- Anand Saraff

Calcutta Business SchoolFaculty :Mrs. Devdasan

CONTENTS

Introduction Geography Government Economy Development & Foreign Land Culture Random Facts

INTRODUCTION

Capital: Riyadh

Climate: Harsh, dry desert with great

temperature extremes (-12.0C to 50.0C)

Population: 27.6 million including an estimated

5.5 million resident foreigners (July 2006 est.)

Currency : Riyal

Religions: Muslim 100%

GEOGRAPHY

Arabian Peninsula - Largest Country

Bordered by - Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar,

UAE, Oman and Yemen

Landmass – primarily desert and semi-arid regions

Arable land – less than 2 percent

Coastline - along Red Sea extending for 2,640 kms

GOVERNMENT

Monarchy - Ruled by sons and grandsons of the first king,

Abd Al Aziz Al Saud

Qur’an - constitution of the country Governed on basis of Sharia(Islamic Law)

Council of Ministers - appointed by King Consists of a prime minister, the first prime minister and twenty

ministers

Advises on general policy formulation and directing bureaucracy

Elections – No recognized political parties or national

elections(only local elections)

ECONOMY

Primary Source – Oil Industry Accounts for 75% of budget revenues and 90% of export earnings

Comprises 45% of the GDP (private sector – 40%)

Has about 24% of world’s proven petroleum resources

Private Sector – Privatizing industries such as power and

telecom

Diversification – launched a new city “King Abdullah Economic

City” on west coast Total investment exceeding $26.6 billion

Includes petrochemical, pharmaceutical, tourism, finance and education and

research areas

DEVELOPMENT & FOREIGN LABOUR

Growth – one of the few fast growing countries with a high per

capita income of $20,700 (2007)

Economic Cities – plans to launch six cities like “King Abdullah

Economic City” by 2020 Intended to diversify the economy and

Increase the per capita income

Labour Force – significant portion from foreign

countries (primarily South, South-East Asia)

Skilled Force – Banking and service professionals seek work in

the kingdom

CULTURE

Islam – two holiest sites, Mecca and Medina are located here Public practice/possession of non-Islamic religious materials not allowed

Annual cultural festival

Al Ardha – involving swords, it is the country’s national dance

Dress – Strict adherence to hijab(Islamic principle of modesty) Loose and flowing garments well suited to the climate

Women are required to wear an abaya or modest clothing in public

Food – pork and alcohol strictly forbidden Khobz(unleavened bread) eaten with most meals

Arabic tea is a famous custom for formal/informal meetings

Film and Theatre – Public theatres and cinemas banned DVD’s though of Western movies are legal and widely available

RANDOM FACTS

Welfare state – Oil exports have facilitated the

creation of a welfare state

First-ever female minister was appointed in February

2009(department of women’s education)

Women are banned from driving on public roads(may

be lifted soon)

Rub’ al Khali is the largest sand desert in the world

15 of the 19 suicide bombers of 9/11 were Saudis

THANK YOU