Saudi Arabia
GANG INFORMATION
Jeddah Police Bust Crime Gang
Arab News - Jeddah,Saudi Arabia
... suspicion of being members of a criminal gang believed to be kidnapping youngsters, filming them being raped and then using the footage to extort money. ...
See all stories on this topic
PROFILE
OFFICIAL NAME:
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Geography
Area: 1,960,582 million sq. km. (784,233 sq. mi.), slightly more
than one-fifth the size of the continental United States.
Cities (2003 est.): Capital--Riyadh (pop. 3.7 million). Other
cities--Jeddah (2.7 million), Makkah, (1.6 million), Dammam/Khobar/Dhahran,
(1.6 million).
Terrain: Primarily desert with rugged mountains in the southwest.
Climate: Arid, with great extremes of temperature in the interior;
humidity and temperature are both high along the coast.
People
Nationality: Noun--Saudi(s). Adjective--Saudi Arabian or Saudi.
Population (2004 est.): 26.7 million (19.7 million Saudis, 7 million
foreign nationals).
Annual growth rate: 3.1%.
Ethnic groups: Arab (90% of native pop.), Afro-Asian (10% of native
pop.).
Religion: Islam.
Language: Arabic (official).
Education: Literacy--male 84.7%, female 77.8%.
Health: Infant mortality rate--48/1,000. Life expectancy--male
67 years, female 71 years.
Work force: 7.0 million (about 35% foreign workers); industry--25%;
services (including government)--63%; agriculture--12%.
Government
Type: Monarchy with Council of Ministers and Consultative Council.
Unification: September 23, 1932.
Constitution: The Holy Qur'an (Governed according to Islamic Law),
Shari’a, and the Basic Law.
Branches: Executive--King (chief of state and head of government).
Legislative--a Consultative Council with advisory powers was formed
September 1993. Judicial--Supreme Council of Justice, Islamic
Courts of First Instance and Appeals.
Administrative divisions: 13 provinces.
Political parties: None.
Economy
GDP (2002 est.): $242 billion.
Annual growth rate (2002 est.): 0.6%.
Per capita GDP (2002 est.): $10,560.
Natural resources: Hydrocarbons, gold, uranium, bauxite, coal,
iron, phosphate, tungsten, zinc, silver, copper.
Agriculture: Products--dates, grains, livestock, vegetables. Arable
land--1.72%.
Industry: Types--petroleum, petrochemicals, cement, fertilizer,
light industry.
Trade (2001 est.): Exports--$66.9 billion: petroleum and petroleum
products. Imports--$29.7 billion: manufactured goods, transportation
equipment, clothing and textiles, processed food products. Major
trading partners--U.S., Japan, South Korea, western Europe.
PEOPLE
Saudi Arabia's 2004 population was estimated to be about 26.7
million, including about 7 million resident foreigners. Until
the 1960s, most of the population was nomadic or seminomadic;
due to rapid economic and urban growth, more than 95% of the population
now is settled. Some cities and oases have densities of more than
1,000 people per square kilometer (2,600 per sq. mi).
Saudi Arabia is known as the birthplace of Islam, which in the
century following Muhammad's death in 632 A.D. spread west to
Spain and east to India. Islam obliges all Muslims to make the
Hajj, or pilgrimage to Makkah, at least once during their lifetime
if they are able to do so. The cultural environment in Saudi Arabia
is highly conservative; the country adheres to a strict interpretation
of Islamic religious law (Shari'a). Cultural presentations must
conform to narrowly defined standards of ethics. Men and women
are not permitted to attend public events together and are segregated
in the work place.
Most Saudis are ethnically Arab. Some are of mixed ethnic origin
and are descended from Turks, Iranians, Indonesians, Indians,
Africans, and others, most of whom immigrated as pilgrims and
reside in the Hijaz region along the Red Sea coast. Many Arabs
from nearby countries are employed in the kingdom. There also
are significant numbers of Asian expatriates mostly from India,
Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and the Philippines. There are
less than 100,000 Westerners in Saudi Arabia.
HISTORY
Except for a few major cities and oases, the harsh climate historically
prevented much settlement of the Arabian Peninsula. People of
various cultures have lived in the peninsula over a span of more
than 5,000 years. The Dilmun culture, along the Gulf coast, was
contemporaneous with the Sumerians and ancient Egyptians, and
most of the empires of the ancient world traded with the states
of the peninsula.
The Saudi state began in central Arabia in about 1750. A local
ruler, Muhammad bin Saud, joined forces with an Islamic reformer,
Muhammad Abd Al-Wahhab, to create a new political entity. Over
the next 150 years, the fortunes of the Saud family rose and fell
several times as Saudi rulers contended with Egypt, the Ottoman
Empire, and other Arabian families for control on the peninsula.
The modern Saudi state was founded by the late King Abdul Aziz
Al-Saud (known internationally as Ibn Saud). In 1902, Abdul Aziz
recaptured Riyadh, the Al-Saud dynasty's ancestral capital, from
the rival Al-Rashid family. Continuing his conquests, Abdul Aziz
subdued Al-Hasa, the rest of Nejd, and the Hijaz between 1913
and 1926. In 1932, these regions were unified as the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia.
Boundaries with Jordan, Iraq, and Kuwait were established by
a series of treaties negotiated in the 1920s, with two "neutral
zones"--one with Iraq and the other with Kuwait--created.
The Saudi-Kuwaiti neutral zone was administratively partitioned
in 1971, with each state continuing to share the petroleum resources
of the former zone equally. Tentative agreement on the partition
of the Saudi-Iraqi neutral zone was reached in 1981, and partition
was finalized by 1983. The country's southern boundary with Yemen
was partially defined by the 1934 Treaty of Taif, which ended
a brief border war between the two states. A June 2000 treaty
further delineated portions of the boundary with Yemen. The location
and status of Saudi Arabia's boundary with the United Arab Emirates
is not final; a de facto boundary reflects a 1974 agreement. The
border between Saudi Arabia and Qatar was resolved in March 2001.
The border with Oman also is not demarcated.
King Abdul Aziz died in 1953 and was succeeded by his eldest
son, Saud, who reigned for 11 years. In 1964, Saud abdicated in
favor of his half-brother, Faisal, who had served as Foreign Minister.
Because of fiscal difficulties, King Saud had been persuaded in
1958 to delegate direct conduct of Saudi Government affairs to
Faisal as Prime Minister; Saud briefly regained control of the
government in 1960-62. In October 1962, Faisal outlined a broad
reform program, stressing economic development. Proclaimed King
in 1964 by senior royal family members and religious leaders,
Faisal also continued to serve as Prime Minister. This practice
has been followed by subsequent kings.
The mid-1960s saw external pressures generated by Saudi-Egyptian
differences over Yemen. When civil war broke out in 1962 between
Yemeni royalists and republicans, Egyptian forces entered Yemen
to support the new republican government, while Saudi Arabia backed
the royalists. Tensions subsided only after 1967, when Egypt withdrew
its troops from Yemen.
Saudi forces did not participate in the Six-Day (Arab-Israeli)
War of June 1967, but the government later provided annual subsidies
to Egypt, Jordan, and Syria to support their economies. During
the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, Saudi Arabia participated in the Arab
oil boycott of the United States and Netherlands. A member of
the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Saudi
Arabia had joined other member countries in moderate oil price
increases beginning in 1971. After the 1973 war, the price of
oil rose substantially, dramatically increasing Saudi Arabia's
wealth and political influence.
In 1975, King Faisal was assassinated by a nephew, who was executed
after an extensive investigation concluded that he acted alone.
Faisal was succeeded by his half-brother Khalid as King and Prime
Minister; their half-brother Prince Fahd was named Crown Prince
and First Deputy Prime Minister. King Khalid empowered Crown Prince
Fahd to oversee many aspects of the government's international
and domestic affairs. Economic development continued rapidly under
King Khalid, and the kingdom assumed a more influential role in
regional politics and international economic and financial matters.
In June 1982, King Khalid died, and Fahd became King and Prime
Minister in a smooth transition. Another half-brother, Prince
Abdullah, Commander of the Saudi National Guard, was named Crown
Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister. King Fahd's brother, Prince
Sultan, the Minister of Defense and Aviation, became Second Deputy
Prime Minister. Under King Fahd, the Saudi economy adjusted to
sharply lower oil revenues resulting from declining global oil
prices. Saudi Arabia supported neutral shipping in the Gulf during
periods of the Iran-Iraq war and aided Iraq's war-strained economy.
King Fahd played a major part in bringing about the August 1988
cease-fire between Iraq and Iran and in organizing and strengthening
the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a group of six Arabian Gulf
states dedicated to fostering regional economic cooperation and
peaceful development.
In 1990-91, King Fahd played a key role before and during the
Gulf war. King Fahd's action also consolidated the coalition of
forces against Iraq and helped define the tone of the operation
as a multilateral effort to reestablish the sovereignty and territorial
integrity of Kuwait. Acting as a rallying point and personal spokesman
for the coalition, King Fahd helped bring together his nation's
GCC allies, Western allies, and Arab allies, as well as nonaligned
nations from Africa and the emerging democracies of eastern Europe.
He used his influence as Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to
persuade other Arab and Islamic nations to join the coalition.
King Fahd suffered a stroke in November 1995. From 1997, Crown
Prince Abdullah took on much of the day-to-day responsibilities
of running the government. Upon King Fahd’s death on August
1, 2005, Abdullah assumed the throne as King. Prince Sultan, Minister
of Defense and Aviation, became Crown Prince and First Deputy
Prime Minister.
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS
The central institution of Saudi Arabian Government is the monarchy.
The Basic Law adopted in 1992 declared that Saudi Arabia is a
monarchy ruled by the sons and grandsons of King Abd Al Aziz Al
Saud, and that the Holy Qur'an is the constitution of the country,
which is governed on the basis of Islamic law (Shari'a). There
are no political parties or national elections; however, the country
held its first municipal elections in 2005. The king's powers
are limited because he must observe the Shari'a and other Saudi
traditions. He also must retain a consensus of the Saudi royal
family, religious leaders (ulema), and other important elements
in Saudi society. The leading members of the royal family choose
the king from among themselves with the subsequent approval of
the ulema.
Saudi kings gradually have developed a central government. Since
1953, the Council of Ministers, appointed by and responsible to
the king, has advised on the formulation of general policy and
directed the activities of the growing bureaucracy. This council
consists of a prime minister, the first and second deputy prime
ministers, 20 ministers (of whom the minister of defense also
is the second deputy prime minister), two ministers of state,
and a small number of advisers and heads of major autonomous organizations.
Legislation is by resolution of the Council of Ministers and
the Shura Council, ratified by royal decree, and must be compatible
with the Shari'a. Justice is administered according to the Shari'a
by a system of religious courts whose judges are appointed by
the king on the recommendation of the Supreme Judicial Council,
composed of 12 senior jurists. The independence of the judiciary
is protected by law. The king acts as the highest court of appeal
and has the power to pardon. Access to high officials (usually
at a majlis, or public audience) and the right to petition them
directly are well-established traditions.
The kingdom is divided into 13 provinces governed by princes
or close relatives of the royal family. All governors are appointed
by the King.
In March 1992, King Fahd issued several decrees outlining the
basic statutes of government and codifying for the first time
procedures concerning the royal succession. The King's political
reform program also provided for the establishment of a national
Consultative Council, with appointed members having advisory powers
to review and give advice on issues of public interest. It also
outlined a framework for councils at the provincial or emirate
level.
In September 1993, King Fahd issued additional reform decrees,
appointing the members of the national Consultative Council and
spelling out procedures for the new council's operations. He announced
reforms regarding the Council of Ministers, including term limitations
of 4 years and regulations to prohibit conflict of interest for
ministers and other high-level officials. The members of 13 provincial
councils and the councils' operating regulations also were announced
in September 1993. In February, March, and April 2005, Saudis
voted in the country’s first municipal elections in more
than 50 years. Women, and male members of the military, were not
permitted to vote.
In July 1997, the membership of the Consultative Council was
expanded from 60 to 90 members, and again in May 2001 from 90
to 120 members. In 2005, membership was expanded to 150 members.
Membership has changed significantly during expansions of the
council as many members have not been reappointed. The role of
the council is gradually expanding as it gains experience.
Principal Government Officials
King, Prime Minister, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques--King
Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud
Minister of Foreign Affairs--Prince Saud Al Faysal bin Abdul Aziz
Al Saud
Ambassador to the U.S.--vacant
The embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is located at 601
New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037; tel. 202-342-3800.
ECONOMY
Oil was discovered in Saudi Arabia by U.S. geologists in the 1930s,
although largescale production did not begin until after World
War II. Oil wealth has made possible rapid economic development,
which began in earnest in the 1960s and accelerated spectacularly
in the 1970s, transforming the kingdom.
Saudi oil reserves are the largest in the world, and Saudi Arabia
is the world's leading oil producer and exporter. Oil accounts
for more than 90% of the country's exports and nearly 75% of government
revenues. Proven reserves are estimated to be 260 billion barrels,
about one-quarter of world oil reserves.
More than 95% of all Saudi oil is produced on behalf of the Saudi
Government by the parastatal giant Saudi ARAMCO. In June 1993,
Saudi ARAMCO absorbed the state marketing and refining company
(SAMAREC), becoming the world's largest fully integrated oil company.
Most Saudi oil exports move by tanker from Gulf terminals at Ras
Tanura and Ju'aymah. The remaining oil exports are transported
via the east-west pipeline across the kingdom to the Red Sea port
of Yanbu. A major new gas initiative promises to bring significant
investment by U.S. and European oil companies to develop nonassociated
gas fields in three separate parts of Saudi Arabia. Following
final technical agreements with concession awardees in December
2001, development was expected to begin in 2002.
Due to a sharp rise in petroleum revenues in 1974 following the
1973 Arab-Israeli war, Saudi Arabia became one of the fastest-growing
economies in the world. It enjoyed a substantial surplus in its
overall trade with other countries; imports increased rapidly;
and ample government revenues were available for development,
defense, and aid to other Arab and Islamic countries.
But higher oil prices led to development of more oil fields around
the world and reduced global consumption. The result, beginning
in the mid-1980s, was a worldwide oil glut, which introduced an
element of planning uncertainty for the first time in a decade.
Saudi oil production, which had increased to almost 10 million
barrels per day (b/d) during 1980-81, dropped to about 2 million
b/d in 1985. Budgetary deficits developed, and the government
drew down its foreign assets. Responding to financial pressures,
Saudi Arabia gave up its role as the "swing producer"
within OPEC in the summer of 1985 and accepted a production quota.
Since then, Saudi oil policy has been guided by a desire to maintain
market and quota shares.
However, beginning in late 1997, Saudi Arabia again faced the
challenge of low oil prices. Due to a combination of factors--the
East Asian economic crises, a warm winter in the West caused by
El Nino, and an increase in non-OPEC oil production--demand for
oil slowed and pulled oil prices down by more than one-third.
Saudi Arabia was a key player in coordinating the successful
1999 campaign of OPEC and other oil-producing countries to raise
the price of oil to its highest level since the Gulf War by managing
production and supply of petroleum. That same year, Saudi Arabia
established the Supreme Economic Council to formulate and better
coordinate economic development policies in order to accelerate
institutional and industrial reform.
Saudi Arabia has announced its intention to accelerate its accession
to the World Trade Organization. Negotiations have focused on
the degree to which Saudi Arabia is willing to increase market
access to foreign goods and services and the timeframe for becoming
fully compliant with WTO obligations. In April 2000, the government
established the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority to
encourage foreign direct investment in the country. Saudi Arabia
signed a Trade Investment Framework Agreement with the U.S. in
July 2003.
Through 5-year development plans, the government has sought to
allocate its petroleum income to transform its relatively undeveloped,
oil-based economy into that of a modern industrial state while
maintaining the kingdom's traditional Islamic values and customs.
Although economic planners have not achieved all their goals,
the economy has progressed rapidly. Oil wealth has increased the
standard of living of most Saudis. However, significant population
growth has strained the government's ability to finance further
improvements in the country's standard of living. Heavy dependence
on petroleum revenue continues, but industry and agriculture now
account for a larger share of economic activity. The mismatch
between the job skills of Saudi graduates and the needs of the
private job market at all levels remains the principal obstacle
to economic diversification and development; about 4.6 million
non-Saudis are employed in the economy.
Saudi Arabia's first two development plans, covering the 1970s,
emphasized infrastructure. The results were impressive--the total
length of paved highways tripled, power generation increased by
a multiple of 28, and the capacity of the seaports grew tenfold.
For the third plan (1980-85), the emphasis changed. Spending on
infrastructure declined, but it rose markedly on education, health,
and social services. The share for diversifying and expanding
productive sectors of the economy (primarily industry) did not
rise as planned, but the two industrial cities of Jubail and Yanbu--built
around the use of the country's oil and gas to produce steel,
petrochemicals, fertilizer, and refined oil products--were largely
completed.
In the fourth plan (1985-90), the country's basic infrastructure
was viewed as largely complete, but education and training remained
areas of concern. Private enterprise was encouraged, and foreign
investment in the form of joint ventures with Saudi public and
private companies was welcomed. The private sector became more
important, rising to 70% of non-oil GDP by 1987. While still concentrated
in trade and commerce, private investment increased in industry,
agriculture, banking, and construction companies. These private
investments were supported by generous government financing and
incentive programs. The objective was for the private sector to
have 70% to 80% ownership in most joint venture enterprises.
The fifth plan (1990-95) emphasized consolidation of the country's
defenses; improved and more efficient government social services;
regional development; and, most importantly, creating greater
private-sector employment opportunities for Saudis by reducing
the number of foreign workers.
The sixth plan (1996-2000) focused on lowering the cost of government
services without cutting them and sought to expand educational
training programs. The plan called for reducing the kingdom's
dependence on the petroleum sector by diversifying economic activity,
particularly in the private sector, with special emphasis on industry
and agriculture. It also continued the effort to "Saudiize"
the labor force.
The seventh plan (2000-2004) focuses more on economic diversification
and a greater role of the private sector in the Saudi economy.
For the period 2000-04, the Saudi Government has aimed at an average
GDP growth rate of 3.16% each year, with projected growths of
5.04% for the private sector and 4.01% for the non-oil sector.
The government also has set a target of creating 817,300 new jobs
for Saudi nationals.
FOREIGN RELATIONS
Saudi foreign policy objectives are to maintain its security and
its paramount position on the Arabian Peninsula, defend general
Arab and Islamic interests, promote solidarity among Islamic governments,
and maintain cooperative relations with other oil-producing and
major oil-consuming countries.
Saudi Arabia signed the UN Charter in 1945. The country plays
a prominent and constructive role in the International Monetary
Fund, the World Bank, and Arab and Islamic financial and development
assistance institutions. One of the largest aid donors in the
world, it still gives some aid to a number of Arab, African, and
Asian countries. Jeddah is the headquarters of the Secretariat
of the Organization of the Islamic Conference and its subsidiary
organization, the Islamic Development Bank, founded in 1969.
Membership in the 11-member OPEC and in the technically and economically
oriented Arab producer group--the Organization of Arab Petroleum
Exporting Countries--facilitates coordination of Saudi oil policies
with other oil-exporting governments. As the world's leading exporter
of petroleum, Saudi Arabia has a special interest in preserving
a stable and long-term market for its vast oil resources by allying
itself with healthy Western economies which can protect the value
of Saudi financial assets. It generally has acted to stabilize
the world oil market and tried to moderate sharp price movements.
The Saudi Government frequently helps mediate regional crises
and support the Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations. A charter
member of the Arab League, Saudi Arabia supports the position
that Israel must withdraw from the territories which it occupied
in June 1967, as according to United Nations Resolution 242. Saudi
Arabia supports a peaceful resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict
but rejected the Camp David accords, claiming that they would
be unable to achieve a comprehensive political solution that would
ensure Palestinian rights and adequately address the status of
Jerusalem. Although Saudi Arabia broke diplomatic relations with
and suspended aid to Egypt in the wake of Camp David, the two
countries renewed formal ties in 1987. In March 2002, Crown Prince
Abdallah offered a Middle East peace plan at the annual summit
of the Arab League in which Arab governments would offer “normal
relations and the security of Israel in exchange for a full Israeli
withdrawal from all occupied Arab lands, recognition of an independent
Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital, and the return
of Palestinian refugees.”
In 1990-91, Saudi Arabia played an important role in the Gulf
War, developing new allies and improving existing relationships
between Saudi Arabia and some other countries. However, there
also were diplomatic and financial costs. Relations between Saudi
Arabia and Tunisia, Algeria, and Libya deteriorated. Each country
had remained silent following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait but called
for an end to violence once the deployment of coalition troops
began. Relations between these countries and Saudi Arabia have
returned to their pre-war status. Saudi Arabia's relations with
those countries which expressed support for Saddam Hussein's invasion
of Kuwait--Yemen, Jordan, and Sudan--were severely strained during
and immediately after the war. For example, several hundred thousand
Yemenis were expelled from Saudi Arabia after the Government of
Yemen announced its position, thus exacerbating an existing border
dispute. Saudi-Yemeni relations, especially in the wake of the
1994 Yemen civil war, remain fragile and of significant concern
to the Saudi Government. The Palestine Liberation Organization's
support for Iraq cost it financial aid as well as good relations
with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. Recently, though, Saudi
Arabia's relations with Jordan and the Palestinian Authority have
improved, with the Saudi Government providing assistance for the
Palestinian Authority.
During and after the Gulf War, the Government of Saudi Arabia
provided water, food, shelter, and fuel for coalition forces in
the region. There also were monetary payments to some coalition
partners. Saudi Arabia's combined costs in payments, foregone
revenues, and donated supplies were $55 billion. More than $15
billion went toward reimbursing the United States alone.
U.S.-SAUDI ARABIAN RELATIONS
Saudi Arabia's unique role in the Arab and Islamic worlds, its
possession of the world's largest reserves of oil, and its strategic
location make its friendship important to the United States. Diplomatic
relations were established in 1933; the U.S. embassy opened in
Jeddah in 1944 and moved to Riyadh in 1984. The Jeddah embassy
became a U.S. consulate. Meanwhile, a U.S. consulate opened in
Dhahran in 1944.
The United States and Saudi Arabia share a common concern about
regional security, oil exports and imports, and sustainable development.
Close consultations between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia have developed
on international, economic, and development issues such as the
Middle East peace process and shared interests in the Gulf. The
continued availability of reliable sources of oil, particularly
from Saudi Arabia, remains important to the prosperity of the
United States as well as to Europe and Japan. Saudi Arabia is
often the leading source of imported oil for the United States,
providing about 20% of total U.S. crude imports and 10% of U.S.
consumption. The U.S. is Saudi Arabia's largest trading partner,
and Saudi Arabia is the largest U.S. export market in the Middle
East.
In addition to economic ties, a longstanding security relationship
continues to be important in U.S.-Saudi relations. A U.S. military
training mission established at Dhahran in 1953 provides training
and support in the use of weapons and other security-related services
to the Saudi armed forces. The United States has sold Saudi Arabia
military aircraft (F-15s, AWACS, and UH-60 Blackhawks), air defense
weaponry (Patriot and Hawk missiles), armored vehicles (M1A2 Abrams
tanks and M-2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles), and other equipment.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has had a long-term role in military
and civilian construction activities in the Kingdom.
The Gulf War and Operation Iraqi Freedom demonstrated U.S.-Saudi
cooperation in the areas of cultural accommodation, as well as
in military operations. For example, the U.S. military issued
general orders prohibiting the consumption of alcohol and setting
guidelines for off-duty behavior and attire. Saudi Arabia accommodated
U.S. culture and its military procedures by allowing U.S. servicewomen
to serve in their varied roles throughout the kingdom--a major
step for a highly patriarchal society. In August 2003, following
the U.S.-led war in Iraq in March and April 2003, the United States
withdrew its troops stationed in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia’s relations with the United States were strained
after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in which 15 of
the suicide bombers were Saudi citizens. On May 12, 2003 suicide
bombers killed 35 people, including nine Americans, in attacks
at three housing compounds for Westerners in Riyadh. On November
8, 2003 terrorists attacked another compound housing foreign workers
from mainly Arab countries. At least 18 people, including 5 children
died in this attack, and more than 100 were injured.
On May 1, 2004 terrorists killed two Americans in the Yanbu oil
facility in the western part of the country. On May 29, 2004 terrorists
killed one American and wounded several others in attacks on an
official building and housing compound in al-Khobar in the Eastern
Province. On June 6, terrorists shot and killed a BBC journalist.
On June 9 and June 12, 2004 terrorists killed Americans Robert
Jacobs and Kenneth Scroggs. On June 18, 2004 terrorists kidnapped
and beheaded American Paul Johnson. On December 6, 2004 terrorists
attacked the U.S. Consulate in Jeddah, killing five consulate
employees. Terrorists also targeted and killed other foreign nationalities
during this time.
Currently, Saudi Arabia is an important partner in the campaign
against terrorism, providing assistance in the military, diplomatic,
and financial arenas. Counterterrorism cooperation between Saudi
Arabia and the United States increased significantly after the
May 12, 2003 bombings in Riyadh and continues today. In February
2005, the Saudi government sponsored the first ever Counter-Terrorism
International Conference in Riyadh.
Human Rights
Despite close cooperation on security issues, the United States
remains concerned about human rights conditions in Saudi Arabia.
Principal human rights problems include abuse of prisoners and
incommunicado detention; prohibitions or severe restrictions on
the freedoms of speech, press, peaceful assembly and association,
and religion; denial of the right of citizens to change their
government; systematic discrimination against women and ethnic
and religious minorities; and suppression of workers' rights.
Principal U.S. Officials
Ambassador--James Oberwetter
Deputy Chief of Mission--Gary Grappo
Counselor for Consular Affairs--Dennis Hankins
Counselor for Economic Affairs--David Rundell
Counselor for Political Affairs--Michael Gfoeller
Counselor for Political-Military Affairs--Robert Murphy
Counselor for Public Affairs--Carol Kalin
Consul General, Dhahran--John Kincannon
Consul General, Jeddah--Tatiana Gfoeller (scheduled to arrive
August 2005)
The U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia is located in the Diplomatic
Quarter of Riyadh (tel. 966-1-488-3800). The Consulate General
in Jeddah is located on Palestine Road, Ruwais, Jeddah (tel. 966-2-667-0080);
and the Consulate General in Dhahran is located between ARAMCO
Headquarters and the King Abdul Aziz Airbase (tel. 966-3-330-3200).
The embassy and consulates are open for business Saturday through
Wednesday, in accordance with the official workweek of Saudi Arabia.
TRAVEL AND BUSINESS INFORMATION
The U.S. Department of State's Consular Information Program provides
Consular Information Sheets, Travel Warnings, and Public Announcements.
Consular Information Sheets exist for all countries and include
information on entry requirements, currency regulations, health
conditions, areas of instability, crime and security, political
disturbances, and the addresses of the U.S. posts in the country.
Travel Warnings are issued when the State Department recommends
that Americans avoid travel to a certain country. Public Announcements
are issued as a means to disseminate information quickly about
terrorist threats and other relatively short-term conditions overseas
that pose significant risks to the security of American travelers.
Free copies of this information are available by calling the Bureau
of Consular Affairs at 202-647-5225 or via the fax-on-demand system:
202-647-3000. Consular Information Sheets and Travel Warnings
also are available on the Consular Affairs Internet home page:
http://travel.state.gov. Consular Affairs Tips for Travelers publication
series, which contain information on obtaining passports and planning
a safe trip abroad, are on the Internet and hard copies can be
purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government
Printing Office, telephone: 202-512-1800; fax 202-512-2250.
Emergency information concerning Americans traveling abroad may
be obtained from the Office of Overseas Citizens Services at (202)
647-5225. For after-hours emergencies, Sundays and holidays, call
202-647-4000.
The National Passport Information Center (NPIC) is the U.S. Department
of State's single, centralized public contact center for U.S.
passport information. Telephone: 1-877-4USA-PPT (1-877-487-2778).
Customer service representatives and operators for TDD/TTY are
available Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Time,
excluding federal holidays.
Travelers can check the latest health information with the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia.
A hotline at 877-FYI-TRIP (877-394-8747) and a web site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/index.htm
give the most recent health advisories, immunization recommendations
or requirements, and advice on food and drinking water safety
for regions and countries. A booklet entitled Health Information
for International Travel (HHS publication number CDC-95-8280)
is available from the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington,
DC 20402, tel. (202) 512-1800.
Information on travel conditions, visa requirements, currency
and customs regulations, legal holidays, and other items of interest
to travelers also may be obtained before your departure from a
country's embassy and/or consulates in the U.S. (for this country,
see "Principal Government Officials" listing in this
publication).
U.S. citizens who are long-term visitors or traveling in dangerous
areas are encouraged to register their travel via the State Department’s
travel registration web site at https://travelregistration.state.gov
or at the Consular section of the U.S. embassy upon arrival in
a country by filling out a short form and sending in a copy of
their passports. This may help family members contact you in case
of an emergency.
Further Electronic Information
Department of State Web Site. Available on the Internet at http://www.state.gov,
the Department of State web site provides timely, global access
to official U.S. foreign policy information, including Background
Notes and daily press briefings along with the directory of key
officers of Foreign Service posts and more.
Export.gov provides a portal to all export-related assistance
and market information offered by the federal government and provides
trade leads, free export counseling, help with the export process,
and more.
STAT-USA/Internet, a service of the U.S. Department of Commerce,
provides authoritative economic, business, and international trade
information from the Federal government. The site includes current
and historical trade-related releases, international market research,
trade opportunities, and country analysis and provides access
to the National Trade Data Bank.
