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A saudi man with his horse Performance of Al Ardha, the Saudi national dance in Riyadh Flickr / Charles Roffey Flickr / Abraham Puthoor SAUDI ARABIA Dec. 2019 Table of Contents Chapter 1 | Geography . 6 Introduction . 6 Geographical Divisions . 7 Asir, the Southern Region � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �7 Rub al-Khali and the Southern Region � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �8 Hejaz, the Western Region � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �8 Nejd, the Central Region � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �9 The Eastern Region � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �9 Topographical Divisions . .. 9 Deserts and Mountains � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �9 Climate . .. 10 Bodies of Water . 11 Red Sea � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 11 Persian Gulf � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 11 Wadis � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 11 Major Cities . 12 Riyadh � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �12 Jeddah � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �13 Mecca � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �13 Medina � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �14 Dhahran-Dammam-al-Khobar � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �15 Environmental Concerns . 16 Natural Hazards . 17 Chapter 1 | Geography, Assessment . 18 Chapter 1 | Geography, Assessment Answers . .. 19 Chapter 2 | History . 20 Introduction . 20 Early History . 21 Pre-Islam � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �21 Countries in Perspective | Saudi Arabia Table of Contents 2 Birth and Spread of Islam � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �21 Caliphates � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �22 The Rule of the Saud Family . 22 Origins (1450–1744) � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �22 The rise of Wahhabism and the First Saudi State (1744–1823) � � � � � � �22 The Second Saudi State (1824–1891) � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �23 The Third Saudi State (1906–1932) � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �24 The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (1932–Present) . 25 King Abdul Aziz (1931–1953) � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �25 Kings Saud, Faisal (1953–1975) � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �25 King Khalid (1975–1982) � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �26 King Fahd (1982–2005) � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �27 King Abdullah (2005–2015) � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �27 King Salman (2015–Present) � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �28 Recent Developments . 28 Chapter 2 | History, Assessment . 30 Chapter 2 | History, Assessment Answers . 31 Chapter 3 | Economy . 32 Introduction . 32 Agriculture . 34 Industry . 34 Energy . 35 Trade . 35 Services . 36 Tourism . 37 Banking . 38 Standard of Living . 39 Employment Trends . 40 Foreign Workers � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �41 Outlook . 42 Chapter 3 | Economy, Assessment . 44 Chapter 3 | Economy, Assessment Answers . 45 Countries in Perspective | Saudi Arabia Table of Contents 3 Chapter 4 | Society . 46 Introduction . 46 Ethnicity/Linguistic Groups . 47 Religion . 48 Sunni and Shia Islam� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �49 Cuisine . 50 Traditional Dress . 51 Gender Issues . 52 Arts . 54 Music and Dance � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �54 Calligraphy � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �55 Poetry and Folktales � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �55 Sports and Recreation . .. 55 Camel Racing � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �55 Falconry � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �56 Equestrian Sports � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �56 Chapter 4 | Society, Assessment . 57 Chapter 4 | Society, Assessment Answers . 58 Chapter 5 | Security . 59 Introduction . 59 United States-Saudi Relations . 60 Relations with Neighbors . 61 Iraq � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �61 Iran � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �61 Jordan � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �61 Kuwait � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �62 Oman � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �62 Qatar � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �62 United Arab Emirates � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �63 Yemen � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �63 Police . 64 Countries in Perspective | Saudi Arabia Table of Contents 4 Military . 64 Cyber Security . 65 Issues Affecting Stability . 65 Terrorist Groups � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �65 Political Reform � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �66 Relations with Wahhabi Clergy � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �67 Economic Issues � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �68 Water Security . 68 Outlook . 69 Chapter 5 | Security, Assessment . 70 Chapter 5 | Security, Assessment Answers . 71 Further Readings and Resources . 72 Articles . 72 Final Assessment . 74 Final Assessment . 74 Final Assessment Answers . 77 Countries in Perspective | Saudi Arabia Table of Contents 5 Go back to Table of Contents Chapter 1 | Geography View of Al-Ula in Al Madinah Region Flickr / Sammy Six - Al Ula Introduction The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is slightly more than one-fifth the size of the United States . It is the largest state on the Arabian Peninsula, composing around 80% of the region . The country shares borders with seven neighbors and three major bodies of water . The Kingdom’s maritime claims include a 12-nautical-mile expanse off its coastal borders . Saudi Arabia also asserts.