Facts & Figures
This page provides a brief introduction to various aspects of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Contents:
Flag • Emblem • Location • Terrain • Climate • Population • Religion • Language • National Day • Rulers • Government • Ministries • Provinces • Affiliations • Telecom • Time • Calendar • Holidays • Business • Currency • Travel • Airline • Hotels
| Flag Green background, with in white letters the Muslim creed in Arabic:  “There is no god but God: Muhammad is the Messenger of God.“ |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Emblem A date palm, representing vitality and growth, and two crossed swords, symbolizing justice and strength rooted in faith. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location Southwest Asia, at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa; extending from the Red Sea in the west to the Arabian Gulf in the east; bordered on the north by Jordan, Iraq and Kuwait, on the south, by Yemen and Oman, and on the east by the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Terrain  Varied; fairly barren and harsh, with salt flats, gravel plains and sand deserts; a few man-made lakes but no permanent streams; in the south, the Rub Al-Khali (Empty Quarter), the largest sand desert in the world; in the southwest, mountain ranges of over 9,000 feet. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Climate June through August, over 110 degrees Fahrenheit midday in the desert; humidity in coastal regions up to 100 percent; elsewhere, mild; possible winter temperatures in the northern and central regions dropping below freezing; rainfall, from none at all for up to 10 years in the Rub Al-Khali, to 20 inches a year in the mountains of Asir Province. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Population 27 million, including nearly 8.5 million expatriates (2010 census). |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Religion Islam, which is the basis of the legal system and of government. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Language Arabic; English widely spoken in urban areas. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
National Day 23 September , commemorating the foundation of the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rulers King Abdulaziz bin Abdelrahman Al-Saud, the founder (1932-1963), followed by his sons: King Saud (1953-64), King Faisal (1964-75), King Khalid (1975-82), King Fahd (1982-2005), King Abdullah (2005-2015) and the current ruler, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Government  Islamic state based on principles prescribed by the Qur’an (Islam’s Holy Book) and the Shari’ah (Islamic law); Provincial Council System, Consultative Council (Majlis Al-Shura), and Council of Ministers. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The 21 portfolios of the government ministries:
Communications and Information Technology Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources Environment, Water and Agriculture Hajj and Umrah (Pilgrimage) Housing Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance Labour and Social Development
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The 13 provinces and their capitals:
Affiliations Telecom Time Calendar The 12 months of the Islamic lunar year Holidays Business Currency Travel notes Airline Hotels |
Saudi Riyal (SAR) pegged to EURO (EUR1= 4,27 SAR); bank notes, in Arabic and English, in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 riyals; coins in denominations of 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 halalahs, with 100 halalahs equal to one riyal; metric system in use.