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Area
2,240,000 sq km (864,869 sq miles).
Population
22,010,000 (2000).
Population Density
9.8 per sq km.
Capital
Riyadh (royal). Population: 2,776,100 (1992). Jeddah
(administrative). Population: 2,046,300 (1992).
Geography
Saudi Arabia occupies four-fifths of the Arabian
peninsula. It is bordered to the northwest by Jordan, to
the north by Iraq and Kuwait, to the east by the Gulf of
Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman, and to
the south by Yemen. To the west lies the Red Sea. Along
the Red Sea coast is a narrow coastal strip (Tihama)
which becomes relatively hotter and more humid towards
the south and has areas of extensive tidal flats and
lava fields. Behind this coastal plain is a series of
plateaux reaching up to 2000m (6560ft). The southern
part of this range, Asir, has some peaks of over 3000m
(9840ft). North of these mountains, in the far north, is
An Nafud, a sand sea, and further south the landscape
rises to Najd, a semi-desert area scattered with oases.
Still further south the land falls away, levelling out
to unremitting desert, the uninhabited Empty Quarter or
Rub al Khali. Along the Gulf coast is a low fertile
plain giving way to limestone ridges inland.
Government
Absolute monarchy since 1932. Head of State and
Government: King Fahd Ibn Abd al-Aziz Al-Sa'ud since
1982.
Language
Arabic. English is spoken in business circles.
Religion
The majority of Saudi Arabians follow Islam; around 85
per cent are Sunni Muslim, but Shia Muslims predominate
in the Eastern Province.
Time
GMT + 3.
Electricity
125/215 volts AC, 50/60Hz.
Telephone
A sophisticated telecommunications network and
satellite, microwave and cable systems span the country.
Full IDD is available. Outgoing international code: 00.
Mobile telephone
GSM 900 band networks are available in over 45 cities.
Main network providers include Electronics App Est
(website: www.eae.com.sa), Saudi Telecom Company
(website: www.stc.com.sa) and Awalnet (website:
www.awalnet.net.sa/english)
Fax
Major hotels provide facilities.
Internet
The Ministry of Post, Telegraph and Telephones provides
Internet facilities in most cities. E-mail can also be
accessed from many hotels and Internet cafes. Main ISPs
include Arab Net (website: www.arab.net.sa) and Shabakah
(website: www.shabakah.net.sa).
Telegram
Telegrams can be sent from all post offices.
Post
Internal and international services available from the
Central Post Office. Post is delivered to box numbers.
Airmail to Europe takes up to a week. Surface mail takes
up to 5 months.
Press
The main newspapers include Ar-Riyadh and Al-Jazirah.
English-language dailies include Arab News, Saudi
Gazette and Riyadh Daily.
Radio
BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice)
and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be
received. From time to time the frequencies change and
the most up-to-date can be found online.
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