz. The power of Salman ibn Abdul-Aziz Al Saud of the Saudi dynasty is actually limited only by Sharia law. Important government decisions are made by the king in consultation with a group of religious leaders and other respected members of Saudi society.
Current demographic situation
The population of Saudi Arabia as of 2014 was 27.3 million people. About 30% of them are newcomers, while the indigenous population are Saudi Arabs. After a brief stabilization of demographics in 2000 at around 20 million people, the population of Saudi Arabia began to grow again. In general, in the dynamics of the kingdom's population, there are no sharp jumps in the population.
Other relevant demographics for Saudi Arabia are:
- birth rate - 18.8 per 1000 people;
- mortality - 3.3 per 1000 people;
- the general fertility rate is 2.2 children per woman;
- natural population growth - 15.1;
- migration growth of the population - 5.1 per 1000 people.
Density of inhabitants and nature of settlement
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia covers an area of 2,149,610 square kilometers. In terms of territory, the state is 12th in the world and the first among the countries of the Arabian Peninsula. These data, as well as an approximate estimate of the population for 2015, allow us to calculate the value of population density. The figure is 12 people per square kilometer.
Most of the Saudi Arabians are concentrated in cities. Firstly, the relief and climate of the Arabian Peninsula make it possible to live comfortably only within the oases, around which the largest cities of the state were once formed. Secondly, a significant proportion of the urban population is due to the structure of the economy, where agriculture occupies an extremely small part, due to the meager percentage of land suitable for growing plants and raising livestock.
The urbanization rate in the kingdom is 82.3%, and the corresponding ratio is 2.4% per year. The capital of Saudi Arabia is home to over five million people. The total population of the remaining three millionaire cities is an additional six million Saudis. Thus, the four largest cities of the kingdom are home to eleven million people out of 31.5 (estimated for 2015), which is approximately 35% of the country's inhabitants.
Religious affiliation of the population
Saudi Arabia, whose population is highly religious, is officially an Islamic state. Islam as a state religion is enshrined in the first article of the Basic Law of the state. Muslims are 92.8% of the population of Saudi Arabia. By the way, tourists who do not profess Islam are prohibited from entering Mecca and Medina.
The second largest religion in the kingdom is Christianity. The number of Christians is about 1.2 million, the majority of whom are foreigners. Quite often, cases of oppression of adherents of other religions (not Muslims) are recorded in the country - Saudi Arabia is in sixth place among states where the rights of Christians are most often oppressed.
Atheism in the kingdom is considered a grave sin and is equated with terrorism, so it is impossible to estimate the exact number of non-believers in the country. The American Institute of Public Opinion, based on surveys, cites the following data: 5% of Saudis are convinced atheists, about 19% call themselves non-believers. Specialized publications publish smaller numbers, indicating only 0.7% in the column “atheists and non-believers”.
Age and sex structure of the population
The Saudi Arabian Accident, whose population is mostly of working age, is characterized by a progressive (or growing) type of age and sex pyramid. This is better seen in a simplified diagram, where only three categories of citizens are distinguished: children and adolescents (up to the full 14 years old), the working-age population (from 15 to 65 years old) and the elderly (over 65 years old).
The working-age population is about 22 million, accounting for 67.6% of the total Saudis. There are 9.6 million children and adolescents in the state, or 29.4%, the share of elderly people is only 3%, this group is 0.9 million people. In general, the dependent part of citizens (children and pensioners who are supported by the adult population) accounts for 32.4% of the Saudis. Such indicators do not form a particularly significant social burden on society.
Saudi Arabia, whose population traditionally oppresses the fair sex, has an almost equal gender structure of the population. There are 55% of men and 45% of women in the country.
Women's rights in Saudi Arabia
Women's rights are severely restricted in a country like Saudi Arabia. The population is deeply religious, so they follow all religious norms. Thus, women are forbidden to drive a car, vote, use by public transport unaccompanied by a husband or male relative, communicate with men (with the exception of relatives and husband). The fair sex is required to wear long dark robes, and in some regions it is allowed to leave only the eyes open.
The quality of education for women in Saudi Arabia is worse than for men. In addition, female students receive less scholarships than their male peers. And in general, the fair sex does not have the right to study, work or travel outside the country, if they are not allowed by their husband or close male relative. Even for rape in Saudi Arabia, a woman can be punished, not a criminal. In this case, the victim is charged with "provocation to rape" or violation of the dress code.
Saudi Arabia, whose population gives the main prerogative to men, adheres to the principles of sexual segregation. So, for example, houses have separate entrances for women and men, restaurants are divided into several zones (women, men and family), festive events are held with separation, and studies for students of different genders are held at different times so that boys and girls do not intersect ...
The King of Saudi Arabia has repeatedly announced the imminent empowerment of women. For example, he said that he would allow women to drive as soon as Saudi society was ready for this step. Of course, equal rights for women and men in Saudi society will have to wait for a long time (and this simply contradicts the norms of Islam), but there are already some indulgences in relation to the fair sex.
Kingdom literacy rate
Saudi Arabia, whose population is quite literate (94.4% of citizens over 15 years old can read and write), has different literacy rates for women and men. Thus, 97% of men and 91% of women can read and write, which is associated with the traditional oppression of the rights of the fair sex. However, among young people (from 15 to 24 years old), literacy rates are about the same: in Saudi Arabia, 99.4% and 99.3% of literate young people and girls, respectively.
Culture in Saudi Arabia
The culture of the kingdom is very closely related to the state religion. Muslims are forbidden to consume pork and alcohol, so mass festivities are practically excluded. In addition, cinemas and theaters are prohibited in the country, but such establishments are available in areas populated primarily by foreigners. Home viewing is very common in Saudi Arabia, and Western films are virtually uncensored.
The structure of the state economy
The country has 25% of the world's oil reserves, which determines the backbone of the economy of a state like Saudi Arabia. Oil provides almost all export earnings (90%). In the past thirty years, industry, transport, trade have also developed, while the share of agriculture in the economy is very small.
The currency of Saudi Arabia is the Saudi rial. The currency exchange rate is pegged to the US dollar at a ratio of 3.75 to 1. In conclusion, information for tourists on how the currency of Saudi Arabia is converted in terms of the currencies of other countries: 100 rials is 1,500 rubles, 25 euros, 26.6 dollars United States of America.
In this review, we will talk about Saudi Arabia, its history and geography, with the involvement of Saudi primary sources and other materials.
This site review is organized in three parts:
P. 1. Reference section "Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: characteristics and terms", prepared by the editors of our resource on Saudi and Western sources.
Page 2. Excerpts from the Russian edition of the Saudi Ministry of Information "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: History, Civilization and Development: 60 Years of Achievements."
Page 3. Several fragments from the "History of Saudi Arabia" by the Russian researcher Alexei Vasiliev.
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: characteristics and terms
The emblem of the Saudi Ministry of Information, combining the palm tree and archaic sabers of the Saudi coat of arms with the state-of-the-art TV tower of Riyadh, the architectural symbol of the Saudi capital.
The emblem adorned one of the first publications in the Russian language of the ministry, published after the resumption of diplomatic relations in the 1990s - a book of a small album format, but rather detailed "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: History, Civilization and Development: 60 Years of Achievements", on which we will focus in more detail in the second part of this review.
Deserts
Ranked 13th in the world in land area (2,218,000 km²), this large country is mainly arid desert areas.
Despite the urban culture that has always been present in the history of Saudi Arabia and dominates today, the country declares Bedouin culture as its basis. Bedouin from the Arabic word "badawi" - "desert inhabitant, nomad".
The most famous desert of Saudi Arabia Al-Rub Al-Khali - "The Empty Quarter".
Desert "Big Nefud" (or, otherwise "Nafud") lies in the north of the Arabian Peninsula, it is called the younger sister of the Rub al-Khali desert. It is located on the other side of the Nej, which on its other side borders on Rub Al Khali.
Another term from Saudi geography is Wadi (otherwise, Wadis) - a valley or channel (channel) of a river flowing through an arid area, which is filled with water only during the rainy season.
Historical regions of Saudi Arabia, the circumstances of their accession and the modern administrative division of the country
Saudi Arabia map.
The two most famous deserts of the country are signed here in brown - Al-Rub Al-Khali (RUB AL KHALI) and Nafud (AN NAFUD).
And between them lies the natural-historical region of Nej (NAJAD), from where the state of the Saudis began.
We also see on the map the region of Hijaz (AL HIJAZ) with the cities of Mecca and Medina.
After the unification of Neja with the Hijaz, Saudi Arabia emerges.
Nej and Hejaz are now not reflected in any way on the modern administrative map of Saudi Arabia. Therefore, they are also marked in brown on the map as natural and historical areas.
But Ha'il province was more fortunate. It survived as an administrative entity headed by the provincial center that retained the same name. But Khail was, along with the Hijaz, the worst enemy of the ruling house of the Saudis. The city of Hail can be found at the top of this map.
Starting from their ancestral nest - the Nej region, the ruling dynasty of the Saudis gradually annexed all the surrounding state formations of the Arabian Peninsula.
Nej
Nej(from the Arabic "highlands") - the central region of Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of the ruling Saudi dynasty... Here is located the capital of the country is Riyadh (ar-Riyāḍ., the name comes from the Arabic word for "gardens".
In the suburbs of Riyadh there are historical buildings and the ruins of the old capital of the Saudis, Diriyah (Derya). As for the term Nej, it is currently not mentioned in Saudi Arabia as a political or administrative unit, but only as a geographical area.
Hijaz - the abolished state of the Sharifs of Mecca
Hejaz (from Arabic for "barrier") is a historical coastal region on the Red Sea, including the desert area of the same name and the mountains of Hejaz and Asir (from Arabic for "difficult"), separating this coast from the central region of Saudi Arabia - Nej.
There are two holy Islamic cities of Mecca and Medina in the Hejaz..
Saudi publications in Russian
In the 1990s, when Saudi Arabia's diplomatic relations with the USSR and then with Russia were restored, the Saudi Ministry of Information published several illustrated books in Russian. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia handbook, The Two Sacred Mosques brochure and The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: History, Civilization and Development: 60 Years of Achievement have been published.
We will dwell on the latter in this review in more detail.... It opens with a greeting from the then Saudi Minister of Information Ali ibn Hasan al-Shaer: "This book is like a garden full of various flowers, or like a traveler who first arrived in an unfamiliar city and has only an hour of free time."
The book "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: History, Civilization and Development: 60 Years of Achievements" is probably the very first Saudi publication about the kingdom in Russian after the resumption of diplomatic relations. It is published on excellent paper and is well illustrated.
But it is clear that the Saudi printing house did not even have a Russian font at that time, so they used just a scanned typewritten set. In our illustration (see above, the very first illustration of this review, and also) from a book with the emblem of the Saudi Ministry of Information, you can see this typewritten set.
The vacuum of information about Saudi Arabia in Russia remains to this day: the Saudis still have no official Internet sites in Russian (with the exception of the blank site of the Saudi Arabian Embassy).
The country also never conducted radio broadcasting in Russian, unlike some of its Arab neighbors (but it is indicative that at the same time daily radio programs are conducted from Riyadh via satellite and short wave in Turkmen, Uzbek and Tajik - to the Muslim republics of Central Asia).
So, in order to understand how Saudi Arabia wants to present itself to the audience in Russia, we will limit ourselves to considering the above-mentioned Russian-language Saudi publications. However, we have provided these materials with notes on topical English-language sources and some other fascinating materials.
Before moving on to the texts from the books of the Saudi Ministry of Information, for a better understanding of the context, we offer a small reference material on the country, prepared by the editors of the site. Topics raised in this reference material are developed in other sections of this review.
From 1519, the Hijaz was part of the Ottoman Empire, while the deserted interior regions of Saudi Arabia continued to be ruled by local Arab tribal leaders.
In 1916, with the help of Britain, an independent state was proclaimed in the Hejaz under the leadership of the Sharif of Mecca Hussein ibn Ali.
The term “sharif” comes from the Arabic meaning “noble”. (In English, the spelling "Sharif of Mecca" is accepted - "Sharif of Mecca", but in Russian, the name is also sometimes translated as "Sheriff of Mecca"). The Sharifs of Mecca have always been the descendants of the Prophet Muhammad. This post of governor, or headman of Mecca, appeared during the period of the united Arab caliphate at the end of the Abbasid era, who ruled from Baghdad. The position was retained under the Ottomans. Throughout history, the Sharifs gradually extended their power to Medina as well.
The aforementioned Hussein ibn Ali from the Hashemite clan of the descendants of Hashim ibn Abd al-Dar, the grandfather of the Prophet Muhammad, and became the last Sharif of Mecca, accepting in 1916 a new title of king of all Arabs - "malik bilad - al-Arab". Also in 1924, after the founding of the Turkish Republic, Hussein ibn Ali proclaimed himself the Caliph (from the Arabic word “governor”) - the spiritual and secular ruler of all Muslims, taking the title for many centuries assigned to the Ottoman dynasty of Turkish sultans.
During the First World War, being part of the Ottoman Empire, Hejaz sided with the Entente countries, which included Britain, while the Ottoman state was on the opposite side of the front (along with Germany). Britain supported the Arab movement for independence from the Ottomans. The adoption of the title of caliph by Hussein was facilitated by the actions of the republican authorities of new Turkey, which deprived the Ottoman dynasty of the ruling status, first by abolishing the sultanate, and after a while the caliphate in Turkey.
Despite the initial successes of the Sharif house, he was unable to maintain power in the Arabian Peninsula and secure sufficient British support against the Saudis. As a result, in 1925, also the British ally, the ruler of Nej and the future Saudi king Abdel Aziz ibn Saud, conquered the Hejaz, taking care of the holy cities of Mecca and Medina from the sheriff's family.
Hussein ibn Ali was forced to flee to the British colony in Cyprus. He died in 1931. After Hussein, the title of Caliph is again vacant. (Later, Great Britain contributed to the proclamation of the sons of Hussein Abdullah and Faisal as kings of the Arab kingdoms of Syria and Iraq, newly formed on the site of the Turkish provinces, and the artificially created Jordan between Iraq and Palestine. Now the descendants of the former sheriffs of Mecca are the rulers of only the Kingdom of Jordan. Iraq and Syria are republics).
In turn, the annexation of the Hejaz allowed Abdel Aziz ibn Saud to proclaim a new kingdom of Nej, Hejaz and the annexed provinces, which in 1932 was renamed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in honor of the ruling dynasty.
Currently, the term Hejaz is not mentioned in Saudi Arabia as a political or administrative unit, but only as a historical region and the name of the mountains.
The modern administrative division of Saudi Arabia.
Hail
Hail, another name is Jabel Shammar - a formerly independent state in the northeast of the Arabian Peninsula, ruled by the Rashid dynasty.
Was the main enemy of Saudduring their struggle for Riyadh and the interior of the peninsula... Conquered by the future King of Saudi Arabia, Abdel-Aazi Ibn Saud in 1921.
Now the province of Saudi Arabia Hail in the north-east of the country with the provincial center of the same name.
El Hasa
Al-Hasa is a previously independent principality, and before that it was a territory dependent on the Ottoman authorities. Conquered by Abdel-Aziom ibn Saud around 1921. Now part of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.
Today, Saudi Arabia is divided into the following provinces: Al-Baha, Al-Khudud al-Shamaliyah, Al-Jawf, Al-Madinah, Al-Qasim, Riyadh, Al-Sharqiyah (i.e. the Eastern province), Asir, Khail , Jizan, Mecca, Najran, Tabuk. Each province is led by an emir from the Saudi royal family. The modern territorial division is only indirectly related to the historical division of the country.
Homeland of Islam and ancestral homeland of the Arabs
An illustration from the British Daily Mail: Saudi King Abdullah (right) with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican during the 2007 visit of the Saudi monarch to the Papal State.
At the same time, we note that the king visits the center of the Christian world - the Vatican, despite the fact that the only official opportunity for a non-believer, for example, a Christian, to get to the sacred cities of Saudi Arabia, Mecca and Medina, is to announce that he is going there to accept Islam.
Islam spread throughout the world from the Arabian Peninsula, most of which is now occupied by Saudi Arabia, and the Arabs began a forward movement, capturing vast territories of the Near and Middle East and North Africa, as well as the Iberian Peninsula (present-day Spain and Portugal).
Two sacred mosques
In Saudi Arabia, there are two sacred Islamic cities, Mecca and Medina, and the Saudi kings consider the following part of their title the most honorable: "Guardian (custodian) of two sacred mosques." (Note that in Saudi Arabia, the public manifestation of religious feelings of adherents of any religions other than Islam is prohibited.
Also P Under the threat of the death penalty, all Saudi citizens are prohibited from converting from Islam to another faith. So all non-Muslims in Saudi Arabia are foreign citizens. ... Saudi visas issued to foreign citizens always indicate religion, and according to this data, the security posts around these cities filter out the infidels, turning back. The only official opportunity for a non-believer to get into the holy cities is to announce that he is going there to accept Islam. With all this, in 2007, there was a friendly meeting between the current Saudi King Abdullah and Pope Benedict XVI in the Vatican, where the king arrived on a visit at the invitation of the Pope).
Leader of the Arab world
Due to its oil revenues, as well as the reputation of the homeland of Islam and belonging to the main Islamic movement of the Sunni persuasion, the country is increasingly becoming the informal leader of the Arab and Islamic world. (This role of Saudi Arabia is more and more inferior to Egypt, which was previously considered such a leader, but in the post-Serov times focused on solving its own economic problems and trying to avoid participation in costly conflicts).
The country of oil. High quality of life
The Saudis, perhaps, were not lucky with the fertility of the land, but they were lucky with the minerals of these lands - the country is one of the world leaders in oil production (it has 25% of the world's oil reserves), which made it possible to provide the not very large population of the country (population 28 686 633 people, density −12 people / km²) a very high standard of living (25 338 US dollars per capita (2007).
Initially, the version about the presence of oil fields in Saudi Arabia was put forward back in 1932 by an independent geologist K. Tvichel, who visited the country and conducted studies of the geological structure.
The oil reserves were officially confirmed in 1938 by geologists of the American companies Standard Oil of California (SOCAL) and the Texas Company (the future Texaco). These companies still had to persuade the Saudi king that oil is good for the future for his country. But in the end, these companies got the right to work in Saudi Arabia. One of the reasons for the victory of American companies over British in the right to obtain a concession for exploration and production of oil, it is believed, was that the United States did not have an imperial past in the Middle East, and King Abdelaziz ibn Saud was less afraid for the independence of his country, cooperating with Americans.
The aforementioned Saudi publication The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: History, Civilization and Development: 60 Years of Achievements writes about a significant oil date in the history of its country:
"Black gold" - oil was discovered in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia in 1357 AH (in 1938 according to the Greek calendar). The first ten thousand barrels of crude oil were exported on 11 Rabi al-Awwal, 1358 Hijri (05/01/1938 Gr.). Due to the Second World War, oil production stopped and was resumed after its end ...
The discovery of oil fields in Saudi Arabia boded well for a young state that suffered from a lack of natural resources in the past. The income from oil production has become a powerful basis for the development of the country ... "
Oil made it possible to create from scratch all the material elements for the life of modern society, and the highest level: hospitals, schools, roads, entire cities.
The country is also trying to develop non-oil production sectors at the expense of oil money. A number of large industrial zones have been built with enterprises of the metallurgical, petrochemical, and pharmaceutical industries.
Already at the beginning of the 1990s, Saudi Arabia ranked first in the world in the field of seawater desalination... At that time, production reached 500 million gallons of drinking water per day from 27 desalination plants located along the west and east coast of the country. At the same time, these installations generated more than 3,500 megawatts of electricity.
With the help of projects for the use of groundwater and desalination of sea water, it is possible to develop agriculture. For example, already in the 1990s, the country ranked first in the world in the production of dates. 500 thousand tons were produced per year. The number of palm trees was about 13 million. At the same time, the country took the 6th place in the world among wheat producers and exporters. The country is fully self-sufficient in dairy products, eggs and poultry.
Middle Ages today
Despite the fact that the Saudis are reputed to be actively moving around the world and technologically advanced people, and the country is pursuing a generally pro-Western foreign policy, at the same time, in the sphere of morals, Saudi Arabia is a real reserve of the past.
Only in 1962 slavery was abolished in the country... By a decree of November 7, issued that year, the government announced the ransom from their owners of all remaining slaves at a price of $ 700 for a slave and $ 1,000 for a slave. Most of the owners were outraged by such a price that was half the market value, as the American magazine Newsweek wrote at the time, and simply set the slaves free without asking for compensation from the government. in any case, after July 7, 1963, all slaves were automatically free.
Despite the fact that slavery in the country is already in the past, the Saudi state and society still has many features that seem to have gone into the past.
Until now, in one of the squares of the capital of the country, Riyadh, public executions are carried out by beheading. Also in the country are practiced, for example, punishment with whipping and stoning (such punishment, in particular, is provided for women for treason), in accordance with Sharia law. Without special permission, marriages of Saudi nationals with foreigners are prohibited, who, as noted above, are not allowed into the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. Recall that Saudi citizens are prohibited from preaching a faith other than Islam.
For years, the Saudi government has fought the country's radical theologians over the admission of women as TV announcers. As a result, female presenters are present in the programs of both the first Arabic-speaking and the second international English-language channels of Saudi television. These channels, like Saudi radio in many languages, are now also available on satellites and on the Internet. But as before, the presenters of the programs, both men and women, must be dressed in medieval, or, as they say in Saudi Arabia, traditional Arab attire (for men it is a long shirt up to the heels and a keffiyeh scarf on the head, and for women a closed dress and scarf-abaya). The same garments are obligatory for all citizens during their stay in public places.
Situation of women
Saudi Arabia ratified the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, which entered into force in 1981 on August 28, 2000, but with the proviso that if any of the provisions of the Convention contradict the norms of Islamic law, the kingdom will not be obliged to comply with these provisions.
It was only in 2004 that the ban that prevented women from obtaining business licenses was lifted. Previously, women could only start a business on behalf of a male relative.
According to Human Rights Watch, local women are not allowed to travel with their children without written permission from their husbands, enroll their children in school, and contact government agencies where there are no special departments to serve women. (For an overview of news on the situation of women in Saudi Arabia and the Islamic world, see our website).
The low status of Saudi women also affected their educational level. UN experts in their reports pointed to a high level of illiteracy among Saudi women. And the official Saudi publication "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: History, Civilization and Development: 60 Years of Achievements" reflected the lag in women's education in the country with its statistics for the last 25 years of the country's development:
“The number of schoolchildren has grown from 537 thousand (of which 400 thousand are boys) to 2 million 800 thousand (of which 1 million 500 thousand are boys). The number of university students increased from 6 thousand 942 people to 122 thousand 100 people ... (At the same time) the number of female students increased from 434 to 53 thousand people. "
Returning from statistics characterizing the position of women, to their rights, we note that Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world where women are not allowed to drive carsat... In June 2010, another campaign by human rights defenders to urge the government to lift the ban on driving failed.
The Russian Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation noted in April 2008:
“Saudi Arabia, which lives by strict Sharia law, is one of the most conservative countries in the world. The rules of custody of a man over a woman are regulated here by the judicial authorities, which are under the control of the clergy. "
The strictness of Islamic norms in modern Saudi Arabia is aggravated by the fact that the country officially follows the doctrine of the medieval Islamic theologian Sheikh Mohammed Ibn Abd Al Wahhab, who advocated the so-called. "Purity of Islam", in other words, for following the Islamic tradition in its most radical interpretation. Al Wahhab provided important services to the Saudi princely house long before the rise of Saudi Arabia. It should also be remembered that modern Saudi Arabia was created with the active participation of the Ikhwan, a movement for "pure Islam", whose military formations helped the first Saudi king Abdel Aziz ibn Saud to seize Mecca and Medina and create Saudi Arabia.
Features of the Saudi monarchy
An absolute monarchy in Saudi Arabia seems to be a certain relic form of government. In Saudi Arabia, power is not transferred from father to son, as is usually the case in monarchies, but according to an internal agreement of the Saudi royal house - brothers, who are all sons of the first king of Saudi Arabia, Abdel Aziz ibn Saud (also spelled as Abd Al- Aziz Ibn Abd Ar-Rahman Al-Faisal Al Saud), who died in 1953. This founding king had 22 wives (from different tribal families of the country, thus strengthening the unity of the Saudi nation), 37 sons from different wives and several dozen daughters. And in our time (2010), the country is ruled by the son of the first king from the eighth wife, the aged Abdullah ibn Abdel Aziz al-Saud (born 1924). And the heir to the throne is the son of the first king from another wife - Sultan ibn Abdel Aziz Al as Saud (born 1928).
Foreign policy
Despite the archaic state structure and radical Islamic doctrine, the country is pursuing a generally pro-Western foreign policy.
Over the past two decades, Saudi Arabia has twice supported Western countries on key issues: in 1991, during the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait, which was liberated with the active cooperation of the Saudis and Western countries, as well as in the current campaign against Islamic extremists, despite the fact that Saudi Arabia itself adheres to a rather radical version of Islam.
Diplomatic relations of the USSR, and then Russia and Saudi Arabia. For the first time, Moscow's relations with the then newborn Kingdom of Hejaz, Najd and the annexed territories (renamed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1931) were established on February 16, 1926, when the founder of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, ruler Neja Abdel Aziz ibn Saud, by military means annexed the Hejaz ( the territory of the region of Mecca and Medina, where the Russian political agency already existed, along with other European missions).
In the 1920s, it was believed in the USSR that by its appearance a new united Arabian kingdom expresses the aspirations of the oppressed peoples for self-determination. Accordingly, a Soviet recognition note was drawn up:
“... The government of the USSR, proceeding from the principle of self-determination of peoples and deeply respecting the will of the Gejaz people, expressed in the election of you as their king, recognizes you as the King of Gejaz and Sultan of Najd and the annexed regions,” said the note handed to Ibn Saud. "For this reason, the Soviet government considers itself in a state of normal diplomatic relations with Your Majesty's Government."
In response, the king wrote: “To His Excellency the Agent and the Consul General of the USSR. We had the honor to receive your note from 3 Sha'ban 1344 (February 16, 1926) No. 22, informing about the recognition by the Government of the USSR of a new situation in Gejaz, which consists in the oath of the population of Gejaz to us as King of Gejaz, Sultan of Najd and the attached regions, for which my Government expresses its gratitude to the Government of the USSR, as well as full readiness for relations with the Government of the USSR and its subjects, which are inherent in friendly powers ... King of Gejaz and Sultan of Najd and the annexed regions Abdul-Aziz ibn Saud ... Done at Mecca on 6 Sha'ban 1344 (February 19, 1926). "
It later turned out that the Saudi regime turned out to be too pro-Western and traditionalist for relations with the Stalinist Soviet Union, so in 1938 the Soviet embassy was withdrawn from the country, although diplomatic relations were not formally interrupted. The sides exchanged embassies again in 1991.
Famous Saudis
Today, apart from the founding king of Saudi Arabia, Abdel Aziz ibn Saud, who gave the country the name of his dynasty, the most famous Saudi is the notorious Osama bin Laden, who comes from a wealthy Saudi trading family.
Maxim Istomin for the site (All data at the time of writing the review: 07/30/2010);
On the excerpts from the Saudi publication "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: History, Civilization and Development: 60 Years of Achievements", published by the Kingdom in Russian after the restoration of diplomatic relations.