Transcript KSAx - ENG-020

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has a unique geographical location, they
occupy four-fifths of
Area of the Arabian Peninsula, which lies at the heart of the
world, and at the junction of Garath, in
South-western corner of the continent of Asia, and in return
for the African continent.
Limits the Kingdom of the West: Red Sea and the East:
Persian Gulf, Bahrain,
Qatar, United Arab Emirates and the Sultanate of Oman, and
is bordered to the north: Kuwait,
Iraq, Jordan, and South Yemen and Oman.
The length of the borders of the Kingdom 6760 kilometers,
of which 2330 kilometers of maritime boundaries.
Capital
Riyadh
Population
17,050,934 according to 1992 estimates
Area of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
2,331,000 square kilometers which is equivalent to 900.000 square
miles
Type of Government
Ownership
Head of state
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al
Saud
The official language
Arabic, but English is used extensively
In trade and business
The official religion
Islam
.
 At the beginning of the 20th century, the Ottoman
Empire continued to control or have suzerainty (albeit
nominal) over most of the peninsula. Subject to this
suzerainty, Arabia was ruled by a patchwork of tribal
rulers[26][27] (including the House of Saud who had
returned from exile in 1902[25]) with the Sharif of
Mecca having pre-eminence and ruling the Hejaz.[28]
In 1916, with the encouragement and support of
Britain (which was fighting the Ottomans in World
War I), the Sharif of Mecca, Hussein bin Ali, led a panArab revolt against the Ottoman Empire to create a
united Arab state.[29] Although the Arab Revolt of
1916 to 1918 failed in its objective, Arabia was freed
from Ottoman suzerainty and control by the latter's
defeat in World War I
 In 1902, Abdul-Aziz bin Saud, leader of the House of Saud,
had seized Riyadh in Nejd from the Al Rashid – the first of a
series of conquests ultimately leading to the creation of the
modern state of Saudi Arabia in 1932.[25] The main weapon
for achieving these conquests was the Ikhwan, the
Wahhabist-Bedouin tribal army led by Sultan ibn Bijad and
Faisal Al-Dawish.[31] From the Saudi core in Nejd, and aided
by the collapse of the Ottoman Empire after World War I,
the Ikhwan had completed the conquest of the territory
that was to become Saudi Arabia by the end of 1925.[32] On
10 January 1926 Abdul-Aziz declared himself King of the
Hejaz and, then, on 27 January 1927 he took the title of
King of Nejd (his previous title having been 'Sultan').[25]
After the conquest of the Hejaz, the Ikhwan leaders wanted
to continue the expansion of the Wahhabist realm into the
British protectorates of Transjordan, Iraq and Kuwait, and
began raiding those territories. Abdul-Aziz, however,
refused to agree to this, recognizing the danger of a direct
conflict with the British. The Ikhwan therefore revolted but
were defeated in the Battle of Sabilla in 1930, where the
Ikhwan leadership were massacred.[33]
 In 1932, the two kingdoms of the Hejaz and Nejd were
united as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.[

Islam

Islam is practised by all Saudis and governs their personal, political, economic
and legal lives. Islam was born in Saudi Arabia and thus is visited by millions of
Muslims every year. The Prophet Muhammad is seen as the last of God's
emissaries (following in the footsteps of Jesus, Moses, Abraham, etc) to bring
revelation to mankind. He was distinguished with bringing a message for the
whole of mankind, rather than just to a certain peoples. As Moses brought the
Torah and Jesus the Bible, Muhammad brought the last book, the Quran. The
Quran and the actions of the Prophet (the Sunnah) are used as the basis for all
guidance in the religion.

Among certain obligations for Muslims are to pray five times a day - at dawn,
noon, afternoon, sunset, and evening. The exact time is listed in the local
newspaper each day. Friday is the Muslim holy day. Everything is closed. Many
companies also close on Thursday, making the weekend Thursday and Friday.

During the holy month of Ramadan all Muslims must fast from dawn to dusk
and are only permitted to work six hours per day. Fasting includes no eating,
drinking, cigarette smoking, or gum chewing. Expatriates are not required to
fast; however, they must not eat, drink, smoke, or chew gum in public.

Each night at sunset, families and friends gather together to celebrate the
breaking of the fast (iftar). The festivities often continue well into the night. In
general, things happen more slowly during Ramadan. Many businesses operate
on a reduced schedule. Shops may be open and closed at unusual times
 During the holy month of Ramadan all Muslims must fast from
dawn to dusk and are only permitted to work six hours per day.
Fasting includes no eating, drinking, cigarette smoking, or gum
chewing. Expatriates are not required to fast; however, they must
not eat, drink, smoke, or chew gum in public.
 Each night at sunset, families and friends gather together to
celebrate the breaking of the fast (iftar). The festivities often
continue well into the night. In general, things happen more
slowly during Ramadan. Many businesses operate on a reduced
schedule. Shops may be open and closed at unusual times

Umm Al-Qura University, 14510
• Islamic University 5830
• University of Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University 30505
• King Saud University, 14055
• University of King Abdul Aziz 36750
• King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, 3450
• King Faisal University, 19924
• King Khalid University, 19745
• Qassim University, 11203
• University of Thebes 18460
• University of Taif 13990
• University of King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences 405
• University of Jazan 15490
• Hail University, 8285
• Al-Jouf University, 7985
• University of Tabuk 7465
• University of Baha 5185
• University of Najran 6965
• University of Princess Noura Abdul Rahman girl 8420
• University of Northern Border 5880
• University of Al-Kharj 6047
• University of blonde 6310
• University of consolidated 3840
• University of Dammam, 7500
• Total seats: 278 199
King Abdullah with former US
President George W. Bush
Abdul Aziz bin Saud first king
of Saudi Arabia
Abdul-Aziz ibn Abdullah Al ashSheikh, Grand Mufti of Saudi
Arabia, the country's most senior
religious authority
Yasser Qahtani, the most
famous player in Saudi
Arabia
 The Holy City of Makkah, which lies inland 73
kilometers east of Jiddah, is the place where the
Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, was born
- the place where God's message was first
revealed to him and the city to which he returned
after the migration to Madinah in 622 AD.
 Makkah is the holiest city on earth to Muslims. Five
times each day, the world's one billion Muslims,
wherever they may be, turn to the Holy City of
Makkah to pray. And at least once in their lives, all
Muslims who are not prevented by personal
circumstance perform the Hajj, the pilgrimage to
Makkah. Thus each year the Holy City of Makkah is
host to some two million hajjis (pilgrims) from all
over the world.