The Expatriates of Saudi Arabia

Women in the Kingdom: Life as an Expat Woman in Saudi Arabia

noreply@blogger.com (borriz) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:14:00 +0000

By Betsy Burlingame

Expat women in Saudi Arabia face a much different experience than their male counterparts. For some, wearing an abaya and headscarf, not being allowed to drive and abiding by the rules that govern interaction among the sexes are just a formality. For others, they turn out to be a source of great frustration... even deal breakers. Any woman considering a move to Saudi Arabia, should really do her research, talk with other women in the cities where she may be living, and, if married, discuss the positives and negatives at length with your husband (Note: unmarried couples are not allowed to live together in Saudi Arabia).

In recent months, several women considering moves to Saudi Arabia have used ExpatExchange's Saudi Arabia forum to network with expats living there (and a few who have repatriated). Here is some advice and insight that we gleaned from their wonderfully open and honest discussions:

Look at the positive side -- black is very slimming. Okay, all joking aside, most expat women wear a black abaya, and often a headscarf, in public. Here's the scoop, "When you arrive, you can buy an abaya at any shopping mall and even the larger grocery stores. Wear dark colors (black is best) and something loose fitting; if you have a head-scarf, that will be appreciated by the locals as well. Dammam and Jeddah are most tolerant of westerners; Riyadh is the most conservative. And in the current environment here, you are well advised to be conservative as well."

On the topic of security, an expat advised, "Yes, Saudi Arabia is a security conscious country. This country is not at war but as long as you abide to their rules and regulations for foreign females, no worries you will be ok.

Saudi Arabian Culture....

noreply@blogger.com (borriz) — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 04:50:00 +0000

As is commonly known, Arabia's culture derives from writings of the Holy Book. The richness of its language is without comparison and it is the fountainhead of Arabia's culture and faith. One direct manifestation of this heritage is the art of calligraphy of all Arabic art forms of this artistic expression. Craftsmanship of a high order is evident in the beautiful workmanship in precious metals. The ancient Arab tradition of hospitality continues unchanged to the present day.

Traditions and craftsmanship :The interlinking spheres of mathematics and astronomy are equally important aspects of the Arabian culture heritage. The word "algebra" is derived from Arabic word "Algebra". Navigation and cartography were direct developments of these numerate skills.

Similar attributes of outstanding craftsmanship are shown in the development of intricate workmanship in precious metals and even in household goods. It was in the settled communities such as Jeddah, Makkah that these skills flourished.

Both town dwellers and bedouins, however, shared one ancient Arab tradition: That of hospitality. Even today, in the home, or on Saudi flight, drinking Arab coffee. The method of preparation is traditional, each step is an almost ritually observed process.

The poetic tradition of the bedouin is a further example of complex and beautiful art form. Poetry promulgated the virtues and merits of their tribes such as the obligation to respect social values. Generosity, hospitality and courage were, to them, a matter of honor and failure to adhere to this unwritten code was regarded as a great insult.
Despite the great pace of growth the Kingdom has witnessed over the last two decades, traditional culture and social values have been maintained steadfastly and the rich heritage of the Kingdom protected and enhanced.

The strict observance of religious and moral values adopted by all Saudis will ensure that the continuity of their cultural heritage will not be diminished in the future

Saudi Arabia to Grant Citizenship to Expats

noreply@blogger.com (borriz) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 04:50:00 +0000

by Rob Corder

Saudi Arabia has reaffirmed its commitment to grant citizenship to expatriates that have qualifications in hi-tech professions.

A naturalisation programme was first discussed in October 2004 when it was announced that expats with degrees in medicine, computer science, and other branches of science and technology would be given priority for citizenship.

A requirement for expatriates to have spent 10 years living in Saudi Arabia was relaxed at that time.

Applications for citizenship have been accepted since May 2005.

It is thought that up to one million of the seven million expatriates estimated to be living in the Kingdom might be eligibile.

Citizenship will not deliver the same rights of a Saudi Arabian national, but is expected to remove the requirement for a migrrant worker to be tied to a sponsor; a rule that greatly restricts freedom to switch jobs.

Citizens would also be able to travel freely in and out of Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia's Interior Minister, Prince Nayef Bin Abdel Aziz, reaffirmed yesterday that King Abdullah had agreed to grant citizenship to foreign residents with scientific qualifications, but gave no further details.

It is expected that citizenship will be dependent on a points system that was first announced in 2005. At that time, it was stated that applicants must accumulate a minimum of 23 points to qualify in the first stage of the process based on the length of stay in the country, the number of family members dependent on the applicant, and the level of qualification.

An applicant was to be given 13 points for a doctorate in medicine or engineering, 10 points for those holding doctorates in other sciences and eight points for a master's degree.Applicants were also required to present a certificate from the Imam of their local mosque stating that they regularly attended for prayers.

ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS (Specially for the U.S.)

noreply@blogger.com (borriz) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 04:06:00 +0000

A passport valid for at least six months and a visa are required for entry. Visas are issued for business and work, to visit close relatives, and for transit and religious visits. Visas for tourism are issued only for approved tour groups following organized itineraries. Airport and seaport visas are not available. All visas require a sponsor, can take several months to process, and must be obtained prior to arrival. In the past, American citizens have reported they were refused a Saudi visa because their passports reflected travel to Israel or indicated they were born in Israel , although this has not happened recently. Women visitors and residents are required to be met by their sponsor upon arrival. Women traveling alone, who are not met by sponsors, have experienced delays before being allowed to enter the country or to continue on other flights.

Women considering relocating to Saudi Arabia should be keenly aware that women and children residing in Saudi Arabia as members of a Saudi household (including adult American-citizen women married to Saudi men, adult American-citizen women who are the unmarried daughters of Saudi fathers, and American-citizen boys under the age of 21 who are the sons of Saudi fathers) are considered household property and require the permission of the Saudi male head of their household to leave the country. Married women require their husband’s permission to depart the country, while unmarried women and children require the permission of their father or male guardian. The U.S. Embassy can intercede with the Saudi government to request exit permission for an adult American woman (wife or daughter of a Saudi citizen), but there is no guarantee of success, or even of timely response. Mothers are not able to obtain permission for the departure of minor children without the father’s agreement. Americans entering Saudi Arabia on visitor visas normally do not need an exit permit but may be prevented from departing the country if they are involved in a legal dispute. American citizens involved in labor disputes or employment dismissal will not be granted an exit permit prior to court resolution or abandonment of the case by the American citizen. Saudi sponsors have substantial leverage in the negotiations and may block departure or bar future employment in the country.
As of June 2007, all travelers to and from the Kingdom carrying cash amounts, transferable monetary instruments, or precious metals exceeding 60,000 Saudi Riyals (or $16,000) are required to declare them to Saudi Customs. Customs forms are available at all Saudi ports, or downloadable on http://www.customs.gov.sa/CustomsNew/advices/Declaration%20Form_E.pdf.

Failure to declare or provide accurate information can lead to prosecution, legal penalties, and confiscation.

Visitors to Saudi Arabia should generally obtain a meningitis vaccination prior to arrival. A medical report or physical examination is required to obtain work and residence permits.
Residents in Saudi Arabia who are departing the country must obtain an exit permit prior to leaving and an exit/reentry permit if they intend to return to Saudi Arabia . The Saudi sponsor’s approval is required for exit permits.

NOTE FOR DUAL NATIONALS: Several American citizens of Saudi descent have encountered difficulty leaving the Kingdom after entering on a Laissez Passer rather than a Saudi or U.S. passport. As a Saudi exit visa in a U.S. passport or a new Saudi passport and U.S. visa may take months to obtain, Saudi missions abroad sometimes propose to issue a Laissez Passer to Saudi passport applicants, rather than a Saudi passport. This, however, only leads to difficulties when the traveler wishes to depart the Kingdom to return to the U.S.

In particular, American citizens of Saudi descent should be aware that the Saudi government may refuse to recognize a U.S. passport presented by a Saudi passport applicant as valid for travel out of Saudi Arabia , if it was not used to enter Saudi Arabia . Also, American citizens of Saudi descent should understand that Saudi nationality is not confirmed quickly or easily, and documentary requirements encountered in Saudi Arabia may differ from those described by Saudi missions abroad.

We strongly recommend that American citizens who also have Saudi nationality enter Saudi Arabia with either a Saudi passport or U.S. passport and Saudi visa, but not with a Laissez Passer.

For further information on entry/exit requirements, travelers may contact the following Saudi government offices in the U.S. :
Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia , 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW , Washington , DC 20037 , telephone (202) 342-3800. The Embassy's home page is http://www.saudiembassy.net/Saudi Consulate General in Houston : 5718 Westheimer, Suite 1500 , Houston , TX 77057 , tel: (713) 785-5577
Saudi Consulate General in Los Angeles : Sawtelle Courtyard Building , 2045 Sawtelle Blvd. , Los Angeles , CA 90025 , tel: (310) 479-6000
Saudi Consulate General in New York : 866 United Nations Plaza , Suite 480 , New York , NY 10017 , tel: (212) 752-2740
Visit the Embassy of Saudi Arabia web site at http://saudiembassy.net/Travel/VisaReq.asp for the most current visa information.

KA'ABA.....

noreply@blogger.com (borriz) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 05:15:00 +0000

The Ka'aba is an oblong stone building located approximately in the center of the quadrangle of the Grand Mosque in the Holy City of Makkah. The front and back walls are 40 feet in length; the side walls are 35 feet long; the height of the walls is 50 feet.

Set in a silver surround in the east corner of the Ka'aba, some four feet above ground level, is the Black Stone. This sacred Stone, the focal point of the Hajj, is the only remnant of the shrine which Abraham built when it was given to Abraham by the angel Gabriel.
The Stone (which may be of meteoric origin) is believed to go back still further, to the time of the first man, Adam.

ARABIAN PENINSULA..

noreply@blogger.com (borriz) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 05:11:00 +0000

Location and Size of the Kingdom

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia comprises about four-fifths of the Arabian Peninsula, a land mass constituting a distinct geographical entity, bordered on the west by the Red Sea, on the south by the Indian Ocean and on the east by the Arabian Gulf.

The Kingdom itself, which occupies approximately 2,250,000 square kilometers (868,730 square miles) is bounded on the north by Jordan, Iraq and Kuwait; on the east by the Gulf, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates; on the south by the Sultanate of Oman and Yemen; and on the west by the Red Sea.

Between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait there are two adjacent areas of neutral territory (the Neutral Zone) which, since 1966 (1385/86 AH), have been divided between the two countries, each administering its own portion. Another Neutral Zone, between the Kingdom and Iraq, existed until 1975 (1394/95 AH) when it was agreed that the zone should be equally divided between the two parties.

Located between Africa and mainland Asia, with long frontiers on the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf and with the Suez Canal near to its north-west border, the Kingdom lies in a strategically important position.

Before Islam......

noreply@blogger.com (borriz) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 05:07:00 +0000

Before the birth of Islam, there was no political unity in the Arabian peninsula. The nomadic tribes of the region subscribed to a primitive religion of naturism, whereby they attributed spirits to inanimate objects such as stones and trees. They had no formal priesthood but, when in need of advice, consulted soothsayers who would respond with brief, enigmatic oracular utterances.

Within Makkah itself tribes worshipped idols placed around and over the Ka'aba. As the trade routes of the Arabian peninsula grew in importance in the fourth century AD, towns developed, especially along the west and east coasts. Among these towns was Makkah, made up of a number of tribal groups, the most important of which was the Quraysh tribe. It was from the Quraysh that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was descended.

For full information on the Hajj and Umrah, click on the link immediately below:

Saudi Arabian Ministry of Hajj website

VIOLATION ON IQAMA,VISAS and HARBOURING RUN-AWAY :.

noreply@blogger.com (borriz) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 04:48:00 +0000

Source : http://www.moi. gov.sa

# Violation and Penalties

1 Non-reporting for Iqama renewal prior to 3 days of its expiry without applicable reason • If the applicant's employer is an individual or private company or establishment, he shall be required to pay double the Iqama fees.

• If the applicant is working for a governmental institute, the institute is responsible for submitting new Iqama and Iqama renewal requests of their personnel within 2 months of recruiting them and before its expiry. In case of delay, the institution shall be required to investigate with the employee responsible of this delay to decide the disciplinary action for such violation.

2 Resident who fails to prove his holding of an Iqama and all information he was asked to submit during his residency in the Kingdom If he failed to provide an applicable reason for the concerned authority, he shall be fined as follows:

• 1000 S.R. first instance.
• 2000 S.R. second instance.
• 3000 S.R. third instance.

3 Non-reporting to cancel or renew exit/re-entry visa or final exit visa prior to its expiry He shall be fined as follows:

• 1000 S.R. first instance.
• 2000 S.R. second instance.
• 3000 S.R. third instance.
• He shall be provided with a new visa if required, as per the statutory procedures.

4 Non-reporting loss of passport or Iqama within 24 hours as a maximum He shall be fined as follows:

• 1000 S.R. first instance.
• 2000 S.R. second instance.
• 3000 S.R. third instance.

5 Practice of work by the dependants such as wives and children He shall be fined as follows:

• 1000 S.R. first instance.
• 2000 S.R. second instance.
• 3000 S.R. third instance and the issue will be referred to the Minister of Interior for his direction towards termination of the violator's Iqama and deport him.

6 Overstaying in the Kingdom upon visa expiry • The violator shall be subjected to statutory penalties as in custody, fining and deporting.

• Finalising his deporting procedures after collecting the statutory fines, issue an exit visa for him and expedite his travel.

• If the violator came to visit a resident, the matter shall be referred to the Minister of Interior to issue directives towards the resident who harboured him to terminate his Iqama and deport him.

7 Employing an expatriate with a visitor's visa

• If the visa was valid he shall be deported.
• If the visa was expired he shall be deported after implementing the statutory procedures.
• The employer shall be fined according to the statutory measures, if the employer is an expatriate resident; he will be reported to the authorities after implementing the statuary penalties towards him, to consider his deportation.

8 Obtaining or helping an individual to obtain an Iqama or visa by himself. Taking employment or helping any individual to take an employment based on forgery or cheating.

• If the violator is an expatriate, he shall be fined 10,000 S.R. or imprisoned for 3 months or both, along with the termination of his Iqama and deportation from the Kingdom.

• If the violator is a Saudi Citizen. He shall be fined 10,000 S.R. the first time. 15,000 S.R. in the second time along with on month imprisonment. 15,000 S.R. in the third time along with 3 months imprisonment. Type of violation shall be considered while applying the penalty.

• These penalties are applicable to the principal perpetrator, partner and contributor.
• Fines shall be confiscated in all cases.
• Fines are multiplied according to the number of individuals involved and violations.

9 Submitting forgery documents or providing false statements to Saudi authorities in the Kingdom or abroad to obtain for himself or for another individual an Iqama or any kind of visas. See penalties in paragraph 8.

10 Forgery, easement or changing the content of foreign travel documents or Iqamas, and circulating them. See penalties in paragraph 8.

11 Trading entry visas See penalties in paragraph 8.

12 Delaying application and applicants, by service offices, finalizing applications illegally and dealing with aliens directly (not through the employer), employing expatriates in the office, accepting applications not signed by the employer or authorised signatories and incomplete
signatures and attests or exceeding their authorization in expedition specially Saudi passport applications and Iqama applications for those who came to the Kingdom with a non-working visa. the following measures shall be taken against any violating service office (despite the prejudice for any penalties provided in statutory as in Forgery, bribery, passport and Iqama
regulations) :

• In the first instance, an official warning shall be sent to the office by the director of passports office to which the service office pursuer reports, if the violation doesn't necessitate further action.

• If the violation was repeated or was a gross one, the matter shall be referred to the Ministry of Commerce (being the authority in charge of issuing licenses to service offices) proposing a suitable penalty of suspension varying from three months, six months or a year or termination
of the office's license according to repetition of violation and its size.

13 Return of the deported alien to the Kingdom after his expulsion.

• In the first instance, the fine is 1000 S.R. and re-deportation.
• For the second instance, the fine is 2000 S.R., 5 months imprisonment and re-deportation.
• The fine shall be collected from the deportee immediately upon showing his readiness to pay it, to avoid the possibility of delaying during the finalisation of his procedures.

14 Sheltering the overstayer after performing his Hajj or Umrah, harbouring him or assisting him to stay illegally in the country • If the violator is an expatriate resident, his fines are 10,000 S.R., or one month imprisonment, or both along with the termination of his Iqama and deporting him.

• If the violator is a citizen, his fines in the first instance are 10,000 S.R. and minimum two weeks imprisonment. For the second instance, his fines are 20,000 S.R. and 1 month imprisonment. Third instance fines are 30,000 .R. and three months imprisonment.
• Fines are multiplied according to the number of individuals involved.
• If the citizen wasn't able to pay his fines, he shall be imprisoned for an interval between 1 to 6 months.
• Publish the violator's penalty in the local press with the judgment thereon according to the censure instructions.
• In case of renting a residence to the overstayer, the renter shall be considered a violator. He shall submit a pledge which shall be kept for future reference. If violation repeated, the housing unit shall be closed for six months, and for one year in the second violation and in the third instance the closure will be for two years.
• In the first instance, Saudi violator's age and health condition shall be considered for imprisonment duration, evidenced by attested documents.

15 Hajj, Umrah guest or the Prophet's Mosque visitor, who is self employed, and works for his own account or who didn't leave the country after his visa expiry. • Fine is 10,000 S.R. or one month imprisonment or both.

• His documents shall be copied and sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to notify the Saudi Embassy in his country to suspend granting him a visa for Umrah or visit before a year minimally of his deportation.
• He shall be deported at his own expense.

16 Hajj, Umrah guest or the Prophet's Mosque visitor, who travels outside Makkah, Jeddah or Madinah during validity of the visa granted to him or after its expiry. • Fine is 10,000 S.R. or one month imprisonment or both

• He shall be deported at his own expense.
• Investigate the role of the establishment responsible for his entry in the occurrence of the violation before imposing the penalty.

17 Transporting a guest for Hajj, Umrah or the Prophet's Mosque visitor outside the established routes specified for him by the establishment responsible for his arrival and departure during his visa validity • If the carrier is an expatriate resident, the fine is 10,000 S.R. or 1 to 3 months imprisonment or both in addition to deportation.

• If the carrier is a citizen, the first instance fine is 10,000 S.R. or 1 to 3 months imprisonment or both. Second instance fine is 20,000 S.R. or 3 to 6 months imprisonment. Third instance fine is 30,000 S.R. or six months imprisonment.
• Fines are multiplied according to the number of individuals involved.
• Investigate the role of the establishment responsible for his entry in the occurrence of the violation to be punished if the violation was established.

18 Transportation of an Umrah or Hajj guest, or the Prophet's Mosque visitor outside the established routes specified for him by the establishment responsible for his arrival and departure after the expiry of the validity of the visa.

• See penalties in paragraph 17.
• Publish the violator's penalty in the local press with the judgment thereon according to the censure instructions.

19 Over stayer employment who arrived the Kingdom by non-work visa

• If the violator is an expatriate resident, the fine is 10,000 S.R. or one month imprisonment or both in addition to deportation.
• If the violator is a citizen, the first instance fine is 10,000 S.R.. Second instance fine is 20,000 S.R. or one month imprisonment or both. Third instance fine is 30,000 S.R. or three months imprisonment.
• Fines are multiplied according to the number of individuals involved.
• The overstayer shall be deported on his employer's expenses.
• In the first instance, the violator shall be deprived from the right to recruit expatriates for one year. Two years for the second instance and three years for the third.
• If the citizen wasn't able to pay his fines, he shall be imprisoned for an interval between 1 to 3 months.
• Publish the violator's penalty in local press with the judgment thereon according to the censure instructions.
• Investigate the role of the establishment responsible for the overstayer entry into the country in employing him illegally prior to imposing the penalty.

20 Non-reporting (by the employer) regarding a runaway employee in accordance with instructions regulating this matter. • In the first instance, the employer fine is 5,000 S.R.. Second instance, fine is 10,000 S.R. and for third, fine is 15,000 S.R. in addition to one month imprisonment.

• Fines are multiplied according to the number of non-reported runaway employees.
• The runaway employee shall be deported at his employer's expense. If he was working for his own, he shall be deported at his own expense.
• In the first instance, the violator shall be deprived from the right to recruit expatriates for one year. Two years for the second instance and three years for the third.
• Sending a copy of the management notification to the patrol command to investigate the establishment's status.

21 Resident working for another employer or for his own account.

•Termination of his Iqama and he shall be deported.

22 Employing an expatriate who was recruited to work for another employer, by an expatriate resident.

• If the employer was an expatriate resident, the fine is 5,000 S.R. or one month imprisonment or both in addition to deportation.
• If the employer was a citizen, the first instance fine is 5,000 S.R.. Second instance fine is 10,000 S.R. or one month imprisonment or both. Third instance fine is 20,000 S.R. or three months imprisonment or both.
• The employer allowing his employee to work for a third party without reporting their runaway in accordance with the respective instructions, shall be penalized with the penalties referred to in paragraphs (a-b-c-d) of violation No. (20), in addition of sending a copy of the management notification to the patrol command to investigate the establishment's status.
• Fines are multiplied according to the number of individuals involved.
• The violator expatriate shall be deported at his employer's expense. If he was working for his own, he shall be deported at his own expense.
• In the first instance, the violator shall be deprived from the right to recruit expatriates for one year. Two years for the second instance and three years for the third.

23 Employer leaving his employees working for their own account or in return for amounts, paid by them, to him. • The employer shall be fined 5,000 S.R. and one month imprisonment for the first instance. Second instance fine is 20,000 S.R. and two months imprisonment. Third instance
fine is 50,000 S.R. and three months imprisonment.

• Fines are multiplied according to the number of individuals involved.
• Expatriate violator shall be deported at his own expenses.
• In the first instance, the violator shall be deprived from the right to recruit expatriates for one year. Two years for the second instance and three years for the third.
• Sending a copy of the management notification to the patrol command to investigate the establishment's status.

24 Employing an infiltrator, accommodating or sheltering him.

• If the employer was an expatriate resident, the fine is 10,000 S.R. and one month imprisonment in addition to deportation.
• If the employer was a citizen, the first instance fine is 10,000 S.R. and two weeks imprisonment. Second instance fine is 20,000 S.R. and one month imprisonment. Third instance fine is 50,000 S.R. and three months imprisonment.
• Fines are multiplied according to the number of individuals involved.
• The infiltrator expatriate shall be deported at the expense of the employer, accommodator or whoever sheltered him.
• In the first instance, the violator shall be deprived from the right to recruit expatriates for one year. Two years for the second instance and three years for the third in addition of reporting to the Ministry of Commerce or municipality in order to terminate his register or license.
• Publish the violator's penalty in local press with the judgment thereon according to the censure instructions.
• If the violation was committed by an establishment; a copy of the management notification shall be sent to the patrol command to investigate the establishment's status.

25 Transporting expatriates who doesn't have legal Iqama (resident permit), expatriates with an expired visa or without IDs within Kingdom regions, including their transport to the Holy shrine of Hajj and Umrah, by means of transport.

• For the first instance the carrier fine is 10,000 S.R. and one month imprisonment. Second instance fine is 20,000 S.R. and three months imprisonment. Third instance fine is 30,000 S.R. and six months imprisonment.

• Fines are multiplied according to the number of individuals involved.
• Means of land transport shall be confiscated in case of repeating violation, whether such means were owned by the carrier, the accessory or the colluding party.
• No confiscation may by effected unless by a judicial judgment.
• Publish the violator's penalty in local press with the judgment thereon according to the censure instructions.
• If the carrier is an expatriate resident, his Iqama shall be terminated and he shall be deported to his country after the application of the penalty taken against him.

26 Non-submission (by captains of sail vessel, aircraft pilots and drivers of cars and other means of transport) of the passengers manifest of no passports or equivalent documents and if they recognized that such passengers held no such documents or if they didn't prevent the above passengers from landing in the Kingdom or from disembarking on its territorial waters or if they allow such passengers to disembark , even though, they were in possession of travel document in ports, airports and points of entry other than the official ones as set out in article three of the Residence Regulations with the exception of the compulsory reasons.

• For the first instance the violator fine is 5,000 S.R.. Second instance fine is 5,000 S.R. or one month imprisonment or both. Third instance fine is 5,000 S.R. and five months imprisonment.

27 Colluding and participating in expatriates' entry into the Kingdom's land or territorial waters or assisting them to departure it with the objective of smuggling them out.

• For the first instance the violator fine is 5,000 S.R. or five months imprisonment or both. Second instance fine is 5,000 S.R. and one year imprisonment in addition of notifying the Board of Grievances in order to confiscate the means of land transport used in smuggling if they were
owned by the smuggler, participator or colluder. Third instance fine is 5,000 S.R. and two years imprisonment in addition of notifying the Board of Grievances in order to confiscate the means of land transport used in smuggling in accordance with the above.

28 Expatriate working for an employer other than the one recruited him and whose name is noted down in his work permit, prior to his release by the latter and the approval of the concerned authority on the services

• The employee shall be deported from the country at his employer expenses and deprived from the right to return to the Kingdom before the lapse of two years from his deportation date.
• Provide a copy of the worker's travel documents to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to prevent him from coming back during the above mentioned ban period.

29 Submission of false notification regarding a runaway expatriates from their sponsors.

• Violator's fine is 5,000 S.R. in addition of submitting a written notification the authority which issued his license in order to study the establishment's status.

30 Harbouring a runaway expatriate from the employer who recruited him.

• The runaway expatriate fine is 2,000 S.R. or two weeks imprisonment with the termination of his Iqama.
• The citizen violator fine is 2,000 S.R. or two weeks imprisonment for the first instance. Second instance fine is 3,000 S.R. or six weeks imprisonment.
• The runaway expatriate procedures shall be finalised and he shall be deported at the expense of the party harboured him.

31 Runaway resident who was captured by the security authorities or by his employer.

• The runaway resident shall be arrested until the finalization of his deportation procedures.
• The runaway resident shall be deported at the expense of the party that harboured or employed him. If he was captured working for his own account, he shall be deported at his own expense. Employer shall not be obliged to deport him if the period of the notice exceeded three months. He shall then be deported at the expense of the state by written permission from the General Director of Passports.

32 Non-reporting to the Passports Department of the disengagement of any expatriate labourer or his absence from work for two days without stating any reasons. • In the first instance, the fine is 1,000 S.R.

• For the second instance, the fine is 2,000 S.R.
• For the third instance, the fine is 3,000 S.R.
• If the labour was captured working for a third party or for his own account and it was alleged that he runaway, the employer status shall be reviewed to find out his other labours situation and their locations.

33 Employment of an expatriate who has no work license by any company, commercial house, contractor or employer.

• The employer fine is 1,000 S.R.
• Fines are multiplied according to the number of individuals involved.

34 Transporting individuals who aren't in possession of pilgrimage licenses to Makkah during the period specified by the respective authority

• If the carrier was an establishment, it shall be fined 2,000 S.R. at the first instance, 5,000 S.R. in the second and 10,000 S.R. at the third. If the carrier was a citizen or resident working for his own account, they shall receive the same penalty.
• Fines are multiplied according to the number of individuals involved.

HOW TO GET IN.....

noreply@blogger.com (borriz) — Sat, 31 May 2008 05:00:00 +0000

My Kingdom will survive only insofar as it remains a country difficult to access, where the foreigner will have no other aim, with his task fullfilled, but to get out. -- King Abdul Aziz bin Saud, c. 1930

Saudi Arabia has some of the most restrictive travel policies in the world, and advance visas are required for all foreigners desiring to enter. The only important exception are residents of the Gulf Cooperation Council nations. Nationals of Israel and those with evidence of visiting Israel will be denied visas, although in theory merely being Jewish in and of itself is not a disqualifying factor. Saudis prefer not to grant visas to unaccompanied women, but work permits are common in some fields (esp. nurses, teachers, maids) and possible for anyone if your sponsor has enough connections.

However, things have loosened up a little compared to the past. Tourist visas, long near-impossible without a Saudi sponsor, are now available but only for guided tours. Transit visas are limited to some long-distance truck drivers. Hajj (pilgrimage) visas are issued by the Saudi government through Saudi embassies around the world in cooperation with local mosques. Hajjis, and those on transit visas are prohibited from traveling freely throughout the kingdom. Most short-term Western visitors to Saudi arrive on business visas, which require an invitation from a local sponsor which has been approved by the Saudi Chamber of Commerce. Once this invitation is secured and certified, the actual process of issuing the visa is relatively fast and painless (usually under a week, sometimes even on the same day). Getting a work visa is considerably more complex, but usually your employer will handle most of the paperwork.
The fun doesn't end when you get the visa, since visas do not state their exact expiry date. While the validity is noted in months, these are not Western months but lunar months, and you need to use the Islamic calendar to figure out the length: a three-month visa issued on "29/02/22" (22 Safar 1429, 1 March 2008) is valid until 29/05/22 (22 Jumada al-Awwal 1429, 28 May 2008), not until 1 June 2008! Depending on visa type, the validity can start from the date of issue or the date of first entry, and multiple-entry visas may also have restrictions regarding how many days at a time are allowed (usually 28 days per visit) and/or how many days total are allowed during the validity period. This all results in fantastic confusion, and it's not uncommon to get different answers from an embassy, from your employer and from Immigration!

If you have a work visa, exit visas are required to leave the country. (Business, tourism or Hajj visas do not require exit permits.) You cannot get an exit visa without a signature from your employer, and there have been cases of people unable to leave because of controversy with employers or even customers. For example, if a foreign company is sued in Saudi for non-payment of debts and you are considered its representative, an exit visa may be denied until the court case is sorted out.

Saudi Arabia has very strict rules for what may be imported: alcoholic beverages, pork, non-Islamic religious materials and pornography (very widely defined) are all prohibited. Computers, VCR tapes and DVDs have all been seized from time to time for inspection by the authorities. In general, though, inspections aren't quite as thorough as they used to be and while bags are still x-rayed, minute searches are the exception rather than the rule.

By plane
Saudi Arabia has 3 international airports at Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam. The airport at Dhahran is now closed to civil traffic, so passengers to the Eastern Region now fly into Dammam.
Saudi Arabia is served by the national airline Saudi Arabian Airlines , often referred to by its Arabic name Saudia. Saudia has a reasonable safety record, but many of their planes are on the old side and the quality of service, inflight entertainment etc tends to be low. Foreign carriers serving the country include Gulf Air, Alitalia, Air France, Lufthansa, PIA, Air India, KLM, Qatar Airways, Swiss and SriLankan. British Airways stopped service to the kingdom in March, 2005, but BMI now flies directly from London to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam. During the Hajj, numerous charter flights supplement the scheduled airlines.

For access to eastern Saudi Arabia (eg. Dammam, Dhahran), a popular option is to fly into nearby Bahrain and then cross into Saudi Arabia by car.

Foreigners living in Saudi Arabia can often get sensational discounts on outbound flights during the Hajj. Airlines from Muslim countries are flying in many loads of pilgrims, and do not not want to go back empty.

By bus
SAPTCO operates cross-border bus services to most of Saudi Arabia's neighbors and even beyond to eg. Cairo.

Probably the most popular service is between Dammam/Khobar and Bahrain, operated by the separate Saudi-Bahraini Transport Company (SABTCO). There are five services daily at a cost of SR50/BD5 and the trip across the King Fahd Causeway takes around two hours on a good day; see Bahrain for details.

By car
Automobile crossings exist on all the borders, although those into Iraq are currently closed. The eastern crossings to Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE are heavily used, all others rather less so.

By train
There are no railroads connecting Saudi Arabia with other countries, although in the North, you can still find bits and pieces of the Hejaz Railway that once led to Damascus.

By boat
Infrequent passenger ferries run once a week or less from Egypt, Sudan and Eritrea to ports in western Saudi Arabia. Slow, uncomfortable and not particularly cheap, these are of interest primarily if you absolutely need to take your car across.

Holidays In Saudi Arabia...

noreply@blogger.com (borriz) — Sat, 31 May 2008 04:56:00 +0000

The Saudi interpretation of Islam views all non-Muslim holidays as smacking of idolatry, and the public observance of Christmas, New Years, Valentine's Day, Halloween etc is prohibited. In fact, public holidays are granted only for two events: Eid ul-Fitr, the feast at the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha, commemorating Abharam's willingness to sacrifice his son, some 70 days after Ramadan. Even the Prophet's birthday is not observed.

During Ramadan itself, visitors are required to abide by the restrictions of the fasting month, at least in public: no eating, drinking or smoking during the daylight hours. Some better hotels will be able to quietly supply room service during the day, but otherwise you'll have to do your preparations. All restaurants in the Kingdom are closed during the day, the pace of business slows down to a torpor, and quite frankly, this is a time of year best avoided.

There is also one secular holiday: Unification of the Kingdom Day, on September 23rd. Strictly speaking, it's not a public holiday or a festival, but it's treated rather like one anyway

Ramadan dates
o 2008 (1429): Sep 1 - Sep 29
o 2009 (1430): Aug 21 - Sep 19
o 2010 (1431): Aug 11 - Sep 9
The festival of Eid ul-Fitr is held after the end of Ramadan and may last several days. Exact dates depend on astronomical observations and may vary from country to country.

Saudi Arabia Prayer Timing....

noreply@blogger.com (borriz) — Sat, 31 May 2008 04:52:00 +0000

Everything — everything — in Saudi is regulated by the five daily prayers. All shops and offices close during each prayer for a period of 30-40 minutes, and the religious police patrol the streets and pack loiterers off to the mosque. However, shopping malls do stay open (but with all shops inside closed) and taxis and other public transport continue to run normally.
The first prayer is fajr, early in the morning before the first glint of light at dawn, and the call to prayer for fajr will be your wake-up call in the Kingdom. After fajr, people eat breakfast and head to work, with shops opening up.

The second prayer is dhuhr, held after true noon in the middle of the day. The Friday noon prayer (jummah) is the most important one of the week, when even less observant Muslims usually make the effort to go to the mosque. After dhuhr, people head for lunch, while many shops choose to stay closed and snooze away the heat of the day.

Asr prayers are in the late afternoon (1:30-2 hours before sunset), with many shops opening again afterward. Maghrib prayers are held at sunset and mark the end of the work day in much of the private sector. The last prayer is isha'a, held around 2 hours after sunset, after which locals head for dinner. Expats refer to the time between maghrib and isha'a as the "prayer window", during which you can hit the supermarket and buy your groceries if you time it right.

Prayer times change daily according to the seasons and your exact location in the Kingdom. You can find the day's times in any newspaper, and the Ministry of Islamic Affairs maintains a handy online prayer time service

Expatriate Living in KSA

noreply@blogger.com (borriz) — Wed, 28 May 2008 09:59:00 +0000

Located five miles (8 km) from the center of the city of Riyadh, lies the Diplomatic Quarter. This unique complex of diplomatic buildings and facilities, housing the embassies and consulates of many countries, occupies an area of 8.4 million square yards (7 million square meters). www.saudinf.com/main/a8121.htm

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(Inside the Diplomatic Quarter) Each house outdoes the next in architecture and design. So many rooms, so many designs. One was a replica of the White House in Washington, DC. www.saudiembassy.net/publications/Magazine-Winter-01/wonders.htm A very nice travel-log!!

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A good description of living in Saudi
Life in Jeddah:Chris moved to Jeddah in November 1997 and we followed in January 1998, the vagaries of the visa system causing the delay. The wait was worth it though and we loved our life there - expat life definitely suits us for the moment. http://www.sealeyfamily.com/livinginjeddah.htm

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Ex-pat compounds in Saudi are very modern and with many provided 'extras', swimming pools, satellite TV, game rooms and shopping excursions are available at most compounds.

Picture: www.smolander.net/ninnu.htm

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The construction of the Quarter has involved the building of not only the essential infrastructure but also full residential and recreational facilities. These include an international schools complex, sports fields and recreation centers, Arabic language schools, a diplomatic club. www.saudinf.com/main/c6k.htm

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Saudi Arabia is like a mini United Nations, with expats from all over the world. We all rely on the internet to keep in touch with family and friends. http://exmss.massey.ac.nz/Offcampus/November2001/Overseas.htm

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There are many compounds for foreigners living in Saudi who want a touch of home.
Al romaizan compound - has about 80 villas, 3 pools, 4 tennis courts, squash court, gym, restaurant, recreation center, library with video rentals, nice wide streets and good security.http://members.tripod.com/~Bob_Savage/rom.html

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Saudi Arabia by Cristy Trembly I can't believe I just got back 2 weeks ago from Saudi Arabia. It is the most interesting, and confusing place I have ever visited. Jobs are separate, so with the thousands of well-educated Saudi women, there are women's hospitals, banks, schools, universities and so on, so women do have employment opportunities, and it is growing, but not every field is open to women, so it is very restrictive. www.cristytrembly.com/saudi.html

King Helps Celebrate 75th...

noreply@blogger.com (borriz) — Tue, 27 May 2008 11:53:00 +0000

Author: Saudi Aramco Week (Ahmad Dialdin and Sara Bassam)Released 23 May 2008
From : aramcoexpats

DHAHRAN, May 21, 2008 - Under the patronage of King Abdullah ibn Abdulaziz Al Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and the leaders of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, Saudi Aramco kicked off its 75th Anniversary celebration May 20 as government officials, company executives, employees and invited guests gathered to welcome the King and GCC leaders at enormous tents near the Saudi Aramco Exhibit in Dhahran.

The program began with a tour through an exhibition showcasing Saudi Aramco’s story in historic images, detailed timelines and innovative displays of the company’s key operations.
Among the sensory barrage of sights and sounds of the past 75 years, the highlight of the exhibit was a simple yet monumental document - the original signed concession agreement between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Standard Oil of California, displayed in a glass case.
Following the tour, guests were ushered into a newly erected tent-like structure created for the main celebration as King Abdullah welcomed everyone to the historic event and set the tone of pride and gratitude for everything that Saudi Aramco has accomplished for the Kingdom and its people.

“On this occasion, we celebrate the passing of 75 years of national growth,” said King Abdullah, “so thank you very much to the men and women of Saudi Aramco.

King Abdullah and guests wait for the 75th Anniversary celebration to begin. On the left is HH the Amir of Kuwait, Shaikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. To the right are HM the King of Bahrain, Shaikh Hammad ibn Isa Al-Khalifah, and HE Fahd ibn Mahmood Al-Saeed, Deputy Premier of Oman.Photograph by Abdullah Y. Al-Dobais

“The country has given Saudi Aramco what it needs to become successful and exceptional,” the King said. “It gave the company flexibility with which it nationalized technologies and gained from international experience in the necessary fields and industries.”

King Abdullah praised Saudi Aramco not only for its role in national development but also for its role in supporting the Kingdom’s international relations by providing energy to the world and effectively dealing with global energy crises whenever they happen.

In his speech, Ali I. Al-Naimi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, talked about Saudi Aramco’s long history from the time of King Abdulaziz, the Kingdom’s founder, to the present and how much it has propelled this country to where it stands today.

He also emphasized the pivotal role of King Abdullah in the past decade in supporting and guiding several key megaprojects and energizing Saudi Arabia’s economic and industrial capabilities, all for the sake of the people and the Kingdom.

“Today, our employees, both Saudi and expat, recall 75 years of dedication and hard work to build and develop Saudi Arabia’s oil industry, an industry that has spread its wealth and prosperity throughout the Kingdom, from north to south and east to west,” said Al-Naimi.
“While I realize there are no words to convey how much this event means to the Kingdom and to Saudi Aramco,” Al-Naimi said, “I want to, through this speech, highlight the sense of appreciation and pride for all who have left their mark through-out our history of oil production. This industry will continue to bring progress and advancements in the future, thanks in no small part to the support of our country’s leadership, as well as to the dedication, hard work and innovation of this company’s valued employees.”

President & CEO Speaks
The proposed King Abdulaziz Center for Knowledge and Culture, shown here in an architectural image, was announced May 20 in Dhahran by Abdallah S. Jum‘ah as part of the 75th Anniversary celebration.

Jum’ah spoke next, reflecting upon the company’s successful past and promising future, and expressing on behalf of Saudi Aramco’s employees their pride for being part of this historic moment and for working in the home of the Saudi oil industry.

“We are proud to have inherited a strong tradition of devotion and dedication to our work,” said Jum‘ah, “as well as a culture that we call the culture of Saudi Aramco, built on the discipline, commitment, reliability and accountability of each and every employee. Under the guidance of our country, the company has been allowed to work independently and on pure business acumen — two key elements in the success of Saudi Aramco and its competitive prowess.

“As proud as we are of our past and present, we see an even brighter future ahead of us,” Jum’ah said. “The work and projects we have now will make us better prepared for the next 75 years; they cement Saudi Aramco’s status as a fully integrated company, one of a kind in terms of its expertise, its size and its fundamental role nationally and globally.”

Jum’ah introduced Saudi Aramco’s latest gift to the Kingdom, the King Abdulaziz Center for Knowledge and Culture, to be erected in that very spot near the Saudi Aramco Exhibit. A short film outlined the center’s purpose and all that it would offer to the people of the country.

After the speeches, 75 children came on stage to entertain the guests, dancing to Arabic songs written specially for Saudi Aramco and its 75th Anniversary, followed by gifts given to King Abdullah and the GCC leaders.

King and Families
Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ali I. Al-Naimi and a young Saudi performer present a gift from Saudi Aramco to King Abdullah at the 75th Anniversary celebrations.Photograph by Abdullah Y. Al-Dobais.

From there, the anniversary celebration moved to the King’s Road complex in Dhahran, where a representative group of families welcomed King Abdullah and the GCC leaders in a re-creation of King Abdulaziz’s historic second visit in 1947.

This celebration was, in part, a re-enactment of that visit, from the setup of the tents down to the visitors, dressed as they would have been in the 1940s. Costumes included women’s white gloves and hats.

Miles Snyder, who was one of the children who shook hands with King Abdulaziz in 1947, said a few words about both momentous occasions, then and now.

“What was the 1947 event like? It was wonderful,” said Snyder. “We American kids were able to shake the hand of a real king! We all remember the event well. We remember the sight of the King, seated in a large easy chair atop a colorful carpet, with a little table with cookies on it beside him. He was surrounded by his colorful retinue, including many of his sons.

“Today, we join not as children but as adults; many of us are grandparents,” Snyder said. “When we were young, that sense of magic was everywhere, living as we did in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” Snyder said of his experiences. “Each of us regards ourselves richer, wiser, more tolerant and understanding because of this great adventure.”

Snyder concluded his remarks with a request: “Just as we had the honor of being photographed with your father, King Abdulaziz, may we please have the honor of being photographed with you?”

He 75th Anniversary celebration was a sensory barrage of sights and sounds.

Photograph by Abdullah Y. Al-Dobais

Soon afterwards, King Abdullah and his guests watched a series of international folklore performances. Children performed dances from “The Phantom of the Opera,” along with a Latino segment and a khaliji dance. The performances concluded with the ardah, a traditional sword dance performed by Saudi Aramco employees and expats.

Lydia Fitzmorris, speaking on behalf of employees and families, addressed the King in Arabic, saying, “Your visit makes the celebration of the 75th Anniversary of Saudi Aramco an unforgettable event in our lives and those of our children.”

King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud Visits Saudi Aramco

noreply@blogger.com (borriz) — Tue, 27 May 2008 11:44:00 +0000

Saudi Aramco celebrates 75 Years of Excellence at the Grand Event Tuesday, May 21st. Saudi Arabia's beloved King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, the sixth king of Saudi Arabia, visited Dhahran to take part in Saudi Aramco’s 75th anniversary celebrations.

As part of the 75th celebration, Saudi Aramco invited the children of Aramco employees who shook hands with King Abdul Aziz ibn Abdur Rahman ibn Faisal al Saud on his visit to Aramco in 1947. Thirty children, along with their spouses, siblings and children attended the festivities as honored guests of Saudi Aramco.

A reenactment of the original event was conducted with current employees, wives and children living and working in Dhahran. The children were seated on a large carpeted stage in front of an enormously enlarged photograph of the actual 1947 Children.

As the celebrated 1947 young residents walked by the photograph, many stopped for another look at their youthful appearance 61 years ago.

The admired King Abdullah was cheered by the crowd as he waved, blew a kiss to the multitudes and danced the traditional sword dance with the troupe.

Tourism in Saudi Arabia

noreply@blogger.com (borriz) — Mon, 26 May 2008 04:21:00 +0000

Saudi Arabia lifts the veil -- Conservative kingdom opening door to foreign tourists, BOTTOM LINE: VISAS: Saudi Arabia is by no means opening up to individual tourists. In fact, tourist visas are still non-existent. But small "educational groups" from universities, alumni organizations and museums are getting special travel permits through Saudi Arabian Airlines, the national carrier. www.canoe.ca/TravelWorld/saudi_9905.html
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A new tourist attraction, Al Nawaras Island on the Corneish, rooms are rented out like a hotel. This was built on filled in land!
www.hotels-europe.com
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During each of the school breaks and summer vacation, Jeddah fills to capacity with visitors from within Saudi and from the neighboring Arab countries. It's easy to spot the visitor to Jeddah either they drive 'differently' or the women are wearing very traditional abaya's. We normally go out at 5 PM and don't get too much of the evening traffic but once the sunset prayers are over, the streets fill with cars and every walking space available (including all the malls and shopping areas) are filled to overflowing. Most of this traffic is simply the people out 'for a drive' as they call it, actually it means getting out to anywhere, driving and walking.
With the promotion of tourism in Jeddah the visitors increase during each break.
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One of the most wanted places to visit is Madain Saleh with it's majestic homes carved into the rock mountains.
See the page Tabouk for more information and pictures.
http://www.adumatu.com/madan.htm
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Prince Sultan Bin Salman has what might seem an impossible job: getting tourists to visit a place where the temperature hits 115 degrees, you can't buy a beer and the two most famous cities are barred to non-Muslims.www.sptimes.com/2002/webspecials02/saudiarabia/day1/story2.shtml
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The Kingdom is committed to developing tourism as part of its overall economic diversification strategy. The Tourism Higher Authority has been given the task of overseeing a massive expansion in the Kingdom’s tourist facilities and services.Amongst the various tourist expansion projects is “Al-Hada Resort, Cable Car and Al-Kar Tourist Village” project in Taif Governorate, the first phase of which was launched in 2001. The SR 70 million- project, in its first phase, includes the 4,200 meters-long cable car route that connects the high altitude area of Al-Hada with the low altitude area of Al-Kar village. It includes hotels, restaurants, family parks and playgrounds.Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz predicted that there would be 45.3 million tourists in the year 2020, and a tourist expenditure of 80 billion riyals.www.saudinf.com/main/e9.htm
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Carol and Ray Whitney visited Saudi Arabia in October 2000 as part of a two-week study tour sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution.
www.saudiembassy.net/publications/Magazine-Winter-01/wonders.htm

Welcome to the website of Tourism in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabiawww.sauditourism.gov.sa/sct/indexb.php
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These are areas which have sea fronts such as Jeddah in the Western Region and Dammam in the East. Areas of natural beauty: such as Taif, Al Baha and Abha. Historical sites: such as Mada'in Salih in Diriyah which are renown for thier antiquity. www.the-saudi.net/saudi-arabia/tourism.htm
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Ancient Rock Art can be found in many locations throughout Saudi Arabia.Early written historyAncient Rock Art in Saudi Arabia is a rich source of information about the lives of the people who inhabited the peninsula in the Neolithic period and later. http://www.toursaudiarabia.com/graffiti.html
Another picture and link here.
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Leisure & Tourism Market in Saudi ArabiaVery few recreational projects were available in the past,and Saudis have always had to go abroad to satisfy their demands for entertainment. This cost the economy some U$8 billion every year (according to a recent estimate). In order to retain part of this huge amount of hard currency spent outside,the government started encouraging local investment in recreational projects.
Also, Saudi Arabia has had a history of discouraging foreign tourists from visiting the country, but this policy is now changing. Visa regulations are being relaxed to encourage tourists to visit the Kingdom's cultural, historic and archaelogical sites.
www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk/recreation/saudi_arabia/profile/overview.shtml
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Saudis drive considerably faster and more unpredictably than American drivers. One must learn to drive by " instinct" and make much more effort to judge the intentions of other drivers and pedestrians. The surface of any vehicle will sustain considerable wear because of the environment--scorching sun, blowing sand, high humidity along the coasts, and debris from construction and uncovered trucks on the highway. http://wrc.lingnet.org/sauditip.htm
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Big vacancies in Construction Firm.-Engineers, supervisor, secretaries.

noreply@blogger.com (borriz) — Sun, 25 May 2008 14:43:00 +0000

IMMEDIATELY REQUIRED by A Leading Contracting Company In Saudi Arabia for the following positions:
CONSTRUCTION MANAGER (1 position) • Masters or Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering with minimum 15 years work experience as Construction Manager in Mechanical / Piping activities. • Contracts management with Team leadership ability, sound reasoning ability, good communication skills, high level of motivation and initiative, strong desire to acquire new knowledge and skills. • Prior experience in Aramco Mechanical Projects is a plus.

MECHANICAL ENGINEER (2 positions) • Masters or Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering with minimum 5 years work experience in review and implementation of design drawings and specifications, site works, follow up and supervision of related activities, Reporting and preparation of snag lists etc. • Quantity take-off, planning & designing of mechanical systems. Able to supervise the execution of the mechanical works, testing and commissioning. Experience in Structural Steel/Piping projects is a plus.

MECHANICAL SUPERVISOR PIPING (2 positions) • Diploma in Mechanical or equivalent with minimum 5 years work experience in piping projects. • Ability to understand technical specifications and interpretation of drawings.

OFFICE SECRETARY (2 positions - Male / Female) • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent with 3 years work experience as office secretary. Good in writing self-correspondence and communication skills. Well conversant with Microsoft programs. Good typing speed. Good package with Excellent Competitive Salary and other benefits, Candidates with transferable Iqama are preferred. In addition to the above, all candidates should be fluent in written and spoken English. Please apply by email only with complete Cv’s (in strictest confidence). Indicating the position applied for the in the subject to : Job2ksa@gmail.com

Hajj

noreply@blogger.com (borriz) — Wed, 21 May 2008 07:09:00 +0000

Labayk Allahuma Labayk

Labayk. La shareeka laka Labayk.

Innal hamda wannimata laka wal mulk

La shareeka Lak

(Here I am at your service, oh Lord, here I am - here I am. No partner do you have. Here I am. Truly, the praise and the favor are yours, and the dominion. No partner do you have.)
These are the words chanted by some two million people from across Saudi Arabia and throughout the world heading, as if pulled by a magnet, to one single spot on Earth. As has happened every year for 14 centuries, Muslim pilgrims gather in Makkah to perform rituals based on those conducted by the Prophet Muhammad during his last visit to the city.

Performing these rituals, known as the Hajj, is the fifth pillar of Islam and the most significant manifestation of Islamic faith and unity. Undertaking the Hajj at least once is a duty for Muslims who are physically and financially able to make the journey to Makkah. The emphasis on financial ability is meant to ensure that a Muslim takes care of his family first. The requirement that a Muslim be healthy and physically capable of undertaking the pilgrimage is intended to exempt those who cannot endure the rigors of extended travel.

The pilgrimage is the religious high point of a Muslim's life and an event that every Muslim dreams of undertaking. Umrah, the lesser pilgrimage, can be undertaken at any time of the year; Hajj, however, is performed during a five-day period from the ninth through the thirteenth of Dhu Al-Hijjah, the twelfth month of the Muslim lunar calendar.

In the past, and as late as the early decades of this century, few people were able to "make their way" to Makkah for the pilgrimage. This was because of the hardships encountered, the length of time the journey took and the expense associated with it. Pilgrims coming from the far corners of the Islamic world sometimes dedicated a year or more to the journey, and many perished during it due in part to the lack of facilities on the routes to Makkah and also in the city itself
The circumstances of the Hajj began to improve during the time of King Abdul Aziz Ibn Abdul Rahman Al-Saud, the founder of the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Major programs were introduced to ensure the security and safety of the pilgrims, as well as their well-being and comfort. Steps were also taken to establish facilities and services aimed at improving housing, health care, sanitation and transportation.

Today, though the rituals at the holy sites in and near Makkah have remained unchanged from the time of the Prophet, the setting for the pilgrimage and the facilities available to the pilgrims are a far cry from those that existed at any time in history. Hardship was once expected and endured as part of the pilgrimage, and Muslims who embarked on this undertaking traditionally assigned a relative or trusted member of the community as the executor of their wills in case they did not return from the journey.

Muslims today undertake the pilgrimage in ease, receive a warm welcome on their arrival in Saudi Arabia, and are provided with the most modern facilities and efficient services possible. Without the distractions that their forebears had to contend with, today's pilgrims are free to focus solely on the spiritual aspect of the Hajj.

Preparing to welcome the Guests of God"It is truly amazing," said Rajeeb Razul, a journalist from the Philippines, as he stood on the roof of the Ministry of Information building near the Nimera Mosque in Arafat watching a column of pilgrims that stretched to Mina almost eight miles in the distance make their way past the mosque toward the Mount of Mercy. "To organize a gathering of humans this large, for housing them, for feeding them and for meeting their every need year after year must be a monumental task," he observed.

Saudi Arabia considers serving the guests of God an honor, and dedicates vast manpower and financial resources to the proper conduct of the pilgrimage. Over the past four decades, it has spent billions of dollars to expand the Holy Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah, as well as establishing modern airports, seaports, roads, lodging, and other amenities and services for the pilgrims.

The establishment of these facilities by itself does not ensure a successful Hajj. To do so, the Kingdom has put into place a vast organization supervised by the Supreme Hajj Committee, which reports to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, who traditionally is in Makkah during the pilgrimage. The committee seeks to coordinate the activities of various government ministries and agencies and prevent redundancy. Each of these organizations assumes responsibility for projects in its sphere of expertise. For example, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance issues special booklets on the rites of the Hajj in many languages for distribution among the pilgrims. The Ministry of Health oversees medical services while the Ministry of Information hosts journalists and members of the media from other countries to cover the pilgrimage, while at the same time arranging for live transmissions of the rituals by satellite throughout the world.

Planning for each year's pilgrimage generally starts at the conclusion of the previous one and involves evaluating various programs and, if necessary, introducing steps to improve any service that is deemed below par. Once plans for the next Hajj are approved, they are sent to the appropriate government agency, which immediately sets out to implement them. The progress of these plans is reviewed by the committee throughout the year and, once in place, the project is inspected several weeks before the pilgrimage starts.

A vast brotherhoodPerforming the Hajj is the spiritual apex of a Muslim's life, one that provides a clear understanding of his relationship with God and his place on Earth. It imparts in a Muslim not only the assurance that he has performed the fifth pillar of Islam by following in the footsteps of the Prophet, but also the realization that he is part of an ummah (nation) that is more than one billion strong and spreads across the globe.

This feeling is brought home upon the pilgrim's arrival in the Kingdom. Most pilgrims arrive by air, and as their planes taxi toward the impressive Hajj Terminal in Jeddah, they pass jetliners with familiar names, but also ones that bear exotic markings such as "Southern China Airlines" and "Daghestan Airlines" and others from every part of the world.

While waiting to be processed through the arrival hall, the pilgrim begins to shed his identity as he stands amidst a sea of people in Ihram, the two seamless pieces of white cotton that men wear and the simple, generally white, attire that women wear. Here no one can tell a person's social or economic status, or his national origin based on the clothes he wears. Suddenly the pilgrim is simply, and above all else, a Muslim, and the realization slowly sets in that he is now focusing more than ever on other people's faces rather than their clothes. These faces represent almost every race or nationality on Earth. As energetic young Saudis move the pilgrims rapidly through customs, he notices Arabs, Indians, Bosnians, Chinese, Spaniards, Africans, Laotians, French, Americans and many others.

Contact with people from such diverse races and nationalities over the days and weeks spent in the Kingdom engenders in the pilgrims a sense of understanding of and trust in total strangers simply because they are performing the Hajj together.

Arriving in MakkahBefore heading toward Makkah, the pilgrims are already dressed in Ihram or may change at Miqat, where special facilities are set up for this purpose. By donning the Ihram, the pilgrim enters a state of spirituality and purity.

On the way from Jeddah to Makkah along the modern superhighway, pilgrims board one of the fleet of 15,000 buses assigned to the Hajj. This vast concourse of vehicles approaches Mina, some four miles to the northwest of Makkah, where most of the pilgrims are housed in the thousands of air-conditioned tents that stretch to the limits of Mina Valley.

Walking through this vast city that has been established for use for only a few days a year, the pilgrim is struck by the orderliness of the place. Food is prepared in hundreds of kitchens spread throughout Mina and distributed among the tents. Thousands of drinking fountains and wash areas are located throughout the tent city. There are hundreds of medical clinics that supplement the hospitals in Makkah and Arafat. Security personnel and traffic police guide and help pilgrims. Despite the clear signs and numbered rows, some pilgrims, particularly the elderly, tend to get lost and need assistance finding their tents or groups. Banks of telephones are located in all the pilgrimage sites, allowing pilgrims to make direct international calls.
The rites of pilgrimageAfter sunrise on the ninth of the Islamic month of Dhu Al-Hajjah, this vast crowd of nearly two million begins to walk some eight miles to the Plain of Arafat, passing Muzdalifah on the way. Many perform the noon and afternoon prayers at the Nimerah Mosque, a tradition set by the Prophet.

Approaching Arafat by midmorning, the pilgrim is amazed to find the vast plain covered by what appears to be a thick fog, even though the temperature hovers around 90 degrees Fahrenheit. This optical illusion is created by thousands of sprinklers placed atop 30-foot poles and spaced some 50 feet apart, which spread a fine mist of water to provide coolness. Millions of containers of chilled water are distributed from refrigerated trucks located along the pilgrim route.
Despite these precautions, the wail of sirens is ever present as hundreds of ambulances pick up pilgrims suffering from heat exhaustion and transport them to special clinics for treatment. The more serious cases are evacuated by helicopter to hospitals.

Pilgrims are required to spend the day in the plain, performing what is called the Standing at Arafat. Here they also visit the Mount of Mercy and ask for God's forgiveness for any sins committed and for blessings. Facilities have also been set up here to feed the pilgrims and meet any requirement they may have.

After the sun has set this river of humanity retraces its steps back toward Makkah, but stops at Muzdalifah until the brightness of day appears on the eastern horizon. Here the pilgrims collect seven pebbles and carry them to Mina. As they arrive in the valley, they trek along a two-level pedestrian walkway some 100-yards wide toward the three stone pillars called the Jamarat, which are meant to represent Satan. The pilgrims are required to cast the pebbles they have collected at the Stone Pillar of Aqabah while praising God, in a symbolic rejection of Satan. As the pilgrims approach along the walkway, they join those already at the pillar and, after hurling their pebbles circle toward the exit ramp in the direction of Makkah. Signs in various major languages direct the crowds along the route.

The pilgrims then walk some four miles along pedestrian walkways to reach Makkah, where they perform the tawaf, circling the Ka'abah in the Holy Mosque seven times counter clockwise. They then perform sa'ay, the running between Safa and Marwa in an enclosed, air-conditioned structure. Male pilgrims are then required to shave their heads, although cutting a lock of hair is acceptable for both men and women. At this point the pilgrims sacrifice an animal, donating its meat to the needy. Each year, over 600,000 animals are sacrificed, in modern abattoirs that complete the processing of the meat over the three days of the Eid. Distribution of this sacrificial meat goes to those in need in some 30 countries.

The rites of the pilgrimage are now completed. Pilgrims come out of Ihram and wear their normal clothes, but remain at Mina for the Eid Al-Adha, the festival that signals the culmination of the Hajj. Over the next two days, they stone the three pillars in the Jamarat, before performing the Tawaf Al-Wida', the Farewell Circumambulation of the Ka'abah before their departure from the city.

While not required as part of the Hajj, most pilgrims visit the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah during their visit to the Kingdom.

A spiritual JourneyThroughout the Hajj, the largest annual gathering of people on Earth, the pilgrimage is marked by a total absence of any disagreements or altercations among the pilgrims. Courtesy and helping others are the norm. Peace, serenity and piety pervade the entire pilgrimage and the pilgrims.

At the conclusion of the Hajj, the pilgrim has a profound feeling of having gone through a life-transforming spiritual experience. He comes away with pride in having successfully performed a ritual dedicated to God and in belonging to a huge family of people that shares the same religious beliefs. And he has acquired a sense of humility, inner calm, brotherhood and strength that lasts a lifetime.

Related Information: Hajj
RecentNews:
12/21/2007
Pilgrims stone the devil at Jamarat for the second day without incident
12/20/2007
King Abdullah hosts distinguished Hajj guests in Mina
12/20/2007
Pilgrims stone the devil at Jamarat
12/19/2007
King Abdullah and Crown Prince Sultan address Muslims on the Eid Al-Adha

Foreign Relations

noreply@blogger.com (borriz) — Wed, 21 May 2008 07:05:00 +0000

"In dealing with various matters and practices, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia adheres to well-known inviolate principles from which it has never swerved, and will never swerve, God willing. The positions it takes, whether they have to do with foreign relations or any other matter, are built on the rules and principles of religion. Such an approach, being derived from heavenly teachings as its source of inspiration, admits of no falsehood."

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd and Crown Prince AbdullahAddress from Mina on Eid Al-Adha 1423 (February 10, 2003)

Geographically located at the crossroads of the world, an economic power with a stable government and thriving society, Saudi Arabia has come to be at the center of world affairs because the Kingdom has not restricted its role to defending and promoting its own national interests. As the birthplace of Islam, Saudi Arabia holds a special place in the hearts of the one billion Muslims scattered across the globe. Guided by principles espoused by Islam and rooted in its rich Arab heritage, Saudi Arabia has, over the decades, successfully assumed the growing responsibility associated with that status.
For a nation built on Islamic principles, upholding Islam and protecting Islamic interests was the cornerstone of Saudi foreign policy under King Abdulaziz. Today, Saudi Arabia is a nation whose views are actively sought by global powers looking for a better understanding of Islamic and Arab issues. The Kingdom's diplomacy is considered a central factor in averting crises. Its mediation is solicited to resolve disputes that, if unchecked, could have reverberations far beyond the region.
Out of such concerns, Saudi Arabia began to assume an active role in international organizations. As a founding member of the United Nations, Saudi Arabia has steadily increased its participation in that organization.
During the 20th century, Saudi Arabia emerged as a unified nation and became a socioeconomic and political world leader. Guided by a foreign policy that focuses on Arab unity, Islamic solidarity and peaceful coexistence, Saudi Arabia is in the new millennium a strong advocate of peace, security and constructive cooperation throughout the world.

Related Information: Foreign Relations
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05/18/2008
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05/18/2008
AGFUND to establish bank for the impoverished in Sierra Leone
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Foreign Minister highlights Palestinians’ legitimate rights, Saudi-US relations

Understanding Saudi Arabia and the Saudi People

noreply@blogger.com (borriz) — Wed, 21 May 2008 07:02:00 +0000

Over recent years, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been confronted with what many consider its greatest challenge: achieving modernity without surrendering its heritage, faith, or culture. Examining the metrics of the Kingdom, from GDP to literacy rates, one finds ever-present success. Seventy-five years ago, Saudi Arabia did not exist; today, it is a nation marked by sophisticated political, legal, and financial systems, with a culture rich in history and deep in faith.

But there is still much to be done. Since September 11, 2001, when the world was thrown in flux, Saudi Arabia has recognized the need for greater reform - economic, social, and political. As such, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has embarked upon a comprehensive reform agenda to promote a vibrant economy, a civil society, and broader political participation by Saudi citizens. In addition, Saudi Arabia has amplified its efforts to reveal its domestic progress to the international community, so that mutual understanding between the Kingdom and the nations of the world can be achieved.

To fully understand any nation in the modern era, it is important to examine the characteristics of its society and culture. Vital to this effort is the availability of accurate and timely information about relevant issues, ranging from the nation's efforts in the global War on Terrorism, to its relationship to the international community, to its internal structure. This section of the website seeks to impart this information and offer people across the United States a closer look at the unique characteristics that create the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: a desert Kingdom rooted in history and propelled by faith, forging a place for itself in the modern global community.

The History of Saudi Arabia

noreply@blogger.com (borriz) — Sun, 18 May 2008 03:47:00 +0000

Saudi Arabia traces its roots back to the earliest civilizations of the Arabian Peninsula. Over the centuries, the peninsula has played an important role in history as an ancient trade center and as the birthplace of Islam, one of the world’s major monotheistic religions.

Since King Abdulaziz Al-Saud established the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932, its transformation has been astonishing.

In a few short decades, the Kingdom has turned itself from a desert nation to a modern, sophisticated state and a major player on the international stage.

Early History

The first concrete evidence of human presence in the Arabian Peninsula dates back 15,000 to 20,000 years. Bands of hunter-gatherers roamed the land, living off wild animals and plants.
As the European ice cap melted during the last Ice Age, some 15,000 years ago, the climate in the peninsula became dry. Vast plains once covered with lush grasslands gave way to scrubland and deserts, and wild animals vanished. River systems also disappeared, leaving in their wake the dry river beds (wadis) that are found in the peninsula today.

This climate change forced humans to move into the lush mountain valleys and oases. No longer able to survive as hunter-gatherers, they had to develop another means of survival. As a result, agriculture developed – first in Mesopotamia, then the Nile River Valley, and eventually spreading across the Middle East.

The development of agriculture brought other advances. Pottery allowed farmers to store food. Animals, including goats, cattle, sheep, horses and camels, were domesticated, and people abandoned hunting altogether. These advances made intensive farming possible. In turn, settlements became more permanent, leading to the foundations of what we call civilization – language, writing, political systems, art and architecture.

An Ancient Trade Center

Located between the two great centers of civilization, the Nile River Valley and Mesopotamia, the Arabian Peninsula was the crossroads of the ancient world. Trade was crucial to the area’s development; caravan routes became trade arteries that made life possible in the sparsely populated peninsula.

The people of the peninsula developed a complex network of trade routes to transport agricultural goods highly sought after in Mesopotamia, the Nile Valley and the Mediterranean Basin. These items included almonds from Taif, dates from the many oases, and aromatics such as frankincense and myrrh from the Tihama plain.

Spices were also important trade items. They were shipped across the Arabian Sea from India and then transported by caravan.

The huge caravans traveled from what is now Oman and Yemen, along the great trade routes running through Saudi Arabia’s Asir Province and then through Makkah and Madinah, eventually arriving at the urban centers of the north and west.

The people of the Arabian Peninsula remained largely untouched by the political turmoil in Mesopotamia, the Nile Valley and the eastern Mediterranean. Their goods and services were in great demand regardless of which power was dominant at the moment – Babylon, Egypt, Persia, Greece or Rome. In addition, the peninsula’s great expanse of desert formed a natural barrier that protected it from invasion by powerful neighbors.

The Birth of IslamAround the year 610, Muhammad, a native of the thriving commercial center of Makkah, received a message from God (in Arabic, Allah) through the Angel Gabriel. As more revelations bid him to proclaim the oneness of God universally, the Prophet Muhammad’s following grew.

In 622, learning of an assassination plot against him, the Prophet led his followers to the town of Yathrib, which was later named Madinat Al-Nabi (City of the Prophet) and now known simply as Madinah. This was the Hijrah, or migration, which marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar.

Within the next few years, several battles took place between the followers of the Prophet Muhammad and the pagans of Makkah. By 628, when Madinah was entirely in the hands of the Muslims, the Prophet had unified the tribes so successfully that he and his followers reentered Makkah without bloodshed.

The Islamic EmpireLess than 100 years after the birth of Islam, the Islamic Empire extended from Spain to parts of India and China. Although the political centers of power had moved out of the Arabian Peninsula, trade flourished in the area.

Also, a large number of pilgrims began regularly visiting the peninsula, with some settling in the two holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. These pilgrims facilitated the exchange of ideas and cultures between the people of the peninsula and other civilizations of the Arab and Muslim worlds.

The emergence of Arabic as the language of international learning was another major factor in the cultural development of the Arabian Peninsula. The Muslim world became a center for learning and scientific advances during what is known as the “Golden Age.” Muslim scholars made major contributions in many fields, including medicine, biology, philosophy, astronomy, arts and literature. Many of the ideas and methods pioneered by Muslim scholars became the foundation of modern sciences.

The Islamic Empire thrived well into the 17th century, when it broke up into smaller Muslim kingdoms. The Arabian Peninsula gradually entered a period of relative isolation, although Makkah and Madinah remained the spiritual heart of the Islamic world and continued to attract pilgrims from many countries.

The First Saudi State

In the early 18th century, a Muslim scholar and reformer named Shaikh Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab began advocating a return to the original form of Islam. Abdul Wahhab was initially persecuted by local religious scholars and leaders who viewed his teachings as a threat to their power bases. He sought protection in the town of Diriyah, which was ruled by Muhammad bin Saud.

Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab and Muhammad bin Saud formed an agreement to dedicate themselves to restoring the pure teachings of Islam to the Muslim community. In that spirit, bin Saud established the First Saudi State, which prospered under the spiritual guidance of bin Abdul Wahhab, known simply as the Shaikh.

By 1788, the Saudi State ruled over the entire central plateau known as the Najd. By the early 19th century, its rule extended to most of the Arabian Peninsula, including Makkah and Madinah.

The popularity and success of the Al-Saud rulers aroused the suspicion of the Ottoman Empire, the dominant power in the Middle East and North Africa at the time. In 1818, the Ottomans dispatched a large expeditionary force armed with modern artillery to the western region of Arabia. The Ottoman army besieged Diriyah, which by now had grown into one of the largest cities in the peninsula. Ottoman forces leveled the city with field guns and made it permanently uninhabitable by ruining the wells and uprooting date palms.

The Second Saudi State

By 1824, the Al-Saud family had regained political control of central Arabia. The Saudi ruler Turki bin Abdullah Al-Saud transferred his capital to Riyadh, some 20 miles south of Diriyah, and established the Second Saudi State. During his 11-year rule, Turki succeeded in retaking most of the lands lost to the Ottomans. As he expanded his rule, he took steps to ensure that his people enjoyed rights, and he saw to their well-being.

Under Turki and his son, Faisal, the Second Saudi State enjoyed a period of peace and prosperity, and trade and agriculture flourished. The calm was shattered in 1865 by a renewed Ottoman campaign to extend its Middle Eastern empire into the Arabian Peninsula. Ottoman armies captured parts of the Saudi State, which was ruled at the time by Faisal’s son, Abdulrahman. With the support of the Ottomans, the Al-Rashid family of Hail made a concerted effort to overthrow the Saudi State.

Faced with a much larger and better equipped army, Abdulrahman bin Faisal Al-Saud was forced to abandon his struggle in 1891. He sought refuge with the Bedouin tribes in the vast sand desert of eastern Arabia known as the Rub’ Al-Khali, or ‘Empty Quarter.’ From there, Abdulrahman and his family traveled to Kuwait, where they stayed until 1902. With him was his young son Abdulaziz, who was already making his mark as a natural leader and a fierce warrior for the cause of Islam.

The Modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

The young Abdulaziz was determined to regain his patrimony from the Al-Rashid family, which had taken over Riyadh and established a governor and garrison there. In 1902, Abdulaziz, – accompanied by only 40 followers – staged a daring night march into Riyadh to retake the city garrison, known as the Masmak Fortress. This legendary event marks the beginning of the formation of the modern Saudi state.

After establishing Riyadh as his headquarters, Abdulaziz captured all of the Hijaz, including Makkah and Madinah, in 1924 to 1925. In the process, he united warring tribes into one nation.
On September 23, 1932, the country was named the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, an Islamic state with Arabic as its national language and the Holy Qur’an as its constitution.

King Abdulaziz (1932-1953)

The legendary King Abdulaziz was a remarkable leader of imagination and vision who set Saudi Arabia on the road to modernization. During his rule, King Abdulaziz started building the country’s infrastructure. He established roads and basic communications systems, introduced modern technology, and improved education, health care and agriculture.

Although King Abdulaziz never traveled beyond the Arab world, he was a highly sophisticated statesman. Foreign leaders and diplomats who met with him came away impressed by his integrity and honesty. He was famous for dispensing with diplomatic niceties in favor of frank and candid discussion. He was just as well known for keeping his promises, whether given to a simple Bedouin or to a world leader. These qualities enhanced his stature as a reliable and responsible leader dedicated to peace and justice.

King Saud (1953-1964)

Abdulaziz’ eldest son Saud acceded to the throne upon his father’s death in 1953. He continued King Abdulaziz’s legacy, creating the Council of Ministers and establishing the Ministries of Health, Education and Commerce. One of King Saud’s greatest successes was the development of education – under his rule many schools were established in the Kingdom, including its first institute of higher education, King Saud University, in 1957.
King Saud also made his mark globally. In 1957, he became the first Saudi monarch to visit the United States. In 1962 he sponsored an international Islamic conference that would become the Muslim World League, headquartered in Makkah.

King Faisal (1964-1975)

King Faisal bin Abdulaziz was a visionary innovator with a great respect for tradition. He initiated the first of a series of economic and social development plans that would transform Saudi Arabia’s infrastructure, especially industry, and set the Kingdom on a path of rapid growth. He also established the first public schools for girls.

In foreign policy, King Faisal showed a firm commitment to the Islamic world. He was a central force behind the establishment in Jeddah in 1971 of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), a group of 56 Islamic countries that promotes Islamic unity and cooperation.
Throughout the turbulent period of the 1960s and 1970s, which included two Arab-Israeli wars and the oil crisis of 1973, King Faisal was a voice for moderation, peace and stability.

King Khalid (1975-1982)

Khalid bin Abdulaziz succeeded King Faisal in 1975. King Khalid also emphasized development, and his reign was marked by an almost explosive growth in the country’s physical infrastructure. It was a period of enormous wealth and prosperity for Saudi Arabia.

On the international stage, King Khalid was a prime mover in forming the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in 1981, an organization that promotes economic and security cooperation among its six member countries: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

King Fahd (1982-2005)

Under King Fahd bin Abdulaziz, who adopted the title Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Saudi Arabia continued its tremendous socioeconomic development and emerged as a leading political and economic force.

King Fahd was central to Saudi Arabia’s efforts to diversify its economy and promote private enterprise and investment. He restructured the Saudi government and approved the first nationwide municipal elections, which took place in 2005.

One of King Fahd’s greatest accomplishments in Saudi Arabia was a series of projects to expand the Kingdom’s facilities to accommodate the millions of pilgrims who come to the country each year. These projects involved major expansions of Islam’s two holiest sites, the Holy Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, as well as airports and ports.

In the international arena, King Fahd worked actively to resolve regional and global crises. These crises included the Arab-Palestinian conflict, Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, the Lebanese civil war in addition to conflicts in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Chechnya, Afghanistan, Somalia and Kashmir.

As Crown Prince in 1981, he proposed an eight-point plan to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict and give the Palestinians an independent state. The plan was considered one of the first attempts to find a just and lasting settlement that took into consideration the needs of both the Arabs and Israel. It was unanimously adopted by the Arab League at a summit in Fez, Morocco in 1982.

King Fahd also dedicated years of diplomacy to resolving the civil war in Lebanon. He hosted a meeting of Lebanese members of parliament in Taif, Saudi Arabia in 1989. The meeting resulted in a national reconciliation accord signed in Taif that ended the fighting and opened the way for reconstruction with help from Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries.

Perhaps the greatest international crisis of King Fahd’s rule occurred when Iraq invaded Kuwait on August 2, 1990. The King played a key role in putting together the international coalition that drove Iraqi forces out of Kuwait.

King Fahd was also concerned with humanitarian issues. Under his rule, Saudi Arabia provided emergency humanitarian assistance to numerous countries, including Somalia, Bosnia and Afghanistan, as well as countries suffering from natural disasters, such as earthquakes (Turkey in 1999, Iran in 2003) and the tsunami that struck Southeast Asia in December 2004.

King Abdullah (2005 - )

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz acceded to the throne after the death of King Fahd on August 1, 2005. He is also Commander of the National Guard, a position he has held since 1962.

King Abdullah was born in Riyadh in 1924, and received his early education at the royal court. Influenced by his father King Abdulaziz, he developed a profound respect for religion, history and Arab heritage. His years spent living in the desert with Bedouin tribes taught him their values of honor, simplicity, generosity and bravery, and instilled in him the desire to assist in the development of his people.

As Crown Prince, he traveled widely in the Kingdom and inaugurated a number of projects throughout the country. In 2005 he closely monitored the election process for the country’s municipal councils.

The Prince’s first official visit to the United States was in 1976 when he met with President Gerald Ford. Since then, he has made a number of visits to the United States, including his most recent on April 25, 2005 to President George W. Bush’s ranch in Crawford, Texas.
His international diplomacy reflects Saudi Arabia’s leadership role in defense of Arab and Islamic issues and for the achievement of world peace, stability and security. Peace in the Middle East and the plight of the Palestinians are of particular concern to King Abdullah. His proposal for a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace, presented at the Beirut Arab Summit in 2002, has been adopted by the League of Arab States and is known as the Arab Peace Initiative.

King Abdullah has been unwavering in his condemnation of terrorism. At the International Counterterrorism Conference in Riyadh in February, 2005, he called for greater international cooperation to fight this global problem.

Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz

When he became King in August 2005, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah appointed his brother Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz as Crown Prince. Crown Prince Sultan is also Minister of Defense and Aviation, and the Kingdom’s Inspector-General.

Prince Sultan was born in Riyadh in 1928, and, like his brothers, received his early education in religion, modern culture and diplomacy at the royal court. After serving as Governor of Riyadh Province from 1947 to 1953, he became the Kingdom’s first Minister of Agriculture. In 1955, he became Minister of Communications, and contributed greatly to the development of the Kingdom’s road, rail and telecommunications networks. He has been Minister of Defense and Aviation since 1963.

Prince Sultan serves as chairman of a number of organizations, including the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development (NCWCD), the Saudi Arabian Railways Organization (SRO), the Higher Council for Islamic Affairs, and the Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Charity Foundation. He has made a number of official visits overseas, and led the Saudi delegation to the 40th, 50th and 60th sessions of the United Nations General Assembly in 1985, 1995 and 2005.

During official visits to the United States in October 1995, February 1997, and November 1999 Prince Sultan met with President Bill Clinton and a number of US officials.

THE SEARCH FOR REAL MT. SINAI

noreply@blogger.com (borriz) — Wed, 14 May 2008 10:10:00 +0000

The Search for the Real Mt. Sinai, DVD, Reel Productions, 50 minutes. Available at http://www.explorationfilms.com .

As every Sunday school teacher and student knows, Mount Sinai, the mountain on which God in flame and smoke delivered the Ten Commandments to Moses, is located in the southern portion of the Sinai peninsula. At least, that’s what Bible maps show, and they can’t be wrong, can they?Two amateur archaeologists have created a DVD that answers that question in the affirmative. Mt. Sinai (also called Mt. Horeb) isn’t where these maps show it to be; in fact, it isn’t even on the Sinai peninsula. Mt. Sinai, they say, is likely located in modern day Saudi Arabia!

The ExplorersThe two men are Larry Williams, a commodities trader by profession, and Bob Cornuke, a southern California police investigator. They became interested in searching for the famed mountain after the late Jim Irwin, the astronaut and Noah’s Ark hunter, gave Williams a letter from a man claiming to have been in Saudi Arabia and seen what could have been Mt. Sinai.Irwin warned the two would-be explorers of the dangers of snooping around in Saudi Arabia, but, inspired by Irwin’s own courage as well as the excitement of possibly making a major discovery, Williams and Cornuke made plans for an expedition to that country.The Traditional Mt. Sinai SiteWilliams and Cornuke contend that no archaeological evidence has ever been found suggesting anyone ever camped in the area of the traditional site, and archaeologists have thoroughly examined this mountain. This Mt. Sinai, they claim, was named by a fortune teller in or about the third century A.D. Furthermore, they point out that Galatians 4:25 says plainly that Mt. Sinai is in “Arabia.” (However, my NIV map of the area when Galatians was written shows that “Arabia” included the Sinai peninsula. wk.)More telling might be a reference to Midian in Exodus 18:1 which occurred before the Israelites reached Mt. Sinai, and Midian according to Bible maps was located in present-day Saudi Arabia.Williams says the phrase “out of Egypt” occurs 72 times in the Bible in describing the Exodus. The Sinai peninsula at that time was in control of the Egyptian army, he says, with a significant military presence. It would seem logical God would have led His people out of this peninsula.Planning the ExpeditionWilliams and Cornuke may have been encouraged by reports they had heard of people seeing a mountain with a scorched top in Saudi Arabia, but these people had been arrested and their film confiscated before they were sent out of the country.

So, using the Bible and old maps as guides, they concluded that a mountain in Arabia called Jabal Al Lawz might be the Mt. Sinai for which they were looking.Their ambitious plans included trying to find the following features: the exodus route; the Red Sea crossing; the Bitter springs of Marah; the 70 palms; the 12 springs of Elam; the cave of Elijah; boundary markers around the mountain; the golden calf altar; an altar at the foot of the mountain; 12 stone pillars representing the 12 tribes of Israel; a rock from which water gushed; and, of course, the mountain itself.Getting Into Saudi ArabiaEyebrows will surely be raised at the admission by Williams and Cornuke of how they got into Saudi Arabia. They somehow managed to get their hands on a letter from the king of Saudi Arabia, a promotional letter of some kind they think. Then using the letterhead and the king’s signature, they devised a fake letter supposedly from the king giving them permission to enter Saudi Arabia. Williams seems to express some regret as to this method of gaining entry into the country, but he said they did what they had to do to find out the truth.The Red Sea Crossing PointScholars often point to three possible places at which the Israelites crossed the Red Sea. (See map.)The two northern points (1. & 2.) Williams and Cornuke rule out because Pharaoh could easily have sent part of his army around to the other side to cut off the Israelites.

At the southern point (3.) the sea bottom is like a canyon. With the sea parted, it would have been almost impossible for the elderly, children, and the animals to have climbed down one side and up the other. But the archaeologists say there is an interesting feature in the Gulf of Akabar that runs from the tip of the Sinai peninsula across the straits to Saudi Arabia—a land bridge. Cornuke feels this bridge which rises from the depths of the sea to within a few feet of the surface was especially created by God to allow the Israelites to escape. A wind following the parting of the sea could have dried out this land bridge so it wasn’t slimy or soggy. At the western end of the land bridge is nothing but wilderness and a mountain range so that the Israelites could have felt “hemmed in” as suggested by Exodus 14:3.
1. Sea of Reeds(Bitter Lakes) >>>
2. Tip of Suez >>>
3. Gulf of Suez >>>

<<< www.explorationfilms.com website and click on the Search for the Real Mt. Sinai link.

Saudi Arabia Tourist Attractions....

noreply@blogger.com (borriz) — Wed, 14 May 2008 09:57:00 +0000

Saudi Arabia Tourist Attractions would surely feature at the top, in any Saudi Arabia Travel Guide. The Things to See in Saudi Arabia in Asia are many and diverse, and are sure to keep you enchanted, during your visit in this ancient desert land.

Some of the most important attractions of Saudi Arabia highlight the history of the Islamic Religion of Saudi Arabia, the rich Culture of Saudi Arabia as well as the traditional Architecture of Saudi Arabia. You could also journey into the country's exciting, multi-faceted past, while touring the lost cities and archaeological wonders scattered throughout the country.
Al-Masjid al-Nabawi in Saudi Arabia, Masjid al-Qiblatain in Saudi Arabia, Quba Mosque in Saudi Arabia and Jawatha Mosque in Saudi Arabia are known as some of the holiest mosques in the world of Islam. The two holiest places in Islam, Macca and Madina also count as Saudi Arabia Popular Destinations, for Muslims world wide.

For lovers of the past, there's nothing quite like an adventurous tour to the ancient ruined cities and sites of extinct and exotic civilizations in Saudi Arabia. Visit the ruined city of Dumat al Jundal in Saudi Arabia to know more about interesting aspects of the Sumerian civilization, that forms a part of the ages-old History of Saudi Arabia. Don't miss out on touring the Historical Attractions of Saudi Arabia that include Tayma in Saudi Arabia, Medain Saleh in Saudi Arabia and Rock Carving Site in Saudi Arabia.

The land of glorious deserts and Mediterranean coastlines features places of natural beauty as well as other popular Saudi Arabia Tourist Attractions, that include:
- Al-Ula in Saudi Arabia
- Jamarat Bridge in Saudi Arabia
- Jannat al-Baqi in Saudi Arabia
- Jabal al-Lawz in Saudi Arabia
- Mount Uhud in Saudi Arabia
- National Parks of Asir in Saudi Arabia

So, come and enjoy exploring the fascinating Saudi Arabia Tourist Attractions!

Islamism in Saudi Arabia

noreply@blogger.com (borriz) — Mon, 12 May 2008 09:22:00 +0000

The decade of the 1980s was characterized by the rise of ultraconservative, politically activist Islamic movements in much of the Arab world. These Islamist movements, labeled fundamentalist in the West, sought the government institutionalization of Islamic laws and social principles. Although Saudi Arabia already claimed to be an Islamic government whose constitution is the Quran, the kingdom has not been immune to this conservative trend.

In Saudi Arabia, the 1960s, and especially the 1970s, had been years of explosive development, liberal experimentation, and openness to the West. A reversal of this trend came about abruptly in 1979, the year in which the Grand Mosque in Mecca came under attack by religiously motivated critics of the monarchy, and the Islamic Republic of Iran was established. Each of these events signaled that religious conservatism would have to be politically addressed with greater vigor. Although the mosque siege was carried out by a small band of zealots and their actions of shooting in the mosque appalled most Muslims, their call for less ostentation on the part of the Saudi rulers and for a halt to the cultural inundation of the kingdom by the West struck a deep chord of sympathy across the kingdom. At the same time, Ayatollah Khomeini's call to overthrow the Al Saud was a direct challenge to the legitimacy of the monarchy as custodian of the holy places, and a challenge to the stability of the kingdom with its large Shia minority.

In the years following these events, the rise of the ultraconservative periphery has caused the vast center of society to shift in a conservative direction, producing greater polarity between those who are Western-oriented and the rest of society. The 1991 Persian Gulf War marked another dramatic shift toward conservative sentiment, and this conservative trend continued to gain momentum in the early 1990s.

The conservative revival has been manifest in literature, in individual behavior, in government policies, in official and unofficial relations with foreigners, in mosque sermons, and in protest demonstrations against the government. The revival was also apparent in increased religious programming on television and radio, and an increase in articles about religion in newspapers.
On an individual level, some Saudi citizens, especially educated young women, were expressing the revivalist mood by supplementing the traditional Saudi Islamic hijab (literally curtain or veil), a black cloak, black face veil, and hair covering, with long black gloves to hide the hands. In some cases, women who formerly had not covered their faces began to use the nontransparent covering once worn mainly by women of traditional families. Some, especially younger, university- educated women, wore the hijab when traveling in Europe or the United States to demonstrate the sincerity of their belief in following the precepts of Islam.

In the Hijaz, another expression of the Islamic revival was participation in the ritual celebration of popular Islamic holidays. Some elite Hijazi families, for example, have revived the mawlid, a gathering for communal prayer on the occasion of the Prophet's birthday, or to celebrate a birth, mourn a death, bless a new house, or seek God's favor in fulfillment of some wish, such as cure of an illness or the birth of a child. Mawlid rituals, especially when performed by women, were suppressed by Abd al Aziz when he conquered the Hijaz because they incorporated intercession and the Wahhabis considered them the equivalent of polytheism.

Reacting to the revivalist mood, the government has backed the mutawwiin in responding to calls for controls over behavior perceived as non-Islamic. In November 1990, a group of forty-seven women staged a demonstration to press their claim for the right to drive. The mutawwiin demanded that the women be punished. The government confiscated the women's passports, and those employed as teachers were fired. The previously unofficial ban on women's driving quickly became official. As a further indication of the growing conservatism, considerable criticism of the women's behavior in asking for the right to drive came from within the women's branch of the university in Riyadh.

Religiously sanctioned behavior, once thought to be the responsibility of families, was being increasingly institutionalized and enforced. Women, for example, were usually prevented from traveling abroad unless accompanied by a male chaperon (mahram), a marked shift from the policy of the late 1970s, when a letter granting permission to travel was considered sufficient. This rule has compounded the difficulties for women wishing to study abroad: a 1982 edict remained in force that restricted scholarships for women to those whose father, husband, or brother was able to remain with them during the period of study.

State funding has increased for the nationwide organization of mutawwiin that is incorporated into the civil service bureaucracy. Once responsible primarily for enforcing the attendance of men in the mosque at prayer time, the tasks of the mutawwiin since the 1980s have come to include enforcing public abstinence from eating, drinking, and smoking among both Muslims and non-Muslims in the daylight hours during Ramadan. The mutawwiin (also seen as Committees for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice or Committees for Public Morality) are also responsible for seeing that shops are closed at prayer time and that modest dress is maintained in public. Foreign women were under increased pressure to wear clothing that covered the arms and legs, and men and women who were unrelated might be apprehended for traveling together in a car. In the early 1980s, an offending couple might have received an official reprimand, but in the early 1990s they might experience more serious consequences. In 1991, for example, a Saudi citizen who gave a foreign female coworker a ride home was sentenced to a public flogging and his coworker subsequently was deported.

The rise in conservatism also can be seen in measures taken to obstruct non-Muslim religious services. Non-Muslim services have long been discouraged, but never prohibited, in Arabia. Even at the height of the Wahhabi revival in the 1920s, Christian missionary doctors held prayer services in the palace of Abd al Aziz. In the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, Christian religious services were held regularly in private houses and in housing compounds belonging to foreign companies, and these services were usually ignored by mutawwiin as long as they did not attract public attention or encourage proselytism. With the end of the Persian Gulf War, however, mutawwiin began to enforce a ban on non-Muslim worship and punished offenders. In 1991, for example, a large number of mutawwiin accompanied by uniformed police broke up a Christian service in Riyadh and arrested a number of participants, including children.

The most significant indicator of the growing shift toward conservatism was the willingness of the state to silence opposition groups. For example, in May 1991, more than 400 men from the religious establishment and universities, including Saudi Arabia's most prominent legal scholar, Shaykh Abd al Aziz ibn Baz, petitioned the king to create a consultative council, a request to which the king responded favorably in February 1992. In their petition, however, the signatories asked not only for more participation in decision making, but also for a revision of all laws, including commercial and administrative regulations, to conform with the sharia. They asked for the creation of Islamic banks and an end to interest payments in established banks, as well as the redistribution of wealth, protection for the rights of the individual, censure of the media so that it would serve Islam and morality, and the creation of a strong army so that the kingdom would not be dependent on the West. The requests represented a combination of apparently liberal petitions (a consultative council, redistribution of wealth) with a conservative religious bent.

In a follow-up to the petition, a number of the signatories wrote a letter stating that funds for religious institutions were being cut back, that the institutions were not being given the resources to create jobs, and that their fatwas were being ignored. The letter further claimed that those who signed the original petition had had their passports confiscated and were being harassed by security personnel even though "they had committed no other crime than giving advice to the Guardian." This affair suggested that the government was sufficiently concerned about the increasingly conservative mood to shift its strategy from merely co-opting the conservative agenda to suppressing its extreme voices.

In another incident, a movement called Islamic Awakening, which had a growing following in religious colleges and universities, attempted to hold a public demonstration in early 1991, but participants were threatened with arrest if they did so. At the same time, the government arrested a well-known activist in the Islamic Awakening while he was preaching a sermon in a Riyadh mosque.

Factors contributing to the increased attraction of Islamic conservatism included the problem of impending loss of identity caused by overwhelming Westernization. As secular education, population mobility, the breakup of extended family households, and the employment of women chipped away at cherished institutions of family and society, religion was a refuge and a source of stability (see Cultural Homogeneity and Values , this ch.).

Another factor was disaffection with the existing economic system in the face of rising unemployment. During the rapid expansion of the 1970s, employment in the public sector was virtually assured for Saudi citizens with technical skills and for those with a Western education. By the end of the decade, however, those positions, especially in education and in the ministries, came under pressure from increasing numbers of university graduates with rising expectations that no longer could be fulfilled in public sector employment. In addition, in the 1990s a growing number of young men educated in Islamic colleges and universities were unemployed; their acquired knowledge and skills were becoming more irrelevant to the demands of the economy and bureaucratic infrastructure, even within the judiciary where traditionally Islamic scholarship was most highly valued.

An additional factor lay in the monarchy's continuing need to maintain legitimacy as an "Islamic government." As long as the ruling family believes it must continue to prove itself a worthy inheritor of the legacy on which the kingdom was founded, it will be obliged to foster religious education and the Islamic political culture in which the kingdom's media are steeped. A lesser factor in the rise of conservatism may be widespread sympathy with the sense of being victimized by the West, as evidenced, for example, in the continuing displacement of Palestinians in the occupied territories and southern Lebanon.

Islam remained the primary cohesive ideology in the kingdom, the source of legitimacy for the monarchy, and the pervasive system for moral guidance and spirituality. The nature of the Islamic society Saudi Arabia wished to have in the future, however, was one of the important and passionately debated issues in the kingdom in the early 1990s. The ultraconservative moral agenda appealed on an emotional level to many Saudi citizens. But the desire to expand the jurisdiction of sharia law and to interfere with the banking system was also a source of concern for many people. Because nearly all Saudis have reaped material benefits from state-funded development, people were hesitant to jeopardize those benefits and the political stability that allowed development. Some have suggested that the new system of basic laws was a clear signal that the monarchy was firmly committed to liberalization and no longer felt compelled to tolerate conservative excesses. Close assessment of the implications of the basic laws suggested, however, that the monarchy was making no substantive changes and, in effect, was taking no chances to risk disturbing the balance among competing religious persuasions in the kingdom.

Data as of December 1992
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+sa0046)

HISTORY...

noreply@blogger.com (borriz) — Thu, 08 May 2008 07:48:00 +0000

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 in the peninsula 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. A June 2000 treaty further delineated portions of the boundary with Yemen. The location and status of Saudi Arabia's boundary with the United Arab Emirates is not final; a de facto boundary reflects a 1974 agreement. The border between Saudi Arabia and Qatar was resolved in March 2001. The border with Oman also is not demarcated.

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. From 1997, Crown Prince Abdullah took on much of the day-to-day responsibilities of running the government. Upon King Fahd’s death on August 1, 2005, Abdullah assumed the throne as King. Prince Sultan, Minister of Defense and Aviation, became Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister. Since ascending to the throne, King Abdullah has continued to pursue an incremental program of social, economic, and political reforms.

MAIN CITIES

noreply@blogger.com (borriz) — Mon, 05 May 2008 06:12:00 +0000

Islam’s two holiest cities, Makkah and Madinah, are located in Saudi Arabia. Makkah is the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad, the location of the Holy Kaaba, and the focal point of the Islamic Pilgrimage (Hajj). Madinah is the city to which the Prophet Muhammad emigrated, and where he lived. About two million Muslims from Saudi Arabia and around the world come to Makkah each year in observance of the Hajj.

Saudi Arabia’s capital is Riyadh, which lies in the central region. The oil boom initiated an era of growth in the city that continues to this day. Riyadh is often thought of as the high-tech center of modern Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom’s increasingly important position in regional affairs is reflected in the choice of Riyadh for the headquarters of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

Riyadh
Jeddah
Dammam
Al-Khobar
Dhahran
Al-Ahsa
Qatif
Jubail
Taif
Tabouk
Abha
Al Baha
Jizan
Najran
Hail
Makkah AL-Mukkaramah
AL-Madinah Al-Munawarah
Al Qaseem
Jouf
Yanbu