Saudi Arabia is a large and populous country located in the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered on the north by Jordan and Iraq, on the east by Kuwait and the Persian Gulf, and on the south by Bahrain and Qatar. To the west lies the Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea.
Saudi Arabia is one of the most oil-rich countries in the world, with the majority of its revenues coming from the oil and gas industry. It has a long history of political stability, religious tendency and social conservatism. The population is predominately Muslim, representing around 85% of the total population. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy, ruled by the al-Saud monarchy, who have held power since 1932 and are closely allied with the Wahhabi Sunnis of the Islamic faith.
Since the establishment of the Kingdom, significant progress has been made in developing the economy and modernizing infrastructure. The government has sought international economic collaboration while remaining committed to protecting its conservative values.
The economy of Saudi Arabia is the fifteenth-largest in the world and it is the eighteenth-largest in terms of purchasing power parity. Despite struggling in recent years to cope with falling oil revenue, trade and investment in non-oil sectors has contributed to diversifying the country’s export base and creating jobs.
The government is stepping up its efforts to diversify the economy. Plans are in place to improve infrastructure and develop the tourism industry. The public sector remains dominant, accounting for over two-thirds of GDP and more than two-thirds of employment.
Saudi Arabia is a highly religious country. Although freedom of worship is an essential principle in Islam, the public practice of religious observance is strictly controlled, and foreign visitors are advised to respect the local customs on dress and behavior. Most Saudis are Wahhabi Muslims, a branch of the Sunni branch of Islam, although the country is home to a significant minority of Shia. The government is intensely supportive of establishing a strict interpretation of sharia (Islamic) law, with punishments ranging from floggings to death for certain religious crimes.
Saudi Arabia is also a key player in the Arab world, and its role has grown as rising oil revenues have put the country in a position to influence regional politics in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia maintains a large regional military presence, and has been a longtime supporter of the United States, both economically and militarily.
Despite its reputation as a conservative and traditional country, Saudi Arabia is looking to become more open and inclusive. The government is in the midst of significant economic, social, and cultural reforms, aimed at modernizing society and improving the economic situation of Saudi citizens. These reforms have included opening up certain industries to foreign investment, reforming the education and labor markets, and introducing a number of measures to promote gender equality and empowerment.
