U.S. Department of State
Background Notes:  Saudi Arabia, September 1998


OFFICIAL NAME:  Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

PROFILE

Geography

Area:  1,960,582 million sq. km. (1,176,349 mi.), about one-fourth the 
size of  the continental United States.
Cities (1992 figures):  Capital--Riyadh (pop. 2.5 million).  Other 
cities--Jeddah (1.6 million), Makkah, (1.5 million), 
Dammam/Khobar/Dhahran, (1 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 (1997 Embassy est.):  20 million  (14 million Saudis, 6 
million foreign nationals).
Annual growth rate:  3.8%.
Ethnic groups:  Arab (90% of native pop.), Afro-Asian (10% of native 
pop.).
Religion:  Muslim.
Language:  Arabic (official).
Education:  Literacy--male 73%, female 48%.
Health:  Infant mortality rate--38/1,000.  Life expectancy--male 65 
years, female 68 years.
Work force:  7.2 million (approx. 69% foreign workers).  Government--
34%.  Industry--28%.  Service and commerce--22%.  Agriculture--16%.

Government

Type:  Monarchy with Council of Ministers and Consultative Council.
Unification:  September 23, 1932.
Constitution:  The Holy Qur'an.
Branches:  Executive--King (chief of state and head of government).  
Legislative--none; a Consultative Council with advisory powers was 
formed September 1993.  Judicial--Islamic Courts of First Instance and 
Appeals.
Administrative divisions:  13 provinces.
Political parties:  None.

Economy

GDP (1997):  $145.9 billion.
Annual growth rate (1997):  7.1% overall; non-oil share 4.5%.
Per capita GDP:  $7,200.
Natural resources:  Hydrocarbons, gold, uranium, bauxite, coal, iron, 
phosphate, tungsten, zinc, silver, copper.
Agriculture (est. 9% of GDP):  Products--dates, grains, livestock, 
vegetables.  Cultivated land--1%.
Industry (est. oil, 38% of GDP; non-oil industry, 8%):  petroleum, 
petrochemicals, cement, fertilizer, light industry.
Trade (1997 Embassy estimate):  Exports--$54.3 billion:  $47.3 billion, 
petroleum and petroleum products; $7 billion, non-oil exports.  Imports-
-$26.9 billion: manufactured goods, transportation equipment, 
construction materials, processed food products.  Major trading 
partners--U.S., Japan, Western Europe.

PEOPLE

Saudi Arabia's 1997 population was estimated to be about 20.5 million, 
including about 6 million resident foreigners.  Until the 1960s, most of 
the population was nomadic or semi-nomadic; 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 square mile).

Saudi Arabia is known as the birthplace of Islam, which in the century 
following Muhammad's death in 632 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 
expatriate workers from North America, South Asia, Europe, and East 
Asia.

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 there 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.  It remains 
undefined in many areas.  The border between Saudi Arabia and the United 
Arab Emirates was agreed upon in 1974.  Boundary differences with Qatar 
remained unresolved.

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.  By the end of 1997, Crown 
Prince Abdullah had taken on much of the day-to-day responsibilities of 
running the government.

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.  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 is also 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, 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 July 1997, the membership of the Consultative Council was expanded 
from 60 to 90 members, and 60 new members were appointed.  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 Fahd bin 
Abdul Aziz Al Saud
Minister of Foreign Affairs--Prince Saud Al Faysal bin Abdul Aziz Al 
Saud
Ambassador to the U.S.--Prince Bandar bin Sultan

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 American geologists in the 1930s, 
although large-scale 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 at more than 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.  Operating in 
the former neutral zone, the Japanese-owned Arabian Oil Company (AOC) 
and the Saudi subsidiary of Texaco, Saudi Arabian Texaco, provide the 
rest of Saudi crude oil production.  Most Saudi oil exports move by 
tanker from terminals at Ras Tenure and Ju'Aymah.  The remaining oil 
exports are transported via the east-west pipeline across the kingdom to 
the Red Sea port of Yanbu.

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 over one-third.  Saudi Arabia organized a series of 
oil production cutback agreements over the first half of 1998 but, as of 
late summer, prices had not recovered.  Despite increased development of 
a petrochemical sector and of extensive natural gas resources, the 
health of the Saudi economy remains heavily dependent on the price of 
oil.

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, and the standard of living of most Saudis has improved 
significantly.  Dependence on petroleum revenue continues, but industry 
and agriculture now account for a larger share of economic activity.  A 
shortage of skilled Saudi workers at all levels remains the principal 
obstacle to economic diversification and development; about 4.7 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 five-year plan (1996-2000) focuses on lowering the cost of 
government services without cutting them and will seek to expand 
educational training programs.  The plan calls 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 continues the effort to "Saudiize" 
the labor force.

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.  Formerly 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 13-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 Arab position that Israel 
must withdraw from the territories which it occupied in June 1967, 
including East Jerusalem.  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 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 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 more that 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.

Since 1933, the Saudi Arabian Government has relied on the U.S. 
Government and private organizations for technical expertise and 
assistance in developing its human and mineral resources.  The two 
countries established a Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation in June 
1974.  Under commission auspices, cooperation between the two countries 
has grown in technical training and education, agriculture, science and 
technology, transportation, government administration, 
industrialization, and solar energy research.

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 demonstrated U.S.-Saudi cooperation in the areas of 
cultural accommodation, as well as in military operations.  For example, 
the United States 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.

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--Wyche Fowler, Jr.
Deputy Chief of Mission--Albert A. Thibault, Jr.
Counselor for Consular Affairs--Allen J. Kepchar
Counselor for Economic Affairs--John L. Moran
Counselor for Political Affairs--Marc J. Sievers
Counselor for Political-Military Affairs--Frederick W. Axelgard
Counselor for Public Affairs--Richard J. Schmierer
Consul General, Dhahran--Douglas C. Greene
Consul General, Jeddah--Stephen W. Buck

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 Dhahran International Airport (tel. 966-3-891-3200).  The Embassy 
and consulates are open for business Saturday through Wednesday, in 
accordance with the official workweek of Saudi Arabia.

Travel Notes

Customs:  Saudi Arabia forbids the importation, sale, or use of alcohol 
or illicit drugs.  The government has and will continue to apply the 
death penalty to anyone convicted of possession of drugs with intent to 
distribute.  In this conservative Muslim society, visitors must not 
import into Saudi Arabia any non-Muslim religious materials, pork 
products, or any material that may be construed as pornographic by Saudi 
censors.  Cholera shots are required for entry for travelers arriving 
from areas where cholera is epidemic.  All visa applicants must have a 
letter of invitation from an employer or Saudi sponsor.

Climate and clothing:  Lightweight clothing is essential for the hot 
(38o to 54oC) climate.  However, during the winter months in the 
interior regions (such as in Riyadh), the weather can be quite cool, so 
warmer clothing is recommended.  Riyadh is dry, while Jeddah and Dhahran 
are humid part of the year.  Western men and women should dress very 
conservatively.  For women, skirts should be calf to ankle length, 
sleeves wrist length, and necklines above the collarbone; pants and 
pantsuits may attract unwanted attention.

Health:  First-class hotels are available in all the major cities.  Eat 
and drink cautiously outside major hotels and restaurants. Hospital and 
emergency care services in major cities approach U.S. standards.

Telecommunications:  Telephone and telegraph service is expanding 
rapidly, and direct domestic and overseas dialing is available at most 
locations within the country.  Saudi Arabia is eight time zones ahead of 
Eastern standard time at GMT plus 3 hours (with no daylight savings 
time).  There are several daily English-language newspapers, as well as 
an English-language television station.

Transportation:  Many domestic and international flights are scheduled 
daily; taxis and rental cars are available in all major cities.  Saudi 
Arabia has an impressive and rapidly expanding network of paved roads, 
including super-highways, connecting the country's regions and major 
cities.  Trains run between Riyadh and the Dhahran area.  Women are 
forbidden to drive, and women traveling alone normally are unable to 
rent a hotel room.

TRAVEL AND BUSINESS INFORMATION

The U.S. Department of State's Consular Information Program provides 
Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets. Travel Warnings are 
issued when the State Department recommends that Americans avoid travel 
to a certain country. Consular Information Sheets exist for all 
countries and include information on immigration practices, currency 
regulations, health conditions, areas of instability, crime and 
security, political disturbances, and the addresses of the U.S. posts in 
the country. Public Announcements are issued as a means to disseminate 
information quickly about terrorist threats and other relatively short-
term conditions overseas which 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. Travel Warnings and Consular Information 
Sheets also are available on the Consular Affairs Internet home page: 
http://travel.state.gov and the Consular Affairs Bulletin Board (CABB). 
To access CABB, dial the modem number: 301-946-4400 (it will accommodate 
up to 33,600 bps), set terminal communications program to N-8-1(no 
parity, 8 bits, 1 stop bit); and terminal emulation to VT100. The login 
is travel and the password is info. (Note: Lower case is required). The 
CABB also carries international security information from the Overseas 
Security Advisory Council and Department's Bureau of Diplomatic 
Security. Consular Affairs Trips for Travelers publication series, which 
contain information on obtaining passports and planning a safe trip 
abroad, can be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. 
Government Printing Office, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954; 
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.

Passport Services information can be obtained by calling the 24-hour, 7-
day a week automated system ($.35 per minute) or live operators 8 a.m. 
to 8 p.m. (EST) Monday-Friday ($1.05 per minute). The number is 1-900-
225-5674 (TDD: 1-900-225-7778). Major credit card users (for a flat rate 
of $4.95) may call 1-888-362-8668 (TDD: 1-888-498-3648).

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 at the U.S. embassy upon arrival in a country 
(see "Principal U.S. Embassy Officials" listing in this publication). 
This may help family members contact you in case of an emergency.

Further Electronic Information

Department of State Foreign Affairs Network. Available on the Internet, 
DOSFAN provides timely, global access to official U.S. foreign policy 
information. Updated daily, DOSFAN includes Background Notes; Dispatch, 
the official magazine of U.S. foreign policy; daily press briefings; 
Country Commercial Guides; directories of key officers of foreign 
service posts; etc. DOSFAN's World Wide Web site is at 
http://www.state.gov.

U.S. Foreign Affairs on CD-ROM (USFAC). Published on an annual basis by 
the U.S. Department of State, USFAC archives information on the 
Department of State Foreign Affairs Network, and includes an array of 
official foreign policy information from 1990 to the present. Contact 
the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, P.O. 
Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954. To order, call (202) 512-1800 or 
fax (202) 512-2250.

National Trade Data Bank (NTDB). Operated by the U.S. Department of 
Commerce, the NTDB contains a wealth of trade-related information. It is 
available on the Internet (www.stat-usa.gov) and on CD-ROM. Call the 
NTDB Help-Line at (202) 482-1986 for more information.

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