| Country name: |
conventional long form:
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
conventional short form:
Saudi Arabia
local long form:
Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
local short form:
Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
|
| Government type: |
monarchy
|
| Administrative divisions: |
13 provinces (mintaqat, singular - mintaqah); Al Bahah, Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah, Al Jawf, Al Madinah, Al Qasim, Ar Riyad, Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern Province), 'Asir, Ha'il, Jizan, Makkah, Najran, Tabuk
|
| Independence: |
23 September 1932 (Unification of the Kingdom)
|
| National holiday: |
Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)
|
| Constitution: |
governed according to Shari'a (Islamic law); the Basic Law that articulates the government's rights and responsibilities was introduced in 1993
|
| Legal system: |
based on Islamic law, several secular codes have been introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
|
| Executive branch: |
chief of state:
King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 13 June 1982); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (half-brother to the monarch, heir to the throne since 13 June 1982, regent from 1 January to 22 February 1996); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:
King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 13 June 1982); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (half-brother to the monarch, heir to the throne since 13 June 1982, regent from 1 January to 22 February 1996); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet:
Council of Ministers is appointed by the monarch and includes many royal family members
elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary
|
| Legislative branch: |
a consultative council (90 members and a chairman appointed by the monarch for four-year terms)
|
| Judicial branch: |
Supreme Council of Justice
|
| Political parties and leaders: |
none allowed
|
| Political pressure groups and leaders: |
none
|
| International organization participation: |
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, BIS, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)
|
| Diplomatic representation in the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador BANDAR bin Sultan bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud
chancery:
601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone:
[1] (202) 342-3800
consulate(s) general:
Houston, Los Angeles, and New York
|
| Diplomatic representation from the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Wyche FOWLER, Jr.
embassy:
Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh
mailing address:
American Embassy Riyadh, Unit 61307, APO AE 09803-1307; International Mail: P. O. Box 94309, Riyadh 11693
telephone:
[966] (1) 488-3800
FAX:
[966] (1) 488-7360
consulate(s) general:
Dhahran, Jiddah (Jeddah)
|
| Flag description: |
green with large white Arabic script (that may be translated as There is no God but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God) above a white horizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist side); green is the traditional color of Islam
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