Saudi Arabia is home to the world's third-largest immigrant population. [188] Saudi Arabia has undergone a process of political and social reform, such as to increase public transparency and good governance, but nepotism and patronage are widespread when doing business in the country; the enforcement of the anti-corruption laws is selective and public officials engage in corruption with impunity. [462] Indian: 1.5 million, Pakistani: 1.3 million,[543] Egyptian: 900,000, Yemeni: 800,000, Bangladeshi: 400,000, Filipino: 500,000, Jordanian/Palestinian: 260,000, Indonesian: 250,000, Sri Lankan: 350,000, Sudanese: 250,000, Syrian: 100,000 and Turkish: 80,000. [82] They were overthrown by the Usfurids in 1253. [148] The most powerful clan faction is known as the 'Sudairi Seven', comprising the late King Fahd and his full brothers and their descendants. [599] At least one religious minority, the Ahmadiyya Muslims, had its adherents deported,[600] as they are legally banned from entering the country. After becoming one of the first nations to ratify the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2005, it plans to reduce tobacco use from 12.7% in 2017, to 5% in 2030. It includes the whole of Central and South America, the whole of Africa, almost all Asian countries and numerous other island states. [46] The Arabian peninsula is regarded as a central figure in the understanding of hominin evolution and dispersals. [219] It plays a prominent role in the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, and in 2005 joined the World Trade Organization. In December 2011, the Saudi interior ministry arrested three reporters and held them for almost two weeks for questioning after they uploaded a video on the topic to YouTube. Institutions of higher education include the country's first university, King Saud University founded in 1957, the Islamic University at Medina founded in 1961, and the King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah founded in 1967. Football is the national sport in Saudi Arabia. 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 pan-Arab revolt against the Ottoman Empire to create a united Arab state. By 1984, it had become self-sufficient in wheat. [342], The Saudi government, which mandates Muslim and non-Muslim observance of Sharia law under the absolute rule of the House of Saud, has been denounced by various international organizations and governments for violating human rights within the country. [24] The Hejaz region, where the Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina are located, is the destination of the ajj pilgrimage, and often deemed to be the cradle of Islam. The Academic Ranking of World Universities, known as Shanghai Ranking, ranked 4 Saudi institutions among its 2021 list of the 500 top universities in the world. However, with King Abdullah and King Salman's reforms, cinemas re-opened,[642] including one in KAUST. [589], Celebration of other (non-Wahhabi) Islamic holidays, such as the Muhammad's birthday and the Day of Ashura, (an important holiday for the 1025 per cent of the population[486][487][488] that is Sha Muslim), are tolerated only when celebrated locally and on a small scale. [424], Serious large-scale agricultural development began in the 1970s. [601], In a recent move to promote a modern image, Saudi Arabia banned the religious group known as 'Tablighi Jamaat'. Bedouin poetry, known as naba, is still very popular. [676] All of the newspapers published in Saudi Arabia are privately owned. [495] According to Pew Research Center there are 390,000 Hindus in Saudi Arabia, almost all foreign workers. Today about 50% of drinking water comes from desalination, 40% from the mining of non-renewable groundwater and only 10% from surface water in the mountainous southwest of the country. [492], According to estimates there are about 1,500,000 Christians in Saudi Arabia, almost all foreign workers. [71] In antiquity, Gulf of Aqaba used to be called Gulf of Lihyan. [415][416][417] Authors of the video claim that 22 per cent of Saudis may be considered poor (2009). [363][364], Saudi Arabia is a notable destination country for men and women trafficked for the purposes of slave labour and commercial sexual exploitation. ", "Encyclopdia Britannica Online: Saudi Arabia", "Divided We Survive: A Landscape of Fragmentation in Saudi Arabia", "Open sectarianism in Saudi Arabia frightens Shi'ites", "The House of Saud: rulers of modern Saudi Arabia", "Saudi King Abdullah to go to US for medical treatment", "Prince Salman resumes duties at governorate", "Mohammed bin Nayef kingpin in new Saudi Arabia: country experts", "Prince Sultan bin Abdel Aziz of Saudi Arabia Dies", "Obituary: Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud", "The corrupt, feudal world of the House of Saud", "A Nation Challenged: The Plots; Saudi Arabia Also a Target Of Attacks, U.S. Officials Say", "Saudi bribe claims delay 20bn fighter deal", "BAE accused of secretly paying 1bn to Saudi prince", "BAE Systems sued over alleged Saudi bribes", "Prince Bandar denies BAE bribery claims", "Lord Goldsmith defends BAE Systems plea deal", "Saudi Arabia Arrests 11 Princes, Including Billionaire Alwaleed bin Talal", "Reform in Saudi Arabia: At a snail's pace", "The Power of Saudi Arabia's Islamic Leaders", "Saudi Arabia announces major legal reforms, paving the way for codified law", "Saudi Arabian justice: Cruel, or just unusual? "[283], The pressure on Saudi Arabia to reveal the truth about the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi from the US and European countries has increased. Development in Saudi Arabia can be stimulated by future growth in the countrys non-oil sectors and further economic and industrial diversification. Smoking in Saudi-Arabia in all age groups was widespread. However, the private sector still remains hugely dominated by foreigners. [229] In September 2016, the Congress passed the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act that would allow relatives of victims of the 11 September attacks to sue Saudi Arabia for its government's alleged role in the attacks. [587] In the state school system, about half of the material taught is religious. WebThe Saudi Government's 10th national development plan, entitled Vision 2030, aims to develop and diversify the country's human resources and reduce dependency on oil reserves by creating a knowledge economy. [154], The king combines legislative, executive, and judicial functions[149] and royal decrees form the basis of the country's legislation. The various healthcare institutions were merged to become a ministerial body in 1950. Webas the subgroup of major developed economies, which is based on the membership of the Group of Seven. [155] The king is also the prime minister, and presides over the Council of Ministers of Saudi Arabia and Consultative Assembly of Saudi Arabia. [326], According to the BICC, Saudi Arabia is the 28th most militarized country in the world and possesses the second-best military equipment qualitatively in the region, after Israel. Saudi Arabia has the world's second-largest proven petroleum reserves and the country is the largest exporter of petroleum. [356] In April 2020, Saudi Supreme Court issued a directive to eliminate the punishment of flogging from the Saudi court system, and it is to be replaced by imprisonment or fines. ", "Welcome to the Saudi Arabia vs. Canada Troll War", "Turkey seeks answers from Saudi Arabia on missing journalist", "Saudi Arabia and U.S. As of 2012[update] about 80% of Saudis live in urban metropolitan areasspecifically Riyadh, Jeddah, or Dammam. The package represents a considerable improvement in the offensive capability of the Saudi armed forces. In addition, Saudi farmers grow substantial amounts of other grains such as barley, sorghum, and millet. The OECD Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) is an international, large-scale survey of teachers, school leaders and the learning environment in schools. It included 7 Saudis, 4 Syrians, 3 Pakistanis and 3 Jordanians. Solar energy is one of them, thus accurate forecasting of it can be useful for electricity supply companies. This led to the Ministry advising that there should be a tax increase on unhealthy food, drink and also cigarettes in the region. The announcement was made on social media by the country's Minister of Islamic Affairs who warned people against association during the Friday sermon.[602]. [570] Neither Saudi citizens nor guest workers have the right of freedom of religion. In February 2009, Abdullah announced a series of governmental changes to the judiciary, armed forces, and various ministries to modernize these institutions including the replacement of senior appointees in the judiciary and the Mutaween (religious police) with more moderate individuals and the appointment of the country's first female deputy minister. The World's Most Repressive Societies, "For a Crime at 14, He Faces Death in a Case Casting Doubt on Saudi Reforms", "Saudi Arabia puts 81 to death in its largest mass execution", "Saudi Arabia to abolish flogging supreme court", "In landmark decision, Saudi Arabia to eliminate flogging punishment", "Boxed In Women and Saudi Arabia's Male Guardianship System", Public Debate in Saudi Arabia on Employment Opportunities for Women, "The Australian who has become a prisoner of gender apartheid", "Saudi Arabia Executes 15 People in 12 Days For Non-Violent Drug Offences", "Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Liz Throssell", "Fear grows on Saudi death row as executions ramp up", "Did Saudi government agents infiltrate Wikipedia? "[307] The Saudi government denies these claims or that it exports religious or cultural extremism. [61] The capital of Midian was Qurayyah,[62] it consists of a large fortified citadel encompassing 35 hectares and below it lies a walled settlement of 15 hectares. Wadis, non-permanent rivers, however, are very numerous. [309] Congress overwhelmingly rejected President Barack Obama's veto. Saudi Arabia officially has about 260 billion barrels (4.11010m3) of oil reserves, comprising about one-fifth of the world's proven total petroleum reserves. [157] The extent of corruption has been described as systemic[177] and endemic,[178] and its existence was acknowledged[179] and defended[180] by Prince Bandar bin Sultan (a senior member of the royal family)[181] in an interview in 2001. WebPolicy. Part of the response of the royal family was to enforce the much stricter observance of traditional religious and social norms in the country (for example, the closure of cinemas) and to give the Ulema a greater role in government. Chapter 3 then provides an overview of the evolution of national development planning in Saudi Arabia over the past 10 years. [214] Final appeal from both Sharia courts and government tribunals is to the King and all courts and tribunals follow Sharia rules of evidence and procedure. Most of the remainder of what became Saudi Arabia reverted to traditional tribal rule. For other uses, see, . [281][282], Tensions have escalated between Saudi Arabia and its allies after the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. "[284], The US expects its Gulf allies involved in the coalition in Yemen to put in more efforts and address the rising concerns about the millions that have been pushed to the brink of famine. , it had become self-sufficient in wheat which is based on the membership of the evolution of development. Right of freedom of religion system, about half of the Group of Seven countries and numerous other island.! 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