Saudi Arabia Country Handbook

310 Pages·2012·4.77 MB·English

Saudi Arabia Country Handbook
This handbook provides basic reference information on Saudi Arabia, includ­
ing its geography, history, government, military forces, and communications and
transportation networks. This information is intended to familiarize military per­
sonnel with local customs and area knowledge to assist them during their as­
signment to Saudi Arabia.
The Marine Corps Intel ligence Activity is the community coordinator for the
Country Handb ook Program. This product reflects the coordinated U.S. Defense
Intelligence Community position on Saudi Arabia.
Dissemination and use of this publication is restricted to official military and gov­
ernment personnel from the United States of America, United Kingdom, Canada,
Australia, NATO member countries, and other countries as required and desig­
nated for support of coalition operations.
The photos and text reproduced herein have been extracted solely for research,
comment, and information reporting, and are intended for fair use by designated
personnel in their official duties, including local reproduction for training. Further
dissemination of copyrighted material contained in this docum ent, to include ex­
cerpts and graphics, is strictly prohibited under Title 17, U.S. Code.

ContentS
Key Facts .................................................................... 1
U.s. MIssION ................................................................. 2
U.s. embassy .............................................................. 3
U.s. consulate – Jiddah .............................................. 3
travel advisories ....................................................... 6
entry Requirements .................................................... 7
Passport/Visa Requirements ................................. 7
Immunization Requirements ................................. 8
customs Restrictions ............................................ 8
credit cards/Banking ........................................... 9
GeOGRaPHy aND cLIMate .................................... 10
Geography .................................................................. 10
Land statistics ........................................................ 10
Boundaries ............................................................. 10
Border Disputes .................................................... 11
Bodies of Water ..................................................... 11
topography ........................................................... 12
climate ........................................................................ 15
temperature .......................................................... 15
Precipitation .......................................................... 18
Phenomena ............................................................ 19
environment .......................................................... 19
cross country Movement ..................................... 20
tRaNsPORtatION aND cOMMUNIcatION .......... 21
transportation ............................................................. 21
Roads ..................................................................... 21
Bus/Public transportation ..................................... 23
Rail ........................................................................ 25
iiiiii
ContentS (Continued)
air .......................................................................... 25
Maritime ............................................................... 29
communication ........................................................... 30
Radio and television .............................................. 30
telecommunication ............................................... 32
Internet .................................................................. 33
Newspapers and Magazines .................................. 33
Postal service ......................................................... 35
satellites ................................................................. 36
cULtURe ....................................................................... 36
statistics (2007) .......................................................... 36
ethnic Density ............................................................ 36
society ........................................................................ 37
People .................................................................... 39
ethnic Groups ........................................................ 40
Family ......................................................................... 40
Roles of Men and Women ...................................... 40
Rites of Passage ..................................................... 41
education and Literacy .............................................. 42
Language ..................................................................... 44
Religion ....................................................................... 44
Recreation ................................................................... 47
customs and courtesies .............................................. 49
Greetings ................................................................ 50
Gestures ................................................................. 50
cultural considerations .............................................. 51
Dress standards ..................................................... 51
Food ....................................................................... 52
Interpersonal Relations .......................................... 53
iivv
ContentS (Continued)
MeDIcaL assessMeNt ............................................. 54
Disease Risks to Deployed Personnel ......................... 54
Medical capabilities ................................................... 57
Key Medical Facilities ........................................... 59
HIstORy ........................................................................ 61
early History ............................................................... 61
Recent History ............................................................ 66
chronology ................................................................. 66
GOVeRNMeNt aND POLItIcs .................................. 67
Government ................................................................ 67
National Level ........................................................ 68
Local Level ........................................................... 69
Politics ....................................................................... 71
Political Parties ...................................................... 71
Foreign Relations .................................................. 73
International Organizations .................................... 76
ecONOMy ..................................................................... 77
statistics (2007 estimates) .......................................... 80
Resources .................................................................... 80
Industry ...................................................................... 81
Foreign Investment ...................................................... 87
Outlook ....................................................................... 89
tHReat .......................................................................... 89
terrorism .................................................................... 89
crime .......................................................................... 90
travel security ............................................................ 91
Internal Opposition ..................................................... 91
vv
ContentS (Continued)
aRMeD FORces ........................................................... 92
Organization ................................................................ 92
threat Perception ........................................................ 93
Military statistics ........................................................ 93
Defense treaties .......................................................... 93
Personnel ..................................................................... 94
expansion .................................................................... 94
army – Royal saudi Land Force ................................ 95
Mission .................................................................. 95
Organization ........................................................... 95
Facilities ................................................................. 95
Key Military Personnel .......................................... 97
training ................................................................. 97
equipment .............................................................. 100
army – saudi arabian National Guard ....................... 101
Mission .................................................................. 101
Organization ........................................................... 102
Facilities ................................................................. 102
Key Defense Personnel .......................................... 102
Personnel ................................................................ 103
training .................................................................. 103
equipment .............................................................. 103
Navy – Royal saudi Naval Force ............................... 105
Personnel ................................................................ 106
equipment .............................................................. 106
Mission .................................................................. 107
Organization ........................................................... 108
capability .............................................................. 108
training .................................................................. 109
vvii
ContentS (Continued)
tactics and Doctrine .............................................. 109
Deployment ............................................................ 110
equipment ............................................................. 111
Paramilitary Forces .................................................... 113
special security Force ........................................... 113
MOI Police Forces ................................................. 114
Frontier Force ........................................................ 114
coast Guard ........................................................... 115
Religious Police ..................................................... 115
the Mujahidin ....................................................... 115
APPendiCeS
equipment Recognition ................................................... a-1
International time Zones ................................................. B-1
conversion charts ............................................................ c-1
Holidays and calendar ..................................................... D-1
Language .......................................................................... e-1
International Road signs .................................................. F-1
Deployed Personnel’s Guide to Health Maintenance ...... G-1
Individual Protective Measures ........................................ H-1
Dangerous Plants and animals ........................................ I-1
International telephone codes ......................................... J-1
vviiii
ContentS (Continued)
illuStrAtionS
saudi arabia ..................................................................... 10
National Flag .................................................................... 1
Riyadh .............................................................................. 2
U.s. embassy in Riyadh .................................................. 4
U.s. consulate in Jiddah .................................................. 5
U.s. consulate in Dhahran ............................................... 6
Faisaliah tower in Riyadh ................................................ 7
topography ...................................................................... 13
tuwayq escarpment Northwest of Riyadh ...................... 14
abha and Mecca Weather ................................................ 16
Riyadh and tabuk Weather .............................................. 17
Jiddah, saudi arabia ........................................................ 22
Highway signs in Jiddah ................................................. 23
transportation .................................................................. 24
Mecca, saudi arabia ........................................................ 26
terminal of the King Khalid International airport .......... 27
cargo Vessel ..................................................................... 29
Population ........................................................................ 39
Qur’an .............................................................................. 45
Masjid Nabawi (Mosque of the Prophet) ......................... 46
Hajj Pilgrimage in Mecca ................................................ 47
central Mosque in the al-Bathaa section of Riyadh ....... 48
administrative Divisions ................................................. 70
shopping Mall .................................................................. 79
Office of aramco in Dhahran ........................................... 81
Industry ............................................................................ 82
Factory ............................................................................. 83
vviiiiii
ContentS (Continued)
Date store ......................................................................... 84
Land Use .......................................................................... 85
Defense Force Organization ............................................. 92
enlisted Rank Insignia ..................................................... 98
Officer Rank Insignia ....................................................... 99
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Saudi Arabia