ABOUT SAUDI ARABIA

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia occupies approximately 868,730 square miles (2,250,000 square kilometers) - about four-fifths of the Arabian Peninsula - and is bordered on the west by the Red Sea and on the east by the Arabian Gulf. Neighboring states are Jordan, Iraq and Kuwait on the north; Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates on the east; Yemen and the Sultanate of Oman on the south.

Saudi Arabia is a monarchy ruled by a king; its rules through royal decrees issued in conjunction with the Council of Ministers and with advice from the Consultative Council. Members of both councils are appointed by the king. Islamic law (shari'ah) is the basis of the authority of the monarchy and provides the foundation of the country's customs and social practices.

Economy

This is an oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. Saudi Arabia has the largest reserves of petroleum in the world (26% of the proved total), ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC.

Geography

Saudi Arabia is a huge stretch of land mass between the Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea. Covering approximately 80% (2,250,000 square kilometers) of the Arabian Peninsula, the country contains massive deserts, mountains, deep valleys, forests, and a wealth of resources. The Arabian Peninsula lies at the crossroads of three continents: Asia, Africa, and Europe. The local population is approximately 16 million, with an additional 8 million expatriates in the Kingdom.

Climate

The climate of most of Saudi Arabia is hot in the summer, and moderate in the spring, fall, and during the winter months.

Culture

Many cultures co-exist within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia among the Saudi nationals and the expatriate population comprised of various nationalities. As a result, Saudi Arabia is unique in terms of contrasting life styles and cultural anomalies.

Finance

The basic monetary unit is the Saudi Riyal (SR) which is printed in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500. The coins are called halalat and are issued in denominations of 5, 10, 25 and 100. One riyal consists of 100 halalat. The current exchange rate is 3.7500 riyals per 1 dollar. Major credit cards are widely accepted in Saudi Arabia.

Work Schedules

Saudi Arabia is on Greenwich Mean Time plus three hours (GMT+3). The regular work week is from Saturday to Wednesday. The weekends on Thursday and Friday.