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King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz
Al Saud
Custodian of the two Holy Mosques |
Rulers
King Abdulaziz bin Abdelrahman Al-Saud, the founder (1932-1963), followed by his sons: King Saud
(1953-64),
King Faisal (1964-75), King Khalid (1975-82), King Fahd (1982-2005) and the
current
ruler, Custodian of the Two
Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz.
Population
As of the 2004 census, 22.7 million, including
about 6 million expatriates. |
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Affiliations
Founding member of Gulf Cooperation Council
(GCC), United Nations, League of Arab States,
Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC),
and Organization of Petroleum Exporting
Countries (OPEC); member of many international
organizations, including the World Bank and the
International Monetary Fund; signatory of the
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and member of
the World Trade Organization (WTO). |
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Flag
Green background, with in white letters the Muslim creed
in Arabic: "There is no god but God: Muhammad is the
Messenger of God."
Calendar
Islamic (Hijrah), dating from emigration of the Prophet
Muhammad from Makkah to Madinah;weekend,Thursday
and Friday.
The 12 months of Islamic lunar year
Muharram, Safar, Rabi' Al-Awal, Rabi' Al-Akher, Jumada
Al-Awal,Jumada Al-Akher,Rajab,Sha'ban,Ramadan,Shawwal.
Dhu Al-Qadah , Dhu Al-Hajjah .
Holidays
Closure of all offices and schools on Eid Al-Fitr, the feast of
the breaking of the fast, from the evening of the last day of
Ramadan through the third day of Shawwal;and Eid Al-Adha,
the culmination of the Hajj, from the tenth through twelfth
of Dhu Al-Hajjah.
Business
Government offices Saturday through Wednesday from
7:30 am to 2:30 pm; private businesses from 8:00 am to
noon and 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm; general banking from 8:00
am until noon and from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm and markets
and shops from 8:00 am until 10:00 pm.
Currency
Saudi Riyal (SR); $1=SR 3.745. 1 Euro = SR 4.8.
Travel notes: Entry visas required.
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Emblem
A date palm, representing vitality
and
growth, and two crossed
swords, symbolizing
justice and
strength rooted in faith.
Religion
Islam,which is the basis of the legal system and of government.
Language
Arabic; English widely spoken in urban areas.
National Day
September 23, commemorating the foundation of the
modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932.
Telecom
Country code 966;Area codes
Riyadh - 1,
Jeddah/Makkah/Taif
- 2, Dammam/Dhahran
- 3, Madinah/Tabuk/Yanbu - 4.
Time
Greenwich Mean Time plus three (GMT+3) = Eastern Standard
Time plus eight (seven during Daylight Savings Time).
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