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Home , Al Eqtisadiah, Al Riyadh (newspaper), Al Watan (Saudi Arabia), Dammam, Hofuf, Jeddah Islamic Port

July 2012

OE Quick Guide:

TRADOC G-2 Intelligence Support Activity (TRISA)

Complex Operational Environment and Threat Integration Directorate (CTID)

[Type the author name] Army 6/1/2012 Operational Environment Quick Guide

Introduction

Saudi Arabia is a Middle Eastern country bordered by the , Jordan, , , , , , United Arab Emirate, , and . On 23 September 1932, after a 30-year campaign, Abd al-Aziz bin Abd al-Rahman al-Saud united the Arab tribes of the Arabian Peninsula to form the modern state of Saudi Arabia. Since its establishment, a descendent of al- Saud has ruled the , formally named the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia wields considerable political, religious, and economic power by virtue of its sizable reserves and its status as the birthplace of the Prophet and the cradle of Islam. A strong ally of the U.S., Saudi Arabia has adversarial neighbors, and is a critical resource supplier as well.

Political Variable Manifestations in Saudi Arabia

 Centers of Political Power: Abdallah bin Abd al-Aziz al-Saud has ruled the Kingdom since his coronation on 1 August 2005. Abdallah serves as both the king and prime minister and is also the and government. Abdallah is assisted by Deputy Prime Minister Nayif bin Abd al-Aziz al-Saud. Every four years, the prime minister appoints members of the Saudi Cabinet, formally named the Council of Ministers. Most ministers are members. The country’s legislative branch is named the Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura. The prime minister also appoints the 150 members of the shura and its chairman to four year terms. In October 2003, the Council of Ministers declared that it intended to hold elections for one third of the ministerial seats. When the first elections took place on 10 February 2005, only about 25% of potential voters cast ballots. This may have indicated voter dissatisfaction with the progress of reforms, disenfranchisement, or simply that people were satisfied and felt no need to vote. In October 2006 the king decreed that an Allegiance Commission would be established consisting of a committee of Saudi princes to participate in the selection of future Saudi instead of the traditional hereditary method, but this new system of selection was not to take effect until after Crown Prince Sultan was crowned king. Sultan died in 2011, and the Allegiance Commission named Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz as the new Crown Prince, who died 16 June 2012.  Type of Government: Saudi Arabia is a monarchy. Based on its 1992 Basic Law, the king must be a male descendant of Abd al-Aziz bin Abd al-Rahman al-Saud, the first .

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 Key Governmental Leaders: King Abdallah has reformed the monarchy since taking power. He reorganized his cabinet in 2009 and appointed more moderates to ministerial and judicial positions. Abdallah also appointed the first female to a cabinet-level position. He stepped up his efforts during the “Arab Spring” uprisings across the between 2010 and 2011. Most incidents in the kingdom during this period were protests by the Shia minority calling for the release of Shia dissidents. The kingdom responded by deploying a strong police presence to control protesters. In March 2011, Abdallah announced several standard of living improvements including salary increases, unemployment benefits, and better access to affordable housing for Saudi citizens. In September 2011, the kingdom held elections for the first time for 285 municipal council member seats. During that same month, Abdallah decreed that women would be allowed to run for office and vote. In 2012, the kingdom’s top leaders were: o King: Abdallah bin Abd al-Aziz al-Saud o Crown Prince: Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud o Prime Minister: Abdallah bin Abd al-Aziz al-Saud o Deputy Prime Minister: Nayif bin Abd al-Aziz al-Saud o Ambassador to the United States: Adil al-Ahmad al-Jubayr  Government Effectiveness and Legitimacy: The Saudi Monarchy is considered legitimate by the Saudi populace, yet minority Shia protests and clashes in the kingdom in 2009, 2010, and 2011, and regional public unrest, prompted increased attention to the reform movement. Liberal, moderate, and conservative unofficial political groups presented the king with advisory petitions containing suggested reforms. The issue is that many of these same reforms have previously been suggested and were ignored. Pubic confrontations with the kingdom’s security forces may occur in the future if these reforms are again ignored, as all public demonstrations are illegal.  Domestic Political Issues: The most pressing political issues in the kingdom are the continued war on terror and minority Shia unrest. Al-Qaeda in the Arab Peninsula (AQAP) continues to subvert the government and conduct attacks against the nation’s oil industry. Protests and clashes between the kingdom’s security forces and the minority Saudi Shia population have highlighted the sectarian tensions that persist. A number of Shia activists and even a Shia cleric were arrested and several Shia were closed between 2009 and 2011.  Attitude toward the U.S.: The Saudi Monarchy views the U.S. as a key strategic ally and was the largest U.S. trading partner in the Middle East as of 2010.  Political Parties: No formal political parties are officially recognized by the monarchy.  Other Domestic Influential Groups: Ansar al Marah is an activist group that supports and petitions for women’s rights in the kingdom and strives to place women in key council member and ministry-level political positions.

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Operational Environment Quick Guide

 International Organizations and NGOs: In December 2007, the Consultative Council presented the king with a draft law governing associations and foundations that would for the first time establish an official policy to allow nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to legally operate in the kingdom. The law currently awaits the approval and adoption of the king. Some of the key international organizations of which the kingdom is either a member or an observer are: o G-20 o G-77 o (GCC) o United Nations (UN) o Interpol o International Monetary Fund (IMF) o Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) o World Trade Organization (WTO) o World Health Organization (WHO)

Military Variable Manifestations in Saudi Arabia

 Military Forces: Based on 2010 estimates, the Saudi Ministry of Defense commands a total of about 233,500 troops, when counting both active duty soldiers and active national guardsmen. The major military branches under the Ministry of Defense include the Royal Saudi Land Forces (RSLF), Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF), (RSAF), Royal Saudi Air Defense Force (RSADF), Royal Saudi Strategic Rocket Forces (RSSRF), Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG), Saudi Royal Guard Brigade (SRB), and (SEF). o Military Service Age and Obligation: . No conscription . Eligible to serve at 18 years of age o Manpower Available for Military Service: (2010 estimate) . Total, 16-49: 15,246,507 . Males, 16-49: 8,644,522 . Females, 16-49: 6,601,985 o Personnel: (2010 and 2012 estimates, differing source data shown for comparison) . RSLF/SRB: Approximately 75,000 (not including SANG)  Corps headquarters: 1 (no division headquarters)  Armored brigades: 4

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 Mechanized infantry brigades: 5  Airborne brigade: 1  Artillery brigade: 1  Royal Guard Brigade/Regiment: 1  Aviation Command: 1 . RSAF, RSADF, and RSSRF: 34,000-36,000 . RSNF: 13,500-15,500 . SANG: 75,000 to 100,000 . Equipment and weapons table:

ARMY Armored Equipment in Artillery Systems in Service Anti-Tank Weapons in Service Service M1A2 Main Battle Tank 373 203mm M-115 Howitzer, Unk TOW/TOW-2A 950 towed M-60A3 Main Battle Tank 450 155mm M109A 1/2 110 M-47 Dragon Anti-Tank 1,000 Howitzer, self-propelled Guided Missile AMX-30 Main Battle 290 155mm GCT 51 HOT Antitank Guided Unk Tank (Active) (storage) Howitzer, Missile Systems, crew self-propelled served Panhard M3 Armored 150 155mm M101/102 Unk 112mm APILAS Light 200 Personnel Carrier Howitzer, towed Antitank Weapon M-2A2 Bradley with 400 155mm M-198 Howitzer, 26 106mm M40A1 Recoilless 40 25mm Cannon Turret towed Rifle and twin TOW Launcher M113/A1 Armored 1,700 155mm FH-70 Howitzer, 38 84mm Carl Gustav 300 Personnel Carrier and towed Recoilless Rifle BMP-3 Oto Melera VCC-1 with 224 155mm M-114 Howitzer, 50 90mm M67 Rocket 100 TOW (upgraded M113) towed Launchers Fuchs-2 Nuclear, 36 ASTROS II Multiple Rocket 60 Biological, and Chemical Launcher Warfare Vehicle Piranhas VCC-1 499 81mm Mortar, mounted 70 (upgraded M113; many with TOW) LAV-AG 130 M-30, 4.2 inch Mortar, 150 mounted AML-60, Armored 110 81mm and 107mm 180 Reconnaissance Vehicle Mortar, towed AML-90, Armored 190 120mm Mortar, towed 48 Reconnaissance Vehicle AMX-10P 570 107mm M106 A1/A2 150

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M88 Armored Recovery 92 M548 Ammunition Carrier 36 Vehicle M578 Armored 60 M992 Field Artillery 56 Recovery Vehicle Ammunition supply Vehicle

AIR FORCE Fixed Wing Aircraft Rotary Wing Aircraft Air Defense in Service in Service Weapons in Service Eurofighter Typhoon 24 AH-64A Apache 12 FIM-92A Stinger 500 F-15S Eagle, Multirole 70 AH-64D Apache Longbow 70 FIM-43 Redeye 500 (Purchased) F-15 C Eagle, 60 AS-532 Super Puma 12 Crotale (Shahine self 73/36 Interceptor/Air Defense propelled firing/acquisition units) F-15D Eagle, 22 AS-332 6 Crotale (Shahine shilter 19/10 Interceptor/Air Defense mounted firing/acquisition units) Tornado IDS, Ground 69 AS-565 Maritime, Anti- 15 Mistrals 500 Attack/Strike Submarine E-3A Sentry, Airborne 5 UH-60 Black Hawk 20 DCA Self propelled anti- 53 Early Warning and aircraft gun Control Tornado IDS, 11 CS406 Scout, combat, 15 40mm M-42, anti-aircraft 10 Reconnaissance/Surveilla transport, and support gun nce RE-3A/B Electronic 2 S-70A-1 Sikorsky Black 12 20mm M-163 Vulcan, 92 Intelligence Hawk Transport anti-aircraft gun SA-365N Medical 6 40mm Bofors L-60/70, 150 Evacuation anti-aircraft gun UL-60 Black Hawk 10 SA-16 (Gimlet, Kolomna Unknow Medical Evacuation KBN Igla) n AH-64A Apache 12 35mm Oerlikon, towed 128 anti-aircraft gun 90mm M-117, towed 15 anti-aircraft gun AM/FPS-117 Radar 17 SAM Batteries 33 Hellfire Missile 179 Hellfire II Missile Unknow n Modernized Targeting 12 Acquisition and Designation System/Pilot Night Vision Sensor AN/APG-78 Firs Control 12 Radar M299 Hellfire Longbow 28 6 UNCLASSIFIED

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Missile Launchers Infrared Jammer 12 Radar Jammer 12 Improved 36 Countermeasures Dispenser

NAVY Vessels in Service Al Class Frigate, 3 Al Sadiq Class Patrol Craft 9 Boraida Class Oiler 2 Lafayette F- (U.S.) (French) 3000S(French) Al Class Frigate, 4 Al Jawf Sandown Class 3 Halter type Patrol Craft- 17 F-2000S (French) Single Role Minehunter Coastal (U.K.) Al Badr Class Corvette, 4 Addiyah (MSC 322) 4 Simonneau Type 51 39 PCG-1 (U.S.) Minesweeper Patrol Craft-Coastal

 Government Paramilitary Forces: The kingdom has approximately 500 armed special security forces, 10,500 armed Border Guards, and 4,500 armed Coast Guardsmen.  Non-State Paramilitary Forces: Various militia and armed factions are active on the Arabian Peninsula, including Gama’a al-Islamiya, Yemeni Islamic Jihad, Aden-Abyan Islamic Army (AAIA), Ansar al-, Liwa al-Tawhid, and al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). The most dangerous to the monarchy is AQAP. Al-Qaeda has stated that it intends to overthrow the monarchy, saying it is corrupt and no longer should serve as the steward of the two holiest sites in Islam: and Medina.  Nonmilitary Armed Combatants: There are approximately 6,000,000 privately owned firearms in Saudi Arabia. This is a concern, as there is an active Shia dissident movement that regularly conducts illegal protests and demonstrations, and these firearms could easily be put to use by this movement. Many clashes have occurred with government security forces, yet none have involved firearms to date. o Additionally, the kingdom perceives the instability along its southern border in Yemen as a serious threat to its national security. Armed but not necessarily paramilitary groups are present in Yemen that may cause threats to Saudi Arabia. These include the Houthis, a Zaydi Shia group in northern Yemen, and numerous tribal groups led by sheikhs. o AQAP leadership is frequently evolving. Many AQAP leaders have been killed but there appears to be no shortage of leadership, with new leaders appearing frequently. Abdul al Houthi leads the Houthi.  Military Functions:

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Operational Environment Quick Guide

o Mission Command: King Abdallah serves as the Commander in Chief. Crown Prince Abd al-Rahman bin Abdul Aziz serves as the Minister of Defense and Aviation (MoDA). Prince Tired bin Abdullah bin Abdul al Aziz al Saud serves as Chairman of the SANG. Prince Nayef bin Abdul al Aziz al Saud serves as the Minister of Interior. Note that all of the kingdom’s top military leaders are blood relatives. . The MoDA focuses its force development on external threats posed from Iraq, , and Yemen. It views the Shia Crescent (, , Iraq, and Iran) as a real threat as well. The MoDA remains concerned with the Iranian nuclear threat as well as the conventional missile and asymmetric threat it poses. . Regional insurgent and terrorist groups are also persistent threats. o Maneuver: The kingdom’s concept of defense is to first use diplomacy and aid in the region to secure the nation. It relies on its allies such as the U.S. and Britain to deter its enemies. Internally it has created an overlapping array of security forces beginning at its borders, including counterterrorism forces. It focuses its military forces on airpower and land-based air defense that is centered on the upper Gulf region and the border with Yemen. The kingdom is developing naval fleets in the Gulf and Red Sea. The MoDA has stationed military units, including its 11 maneuver brigades, in cities backed by air fields at critical border crossings. The kingdom’s air power supports strategic mobility and compensates for a lack of ground forces. Non government armed groups such as AQAP are limited to light infantry capabilities. Details as to the number of personnel available to specific threat groups are unavailable. o INFOWAR (Information Warfare): The kingdom’s Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) regularly blocks Web sites regarded as subversive or offensive to Islam. In 2007, the king enacted a cyber crime law that made all hacking related activities illegal and punishable in Saudi criminal courts. Saudi Arabia continues to purchase and upgrade its Reconnaissance and Surveillance (R&S) and command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence (C4I) systems in earnest and has both ground and airborne assets that have the capability to conduct electronic warfare/signals intelligence (EW/SIGINT) operations. o RISTA (Reconnaissance, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition): Prince Mugrin Bin Abdul al Aziz al Saud serves as the President/Director of General Intelligence. Prince Bandar bin Sultan Bin Abdul al Aziz al Saud serves as the Chairman of the National Security Council. Prince Nayef bin Abdul al Aziz al Saud, of the MoI, controls the General Security Services, which are the internal intelligence services of the kingdom. Nayef’s son serves as his deputy.

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Operational Environment Quick Guide

 The government’s intelligence apparatus is used for counterintelligence, counter espionage, internal security, and also for gathering intelligence on external threats to the kingdom. Its main purpose is to protect the monarchy. Much of Saudi Arabia’s R&S is focused on internal security.  The government spent massive amounts of money on developing its R&S capabilities, especially in the airborne EW/SIGINT platforms and air defense arena, such as target identification, acquisition, and tracking radar. The RSADF maintains extensive C4I systems, and becomes subordinate to the RSAF in time of war.  The extent of non state actors’ R&S capabilities is unknown but terrorist and opposition groups demonstrate the ability to effectively target government forces. o Fire Support: The army has one artillery brigade with nearly 900 artillery weapons, mostly towed guns and mortars; some have modern fire control systems, artillery radars, and other support equipment. Non-state actors are not known to have fire support capability other than mortars. o Logistics: The kingdom’s military has an adequate level of logistical support, including transport aircraft. Non-state actors have limited logistics capabilities and the extent of these capabilities is unknown. Houthi rebels along the kingdom’s southern border may receive limited logistical support from Iran in the form of weapons.

Economic Variable Manifestations in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia’s economy is oil-based, accounting for 45% of GDP and 80% of government revenue, and the kingdom holds more than 20% of the world’s proven oil reserves. The kingdom maintains strong government control over all major economic activities and is host to over six million foreign workers, mainly in the oil and service industries.

 Gross Domestic Product (purchasing power parity): $676.7 billion (2011)  Gross Domestic Product (per capita): $24,000 (2011)  Unemployment Rate: estimated at 10.8% as of 2010  Inflation: estimated at 5% in 2011

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 Participation in Global Financial System: Saudi Arabia is engaged in multilateral and bilateral trade with other countries. In 2010, Saudi Arabia’s major export partners were: o 14.3% o China 13.1% o U.S. 13.0% o South Korea 8.8% o 8.3% o 4.5%  In 2010, Saudi Arabia’s most significant imports were from: o U.S. 12.4% o China 11.1% o Germany 7.1% o Japan 6.9% o France 6.1% o India 4.7% o South Korea 4.2%  Economic Activity Based on Labor Force Participation: 2011 share of GDP: o Industrial sector at 67.6% (Labor force: 21.4%) o Service industry 30.4% (Labor force: 71.9%) o Agriculture 2.1% (Labor force 6.7%)  Economic Diversity: The kingdom relies on oil extraction and oil production/refining, as well as the service industry, and small-scale agriculture.  Banking and Finance: The Central Bank of Saudi Arabia is an independent body with the objective of conducting monetary policy to control inflation, stabilize the exchange rate of the Riyal (the national currency), and promote investment and economic growth. In 2011, the country’s commercial banks’ average lending rate was 7.2%. The kingdom had a $205.9 billion stock of narrow money and a $335.7 billion stock of broad money as of 31 December 2011.  Illegal Economic Activity: Political and economic instability contributes to a number of illegal economic activities. o Black Market: Terrorism activities and insurgency in Saudi Arabia and in neighboring Yemen provide an ideal environment for black market activity, especially arms and fuel smuggling. o Militant Groups/Gangs/ Organized Crime: Terror and insurgent groups engage in organized criminal activities including human trafficking as well as weapons trafficking. o Trafficking: Saudi Arabia is a destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and forced prostitution. The kingdom does not fully comply 10 UNCLASSIFIED

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with the minimum standards to control trafficking. Saudi Arabian law calls for the death penalty to drug-traffickers and is improving anti-money laundering laws and enforcement. o Kidnapping: Terrorist and insurgent groups have kidnapped Saudi Arabian citizens and foreigners for ransom in the country on numerous occasions.

Social Variable Manifestations in Saudi Arabia

 Population: Estimated at 26,534,504 (includes 6 million foreign workers) in July 2012  Population Growth Rate: Estimated at 1.523% in 2012  Literacy Rate: o 78.8% of above the age of 15 can read and write o Male literacy rate 84.7% o Female literacy rate 70.8%  Population Movement: The net migration rate for 2012 is estimated at -0.64 migrants/1,000.  Population Distribution: A majority of the population, 82%, resided in urban areas as of 2010.  Demographic Mix: o Under age 14: 29.4% . Male 51.2% . Female 48.8% o Age 15-64 :67.6% . Male 54.5% . Female 45.5% o 65 years and over: 3%  Social Volatility: Little volatility exists in the kingdom. Limited animosity is present between the minority Shia and majority Sunni populations, yet government security forces regularly crack down on demonstrations and protests. The overall population growth rate remains stable at 2.26 children per woman in 2012 and poverty is very low, so little competition for resources exists. o Education Level: Saudi Arabians attend school on average until age 13 (females) or 14 (males)  Ethnic Diversity: About 90% of the Saudi population is Arab with 10% Afro-Asian.

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 Religious Diversity: Sunni Islam is the dominant religion with a small Shia minority. Even smaller populations of other minority religions exist, such as Christianity, Buddhism, and Hinduism, but these are mainly found in the foreign worker populations.  Common Languages: is the official language.  Criminal Activities: The level of criminal activity is low. Terrorists such as AQAP and violence from Yemeni insurgent groups operating south of the border pose the greatest threats.  Human Rights: Human rights conditions are poor in the kingdom. Freedoms of speech, gathering, movement, and religion are suppressed. King Abdullah has yet to follow through on specific reform promises. Most reforms to date have been only symbolic gestures related to the rights of women. Security forces regularly suppress or fail to protect the rights of nine million Saudi females, six million foreign workers, and some two million Shia minorities. Each year thousands receive unfair trials or are subject to arbitrary detention.  Centers of Social Power: The monarchy maintains a tight grip on power and on the RSLFs by ensuring that only blood relatives hold positions of power in the kingdom.  Dress: The majority of the Arab population wears traditional Arabic clothing.  Social Tensions: Tension exists between the Sunni majority and the Shia minority. Some tensions exist between the foreign worker population and the Saudi citizenry. Workers tend to live within a lower standard of living.  Major Diseases: o Diarrheal diseases o Hepatitis o Malaria o Schistosomiasis o Cutaneous Leishmaniasis o Polio o Measles o Meningitis o Typhoid o HIV prevalence rate estimated at 0.01% in 2001 (most recent figure available) o Brucellosis o Influenza H1N1 and H5N1  Hospitals: The hospital and health services remain poor, with over 500 people for every hospital bed and less than 1 doctor per 1,000 citizens in the country as of 2008. The kingdom ranks 139th in the world for medical care. Most Saudis have access to limited medical care.  Cultural Do and Don’t List: Women are not allowed to associate with men who are not related to them. Shoes are not worn into a house or . The left hand is considered dirty and not 12 UNCLASSIFIED

Operational Environment Quick Guide

proper for handling food or greeting. Foreign women must wear head coverings and long coats in public.  Taboos: It is a taboo to use words that refer to private body parts, to blaspheme, to discuss politics, to proselytize for minority religions, and to speak the first names of female family members in the presence of a stranger.

Information Variable Manifestations in Saudi Arabia

 Internet Service Providers: The kingdom is home to 147,202 providers as of 2011 and is ranked 77th in the world for Internet service availability. Over 9.8 million Internet users were registered in 2009; a number ranking the kingdom 30th in the world for the most number of users. The Internet country code is “.sa.”  Flow of Information across the Information Environment: The monarchy, through the Ministry of Information, maintains tight controls on all official sources of information, including broadcast, Internet, and print media through direct ownership, censorship, or subsidies. Word of mouth is a more traditional means of conveying information.  Newspapers: Most newspapers are privately owned, yet the state provides subsidies to influence content and regularly censors undesirable information. Some of the most popular are: Al Bilad, Al Eqtisadiah, , Al Medina, Al Nadwa, Al Riyadeyyah, , , Al Yaum, and . Several popular English language papers are: Al Hayat, , Asharq al Awsat, and the .  TV Stations: There are four national, state-run television stations. The law does not permit private broadcasting in the kingdom, but Saudi Arabia is a major market for pan-Arab satellite TV broadcasting (2007).  Radio Stations: The monarchy operates a number of radio stations available in all major cities.  Internet Access: Nearly one third of the population had Internet access in 2009.  Telecommunications: o Landlines: 4.166 million o Mobile network: 51.546 million  Postal Service: Saudi Arabia has a postal network serving both urban and rural areas.  INFOWAR o Electronic Warfare: The RSLF’s electronic warfare capabilities are developing quickly. The kingdom’s military has airborne and ground platforms that conduct EW and SIGINT operations, mostly connected with air defense and targeting.

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o Computer Attack: The kingdom’s CITC maintains a tight control on Web sites it deems unsafe, and prosecutes Internet crimes. The government’s cyber attack capabilities are unknown. AQAP likely has the ability to conduct cyber attacks. o Information Attack: The government’s information attack capabilities are unknown. AQAP likely has the ability to conduct information attacks. o Deception: The RSLF are capable of conducting deception operations, but they lack sophistication. o Physical Destruction: The RSLF are capable of conducting synchronized kinetic operations and information operations. AQAP is adept at synchronizing kinetic and information operations and claims attacks very shortly after they occur. o Protection and Security Measures: Security forces conduct constant surveillance of perceived threats to the government and take extensive force protection measures to protect the royal family, troops, strategic industrial facilities, and installations.  Intelligence: o HUMINT (Human Intelligence): It is presumed that Saudi Arabia and AQAP conduct human intelligence operations but details are not available. Other actors in the kingdom would likely emphasize HUMINT collection as they lack capability in other intelligence disciplines, with the exception of OSINT. o OSINT (Open Source Intelligence): Security forces monitor open source information for potential intelligence and regularly censor undesirable information. AQAP and other groups are presumed to exploit OSINT. o SIGINT (Signals Intelligence): The kingdom continues to upgrade its C4I capabilities and invest in EW and communications intelligence (COMINT) airborne and ground platforms. The air force and air defense forces maintain the most technically advanced C4I and SIGINT assets in the kingdom. o IMINT (Imagery Intelligence): The kingdom has access to a number of satellites and can commercially contract to support its various IMINT collection requirements. Non-state actors do not possess IMINT collection assets, but they may utilize publicly available resources such as Google Earth. o MASINT (Measures and Signals Intelligence): Saudi Arabia’s MASINT capabilities are developing. Non-state actors do not possess MASINT collection platforms.

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Infrastructure Variable Manifestations in Saudi Arabia

 Town Construction Pattern: Modern planned towns, such as the al-Malaz neighborhood outside of Riyadh, are built around a gridiron plan with a hierarchy of roads and Western- rectangular blocks with square home lots averaging 25m x 25m in diameter. Most major streets are 30 meters in width, and secondary roads are 20 meters wide with minor streets about 10 meters in width. Planned towns are home to about 60 persons per hectare. Older towns are generally centered around a mosque or the local water source.  Residential Construction: Traditional Arab homes contain two entrances and a number of bedrooms, gathering rooms, a garden, and a kitchen that surround an open courtyard. The courtyard’s view of the sky is significant as it symbolizes the owner’s “private piece of the sky.” The courtyard is the key element of the traditional home. Homes are characterized by open spaces. There are separate paths and gathering areas throughout the home for men.  Construction Materials: Historically, in the central regions, builders preferred adobe clay and adobe brick. In the western region, builders used stone and red brick. On the west coast, homes were made using Red Sea coral. Modern Saudi Arabia is home to the largest construction industry in the Middle East. Construction materials vary widely, but most involve different types of concrete, steel, imported wood, and even copper. In urban areas, most buildings are made from concrete, brick, and steel frame construction. In rural areas and in the desert, houses are built from stamped clay and sun-dried mud bricks. Natural stone is used for residential construction where available. Some nomadic tribes still live in tents.  Urban Zones: Most of the kingdom’s population is concentrated in the capital of Riyadh (4.725 million), the cities of Mecca (1.484 million) and Medina (1.104 million), and port cities such as (3.234 million).  Major Cities: o Riyadh (capital) o o Mecca o Jizan o Medina o Ras al o Duba o Al Jabayl o al Bahr o Ad  Roads: Due to the harsh desert climate with frequent, damaging sandstorms, the road network of the kingdom is difficult to maintain. The total national road network is about 221,372km (137,554 miles) with only 47,529km (29,533 miles) paved. The nation’s expressways account for 3,891km (2,418 miles) of paved road, of which most are concrete or asphalt. The remaining roads are unpaved, most consisting of one lane. Rural roads are predominantly dirt or sand.

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 Railroads: Saudi Arabia has two major rail lines. The largest is the 354-mile line that runs between Riyadh and Dammam. A second, shorter line runs between Riyadh and . The has plans for a high speed rail line between Jeddah-Mecca- Medina, a new rail line between Jeddah-Dammam, and a third line to connect its northern mineral/metal mines with Riyadh.  Airports: o Paved runways total: 81 o Unpaved runways total: 136 . over 3,047 meters: 33 . over 3,047 meters: 0 . 2,438 to 3,047 meters: 15 . 2,438 to 3,047 meters: 8 . 1,524 to 2,437 meters: 27 . 1,524 to 2,437 meters: 71 . 914 to 1,523 meters: 4 (2010) . 914 to 1,523 meters: 41 . under 914 meters: 16 (2010)  Telecommunication Architecture: Saudi Arabia’s telephone landlines connect about 4.166 million people, while its mobile network serves about 51.564 million customer accounts (nearly two cell phones per person). The national network consists of microwave radio relay, cable, GSM and CDMA mobile-cellular telephone systems. The international telephone code is 966. It is a landing point for the international submarine cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) and for both the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable networks providing connectivity to Asia, Middle East, Europe, and the U.S. The kingdom has microwave radio relay to most of its neighboring nations and to Sudan. It has coaxial cable to Kuwait and Jordan. The kingdom has seven satellite earth stations: 5 Intelsat (2 and 3 Atlantic Ocean); 1 Arabsat and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region) (2008).  Utilities: In urban areas, 97% of the population enjoys access to improved drinking water; most sources are provided by desalinization plants of the Saline Water Conversion Corporation of the National Water Company. In rural areas, only 63% of the population has access to clean water. The majority of the population has access to improved sanitation facilities. o The kingdom’s power grid, managed by the Saudi Electric Company (SEC), is well developed and serves its population quite adequately with an electrical generation capacity of 194.4billion kWh, compared to its consumption rate of 174.5 billion kWh. Saudi Arabia’s power grid development is ranked 20th in the world (U.S. is ranked 2nd, behind China). Most residents of urban centers and developed rural towns are connected to the grid, and the SEC has a long-term plan of expansion to support growing consumer demand.  Key Industries: Oil production is Saudi Arabia’s key industry, contributing about 45% to the country’s GDP and 80% of government revenue; 90% of which is export revenue. Additional industry includes:

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o Petrochemical o Plastics o Industrial gases o Metals o Sodium hydroxide o Commercial ship repair o Cement o Commercial aircraft repair o Ammonia o Construction o Fertilizer o Wheat  Environmental Concerns: Desertification and shortages of water are the most pressing of the kingdom’s environmental and economic needs. Analysts predict that the kingdom must invest nearly $300 billion to meet the population’s water needs in the next 15 years. To meet these needs, the monarch is investing in desalinization plants on the eastern and western borders. Water pollution remains a significant problem due to the kingdom’s extensive petroleum fields.  Ports: o Duba o Ras al Khafji o Yanbu al Bahr o Al Jabayl o Jeddah Islamic Port o Ad Dammam o Jizan  Agriculture: Saudi Arabia’s sovereign territory consists of less than 1.67% arable land. Most Saudi farmers raise some poultry and livestock, typically chickens, goats, sheep, or cattle. With little land available for agriculture, the kingdom is forced to import much of its food. The most common crops are: o Wheat o Citrus o Barley o Eggs o Tomatoes o Milk o Melons o Mutton o Dates o Chickens  Pollution: The kingdom’s waterways and coasts located near oil fields are polluted and often suffer from oil spills, marine dumping, and damage from industrial chemical run-off.

Physical Environment Variable Manifestations in Saudi Arabia

 Boundaries: The kingdom is bordered clockwise by the Red Sea, Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Persian Gulf, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirate, Oman, and Yemen. There are islands on the east and west coast. Geographic coordinates: latitude 25 00 N and longitude 45 00 E.  Border Disputes: Saudi Arabia and Yemen have disputed their border for decades. There are on- and-off clashes along the border between Sunnis and Shiites.  Bodies of water: Major bodies of water surrounding the kingdom include: o Persian Gulf o Red Sea  Terrain: The vast majority of Saudi Arabia is dominated by sandy desert and spotted with dunes. Operational Environment Quick Guide

 Climate: The kingdom is predominantly very hot and dry throughout the year but humid along the eastern and western coasts.  Rivers: Saudi Arabia contains no permanent rivers.  Natural Disasters: The kingdom experiences frequent, severe sand and dust storms, flooding, and a limited exposure to volcanic activities.  Natural Resources: Saudi Arabia has large deposits of oil and gas along the eastern coast near Bahrain.

Time Variable Manifestations in Saudi Arabia

 View of Time: The Saudi culture is unconcerned with adherence to strict time schedules. In the urban areas, people are more likely to understand the Western emphasis on time.  Work Day Length: Work day hours vary by profession and can average between 40 to 48 hours total per week. The official work week is Saturday through Thursday.  Key Holidays: Only two official holidays are celebrated in the kingdom: Eid al Fitr (End of Ramadan) and Eid al Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice). The government has allowed limited celebration of . This is a Shia celebration marking the martyrdom of Husayn, grandson of Mohammed, at the Battle of Karbala. Hence, the Sunni Saudi Arabia’s reluctance in allowing the celebration. o The official and unofficial holidays in 2013 are—

. 24 Jan Mawlid un Nabi (Birth of the Prophet Muhammad) (Unofficial) . 8-10 Aug Eid al-Fitr . 23 Sep Independence Day (Unofficial) . 15-17 Oct Eid al-Adha . 5 Nov El Hijra (Islamic New Year) (Unofficial) . 14 Nov Ashura (Unofficial)

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References

Al-Said, Dr. Faad A. M., “The patter of structural transformation of the Saudi Contemporary Neighborhood: The case of Al-Malaz, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,” 39th ISoCaRP Congress 2003, King Fahd Univeristy of Petroleum and Minerals, 2003, 1-9. BBC Monitoring, “Saudi Arabia Profile,” British Broadcasting Company, 14 June 2012. Blanchard, Christopher M., “Saudi Arabia: Background and U.S. Relations,” RL33533, Congressional Research Service, 10 March 2011, Summary. Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, “Background Note: Saudi Arabia,” U.S. Department of State, 30 December 2011, 4- 6. Cordesman, Anthony H. and Aram Nerguizian, “The Gulf Military Balance in 2010,” Center for Strategic and International Studies, 22 April 2010, 15. Cordesman, Anthony H. and Khalid R. Al-Rodhan, “The Gulf Military Forces in an Era of Asymmetric War Yemen," Center for Strategic and International Studies, 28 June 2006, 22-23; Cordesman, Anthony H., “Saudi Arabia: National Security in a Troubled Region,” (Washington, DC: Praeger Security International, 3 September 2009, 123-170. Cordesman, Anthony H., “Saudi National Security and the Saudi-U.S. Strategic Partnership: Part II The Conventional Military Balance,” working draft, Center for Strategic and International Studies, 29 April 2010, 36-65, 230- 232. “Country Profile: Saudi Arabia,” Federal Research Division, Library of Congress, September 2006, 4. El-Shorbagy, Dr. Abdel-Moniem, “Traditional Islamic-Arab Houst: Vocabulary and Syntax,” International Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering, IJCEE-IJENS, Volume 10, Number 4, 2010, 15-20. Federal Research Division, “Country Profile: Saudi Arabia,” Library of Congress, September 2006. Global Security, “Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF),” 29 December 2011. “Global Trends in NGO Law, Survey of Arab NGO Laws,” The International Center for Not-for-Profit Law, Volume 1, Issue 4, March 2010. Hill, Ginny, "Reforming Yemen’s military," Yemen Times, 16 April 2012. Karp, Aaron, “Completing the Count: Civilian firearms. Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City,” (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press: 27 August 2008), 67. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, “Architecture: About Saudi Arabia,” Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Washington, D.C., 2012. Military Aviation Press, “Aviation Order of Battle-Saudi Arabia,” 2011. Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, “Country Cooperation Strategy for WHO and Saudi Arabia 2006- 2011,” World Health Organization, 2011, 17. Royal Saudi Naval Forces, Education, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 2012. "Transnational Threats Update," Center for Strategic and International Studies, October 2005, 1. Traveler’s Health, “Health Information for Travelers to Saudi Arabia,” Centers for Disease Control, 2012. United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, “Saudi Arabia, Statistics,” United Nations, 2010. Utano, Paolo, Marie-Claude Erian, Vicky Brouillard, and Jean-Francois Croft, “Saudi Arabia: Infrastructure & Environment,” Export Development Canada, September 2011. “World Armies, Saudi Arabia,” IHS Jane’s: Defense & Security Intelligence & Analysis, 26 January 2012. The World Factbook, "Middle East: Saudi Arabia," CIA, 26 April 2012. World Report 2011, “Saudi Arabia,” Human Rights Watch, 2011.

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