Saudi Arabia
The birthplace of Islam and home to Islam's two holiest shrines in Mecca and Medina, Saudi Arabia is largely a vast, inhospitable desert. In 1902 Abdul al-Aziz Ibn Saud captured the city of Riyadh and set out on a 30-year campaign to unify the Arabian Peninsula, which led to Saudi Arabia’s founding in 1932. Also in the 1930’s In the 1930s, the discovery of oil transformed the country from an underdeveloped desert kingdom to one of the wealthiest nations in the region. The Saudi Royal family cultivated a close but often controversial relationship with the United States that remains.
Following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Saudi Arabia accepted the Kuwaiti royal family and 400,000 refugees while allowing Western and Arab troops to deploy on its soil for the liberation of Kuwait the following year. The continuing presence of foreign troops, especially American, on Saudi soil after the liberation of Kuwait became a source of tension between the royal family and the public with many future jihadists decrying the foreign presence as anti-Islam. To quell internal dissent and to assert regional dominance as the Sunni leader against Shia Iran, Saudi Arabia has spent heavily on its military often purchasing equipment from the United States. While currently fighting the rebel Shia Houthi’s in Yemen, Saudi Arabia faces a greater challenge with its own economy. The falling price of oil has drastically reduced its cash reserves and a burgeoning population, aquifer depletion, and an economy largely dependent on petroleum output and prices are all major governmental concerns
Following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Saudi Arabia accepted the Kuwaiti royal family and 400,000 refugees while allowing Western and Arab troops to deploy on its soil for the liberation of Kuwait the following year. The continuing presence of foreign troops, especially American, on Saudi soil after the liberation of Kuwait became a source of tension between the royal family and the public with many future jihadists decrying the foreign presence as anti-Islam. To quell internal dissent and to assert regional dominance as the Sunni leader against Shia Iran, Saudi Arabia has spent heavily on its military often purchasing equipment from the United States. While currently fighting the rebel Shia Houthi’s in Yemen, Saudi Arabia faces a greater challenge with its own economy. The falling price of oil has drastically reduced its cash reserves and a burgeoning population, aquifer depletion, and an economy largely dependent on petroleum output and prices are all major governmental concerns
SocialOverview: Saudi Society is strictly based on Islamic law. Males and females are separated and females lack many rights of their male counterparts. Since the discovery of oil in Saudi Arabia the royal family has heavily subsidized the lives of its citizens. Saudi citizens often received undemanding yet high paying government jobs after graduation from university. Additionally, the royal family subsidized gas and did not collect an income tax. However, with the price of oil drastically dropping Saudi Arabia may be on the verge of having to implement major changes.
Demographics:
Trends: The population of Saudi Arabia is growing younger and finding it more difficult to find cushy government work. Young Saudis are encouraged to go into the private sector as the government looks to cut back on spending due to the falling price of oil. Large amounts of foreign labor continues to arrive in the country, however foreign workers are often paid much less than native citizens and may live in terrible conditions. EconomicsEconomic System: Saudi Arabia has an oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. It possesses about 17% of the world's proven petroleum reserves, ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC. The petroleum sector accounts for roughly 80% of budget revenues, 45% of GDP, and 90% of export earnings.
Economic Trends: Saudi Arabia’s economy has been hurt by the drastic decline in oil prices. The government can no longer provide high paying government jobs to most college graduates and may have to stop the energy subsidies to its own population. The Saudi government may also have to implement an income tax for the first time. T The state is encouraging the growth of the private sector in order to diversify its economy and to employ more Saudi nationals. Diversification efforts are focusing on power generation, telecommunications, natural gas exploration, and petrochemical sectors. The government has begun establishing six "economic cities" in different regions of the country to promote foreign investment and plans to spend $373 billion between 2010 and 2014 on social development and infrastructure projects to advance Saudi Arabia's economic development. Economic Resources: The industrial sector consists of crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals, ammonia, industrial gases, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), cement, fertilizer, plastics, metals, commercial ship repair, commercial aircraft repair, construction. Exports are 90% petroleum and petroleum products. |
PoliticalPolitical Groups: None
Political System: Saudi Arabia is governed according to Islamic law and still maintains the same monarchical line that was set in place in 1932. While the King, who also acts as Prime Minister, is both chief of state and head of government, the state began also holding municipal elections in 2005. Nevertheless, the statewide legislature, the Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura, consists entirely of 150 members and a chairman appointed solely by the monarch to serve four year terms. Although the cabinet of the monarch, the Council of Ministers, announced in October 2003 its intent to introduce elections for a third of the Majlis al-Shura incrementally over a period of four to five years, to date no such elections have been held or announced. Political Conflicts: The 2010-12 uprising across Middle Eastern and North African countries sparked modest incidents in Saudi cities, predominantly by Shia demonstrators calling for the release of detainees and the withdrawal from Bahrain of the Gulf Cooperation Council's Peninsula Shield Force. Protests in general were met by a strong police presence, with some arrests, but not the level of bloodshed seen in protests elsewhere in the region. Allies: United States, Sunni Arab nations Adversaries: Iran, Houthis in Yemen, Military, Intelligence, & Law EnforcementOverview: Saudi Arabia ranks in the top 5 globally for military expenditures despite its small population. The Saudi Arabian royal family has increased its military expenditures and size in order to insulate from threats. The Saudi royals perceive Iran as the major threat in the region and continually strategize to assert Sunni dominance and thwart the spread of the influence of Shia Iran. Additionally, the Saudi Royal family is extremely wary of terrorism and internal dissent. The Ministry of the National Guard is a separate branch of the military at the disposal of the King. It is independent of the Ministry of Defense.
Branches: Saudi Arabian Army, Royal Saudi Navy, Royal Saudi Air Defense, Royal Saudi Strategic Rocket Defenses, Ministry of the National Guard Reach: The Saudi Arabian military is a powerful regional actor. Currently, it is fighting the Shia Houthi’s in Yemen in order to restore the Sunni government of Yemen and curb Iranian influence. There has also been talk of Saudi Arabia sending troops to Syria to fight. InformationFreedom of the Press: Saudi Arabia is an extremely restrictive society for the press. No law in Saudi Arabia garuntees freedom of the press and the government can and does act to shut down and arrest any media member or outlet that spreads views contrary to the government’s position. Defamation is a crime and any criticism of Islam can be met with the death penalty. The government censures the domestic and international media and does not allow access to areas such as the restive Eastern provinces.
Media Institutions: All the media institutions in Saudi Arabia are controlled by the government. Its 13 papers are controlled by the state as well as two prominent Arab newspapers in London. Satellite dishes are illegal because of their ability to receive foreign news. The internet is closely monitored. Sites that the government disapproves of are censored and individual’s internet usage is closely monitored by the state. Infrastructure
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