Greater Arabia. What you need to know about Saudi Arabia. External economic relations

Saudi Arabia flag

The flag of the first state was a green banner with a white crescent. However, the Wahhibis used a green cloth as a banner with a shahada (Islamic creed: "There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah") in Arabic. In 1902, he adopted the flag with the shahadah as a state flag, adding a sword to it. The design of the flag changed several times: white edges appeared and disappeared, the font changed, there were two swords. The modern design of the flag was approved in 1973.

Of the features of the flag, it should be noted that it is sewn from two panels so that the text can be read from both sides. Since the shahada is sacred for Muslims, the Saudi flag is forbidden to be depicted on T-shirts (in case of emergency, for example, on the uniform of athletes during international competitions, a flag is depicted with only one sword), and it is not lowered in case of mourning.

Coat of arms of Saudi Arabia

The coat of arms of Saudi Arabia was approved in 1950. It depicts a palm tree and two swords. Palm is the main tree of Saudi Arabia, and two swords symbolize the two families that founded Saudi Arabia: and al-Wahhab.

States on the territory

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

المملكة العربية السعودية (Al-Mamlaka al-Arabiyya al-Saudiyya)

Since the third millennium BC, the territory of the Arabian Peninsula was inhabited by nomadic Semitic tribes - the ancestors of modern Arabs, who assimilated the Negroid population of the south of the peninsula. In the first millennium BC, in the south of the peninsula, ancient Arab states - kingdoms - began to take shape. For a long time, tribal relations prevailed among the population of North Arabia, but gradually slave-owning states began to form there from tribal unions, in particular. In the 1st century BC, North Arabia came under power, and after its collapse it became an arena of struggle between and. As for the west and south of the peninsula (Hejaz, Asir and Yemen), they found themselves at the intersection of trade routes between the Mediterranean, India and Africa, which contributed to the emergence and growth of cities such as Makoraba (Mecca) and Yathrib (Medina). Simultaneously with the development of trade, Christianity and Judaism began to spread in these areas.

By the 5th century AD in the central region of Arabia - Najdeh - a union of Arab tribes headed by the Kinda tribe was formed, which extended its influence to the south and east of the peninsula. Around 529, the alliance fell apart, and Arabia became the arena of struggle between Ethiopian and Persian rulers. The struggle against the invaders was led by the Quraish tribe from Mecca. From this tribe came the Prophet Muhammad, thanks to whose activities in the 7th century a new religion arose in Arabia - Islam. It was Islam that became the core around which the scattered nomadic tribes of the Arabian Peninsula united into an Arab nation, and a new theocratic state arose - with its capital in Medina.

As a result of the rapid expansion, by the middle of the 8th century, in addition to Arabia, Mesopotamia, Palestine, Syria, Persia, Transcaucasia, North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula were under the rule of the caliphs. The capital of the Caliphate was moved from Medina, first to Damascus and then to Baghdad. This led to the fact that Arabia became the outskirts of a huge state.

In 1901, against the backdrop of the Kuwaiti crisis, in which the leading world powers were involved, resumed the struggle for Riyadh. In January 1902, as a result of a daring raid, his son took Riyadh, and by the spring of 1904 he had restored power over most of Najd. The Rashidids appealed for help to, but the Sultan's troops were defeated and were forced to leave the peninsula. The Sultan was recognized as his vassal in Najd. In 1906, the emir recognized power over Najd and Kasim, and the sultan confirmed this agreement.

Najd and Hijaz in 1923

After gaining independence, clashes between Arab states resumed. In 1920, the troops of Najd captured Upper Asir, and the next year it was annexed to the possessions. On August 22, 1921, he was proclaimed Sultan of Najd and the dependent territories. In the next two years, they captured El-Jauf and Wadi al-Sirhan and moved their troops north, to, and. Not wanting to over-strengthen Najd, the British supported the Hashemite rulers and. were defeated.

In 1928, an out-of-control uprising broke out in the kingdom Ikhvanov... After receiving blessings from the ulema, he formed a small army of members of the tribes loyal to him and drove the rebels into the territory. There they were surrounded by British troops, and their leaders were extradited. With defeat Ikhvanov tribal associations lost their role as the main military base. During the civil war, the rebellious sheikhs and their squads were completely destroyed. This victory was the final stage on the way to the creation of a single centralized state.

The new monarch embarked on a gradual modernization of the kingdom. Under him, the introduction of Western technologies in industry began and social sphere, the health and education systems were reformed, and a national television appeared. In foreign policy, border disputes with, and. In 1970, the civil war in the YAR was ended, where Saudi Arabia supported the supporters of the ousted imam. In the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, Saudi Arabia supported and even for some time imposed an embargo on the supply of oil to the United States. The normalization of relations with America took place only after the signing of an armistice between Israel, and in 1974.

In 1975, the king was assassinated by one of his nephews and his brother ascended the throne. He was in poor health, and therefore the actual power was in the hands of his brother. He continued the conservative policy of his predecessor. Thanks to its huge oil revenues and its military-strategic position, the kingdom's role in regional politics and international economic and financial issues has increased.

The Islamic Revolution of 1978-79 in Iran led to an outbreak of Islamic fundamentalism in the world. There have been major anti-government protests in Saudi Arabia. In addition, in the early 1980s, oil prices and demand fell sharply, which led to a crisis in the Saudi economy, another exacerbation of internal contradictions and the foreign policy situation in the region.

Gulf war

During the Iran-Iraq war, Saudi Arabia supported. In response, Ayatollah Khomeini's followers regularly tried to disrupt the annual Hajj to Mecca. Saudi Arabia was forced to sever diplomatic relations with. During the Gulf War of 1990-91, Saudi Arabia was threatened by an Iraqi invasion. Thousands of American and allied military forces were deployed on the territory of the country. The king made a great personal contribution to the creation of the anti-Iraqi coalition of Arab states.

After the Gulf War, under pressure from the liberals, he embarked on political reforms. In particular, the Consultative Council was created, the Council of Ministers was reformed and the administrative-territorial division of the country was changed. However, the reforms failed to resolve the contradictions that have matured in Saudi society. The presence of American troops on Saudi territory was contrary to the doctrines of Wahhabism, and in the 1990s, several terrorist attacks against Americans took place in the kingdom. Saudi Arabia was one of two countries that recognized the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. Relations with the United States deteriorated further after the events of September 11, 2001. Washington accused Saudi Arabia of financing international terrorist organizations, in particular, Al-Qaeda. However, the United States did not agree to break off relations with Saudi Arabia.

In 2003, two human rights organizations were established in Saudi Arabia, and in 2005, local elections were held for the first time.

Despite the reforms carried out, Saudi Arabia is one of the most closed and conservative countries in the world. All power is in the hands of the king, he is also the spiritual leader of the country. His power is limited only by the rules of Sharia. This makes Saudi Arabia alongside the only absolute theocratic monarchy in the world. The throne is inherited. The right to the throne is legally assigned to the sons and grandchildren of the first king, but the order of succession is not clearly defined: the heir is chosen by a special Council from among the most influential members of the royal family.

The Koran is declared the Constitution of Saudi Arabia; all legislation is based on Islamic law. Any discussion of the existing system is prohibited in the country. Religious police ( muttava), which monitors the observance of the norms of Islam. The use of alcohol and drugs, theft and murder are severely punished; public executions are practiced. Women's rights are severely limited, and all restrictions apply to foreign citizens located in Saudi Arabia. Despite allied relations with the West, Saudi Arabia is often criticized for condescending to Islamic radicalism. Saudi Arabia is home to former international "terrorist # 1" Osama bin Laden; many Islamic militants find refuge on its territory.

The riots in the Arab world in 2011 hardly touched Saudi Arabia. Only the Shiite unrest in al-Katif was recorded, suppressed by the authorities with the use of weapons. Currently, any rallies and demonstrations in Saudi Arabia are prohibited as contrary to Sharia law. The police received the right to use any means to curb illegal gatherings.

At the end of 2017, several dozen members of the elite, including princes, were arrested in Saudi Arabia. Officially, they are accused of corruption, but in reality, most likely, there is a process of "clearing" the political field for Crown Prince Mohammed ibn Salman from representatives of the conservative opposition.

"The country of two mosques" (Mecca and Medina) - this is how Saudi Arabia is often called in another way. The form of government of this state is an absolute monarchy. Geographical information, Short story and information about the political structure of Saudi Arabia will help to get a general idea of ​​this country.

General information

Saudi Arabia is the largest state on the Arabian Peninsula. In the north, it borders with Iraq, Kuwait and Jordan, in the east with the UAE and Qatar, in the southeast with Oman, and in the south with Yemen. It owns more than 80 percent of the peninsula, as well as several islands in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea.

More than half of the country's territory is occupied by the Rub al-Khali desert. In addition, to the north is part of the Syrian Desert, and to the south is Al-Nafud, another large desert. The plateau in the center of the country is crossed by several rivers, usually drying up during the hot season.

Saudi Arabia is exceptionally rich in oil. The government partially invests the profits from the sale of "black gold" in the development of the country, partially invests in industrialized states and uses it to provide loans to other Arab powers.

Saudi Arabia's form of government is an absolute monarchy. Islam is recognized as the state religion. Arabic is the official language.

The name of the country was given by the ruling dynasty - the Saudis. Its capital is the city of Riyadh. The country's population is 22.7 million, mostly Arabs.

Early history of Arabia

In the first millennium BC, the Minea kingdom was located on the shores of the Red Sea. On the east coast was Dilmun, which was considered the political and cultural federation in the region.

In 570, an event took place that determined the further fate of the Arabian Peninsula - Muhammad, the future prophet, was born in Mecca. His teaching literally turned the history of these lands upside down, subsequently influencing the peculiarities of the form of government of Saudi Arabia and the culture of the country.

The followers of the prophet, known as caliphs (caliphs), conquered almost all of the Middle East by carrying Islam. However, with the emergence of the Caliphate, whose capital was first Damascus, and later - Baghdad, the importance of the prophet's homeland gradually lost its importance. At the end of the XIII century, the territory of Saudi Arabia was almost entirely under the rule of Egypt, and after another two and a half centuries, these lands were transferred to the Ottoman Port.

The emergence of Saudi Arabia

In the middle of the 17th century, the state of Nazhd appeared, which managed to achieve independence from the Port. In the middle of the 19th century, Riyadh became its capital. But the civil war that broke out a few years later led to the fact that the weakened country was divided among neighboring powers.

In 1902, the son of the sheikh of the Dirayah oasis, Abdul-Aziz ibn Saud, managed to take Riyadh. Four years later, almost all of Nazhd was under his control. In 1932, highlighting the special significance of the royal house in history, he officially gave the country the name Saudi Arabia. The form of government of the state allowed the Saudis to achieve on its territory.

Since the middle of the last century, this state has become the main ally and strategic partner of the United States in the Middle East region.

Saudi Arabia: form of government

The Constitution of this state officially proclaimed the Koran and Sunna of the Prophet Muhammad. However, Saudi Arabia's form of government and general principles the authorities are determined by the Basic Nizam (law), which entered into force in 1992.

This act contains a provision stating that Saudi Arabia is a sovereign system of government in which it is monarchical. the country is based on Sharia law.

The king of the ruling family of Saudis is also the religious leader and the supreme authority over all forms of government. At the same time, he holds the post of supreme commander in chief of the army, has the right to make appointments to all important civil and military posts, to declare war in the country. He also oversees that the overall political orientation meets the norms of Islam and monitors the implementation of the principles of Sharia.

Government departments

The executive power in the state is exercised by the Council of Ministers. The king holds the post of its chairman, it is he who is responsible for its formation and reorganization. Nizams approved by the Council of Ministers enact royal decrees. The ministers head the relevant ministries and departments, for the activities of which they are responsible to the king.

Also carried out by the king, under which there is an Advisory Council with deliberative rights. The members of this council express their opinion on the projects of the nizams adopted by the ministers. The Chairman of the Advisory Council and sixty of its members are also appointed by the King (for four years).

At the head of the judiciary is the Supreme Judicial Council. On the advice of this council, the king appoints and dismisses judges.

Saudi Arabia, whose form of government and state structure is based on the almost absolute power of the king and the worship of the Islamic religion, officially does not have any trade unions or political parties. Serving a religion other than Islam is also prohibited here.

General information about the country

Located in the central part of the Arabian Peninsula. In Saudi Arabia, there are two holy cities of Islam - Mecca and Medina, where millions of Muslims from all over the world flock every year to carry out the pilgrimage prescribed by the Koran - the Hajj.

Most of the country is located in the desert and semi-desert zone. The climate is hot and dry. Water and food resources are limited. The population of Saudi Arabia in 2015 was about 29.74 million.

Since ancient times, the country's territory has been the periphery of the then existing states: the empires of Mesopotamia (Sumerian, Akkadian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian), Seleucid Syria, the Sabaean and Nabataean kingdoms. Caravan roads went through it from modern Yemen to the Mediterranean Sea. The local population, engaged in nomadic cattle breeding and oasis agriculture, earned money on transit trade (participation in it, collection of tolls for travel and robbery).

After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the British government tried to establish a state in the Hejaz headed by its ally Hussein. But he was expelled from the country by a group of Bedouin tribes - Islamic sectarian Wahhabis from Najd, led by the Saudi clan. In 1926, they proclaimed a new state - Saudi Arabia. With the help of the USSR, the new regime was able to keep the occupied territories under control.

City of Medina.

In the late 1940s, intensive oil development began, which by 1960 led to an explosive increase in the income of the Saudi ruling clan. The immense wealth allowed the rulers to raise the standard of living of the population and to modernize the economy and the army, without changing anything in the archaic theocratic system of power. The ruling clan numbers several hundred people and enjoys most of the income from oil exports. Saudi Arabia has become the head of the international oil cartel - OPEC.

The oil industry and other manufacturing industries employ hundreds of thousands of foreign workers who do not have in the country civil rights... The own population receives social benefits from the government. The rulers of Saudi Arabia see themselves as the defenders and strongholds of Islam; the country has religious legislation - sharia... The country's laws to this day are based on extreme forms of Islamic law, restricting the rights of women and any non-believers, including Muslims of other sects, except for the ruling one. Slavery has been officially abolished very recently, but in fact it is practiced at the beginning of the 21st century.

The Saudi Arabian army and security services are equipped with the most modern weapons. Wealth allows the country's authorities to stimulate young people to study in the most advanced educational institutions in the West and to innovate in the field of technology. Saudi investments are present in key sectors of the global economy. The country has carried out economic diversification; industries are developing and Agriculture not related to oil. For example, potatoes from Saudi Arabia are exported to Russia and Ukraine.

The political position of Saudi Arabia with a claim to leadership in the Arab and Muslim world and the leadership of the oil market led it to several conflicts. Saudi Arabia's rival for leadership in the Arab world was and remains Egypt, with which a war was fought in Yemen in 1962-1967. In the Islamic world, the position of Saudi Arabia seeks to press out Iran (which claims to expand its possessions in the Persian Gulf). In the eastern regions of the country, where the bulk of Saudi oil is produced, the population - both Saudi and foreign workers - is mostly Shiites, subject to religious oppression and inclined to support Iran.

Despite the formal alliance of the Saudi authorities with the United States, the entire ideological system of the country is aimed at a conflict with the Western world, including the military-terrorist jihad... The Saudi authorities fund and encourage the activities of extreme Islamist groups around the world, including terrorists (such as Hamas). Private and public organizations in the country, which are not formally associated with the government, go even further in the same direction.

The presence in the country of groups trying to overthrow the ruling regime leads to the constant danger of internal conflicts. Almost all of these groups are even more radical Islamists than the country's official religious authorities.

Saudi Arabia's anti-Israel position

Since the establishment of the State of Israel, Saudi Arabia has been among the most implacable opponents of the Jewish state, generously funding anti-Israeli terror, anti-Israel and anti-Semitic propaganda. Jews were prohibited from entering Saudi Arabia; the official guests and diplomats were presented with copies of the "Protocols of the Elders of Zion" (for more details on the attitude of Saudi Arabia towards Israel, see The State of Israel. Israel and the Arab World).

In 1991, Saudi Arabia acted as one of the most active participants in the anti-Iraqi coalition in the Gulf War. This increased the traditional dependence of Saudi Arabia on the United States, which constantly influenced the rulers of this country so that they take a more moderate stance towards Israel. This also met the vital interests of the Saudi regime, which feared destabilization in the Middle East and the actions of radical regimes and movements in the Arab world.

In the 2010s, amid the general crisis in the Middle East (see below), opportunities for cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Israel emerged. Certain circles of the Saudi authorities realized that radical Islamists pose a danger to them, but Israel does not, and that they no longer have the opportunity to attack Israel. Israeli diplomacy is making efforts to forge undisclosed ties with the Saudi leadership.

Events at the beginning of the XXI century

Islamic terrorist organizations associated with the al-Qaeda movement were less and less controlled by the royal government, turning into contenders for the seizure of power. The ruling circles are forced to fight them, as well as the Shiite terrorists supported by Iran. At the same time, the administration of US President Barack Obama has taken a course towards abandoning the alliance with Saudi Arabia and attempting to reorient towards Iran.

Saudi Arabia is trying to thwart the growth of shale oil production in the United States and other countries around the world. To this end, it is increasing the export of its own oil, causing a drop in prices on the world market. As a result of the fall in oil prices, the income of the Saudi royal court is declining. At the same time, the population is growing rapidly, which creates difficulties in maintaining the established level of well-being of the population.

Authors: N. N. Alekseeva (Nature: physical and geographical sketch), N. A. Bozhko (Nature: geology), A. V. Sedov (Historical sketch), G. G. Kosach (Historical sketch), G. L Ghukasyan (Economy), V. D. Nesterkin (Armed Forces), V. S. Nechaev (Public Health), M. N. Suvorov (Literature), E. S. Yakushkina (Architecture and Fine Arts)Authors: N. N. Alekseeva (Nature: physical and geographical sketch), N. A. Bozhko (Nature: geology), A. V. Sedov (Historical sketch), G. G. Kosach (Historical sketch); >>

SAUDI ARABIA(Arab. Al-Arabiya al-Saudiya), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Arabic. Al-Mamlaka al-Arabiya al-Saudiya).

General information

SA is a state in the South-West. Asia, on the Arabian Peninsula. It borders in the north with Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, in the east with Qatar, in the southeast with the UAE and Oman, in the south with Yemen. In the west it is washed by the Red Sea, in the east - by the waters of the Persian Gulf. Pl. OK. 2.15 million km 2 (official data; according to other sources, from 1.6 to 2.4 million km 2, the borders of North America in the south and southeast run through deserts and are not clearly defined). US. 30.8 million people (2014). The capital is Riyadh. Officer. language - Arabic. The monetary unit is Saud. rial. Adm.-Terr. division - 13 adm. districts.

Administrative divisions (2013)

Administrative region	Area, thousand km 2	Population, million people	Administrative center
Asher	76,7	2,1	Abha
Oriental	672,5	4,5	Dammam (Ed-Dammam)
Jizan	11,671	1,5	Jizan
Medina	152	2	Medina
Mecca	153,1	7,7	Mecca
Najran	149,5	0,6	Najran
Tabuk	146,1	0,9	Tabuk
Hail	103,9	0,6	Hail
El Baha	9,9	0,4	El Baha
El Jawf	100,2	0,5	El Jawf
Al-qasim	58	1,3	Buraydah
El-Khudud-al-Shamaliyya	111,8	0,3	Ar'ar
Riyadh	404,2	7,5	Riyadh

S.A. - Member of the UN (1945), LAS (1945), IMF (1957), IBRD (1957), OPEC (1960), GCC (Cooperation Council of Arab States of the Persian Gulf; 1981), OIC (Organization Islamic Cooperation; 1969; until 2011 Organization of the Islamic Conference), WTO (2005).

Political system

S.A. is a unitary state. Absolute theocratic. monarchy.

Head of state, legislator and will execute. power is king. He is the personification of the power of the Saudi family. The special position of this family is enshrined in an act of constitution. character - the Basic Nizam (regulation) of power 1992. The king elects the crown prince and removes him by his decree. The king, by decree, can transfer part of his powers to him.

Execute. power is exercised by the king and the Council of Ministers headed by him.

As a consultant. body under the king and the government is the Consultative Council (CC), whose functions include the development of recommendations on issues of socio-economic. development of the country, examination of draft regulations and international. agreements. The council consists of 150 members, appointed by the king for 4 years.

Political. there are no parties in SA.

Nature

Shores of the Persian Gulf. and Red m. preim. low, sandy, slightly indented.

Relief

Plateau-like plains are widespread, gradually decreasing from 1000–1300 m in the west to 200–300 m in the east and slightly dissected by dry river valleys (wadis). To the center. In some parts, stratal accumulative-denudation plains predominate, bordered from the east by a strip of cuesta uplands, including Tuvaik (up to 1143 m high, up to 300–400 m high). Means. the area is occupied by the Nejd plateau high. 400–1000 m with a det. mountain ranges (Jabal-Shammar, Kharrat-Khaybar, height up to 1850 m), sandy-pebble and rocky deserts (hamads, including the El-Hamad desert), wadi beds.

On horizontally deposited sedimentary rocks, stratal accumulative plains are formed, overlain by loose Quaternary, in the main. sandy, sediments. The processes of arid denudation and accumulation are typical. Forms of aeolian relief (ridge, dune and dune-hilly sands) occupy vast areas in the deserts of Big Nefud, Small Nefud (Dekhna), Nafud-ed-Dakhi (Nefud-Dakhi) and Rub al-Khali, where the dunes of high. up to 200 m. Along the coast of the Red Sea, the mountains Esh-Shifa, Hijaz, and Asir (up to 3032 m high, the highest in North America) with steep, highly dissected west. slopes and gentle eastern. Lava plateaus (harrats) are widespread. The mountains drop stepwise to the narrow (up to 70 km) coastal lowland of Tihama with sandy deserts, rocky outcrops and salt marshes. To the east along the coast of the Persian Gulf. stretches the flat lowland of El-Khasa (up to 150 km wide) with rocky and sandy deserts, salt depressions (sebhi) and swampy areas.

Geological structure and minerals

C. A. is located within the north-east. parts of the Precambrian African-Arabian platform. In the west and in the center. parts of the surface are the rocks of the Nubian-Arabian belt of the platform basement - gneisses and migmatites of the Archean - Lower Proterozoic and the Upper Proterozoic complex, which is dominated by metamorphosed volcanogenic-sedimentary strata and granitoids; stands out several. suture zones with the development of melange and ophiolite covers. In the north-east. direction of the basement rocks are submerged under the platform cover of the Arabian plate - Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Paleogene terrigenous and anhydrite-carbonate (partly siliceous-carbonate) deposits, forming in the inner. districts of S.A. monoclines... B east. parts of the plate - the structural terrace of Gaza, where a meridional system of swell-like uplifts (En-Nala, etc.) is traced in the sedimentary cover up to 7 km thick. In the south, there is the Pub al-Khali syneclise (sediment thickness up to 8 km). Along the coast of the Persian Gulf. powerful Neogene molasses of the Mesopotamian foredeep are developed. In the north, west and south - Late Cenozoic continental basalts.

Main the wealth of the subsoil is oil and natural combustible gas. Almost the entire territory of C. A. is included in Persian Gulf oil and gas basin; open several. dozens of fields, among them - the largest in terms of oil reserves Gavar, Saffania-Khafji, Manifa, Abkaik. There are known deposits of ores of copper, zinc, gold, silver, lead (pyrite copper-zinc with gold and silver El-Masane, Jebel-Said, Mahd-ed-Dahab; copper-zinc Xnaigiya, as well as gold El-Amar, Bulgakh, etc. .). C. A. belongs to a part of the unique sulfide copper-zinc deposit with lead, silver and gold Atlantis-II in the depression of the axial rift of the Red Sea (115 km west of Jeddah). Main iron ore reserves are associated with the Wadi-Savavin deposit in the northwest. There are deposits of bauxite (Ez-Zabira in the north), phosphorites (in the north-west), rock salt and gypsum (the coast of the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf), pyrite, barite, native sulfur, magnesite, marble, limestone, clay, sand and other Manifestations of ores of tin, tungsten, rare metals and REE.

Climate

Benefit tropical, sharply continental, dry, in the north - subtropical. Summers are very hot, winters are warm. Wed January temperature (in Riyadh) 14 ° C, July 35 ° C (absolute maximum 54 ° C). In the north, frosts occasionally occur. The difference between night and day temperatures is significant. Almost everywhere there is less than 100 mm of precipitation per year, in Rub al-Khali - less than 35 mm (in the central regions mainly in spring, in the north - in winter); in the mountains - up to 400 mm per year, maximum in spring and summer. The amount of precipitation varies greatly from year to year, in some areas in the dep. years they are missing. Tihama is characterized by high relative humidity. Sultry South Samum winds in spring and early summer often cause sandstorms and strong temperature rises. Winter sowing. the shemal wind brings a decrease in temperature to the east. areas.

Inland waters

Almost all of S.A. is a drainless area without permanent rivers. streams are formed only after intense rains. The largest wadis are Es-Sirkhan, Er-Rumma, Ed-Dawasir, Bisha, Najran. After rare showers, wadis sometimes turn into powerful mud streams. Oases are confined to the wadi.

Ch. the role in the water supply of the country is played by ground and underground waters, which provide more than 95% of the water intake. Shallow groundwater accumulates in loose sedimentary strata and the weathering crust, Ch. arr. in the western, relatively humid mountainous part of the SA Osn. water resources are associated with underground aquifers, occurring at great depths (150–1500 m) over an area of ​​approx. 1.5 million km 2. On b. including the territory of the country water supply is carried out through artesian wells and deep wells. The extraction of groundwater significantly exceeds the volume of their renewal.

Annual renewable water resources are 2.4 km 3, water supply is low - 928 m 3 / person. per year (2006). The annual water intake is 23.7 km 3, of which 88% is used in the village. x-ve, 9% - in municipal water supply, 3% - in industry. Partial coverage of the shortage of fresh water is carried out due to desalination of the sea. waters (S.A. is a leader in the field of desalination of seawater: 1.03 km 3 per year, 2006), reuse treated wastewater for the village. x-va and prom. water consumption.

Soils, flora and fauna

Primitive desert soils predominate, there is no soil cover in vast areas, salt crust is widespread. Rough-skeletal subtropics are developed in the north. sierozem and gray-brown soils, in depressions - salt marshes and meadow-solonchak soils.

Vegetation preim. tropical desert, semi-desert in the north. On the sands, in places, white saxaul, juzgun, shrub wormwood, aristida cereals and wild millet grow, on hamads - lichens, on lava plateaus - wormwood, astragalus, along wadi channels and in inter-dune depressions - single acacias, prozopis, in more saline places - tamari ; along the coasts and salt marshes - halophytic shrubs (sveda, kalotropis). Manna lichen is widespread. Loose sands are almost completely devoid of growth. cover. In spring and in humid years, the role of ephemerals in the composition of vegetation increases. In the mountains, in the southwest, there are areas of savannas (acacia, commiphora, olive), above 2000 m, evergreen shrubs are typical, from a height. 2500 m - Afro-alpine vegetation with the participation of juniper. In the oases - groves of date palms, citrus fruits, bananas, cereals (wheat, barley) and garden crops. Deserts and semi-deserts occupy 62% of the territory, herbaceous ecosystems and shrubs - 33%, forests - approx. 2%.

In S.A., 77 species of mammals live (wolf, jackal, fennec fox, hyena, caracal, sand cat, wild onager donkey, antelope, gazelle, hyrax, hare, etc.). There is a large number of domesticated camels (dromedaries). There are many rodents (gerbils, gophers, jerboas, etc.) and reptiles (snakes, lizards, turtles). 10 species of mammals are endangered, including the Arabian oryx (oryx), the Nubian (mountain) goat, and the Arabian gerbil. There are 125 species of nesting birds (larks, sand grouses, bustards, kites, vultures, eagles, etc.), of which 13 are endangered. In the east. areas - locust foci.

Condition and protection of the environment

For b. including pasture lands are characterized by desertification processes. Wind erosion of varying intensity is widespread, and to a lesser extent, secondary soil salinization. Due to the pumping of groundwater, the depletion of aquifers is taking place. On the coast of the Persian Hall. there is an increased risk of oil pollution.

The system of protected areas includes 128 objects decomp. status, including 3 nat. parks (Asir, Harrat, as well as Farasan on the archipelago of the same name), many nature reserves and reserves, as well as extensive wildlife management zones in the north of the country and in the Rub al-Khali desert. In the nat. In the Kharrat Park and the Uruk-Bani-Maarid Nature Reserve, gazelles and oryx have been reintroduced, almost completely exterminated in the country.

Population

The indigenous population makes up 74.1% of the population. S. A., in the main. Saudi Arabs, as well as speakers of the South Arabian languages ​​Makhra and Shahari (0.3%). Immigrants and their descendants (including Filipinos, Punjabis, Urdu, Persians, Palestinians, Lebanese, Syrians, Egyptians, Sudanese, Somalis, Swahili) account for 25.9% (2010, census).

By officer. data (2013), of the total number of us. 20.3 million people - citizens of S.A. (approx. 68%), approx. 9.6 million people - immigrants (approx. 32%). The population in 1950–2014 increased almost tenfold (3.1 million in 1950; 5.8 in 1970; 16.1 in 1990). Natural the growth of us. 15.5 per 1000 inhabitants. (2014). The birth rate is 18.8 per 1000 inhabitants, the mortality rate is 3.3 per 1000 inhabitants. The fertility rate is 2.2 children per woman; baby mortality rate 14.6 per 1000 live births. In the age structure of the population, the share of people of working age (15–64 years) is high - 69.2%; the share of children (under 15 years old) is 27.6%, of people over 65 years old - 3.2%. Wed life expectancy 74.8 years (men - 72.8, women - 76.9 years). There are 121 men per 100 women. Wed density of us. St. 15 people / km 2 (2014; some oases have a density of more than 1000 people / km 2). The most densely populated areas are near the coast of the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf, as well as around Riyadh and to the north-east of it, where the mains are located. areas of oil and gas production. St. 60% of the country's territory (mainly deserts) does not have a permanent sedentary population. Share of mountains. US. 83% (2014). Largest cities (million people, 2010): Riyadh 5.2, Jeddah 3.4 (Mecca region), Mecca 1.5, Medina 1.1, Dammam 0.9, Al-Khufuf 0.7 (Vostochny district), Et-Taif 0.6 (Mecca district), Tabuk 0.5. Economically active us. OK. 11.3 million people (2013; including approx. 5.3 million - citizens of S.A.). In the structure of employment, the service sector accounts for 71.3%, industry - 23.3%, with. kh-va - 5.4% (2013). The unemployment rate is 6% (2014; among the citizens of S.A. 11.8%). Since 1996, the government has implemented a policy of restricting the employment of foreigners. labor force and its replacement by citizens of S.A. - the so-called. Saudisation of personnel (most successful in the public sector).

Religion

OK. 90% of the population are Muslims, including 85–90% are Sunnis (mostly Hanbalis), 10–15% are Shiites: Imamites, Zaidis, a significant Ismaili minority (approx. 2.5%) (2014, estimate ). Among the representatives of other confessions there are Christians (Catholics 2.5%, Protestants 1.5%, Orthodox 0.1%), Hindus (0.6%), Baha'is (0.1%). Public confession of all religions, except Islam, the opening of non-Muslim temples and houses of worship is prohibited. On the territory of S.A., in the cities of Mecca and Medina, Ch. shrines of Islam. The pilgrimage to the shrines of S.A. is made by St. 1.4 million Muslims per year (2014).

Historical sketch

The territory of Saudi Arabia from ancient times to the first centuries A.D. NS

The earliest traces of human activity (probably about 1.3 million years ago), belonging to the Oldowan (see. Olduvai culture), are known in the north (in the area of ​​Shuvaykhitiya) and in the south-west (Bir-Khima, Najran area) of the territory of the present. S. A .; finds from the Achel era are in its center. and east. parts of the Middle Paleolithic - everywhere. The lack of finds of the Late Paleolithic is probably due to unfavorable climatic conditions. conditions.

Since the Neolithic (c. 8th millennium BC), connections have been recorded with the territory of the Levant, from which, apparently, there was a migration of the population, the exchange of obsidian with the territory of Yemen, Ethiopia, and Eritrea. Petroglyphs are known from the 7th millennium (mainly hunting scenes). From the 6th millennium, ties with the South were strengthened. Mesopotamia (Ubeid culture), North-East. and South-West. Arabia.

In the era of the early metal (from the end of the 4th millennium), monumental ground tombs, sanctuaries, and, probably, associated anthropomorphic stone steles, appear. In the 3rd millennium, stable ties were established with Mesopotamia. Among the finds are samples of sculpture and glyptics, items made of lapis lazuli, carnelian (mainly imports from Mesopotamia, from the territory of Afghanistan, Gujarat). Coast of the Persian Hall. was part of the Dilmun civilization zone.

The oases of the Hijaz, Teima (now Taima), Dedan (now El-Ula), Madyan have been permanently inhabited since the 3rd to the 2nd millennium. 1st millennium they played an important role on the "path of incense" (from the territory of Yemen in the Mediterranean), are mentioned in Assyr. cuneiform sources of the 8th-7th centuries, the Old Testament. From the 7th century. inscriptions appear in local languages ​​with varieties of North-Arabian alphabetic writing. In 550 a number of oases was conquered by the Babylonian king Nabonidus, who made Teima his residence for 10 years. At the site of Kraya (probably the capital of Teima) a "stele of Nabonidus" with an inscription in Akkadian was found. and the image of the king in front of the symbols of the Babylonian gods Sina, Shamash, Ishtar. Other cuneiform texts mentioning Nabonidus, rock inscriptions containing greetings to the "king of Babylon" are also known from Teima. In the 5th century. these oases have become dependent on Achaemenid states... In the 4th and 1st centuries. important polit. the force was the state of Likhyan with the capital Dedan (about 10 giant stone statues of its rulers have been preserved). From the 2nd century. BC NS. part of the North-West. Arabia was part of Nabataean kingdom; a large city was Hegra (now Madain-Salih), many are associated with it. rock tombs (analogues - in Petra). In 106 A.D. NS. The Nabataean kingdom became part of Rome. empire.

The central and southwestern parts of the territory of the present. SA belonged to the Yuzh civilization. Arabia; one of its centers was in the Najran oasis (the first mentions about 700). The center of the tribal union Mukhamir was located in the city of Ragmat, from the 6th century. the Amir tribe began to play the dominant role in the oasis. After a series of wars, Najran fell into dependence on the southern Arabian kingdom of Main. Ragmath is mentioned among the cities conquered by the Romans during the campaign of Aelia Galla to "Happy Arabia" in 25/24 BC. NS. In the 1st - 5th centuries. n. NS. Najran was ruled by the state of Saba and Himyarite kingdom .

Oasis Karyat el-Fau (Karyat al-Fau; mentioned from the end of the 4th century BC) in the north-west. the border of the Rub al-Khali desert from the first centuries A.D. NS. was the center of the Kinda tribal union and a point on the "path of incense" left in the beginning. 4th century, probably due to the drying up of fresh water sources. Residential quarters, a market, sanctuaries (including the supreme god Kahlu), and a necropolis have been excavated here. Inscriptions in Dedanian, Nabatean, Sabean languages, coins (including local minting), bronze, stone, terracotta images of Greek. and Greco-egypt. gods, Sabaean funerary sculpture, frescoes, glassware, semi-precious stones, gold, silver, and other finds demonstrate a combination of local and Near Eastern, Egyptian, Hellenistic, Roman. traditions.

With the settlement of Saj near the Persian Hall. identify Mr. Guerra - an important point in the system of trade in incense. The finds (including dishes made of glass and metal, jewelry made of gold and silver, coins of local minting) testify to the strongest influence of Hellenism. In Ain-Javan (north of the modern city of El-Katif), a tomb of the 1st – 2nd centuries was excavated. with numerous. jewelry.

Territory of Saudi Arabia in the 4th - early 7th century

Means. influence on the situation on the Arabian Peninsula in the 4-7 centuries. provided by external forces, the most important of which were the rivals of Byzantium and Sassanian Iran. Their confrontation turned the Arabic-speaking states that emerged on the periphery of the Arabian Peninsula or within it into satellites of one or another of these powers. If formed in 380 and existed until 611 in the South. Mesopotamia Lakhmid kingdom, which extended its possessions up to El-Hasy and officially professed nestorianism, was a vassal of Iran, then emerged in Vost. Palestine Ghassanid kingdom (529-636), which included the north of the Hejaz and adhered to monophysitism, was a vassal of Byzantium.

One of the forms of external influence on the internal Arabian situation was the spread of Judaism on the peninsula and Christianity... This influence was especially strong in the south of the peninsula, where, under the influence of Christianized Ethiopia, the local pantheon of deities was unified, contributing to the emergence of the idea of ​​a single ruler of Heaven and Earth - Rahmanan (his name, modified in accordance with the phonetics of Northern Arabic dialects, later became Rahman is one of the epithets of Allah). At the same time, Judaism penetrated into Arabia geographically deeper than Christianity. If the latter became widespread in the peripheral regions of the peninsula (Lakhmid and Ghassanid kingdoms), then it means. Jewish colonies existed in the oases of the Hejaz (including in Medina) and Najd.

However, b. including the territory of the present. SA was still pagan. The local pantheon included both male and female deities. Everyday practice was the veneration of stones, trees, stars and celestial phenomena, good and evil spirits as mediators between gods and people. Temples and sanctuaries were dedicated to the gods, one of which was the Meccan Kaaba, which was gradually turning into a recognized cult center with rituals developing around it, which later became part of the Islamic ritual. The unsuccessful campaign to Mecca in 570 Ethiopians gave this center a special status as "God-saved". King Abrahi.

Arabian Peninsula in the 7th - 17th century

The prophetic mission of Muhammad, which began in 603-605, transformed the politician. geography of the Arabian Peninsula. Its result was the formation of an early Islamic state, which included the entire territory of the present-day. Saud. Arabia.

The non-recognition of Muhammad by the Meccan Quraish as the Prophet forced him to emigrate to Yathrib (now Medina). A system of Muslims has developed there. dogmatics and rituals (including thanks to the confrontation with local Jewish tribes), as well as the foundations of a new statehood, family ethics and morality based on the norms of this system, the formation of Muslims began. ummah. While in Medina, Muhammad made his first conquests, limited to the territories adjacent to this city. Strengthening your own. authority as religions. leader, military leader and politician allowed Muhammad in January. 630 victoriously return to Mecca, which has recognized his authority. By 632 all the tribes are center. Arabia, as well as the population of Asir, Najran and Yemen converted to Islam, which they promoted as a military man. threats and diplomatic. efforts of its founder. However, the first attempts of Muhammad to introduce zakat and sadaka for the population of the territories under his control caused uprisings. Disputes between the closest companions and relatives of the Prophet, which began after his death in 632, ended with the election of the Caliph Abu Bekr. He managed to break the resistance of the rebels and pacify the rebellious tribes, and the campaign he organized against Byzantium was successful. But his election led to the emergence of the first fault lines in Muslims. community. Preconditions of Shiism arose - supporters Ali ibn Abi Taliba believed that it was he who should inherit Muhammad, and not Abu Bakr, whom they considered a usurper.

After the death of Abu Bakr, the caliphs were Omar ibn al-Khattab and then Osman ibn al-Affan... The assassination of the latter in 656 by opponents of strengthening the role of his clan in the life of the Caliphate marked the beginning of fitnah - a turmoil that divided Muslims into Shiites, Kharijites and Sunnis. The power of Ali ibn Abi Talib, who became the new caliph, was immediately challenged by the governor of Syria Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan... After Ali ibn Abi Talib's death, his son Hasan renounced the title in favor of Mu'awiya ibn Abi Sufyan, as a result of which power in the Caliphate passed from Muhammad's associates and relatives to the Umayyads who ruled in Damascus. Political. center of muslim. state-va became the capital of Syria. After the transfer of power in the Caliphate in 747 to the Abbasids, the center of the political. life of the Islamic world has moved to Baghdad. Mecca retained only the status of religions. center, and the Arabian Peninsula became the periphery of a huge state. education.

The protracted process of the disintegration of the Caliphate had a meaning. influence on polit. the situation on the Arabian Peninsula. The emergence in 899 of the state of the Karmats in Bahrain, which included El-Khasa, made possible the further expansion of representatives of this trend in the direction of the Hejaz. In 930 the Carmatians attacked Mecca and kidnapped ch. the object of worship is the "black stone" (returned only in 952).

After Ahmed ibn Tulun came to power in Egypt in 858, the Tulunid state arose, which also included the Hejaz. With the conquest of Egypt in 969 by the Fatimids, Hijaz entered their state, in 1171 - into the state of the Ayyubids who replaced the Fatimids, in 1250 - into Mamluk Sultanate... After the latter was defeated in 1516 by Sultan Selim I the Terrible (1512–20), Hijaz and Asir became part of Ottoman Empire... In 1638, the Ottoman rule also extended to Al-Hasa. Ottoman expansion did not touch the semi-desert interior. areas of the Arabian Peninsula, however, the rulers of the oases and tribal leaders of this territory, solving the problems of their own. the rise or preservation of power, repeatedly turned to the Port for help.

Arabia in the 18th - late 19th century. First Saudi states

If in the Hejaz, which became part of the Ottoman Empire, Hanafi Islam became the dominant Sunni legal school (see Hanafis), then in Najd it means. To a certain extent, the Hanbali madhhab (sense) of Sunni Islam became firmly established (see Hanbalits). This legal school required strict adherence to religions. dogmas and live practically the way the Prophet and his companions lived. In the 1st floor. 18th century these ideas were developed Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, who became the spiritual mentor of the inhabitants of the small town of Uyayna in Najd. The activities of Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab displeased the ruler of Uyayna. In 1744/45 the preacher was forced to move to the town of Ed-Diriya (now in the administrative borders of Greater Riyadh). The resettlement of Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab and his alliance with the Emir of Ed-Diriyah Mohammed ibn Saud (1726 / 27-1765) is considered the beginning of the Saud. statehood. This alliance later became the basis for interaction between the emir's descendants - the Saudis and the teachers of the law from the Al ash-Sheikh family (Al Sheikh, Ali-sh-Sheikh) - the descendants of Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab.

To the end. 1780s the rulers of Ed-Diriyah established dominion over the entire territory of Najd. Int. the al-Hasa strife eased the Saud. expansion towards the coast of the Persian Gulf. Despite the resistance of local tribes, in the 1st half. 1790s El-Hasa became part of the Saud. possessions. An attempt by the Ottoman wali of Basra to restore Ottoman rule in Al-Has ended in the summer of 1797 with the invasion of the tribes subordinate to the ruler of Ed-Diriyah into Iraqi territory. In the spring of 1802 they captured and plundered the largest Iraq. Shiite center Karbala. From the beginning. 1790s Saud began. raids on the Hejaz. In 1805, with the establishment by the Saudis of control over the Medina and the ports of the Red Sea, the Hejaz became part of their possessions. The Saudis' power was also consolidated in Asir, from where attempts were made to infiltrate Yemen. In the beginning. 19th century one of the directions of the Saud. expansion became Muscat and Hadhramaut, as well as the territory of the current states of the Persian Hall zone. (including the Bahrain Archipelago). However, agreements concluded by local rulers with Great Britain, for which the area played an important role in ensuring the security of communications with British India, put her limit. The Saudis were forced to abandon the continuation of the expansion also in connection with the landing of Egyptian troops in the Hejaz in 1811. ruler Muhammad Ali .

The establishment of the Saud. domination over Mecca and Medina, which had previously been subject to Ottoman jurisdiction, dealt a blow to the prestige of the Istanbul sultans and caliphs, who were unable to ensure the safety of the Hajj. To restore its former position, the Porta took advantage of Muhammad Ali's interest in returning Egypt's trade monopoly in the Red Sea zone. Egypt troops after the landing in the Hejaz Yanbu (Yanbu-el-Bahr), despite initial setbacks, gradually managed to develop an offensive in the direction of internal. areas of the Arabian Peninsula and in Sept. 1818 take and destroy Ed-Diriyah. First Saud. state fell, b. including Saud. the nobility and family members of Al al-Sheikh were taken to Egypt.

Egypt the occupation of Najd, accompanied by looting, violence, and the revival of tribal anarchy, was short-lived. Escaped from the Egyptians, member. dynasty of Saudis Turks ibn Abdallah (1821–34) headed the arms. resistance egypt. occupation. He was supported by the heads of the tribes and the Hanbali ulema. Leaving the destroyed Ed-Diriya, the new emir made Riyadh his capital, consistently expanding the sphere of his possessions in the center of Najd, creating a second state of Saudis. He restored the Saud in 1830. power in Al-Has, forced to recognize the Saud. suzerainty of the ruler of Bahrain and renewed expansion into Oman.

Drought con. 1820s and repeated outbreaks of cholera worsened the situation for the Saud. emirate. In 1834 Turki ibn Abdallah was killed by a relative who established himself in Riyadh. The coming to power in the same year of Turki's son Faisal did not put an end to internal. strife and strife in the emirate. Muhammad Ali's new attempts to assert his authority over the Arabian Peninsula also seriously destabilized the situation. In 1837 Egypt. troops entered the capital of the emirate, reoccupied Najd and captured Emir Faisal ibn Turki, who was sent to Cairo in 1838. Power in Riyadh passed to Khalid ibn Saud, who was replaced in 1841 by Abdallah ibn Sunayan.

In 1840 Egypt. the army was evacuated under British pressure. In 1843 Faisal ibn Turki returned to his homeland and restored his power in Riyadh. Saud. expansion towards Al-Hasa and Qasem territory resumed. In the beginning. 1860s Saudi power has been fully restored in the west of Najd. The death of Faisal ibn Turki in 1865 destabilized the emirate again. The son of Abdallah ibn Faisal who succeeded him [the emir in December. 1865 - Jan. 1873 (with a break), March 1876-1889] tried to subjugate Oman and Bahrain, but ran into opposition from the British. Another son of Faisal, Saud ibn Faisal (emir in January 1873 - January 1875), who challenged Abdallah's right to rule, established himself in Al-Has. In the spring of 1871, he made a campaign against Riyadh and plundered the city. Later, the rest of Faisal's sons joined the struggle for power, seeking help from local rulers and external forces - Abd ar-Rahman ibn Faisal (emir in January 1875 - January 1876) and Muhammad ibn Faisal. Busy int. fighting the Saudis missed the rise of the emirate of Jebel Shammar in the west of Najd with the capital Khail, led by the Rashidid dynasty, who became allies of the Ottoman Empire. As a result, to ser. 1870s Saudis' power extended only to Riyadh. In 1887, Riyadh Emirate ceased to exist and became part of Jebel Shammar. The Saudis, including the 1880-born Prince Abd al-Aziz ibn Abd al-Rahman (Ibn Saud), were forced into exile.

The emergence and development of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the 1st half of the 20th century

In Jan. 1902, having made a campaign from Kuwait (the last place of exile of the Saudi family), Ibn Saud captured Riyadh. After taking the city, he renewed his agreement with the Hanbali jurists. Having strengthened Riyadh, Ibn Saud began to expand the boundaries of his territory. Great Britain, interested in weakening the Ottoman influence in the Arabian Peninsula, supported Ibn Saud, which allowed him to establish control over part of Jebel Shammar. In 1911, Ibn Saud secured Britain's consent to the incorporation of Al-Hasa, which was then ruled by the Turks, into his possessions. In 1913 this territory was taken over by the Saud. jurisdiction.

Ibn Saud attached great importance to strengthening his influence in Najd. To do this, he used the Ikhwan movement, which developed in this region and was inspired by the Hanbali teachers of the law. The purpose of the latter was to transfer part of the Bedouins to settled in specially created settlements - hijras, where members of the movement devoted themselves to agriculture and the study of religion in its Wahhabi version. Those who resettled in the Hijri assumed the obligation to be loyal to other brothers in the movement, to obey the emir-imam, not to maintain contacts with the "polytheists" - Europeans and residents of the countries subordinate to them. The first hijra, El-Artaviya, originated in the 1st half. 1913, by 1929 there were already 120 hijras in the entire territory of Najd. The Ikhwans constituted the striking force of the troops of Ibn Saud.

The First World War changed the balance of power in the Arabian Peninsula. The most important event in this region was the British-inspired anti-Turkish uprising (the so-called Great Arab Revolution in the Hejaz under the leadership of the Sheriff of Mecca Hussein ibn Ali al-Hashimi), which began in June 1916 and led to the emergence of the sovereign Kingdom of Hejaz, which was recognized League of Nations. Ibn Saud, despite Brit. pressure, did not take part in the uprising, and did not follow the calls of the Brit. agents start military. actions against Jebel Shammar, which remained loyal to the Ottoman Empire. One of the results of World War I was the transformation of Asher's status. Mohammed al-Idrisi, the emir of this region, acted during the war on the side of Great Britain, enlisted the support of the British. resident in Aden and expelled the Turks so. part of the territory under his control. Until 1923, Asir remained a politician. independence under control. dynasty of Idrisids.

In the 1920s. Ibn Saud began the unification of the lands previously under the control of the emirs of Ed-Diriyah. The first to fall was Jebel Shammar, who lost his Brit. support and weakened by strife in the Rashidid family. In the fall of 1921, its capital, Khail, was occupied by Ikhwan detachments. Thus, the entire center was under the rule of Ibn Saud. part of the Arabian Peninsula, Najd became the leading state in the region, and its ruler became the sultan. No fixed border between Nejd and Iraq, Nejd and Transjordan (Brit. mandated territories), as well as Nejd and Kuwait (British protectorate), which allowed the troops of Ibn Saud to penetrate their territory under the pretext of fighting the "polytheists", prompted Great Britain to raise the issue of border demarcation. In nov. 1921 Anglo-Najd protocols are signed, which established the borders of Najd with Iraq (finally defined in October 1925) and Kuwait, in October. 1925 - Agreement on the Nedjdi-Transjordan border.

In Jan. 1923 under the rule of Ibn Saud passed the sowing. part of Asir from Abha, which became Saud. protectorate. On Sept. 1924 Ikhwan captured and plundered Et-Taif, in October of the same year - Mecca, where they began to destroy the domes over the graves of the Prophet's companions. The attempt of the Hejaz nobility to pacify Ibn Saud by removing Hussein ibn Ali al-Hashimi from power and enthronement of his son Ali was unsuccessful. In nov. 1925 Ibn Saud submitted to Medina, in December of the same year - Jeddah. Great Britain actually recognized the outcome of the Saud. aggression. In 1926 at the World Muslim held in Mecca. At the Congress, Ibn Saud achieved recognition of his authority over the Hejaz, which allowed him to acquire the titles of King and Servant of the Two Noble Shrines, and his state became known as the Sultanate of Najd, the Kingdom of Hejaz and the annexed territories. In Feb. 1926 it was officially recognized by the USSR, which became the first power to establish a diplomat with Ibn Saud. relationship. The process of unification of the state was completed in 1932–34, when it received the present. name - Kingdom of Saud. Arabia, Asir was finally included in its structure and, as a result of the Saudi-Yemeni war, sowing entered. part of the formerly owned by Yemen Najran.

Maintaining territorial integrity and relate. int. the stability of the new state was carried out by the power of the Ikhwans, as well as through the spread of the Wahhabi interpretation of the Hanbali madhhab. The Hanbali ulama, who developed the principle of loyalty to the adherent of the "true faith", justified the power based on violence. In the beginning. 1925 The Ibn Saud-funded League for the Promotion of Virtue and the Condemnation of Sin (LAPL) is formed in Riyadh. On Sept. 1926 its branch was created in Mecca, thus the practice of unconditional submission to Divine law in its Hanbali interpretation spread to the Hejaz (then to the whole country). This practice was based on the nonjid tradition, which required the theologian to monitor the implementation of Sharia norms in the sphere of religions. rituals and mores, as well as eradicate political. dissent.

The leading role in SA was played by Hijaz, whose viceroy was appointed Ibn Saud's son, Prince Faisal ibn Abd al-Aziz. The first Saud emerged in the Hejaz. governments. institutions (the experience of management of the Ottoman and Hashemite times was used). Until the end. 1950s fact. the capital of the state was Mecca (Riyadh remained the seat of the nonjid nobility and religious dignitaries). In aug. 1926 were adopted by DOS. provisions of the Kingdom of Hejaz, which determined the status of the Viceroy, state. bodies, the Council of Ministers, as well as the Advisory Council - a kind of parliamentary assembly. The need for modern. army equipped with the latest military. technology, dictated the need to resolve the personnel issue. Cadres for the army were trained both abroad and in the technicians who were being created in SA. schools.

The "conservative modernization" of SA was the reason for the first appearance of the opposition, represented by the former allies of Ibn Saud - the Ikhwan, who appealed to the "purity" of Wahhabi Hanbalism. In a list of accusations against the ruler compiled by them in 1926, they mentioned “inadmissible” contacts between his sons and the diplomat. agents of Great Britain, refusal to evict Shiites from the oases of the coast of the Persian Gulf, the effect of secular laws in the Hejaz. The Ikhwan revolt, who declared jihad to the ruler, was suppressed only in 1929.

Until the end. 1930s main The sources of income for the budget of SA remained the Hajj and transfers from other Muslims. countries of funds from the use of waqf. The decrease in the number of pilgrims (especially during the years of the world economic crisis of 1929–33), as well as the irregularity of the receipt of waqf deductions, complicated the financial situation of SA. This prompted Ibn Saud to meet the requests of Amer. oil monopolies, including Standard Oil Co. of California "(" Socal "), on granting them the right to explore for oil fields in the territory of Al-Hasa (in 1932 oil was discovered in neighboring Bahrain). Ibn Saud hoped that this would not only replenish the budget, but also weaken the Brit. influence on the Arabian Peninsula. In 1933 an agreement was signed to grant Socal a concession for oil exploration in SA. 1933 concession transferred to Socal's subsidiary California-Arabian Standard Oil Co. (in January 1944 it was renamed into "Arabian American Oil Company" - "Aramco"). The concession agreement provided for the provision of loans, annual payments, rent and certain payments for each ton of oil produced by the SA company after its commercial discovery. reserves (all payments were to be made in gold), the construction of an oil refinery and the free provision of SA with gasoline and kerosene. The Saud responded. the government exempted the company and its enterprises from taxes and customs duties. First Saud. oil in commercial quantities were discovered in 1938, the concession area was expanded, and the concession itself was extended for up to 60 years.

At the initial stage of World War II, SA pursued a policy of neutrality, maintaining relations with both Great Britain and Germany and Italy, which Ibn Saud considered as a counterweight to the British. politics. However, later on, under the influence of primarily the United States, which expanded oil production in SA and provided it with substantial assistance, including military assistance, Saud. the government changed its position. In 1940 it tore apart the diplomat. relations with Italy, in Sept. 1941 - with Germany. On 2/14/1945 at a meeting between Ibn Saud and US President FD Roosevelt on board the cruiser "Quincy" in the Suez Canal, an agreement was reached on the free use of the Saud. ports by the ships of the USA and Great Britain, as well as the creation of a base of Amer. Air force on lease for 5 years Saudi. territory in exchange for guarantees of preventing the occupation of S.A. by the troops of the countries anti-Hitler coalition and Saud recognition. independence. In March 1945 S.A. declared war on Germany and Italy, which allowed it to become one of the founding members United Nations... Initially taking a cautious stance with respect to the creation process that began in 1944 Arab League, SA in March 1945 joined this organization.

Saudi Arabia in the 1950s and 90s

Ibn Saud died on 11/9/1953. His successor was Saud ibn Abd al-Aziz, who appointed before. Council of Ministers and Crown Prince Faisal ibn Abd al-Aziz. This led to the emergence of a dual power in the country. The situation was aggravated by what was happening in SA and in the Arab in general. world social and political. changes. The transformation of the formerly patriarchal Saud. society also affected Shiite circles, but was not accompanied by an increase in their role in the life of the state. Shiite entrepreneurship was limited to the lower levels of business; there were no Shiite teachers and Shiite religions in schools and universities. rituals remained prohibited, Shiite youth could not enlist in the army and the police. All this, plus the persecution of the Saud. the authorities of workers' organizations and the harsh suppression of strikes pushed Shiite youth to join underground organizations. In 1953, oil workers' strikes, inspired by illegal trade unions and strike committees set up by Shiites, broke out in Al-Has. On their wave in the same year, the Front nat. reforms (FNR; since April 1958 National Liberation Front, FLN), which demanded “to liberate the country from imperialist. domination ”, introduce a constitution, grant social rights to women, improve the situation of peasants and workers, and eliminate slavery.

The spread of the ideas of pan-Arabism and the increasingly acute need for changes in the public-political. and economical. life of the country led to an exacerbation of contradictions in the Saudi family, which resulted in an open confrontation between the king and the crown prince (originally supported by the FNR), who sought to take the throne. In May 1958, Saud ibn Abd al-Aziz was forced to issue a decree empowering the CM to fully comply. power. Nevertheless, the contradictions in the ruling family continued to deepen. A group of young princes (so-called free princes) led by Talal ibn Abd al-Aziz established relations with GA Nasser and demanded that a constitution be held in the country. reform, hoping thereby to gain access to power. In 1962 the "free princes" emigrated to Egypt. What happened in Sept. 1962 antimonarch. the revolution in Yemen (SA supported the royalists, Egypt - the republicans) contributed to a certain consolidation of the Saudis. At the end of Oct. 1962 Faisal ibn Abd al-Aziz unveils a new government program. It declared the intention to proclaim the "basic law of government" based on the Koran and Sunnah, "to raise the social level of the nation", to introduce free education and honey. service, strengthen state. regulation of the economy, abolish slavery. Although the program was never implemented, it reflected a desire to accommodate the demands of the Free Princes.

At the beginning of Nov. 1964 Saud ibn Abd al-Aziz is finally removed from power. Theologians published specials. a fatwa that legitimized the incident. This contributed to the further strengthening of the influence of the ulema. The staff of the LPAHL increased and its funding increased. Ulema were included in the cassation courts. The adoption in 1968 of the Labor Law became possible only after the Supreme Mufti recognized it as compliant with Sharia.

The primary task of Faisal ibn Abd al-Aziz, who came to power, was the settlement of the situation in Yemen and the achievement of mutual understanding with GA Nasser. However, direct Saud-Egypt initiated by the new king. negotiations on Yemen until 1967 did not bring results. The defeat of Egypt by Israel in the June 1967 war (see. Arab-Israeli wars) changed the balance of power in the region. Held in Aug. - Sept. 1967 at the Khartoum Arab League summit Faisal ibn Abd al-Aziz and Nasser signed an agreement on a peaceful settlement in Yemen, which assumed the withdrawal of Egypt from this country. troops. The decisions of the Khartoum summit testified to the growth of the influence of SA, which was turning into the leading Arab power. the world. At the insistence of SA, a common position of the Arab League on Israel was worked out, which provided for the refusal of peace negotiations with him until the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from the occupied Arabs. territories. SA has become the largest financial donor to Egypt, Syria and Jordan.

Adopted by the UK in Jan. 1968 the decision to withdraw troops from the territories "east of Suez", which implied the acquisition of independence by the emirates of Treaty Oman, Bahrain, and Qatar, strengthened the position of SA in the Persian Gulf zone. This region is purchased by the Saud. foreign policy priority and became a place of confrontation with SA Iran. Strengthening the international the influence of SA allowed the Saudis to put forward the slogan of "Islamic solidarity" as an alternative to secular pan-Arabism. On Sept. 1969 in Rabat, at a meeting of heads of state and government held on the initiative of SA and Morocco, 25 Muslims. countries announced the creation of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (since 2011 Organization of Islamic Cooperation). Coming to power in Egypt in 1970 after the death of Nasser, who was the founder. a conductor of the ideas of pan-Arabism, A. Sadat expanded the scope of Saudi-Egyptian. politician and economical. interactions.

03/25/1975, during the reception of min. oil industry of Kuwait, Faisal ibn Abd al-Aziz was killed by his cousin Faisal ibn Musaid. Saud on the same day. the throne was succeeded by Crown Prince Khalid ibn Abd al-Aziz. 11/20/1979 group of relig. opponents of the authorities from among the young employees of the LAPDH, headed by Juheiman al-Uteibi, who appealed to the "purity" of the Wahhabi dogma, seized Ch. mosque of Mecca. 12/04/1979 Khalid ibn Abd al-Aziz with the approval of the highest religions. dignitaries gave the order to the Saud. to the security service to take Ch. the mosque by storm. The action in Mecca coincided with the outbreak of new Shiite unrest in Al-Has. Their spiritual leaders, led by Sheikh Hasan al-Saffar, initiated public speeches under slogans of support Islamic Revolution in Iran 1979, the termination of the supply of Saud. oil in the United States and the creation of the so-called. Islamic Republic of El Khasa.

These events prompted the Saud. the government to take steps to strengthen the position of the existing regime. One of the measures was the creation of circles and groups for the study of Wahhabi dogma among young people under the leadership of theologians (the members of these circles later became mujahideen in Afghanistan, as well as in Kashmir, Tajikistan, in the North. Caucasus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo). In the field of foreign policy, a course was taken for the unification of the Arab. monarchies in the face of the threats that Iran posed for the states of the region. revolution and Iran-Iraq War 1980–88... This found its expression in the creation of 05/25/1981 Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf... In an effort to counter the Palestinian radicals, SA at the Arab League summit in Fez in 1982 put forward a plan for a Middle East peace settlement (the so-called Fahd plan), which for the first time indicated the possibility of a pan-Arab recognition of Israel.

In June 1982, Khalid ibn Abd al-Aziz died in Saud. the throne was erected by Crown Prince Fahd ibn Abd al-Aziz. The years of his reign became an important milestone in the history of the country - the time of overcoming internal. and external calls and the beginning of economic. and polit. modernization. In 1988, "Aramco" became the property of SA (became known as "Saudi Aramco"), which significantly expanded the financial capabilities of the state. The country began to create a modern. infrastructure: construction of a petrochemical complex. enterprises in Al-Jubail and Yanbu al-Bahra, a network of modern. pestilence ports, highways and airports. There has been a turn towards the "Saudization" of the socio-economic. spheres - in the industry, s. x-ve, the health care and education system began to use more and more nat. labor force. Saud. society, a new educated class appeared, which began to play an important role in politics. After 1985 Saud. the authorities began to pursue a course of "cautious openness" in relation to the Shiite population of the East. provinces (Al-Hasy). The place of the former administrators (natives of Najd) was taken by Shiites - graduates of the region's universities. Shiites were included in the leadership of the promys under construction. complexes. Fahd ibn Abd al-Aziz pardoned the participants in the 1979 unrest and announced the rejection of the practice of discrimination against Shiites, including the removal of anti-Shiite texts from school textbooks.

Fahd ibn Abd al-Aziz continued his predecessor's course of enhancing the role of SA in the settlement of regional conflicts, primarily in the Middle East. Saud. the government contributed to the termination of citizens. war in Lebanon. 10/23/1989 in Et-Taif, the Lebanese side. conflict signed a peace agreement. At the same time, in Afghanistan, SA actively supported the forces that fought against the Sov. troops, including the Taliban movement (the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan in 1988 was presented by SA as a victory for the "Islamic solidarity" she was promoting). During the period Kuwait Crisis 1990-91 SA, fearing possible aggression from the Saddam Hussein regime and loss of dominance in the GCC, turned to the United States for help, provided her territory for the deployment of anti-Iraqi coalition forces, and allocated funds for the conduct of the military. operations against Iraq. Saud. troops, like units of the GCC countries, took part in the liberation of Kuwait (see. "Desert Storm" 1991). After the elimination of the Kuwait crisis, SA became actively involved in the Madrid peace process, one of the results of which was the adoption of the Israeli-Palestinian Declaration of Principles and the creation in the Gaza Strip and part of the West. river banks Jordan Palestinian National Authority... Perestroika in the USSR and occupied by Sov. leadership position during the Kuwait crisis created the preconditions for the resumption of diplomats in 1991. relations between the two countries (were frozen in 1938).

The Kuwaiti crisis pushed the Saud on. government to conduct polit. reforms. In 1992, 4 constitutions were put into effect. act: Main. the law of government, the Law on the Consultative Council, the Law on Provincial Administration and the Law on the Council of Ministers, which created the preconditions for the transition to a "parliamentary monarchy", the principle of separation of powers and the development of the foundations of regional self-government.

Saudi Arabia in the 21st century

After the terrorist attack in New York on 9/11/2001, SA was torn apart by a diplomat. relations with afg. by the Taliban government, deprived the Saud. citizenship of W. bin Laden and joined the international. anti-terrorist. a coalition that sent troops to Afghanistan. In 2003, SA criticized the US intention to inflict military. a blow to Iraq, considering it possible to resolve the differences with the regime of Saddam Hussein, polit. methods. However, in the future, SA joined the anti-Iraqi coalition, and after the overthrow of the Iraqi government took part in the occupation and reconstruction of that country.

In connection with the death of Fahd ibn Abd al-Aziz to Saud. the throne was taken (1.8.2005) by Crown Prince Abdallah ibn Abd al-Aziz. Under him, on October 19, 2006, the Law on K-those on taking an oath was adopted. He finally regulated the procedure for appointing an heir to the throne and ordered an obligation. approval of his candidacy by representatives of all factions of the Saudi family and swearing an oath of allegiance to him. In oct. In 2011 and June 2012, this law was applied in practice when Naef ibn Abd al-Aziz (d. Summer 2012) and Salman ibn Abd al-Aziz were appointed heirs to the throne. In an effort to bring greater stability to the regime, on 27 March 2014, Abdallah ibn Abd al-Aziz appointed Mukrin ibn Abd al-Aziz to the newly created post of heir to the throne. This decision was prompted by the state of health of Salman ibn Abd al-Aziz and aimed at maintaining the continuity of the succession of Ibn Saud's sons at the top of the political. power.

During the reign of Abdallah ibn Abd al-Aziz in 2005, the composition of the Constitutional Court was expanded. The number of its appointed members increased from 60 to 150. They began to represent all regions and confessional groups of the country. In 2010, the Constitutional Court was empowered to legislate. initiatives. In Feb. In 2013, a "women's faction" appeared in it (30 women were introduced to the Constitutional Court, while maintaining its previous size). In accordance with the king's decree, starting in 2016, women will be able to take part in municipal elections. The introduction of women into the Constitutional Court was preceded by initiatives aimed at increasing their participation in societies. life and their legal emancipation. Saud. women began to receive identity cards, to be recruited into ministries and departments, to hold the posts of rectors of "high fur boots for women", to be elected to the governing bodies of trade and industry. chambers, societies. associations, work in the "women's branches" of large stores. The country is actively discussing the issue of further expanding the rights of women, including the abolition of the ban on their driving.

An important place in the int. the policy of Abdallah ibn Abd al-Aziz was devoted to weakening the influence of the ulema on Saud. society and state. The sphere of women's education, transferred to the Ministry of Education, was withdrawn from the jurisdiction of the corps of law teachers, the Court of Cassation passed under the auspices of the monarch (2007), as a result of which the state was given the opportunity to fully control the Sharia legal proceedings, and the codification of Hanbali law began. In Feb. 2009 Abdallah ibn Abd al-Aziz reformed the Council of Supreme Ulema (appointment to it is completely controlled by the authorities), introducing theologians representing non-Hanbali Sunni legal schools into its composition. Thus, they received an officer. Recognition in S.A.

SA did not experience the shocks of the period of the so-called. Arab. spring, although under the influence of events in neighboring countries in SA intensified internal political. life, the petition movement was developed, the participants of which demanded deepening of the constitution. reforms and the introduction of a "parliamentary monarchy" in the country, and an attempt was made to create the Islamic Party of the Nation. SA headed the GCC initiative aimed at achieving political. changes in Yemen peacefully, thereby preventing arma. confrontation between the authorities and the opposition. In the future, condemning the state carried out in this country by the Al-Husi Movement. coup, SA contributed to the development of a unified position of the GCC, which qualified the al-Husi Movement as a “terrorist. org-tion "and demanded the restoration of the constitution. order in Yemen. SA supported the actions of the Libyan opposition to overthrow the Gaddafi regime in 2011, while adhering to the policy of non-intervention in the intra-Libyan conflict that began in 2014. In March 2011, the Saud. leadership, based on the request of the Bahraini monarch and declaring the need to “confront Iran. expansion ”, introduced its troops (supported by the armed forces of some GCC countries) into Bahrain. Saud. the leadership reacted negatively to the overthrow of Egypt. President M. H. Mubarak, refused to support the movement Muslim Brotherhood, approved the removal of M. Mursi from power and established close relations with the new head of Egypt AF al-Sisi. Continuing the course of opposing Iran's "hegemonism" in the Islamic world and in the Persian Gulf zone, SA welcomed the resignation of the government of Nuri al-Maliki in Iraq and now considers the opening of the Saud possible. embassies in Baghdad, declaring, however, insufficient presence of local Sunnis in the power structures. Saud. the government condemns Israel for its punitive actions in the Gaza Strip, but refuses to contact the Hamas movement and supports the Palestinian National. administration headed by M. Abbas. Counteracting radical sentiments in the Arab. the world, SA considers the “Arab. Peace Initiative ”as aimed at achieving will graduate. politician settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict.

In connection with the death of Abdallah ibn Abd al-Aziz on 23 January 2015 in Saud. the throne was succeeded by Salman ibn Abd al-Aziz. On April 29, 2015, he declared his nephew Mohammed ibn Naef to be the crown prince, and his son Mohammed ibn Salman as his successor.

On most global and regional problems (conflict situations in the Middle East, primarily around Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Sudan, the Arab-Israeli conflict), as well as on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the fight against extremism and terrorism, transnational organized crime, drug trafficking and piracy, on the G20 theme, the positions of the RF and SA are the same or close. Bilateral contacts are maintained at the highest and high levels. On Sept. 2003 he visited Moscow with an officer. the visit of the future king S. A. Abdallah ibn Abd al-Aziz, during which he held talks with the President of the Russian Federation V. V. Putin. In Feb. 2007 took place an official. V. Putin's visit to S. A. A set of bilateral treaties, memorandums and protocols was signed, including the General Agreement of 20.11.1994. Since 2002, the Joint Intergovernmental Organization has been functioning. Russian-Saud. commission on trade and economic. and scientific and technical. cooperation and Russian-Saud. business council (within the framework of the Russian-Arab business council). In SA, large-scale projects are being implemented. companies of OAO LUKOIL Overseas, including within the framework of the joint venture with Saudi Aramco, LUKOIL Saudi Arabia Energy (LUKSAR), OAO Stroytransgaz, ZAO Globalstroy-Engineering, etc.

The sphere of the Russian-Saud. relations in no historical. in retrospect, not today, however, is free from problems that complicate mutual understanding between the two countries. Saud. state and private foundations under the slogan of "Islamic solidarity" were active in growing. North. The Caucasus, providing financial support to the Chechens. separatists. Only in Sept. 2003, while in Moscow, Abdallah ibn Abd al-Aziz said that Chech. question - “int. case "of Russia, and contributed to the further design of the growing. membership in the OIC as an observer country (from the end of June 2005). SA is wary of Iran. nuclear program, considering that the negotiations taking place around it do not sufficiently take into account its interests and the interests of the GCC countries. Most means. irritant in the area of ​​Ros.-Saud. relations is the situation in Syria, in respect of which S. A. insists on the resignation of B. Assad and the transfer of power to Nat. Coalition Forces Sire. oppositions and revolutions.

Farm

SA is a developing country with a high level of income. The volume of GDP is 1,616.0 billion dollars (2014, at purchasing power parity; 14th place in the world, 1st place among Arab countries); in the calculation of GDP per capita 52.5 thousand dollars (high per capita income is determined by a relatively small population and hence income from oil exports). Human Development Index 0.836 (2013; 34th among 187 countries).

The economy is based on oil production and export (43% of GDP, 2014; over 80% of the state budget revenues) and petrochemicals. prom-st. GDP dynamics mean. to the extent that it is driven by oil prices. Wed the growth rate of real GDP in 2000-08 was 5.1%, in 2009 - 1.8%, in 2010 - 7.4%, in 2011 - 8.6%, in 2012 - 5.8%, in 2013 - 3 ,eight%.

Since the 1990s. great attention is paid to diversification of the structure of the economy and liberalization of the economy with an increase in the role of private entrepreneurship. The development of the economy is carried out on the basis of 5-year plans. Great progress has been made in the development of petrochemicals. industry, infrastructure, energy, sea desalination. water, some industries in the field of light and food industries, as well as in health care. The development of new industries is promoted by tax concessions, benefits for natural gas, electricity, etc. One of Ch. obstacles to further diversification of the economy - unavailability b. of the economically active population to work in non-prestigious specialties (the main part of those employed in the industry are foreign workers).

The volume of accumulated direct foreign. investment approx. $ 240.6 billion (2013; in market prices), the total volume of external debt is estimated at $ 149.4 billion. Inflation rates are approx. 3.7% (2013). SA possesses large foreign countries. assets (approx. 737.6 billion dollars, 2014), which are managed by sovereign nat. investment. funds. As part of attracting foreign. investment in 2005, the country joined the WTO, the government began to create several "economic. cities "in decomp. regions of the country.

In connection with the decline in oil prices in 2013-14, the surplus of the state. the budget in 2013 decreased to 54.9 billion dollars (103 billion dollars in 2012), the budget in 2014 was reduced to a deficit of 14.4 billion dollars.

In the structure of GDP, the share of industry is 59.7%, services - 38.3%, p. farming and fishing - 2.0% (2014).

Industry

Modern the manufacturing industry is in its infancy (in 2009–12, the total number of enterprises increased from 4887 to 6519). Main role in prom. production-ve play mining (ch. arr. production of oil and natural gas) and petrochemical. prom-st. The power industry, ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, production of building materials, light industry, food industry are also distinguished. In the beginning. 21 c. the automotive industry, electrical engineering, pharmaceuticals, and the pulp and paper industry are developing. According to the number of employed, petrochemicals are distinguished. (142.6 thousand people, 2012) and food (114.4) industry.

Prom. enterprises are being built in complexes (the so-called industrial or economic cities; 14 in 2007, 28 in 2012; the largest are in Yanbu al-Bahra, Medina district; Al-Jubail and Ras al-Khair, both -n Vostochny) with pre-prepared productions. and social infrastructure and housed Ch. arr. by sea perimeter of the country.

Fuel industry

The fuel industry is based on oil production and refining. The industry is governed by the Supreme Petroleum Council [includes state. Saudi Arabian Oil Co. ("Saudi Aramco"; the world's largest oil reserves and production) and "Saudi Basic Industries Corporation" (SABIC)]. S. A. - key member. Petroleum Exporting Countries' Organizations(approx. 1/3 of the total production of the countries belonging to the organization).

Oil production 542.3 million tons (2012; 1st place in the world); main area - the lowland of El-Khasa and the adjacent shelf zone of the Persian Gulf. (in terms of production volumes, deposits in the Vostochny region are distinguished: Gavar, Saffania-Khafji, Khurais, Manifa, Sheiba, Katif, Khursaniya, Zuluf, Abkaik, etc.); south of Riyadh, several are being developed. new fields of super-light oil. Oil exports 378.6 million tons (2013; 1st place in the world). Processed annually approx. 101.4 million tons of crude oil (2012; production of fuel oil, diesel fuel, gasoline, jet fuel, lubricating oils, etc.).

The world's largest primary oil refining complex is located in Abkaik (Bukaik; Vostochny district; Saudi Aramco company; capacity 348.5 million tons per year; about 70% of produced oil is processed; including production in light and ultra-light oil). The largest refineries in the cities: Ras Tanura (Vostochny district; capacity of about 26 million tons of crude oil per year), Rabig (Mecca district), Yanbu-el-Bahr (both - about 19 million tons ), Al-Jubail (about 15 million tons).

Natural gas production 111 billion cubic meters (2012; according to other data, 93 billion cubic meters; about 70% is associated gas from the Gavar, Saffania-Khafji and Zuluf fields; it is planned to increase production through the development of the Karan, Wasit and others .). There are plants for the processing and liquefaction of natural gas (total capacity of over 61 million tons in 2013) in Abkaik, Yanbu-el-Bahra, Harad, Khavia (the latter two are in the Vostochny district), etc.

Power engineering

Electricity production approx. 292.2 billion kWh (2013; more than doubled compared to 2000); 100% is generated at thermal power plants, the largest: Riyadh (in Riyadh; capacity 5336 MW), Gazlan (in Ras Tannur; 4128 MW), Kuraiya (in Abkaik, 3927 MW). The increase in electricity demand is caused by the development of the industry, population growth and high energy consumption for cooling the air in the summer months (approx. 2/3 of the consumption in the residential sector). Solar energy is developing. The industry is managed by the Saudi Electricity Company and regional power companies, and several are also active. independent generating companies.

Desalination works at thermal power plants. installation. SA is one of the world's leading producers of desalinated water (the development of the industry is of great importance in connection with an acute shortage of natural resources of fresh water); desalinates. installations provide up to 60% nat. needs (2013; leading company - state. "Saline Water Conversion Corporation").

Ferrous metallurgy

Ferrous metallurgy is represented by the extraction of iron ores (760 thousand tons in terms of metal, 2012), direct reduction of iron (5.7 million tons), steel smelting (5.2 million tons) and the production of ferroalloys (196 thousand tons). T). SA imports means. part of iron ores and rolled metal products. The following plants operate: rolling [with a capacity of 5.5 million tons of rolled steel per year in Al-Jubail, as part of the leading nat. the Saudi Iron and Steel Company (Hadeed); capacity approx. 800 thousand tons in Dammam, etc.], pipe rolling (jointly owned by ArcelorMittal and Bin Jarallah Group; seamless pipes, including large diameter, for the oil and gas industry; approx. 500 thousand t; in Al-Jubail), ferroalloys (company "Gulf Ferro Alloys Company"; in Al-Jubail), for the production of steel reinforcement [in Jeddah (1.1 million tons per year) and Al-Kharj, district Riyadh (755.5 thousand tons), both are part of one of the leading nat. companies "Rajhi Steel Industries Co."], billets (950 thousand tons), coils (250 thousand tons; both are part of the company "Rajhi Steel Industries Co.", Jeddah), slabs, etc.

Non-ferrous metallurgy

Ores of non-ferrous metals are mined (thousand tons, 2012): bauxite (760; Ez-Zabira deposits, Khail district, and El-Bayta, El-Qasim district), zinc (15, in terms of metal; deposits El-Masane, district of Najran; El-Amar, district of Riyadh; Mahd-ed-Dahab, district of Medina) and others; as well as (t, 2012) silver (7.9), gold (4.3; including deposits El-Amar, Mahd-ed-Dahab; El-Hajar, district Asir; Bulgakh, district Medina). Metallurgical complex in the city of Ras al-Khair - one of the largest in the world [jointly owned by nat. Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma'aden) and Amer. Alcoa; power approx. 1.8 million tons of alumina and approx. 740 thousand tons of primary aluminum]. Plants for the beneficiation of gold ore in Bulgakh and Suhaybarat (Medina district). Smelting (t, 2013): zinc 28.0, copper approx. 10.0, lead of St. 0.5, etc. (ch. Sample from imported raw materials). Production of aluminum foil and containers, copper wire, etc.

Mechanical engineering

The automotive industry is actively developing. There are car assembly plants in Dammam (Isuzu trucks) and Jeddah (Mercedes-Benz trucks); production of automotive parts and components. Release decomp. equipment (energy; for the oil and gas industry - production and technological center of the American company "General Electric" in Dammam), cable products, assembly of household appliances, etc. Shipbuilding, ship repair and aircraft repair enterprises, mechanical engineering. workshops.

Chemical industry

The organization and management of the industry is carried out by Ch. arr. nat. holding SABIC; b. including petrochemical plants are located in the cities of Al-Jubail (as part of Al-Jubail Petrochemical Company - a joint venture between SABIC and American Exxon Mobil, Saudi Japanese Acrylonitrile Company - a joint venture between SABIC and Japanese corporations Asahi Kasei Chemicals and Mitsubishi and others) and Yanbu-el-Bahre (including the complex of the Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Company with a capacity of up to 5.6 million tons of products per year) (operate in cooperation with the refinery).

Main organic products synthesis (production capacity, million tons per year, 2014): ethylene 19.5 (3rd place in the world; approx. 11% of world production), polyethylene approx. 18.4 (including high pressure approx. 3.5), methanol approx. 8.9, ammonia approx. 7.9, propylene St. 6.5, polypropylene approx. 5.6, urea 5.5, ethylene glycol 4.3, ethylene oxide 3.3, styrene 2.5, etc.

An important place is occupied by the release of the miner. fertilizers: phosphoric (based on phosphorites of the El-Jalamid deposit, El-Khudud-al-Shamaliyya district; it will enrich the plant with a capacity of 5 million tons of concentrate per year), nitrogen, and others; main centers - Jubail and Ras al-Khair.

Production of sulfuric acid in Ras al-Khair and Yanbu-al-Bahra, phosphoric acid and nitrogen - in Ras al-Khair, chlorine, caustic. soda and hydrochloric acid - near Dammam, titanium dioxide - in Yanbu al-Bahra and Jizan, magnesia - near Medina. Production of polymer films (including polyethylene and polypropylene) and materials, plastic products (including a plant for the production of plastic pipes in Riyadh), thermoplastic. resins, decomp. coatings, prom. adhesives, pharmaceuticals, cosmetic and sanitary and hygienic. products.

Building materials industry

The building materials industry is proprietary. raw materials. Extraction (million tons, 2012): limestone (over 49), build. sand and gravel (about 27), brick and refractory clay (about 6), gypsum (over 2); as well as (thousand tons, 2012) feldspar (168), kaolin (58, Ez-Zabira deposit), marble (25), etc. Cement production 50 million tons (2012); main factories (capacity, million tons, 2012) - in Al-Khufuf (8.6), Riyadh (6.3), Rabiga (4.8), Yanbu-el-Bahra (4.0) and Jal- el-Watahe (near Buraydah, 4.0).

Woodworking, pulp and paper, light and food industry

The country is rapidly developing woodworking and pulp and paper [including the production of furniture, cardboard (the factory of the leading regional manufacturer - the MEPCO company in Jeddah), paper (Dammam)], light (especially the production of clothing; large the role is played by handicraft enterprises - textile, weaving, carpet-making, leather and footwear, jewelry, pottery, etc.; the main centers are Jeddah, Mecca, Et-Taif) , bakery and tobacco products, processing of agricultural raw materials, including dates, fish, etc.) industry. Polygraph. enterprises.

Agriculture

Since the 1960s. state plays a leading role in the development of the industry: the introduction of modern. technologies and techniques; state programs for providing peasants with land plots, issuing interest-free loans and compensations for the purchase of equipment, seeds and fertilizers; support of purchase prices for grains and dates; granting benefits and subsidies to livestock breeders (increasing the breeding stock at the expense of the state, importing feed and livestock from abroad), encouraging private initiative.

The production is dominated by large companies. Possibilities of maintaining with. kh-va are limited by natural and climatic. conditions (rainfed agriculture is possible on lands in the southwestern part of the country).

In the structure of s.-kh. of land (million hectares, 2011) of 173.4, pastures account for 170.0, arable land - 3.2, perennial plantations - 0.2. SA provides itself with some types of food, but cannot achieve complete self-sufficiency (up to 80% of food is imported, 2012).

Leading industry with. x-va - crop production. It develops in large oases (Al-Khasa in the Vostochny region, Ed-Dawasir in the Riyadh region, etc.) and on irrigated lands (in the Asir, Riyadh, Al-Qasim, Vostochny, etc.) as well as in greenhouse farms. Ch. s.-kh. the culture is the date palm. Date collection 1065 thousand tons (2013; 3rd place in the world); they also grow wheat, vegetables, fruits, etc.

In animal husbandry, there are large modern. fattening farms. Dairy and beef cattle breeding is concentrated around Riyadh, in the districts of Al-Qasim and Vostochny. Traditions. camel breeding, sheep breeding and horse breeding (common in the interior of the country and in mountainous regions). Poultry keeping. Beekeeping. Livestock (million head of livestock, 2013): sheep 11.5, goats 3.4, cattle 0.5, camels 0.3. Production (thousand tons, 2013): milk 2338.0, meat 802.8, leather and hides 51.5, wool 11.5. Fishing; fishing for pearls and sponges in the Persian Gulf, extraction of black coral and amber.

Services sector

Allocated (billion dollars, 2012) state. services (90.2), wholesale and retail trade, restaurant and hotel business (58.4), financial and business services (55.6), transport and logistics. services and communication (approx. 31.0), social and personal services (approx. 12.0). The country's financial system is regulated by the SA Monetary Agency (Central Bank, 1957; in Riyadh); the largest commercial banks - state. Nat. commercial bank (1953; Jeddah), state. Al Rajhi, Riyad (both in Riyadh) and others. Saud. stock exchange (Tadawul; the only one in the country; in Riyadh). In 2014, the country was visited by 16.7 million people. (St. 55% - from Arab. countries), revenues amounted to $ 9.2 billion. types of inbound tourism - religious (36.7% in 2012; mainly from Jordan and Pakistan; main centers - Mecca and Medina), business (18.6%), visiting relatives and friends (17.7%).

Transport

Main mode of transport - automobile. The total length of highways is 221.4 thousand km, including 47.5 thousand km with hard surface (2006). Ch. highways pass through the main. settlements, and also connect SA with Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen. A dam-bridge (about 25 km long) connects SA with Bahrain. The total length of railways is 1,378 km (2008). Several int. airports (the largest are in Jeddah and Riyadh). Passenger traffic transport 68 million people (2013). Mor. transport serves Ch. arr. foreign trade transportation. Mor. the fleet consists of 72 vessels (2010; including 45 tankers). Ch. pestilence ports (cargo turnover, million tons in 2012): Jeddah 62.7, Jubail 52.8, Yanbu al-Bahr 40.0, Dammam 27.4, Ras al-Khair 2.3, Jizan 1.5 , Oak (Diba) 1.1 (Medina district). An extensive network of pipelines has been created. The total length of the oil pipelines is 5117 km [including the Trans-Arabian Abkaik - Yanbu-el-Bahr (Petroline, or East-West), approx. 1200 km from the Persian Gulf oil fields. to the refinery and ports of Krasnoye m .; subsea from the SA fields to Bahrain], oil product pipelines 1150 km (Dhahran - Riyadh, length approx. 380 km; Riyadh - Qasim, length approx. 354 km, etc.), gas pipelines 2940 km (Abkaik - Yanbu -el-Bahr, etc.), for the transportation of liquefied natural gas - 1183 km (Abkaik - Yanbu-el-Bahr, etc.), condensate - 209 km (2013). Metro in Mecca and Riyadh (under construction, 2015).

International trade

The foreign trade balance is traditionally active. The volume of foreign trade turnover (million dollars, 2014) 521.6, including export 359.4, import 162.2. In the commodity structure of exports, miner prevails (% of value, 2013). resources 87.5 (mainly oil), chemical products. prom-sti 9.4. Ch. buyers (% of value, 2013): PRC 13.9, USA 13.6, Japan 13.0, Republic of Korea 9.8, India 9.5. Imported (% of value, 2013): machines and transport equipment 43.3, chemical products. prom-sti and decomp. metal products 22.9, food and agricultural products. goods 14.3. Ch. suppliers (% of value, 2013): USA 13.1, PRC 12.9, India 8.1, Germany 7.4, Republic of Korea 6.1.

Military establishment

The Armed Forces (AF) number 233.5 thousand people. (2014) and consist of 4 types - the Ground Forces (Land Forces), the Air Force, the Air Defense Forces, the Navy and are independent. kind - missile troops. In addition to the regular army, the Armed Forces also include nat. guard, border troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (10.5 thousand people), coast guard (4.5 thousand), industrial forces. security (9 thousand people), designed for action in crisis situations. During the threatened period and during the war. time, in the interests of the Armed Forces, a paramilitary may be involved. formations and subdivisions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Military. annual budget $ 62 billion (2014, estimate). The supreme commander-in-chief. The Armed Forces is the head of state - the king, who exercises overall leadership through the Ministry of Defense, the General Staff and the Military. inspection. The king appoints min. defense, chief of the General Staff and commanders of the services of the Armed Forces.

SV (75 thousand people) - main. view of the sun. The combat structure of the ground forces includes: brigades (4 armored, 5 mechanized, artillery, airborne), the command of army aviation (2 aviation brigades) and other subunits. In service are approx. 600 tanks, 300 armored personnel carriers, 1420 armored personnel carriers, 780 infantry fighting vehicles, 240 towed guns, 60 MLRS, 440 mortars, 2400 ATGM launchers, 900 short-range air defense systems, 1000 MANPADS. The Army Aviation has 12 combat and 55 multipurpose and transport helicopters.

The Air Force (20 thousand people) is organizationally consolidated into commands (operational, supply, etc.) and aviation. squadrons. The Air Force is armed with approx. 300 combat aircraft, including 170 fighter-bombers (7 squadrons) and 110 fighters (6 squadrons). The military transport aviation has 45 aircraft. In addition, there are 16 tanker aircraft, St. 100 combat training and training aircraft. Helicopter aviation totals approx. 80 units. The Air Force also includes the Royal Air Wing - 16 aircraft. There are 15 soldiers in the country. airfields, including Chapter 5 Air Force bases (Dhahran, Et-Taif, Khamis Mushait, Tabuk, Riyadh).

The air defense troops (16 thousand people) consist of anti-aircraft missile forces, anti-aircraft artillery and radio engineering units. troops. Organizationally, the air defense forces are divided into 6 districts. The air defense is operatively subordinate to fighter-interceptors from the Air Force. The air defense forces are armed with 144 Patriot missile launchers, 128 Advanced Hawk missile launchers, 141 Shahin missile launchers, 40 Crotal self-propelled launchers, 270 anti-aircraft guns and installations, etc.

The Navy (13.5 thousand people) - 2 fleets, in each of them several. groups of ships and boats. In service are 7 URO frigates, 4 corvettes, 9 missile boats, 17 large and 39 small patrol boats, 7 mine-sweeping ships, 8 landing boats, 2 supply transports, 13 tugs; in the pestilence. aviation - 34 helicopters (including 21 combat). Mor. infantry (3 thousand people) is represented by a regiment (2 battalions), armed with 140 armored personnel carriers. The coastal defense troops have 4 batteries of mobile coastal missile systems "Otomat". Main naval. bases and basing points - Jeddah, Al-Jubail, Yanbu-el-Bahr, etc.

The Coast Guard (4.5 thousand people) has 50 patrol boats, 350 motor boats, and a training vessel.

Nat. the guard (100 thousand people) includes regular formations (75 thousand people) and tribal detachments. Her main purpose - protection of the monarch. regime, protection of governments. institutions, oil fields and other objects. Submits directly to the king, formed in the main. according to the tribal principle, coordinates its actions with the Ministry of Defense, General Staff, security forces and police. Organizationally, it consists of brigades (3 mechanized, 5 infantry) and cavalry. squadron (for ceremonial purposes). Armed with approx. 2000 armored personnel carriers, 514 armored personnel carriers, 70 art. guns, 110 mortars of calibers 81 and 120 mm, St. 120 PU ATGM.

Recruitment of regular aircraft on a voluntary basis. Men aged 18–35 are accepted into the service. Mobilization. resources of 5.9 million people, including those fit for the military. service 3.4 million people Armament and military the equipment is almost entirely imported (from the USA and Great Britain).

The training of privates and sergeants is carried out in training centers and schools, officers - in the academies of the Armed Forces and abroad. The regular aircraft have a large number of foreign countries. military specialists.

Health care

Per 100 thousand inhabitants there are 94 doctors; 22 hospital beds - for 10 thousand inhabitants. (2011). There are 244 hospitals and 2037 health centers in operation (2009). The overall adult mortality rate is US. 3.32 per 1,000 inhabitants. (2014). Main causes of death - cardiovascular and oncological. diseases, diabetes. Total expenditures on health care account for 3.7% of GDP (2011) (budget financing - 65.8%, private - 34.2%; 2012). Legal regulation of health care is carried out on the basis of the Fund. nizam on power (1992), laws on cooperative health insurance (1999), on private health insurance. laboratories (2002), about labor (2005). The Ministry of Healthcare provides prophylactic, medical and rehabilitation services. honey. assistance and funding. For citizens of S.A. honey. help is free. In the health care system, primary, secondary and tertiary levels of honey are distinguished. service. There is also an Islamic Cooperative Health Insurance (Takaful). Main recreation areas - Al-Khobar, Dammam, Jeddah, etc.

Sport

The Olympic Committee S.A. was founded and recognized by the IOC in 1964. Since 1972, S.A.'s athletes have taken part in the Olympic Games (with the exception of the Games in Moscow, 1980); won 3 medals - silver in the 400 m hurdles (Hadi al-Somaili in Sydney, 2000) and 2 bronze (Khaled al-Eid, individual jumping in 2000 and team jumping in London, 2012). The most popular sport is football. The SA Football Federation was founded in 1956. The SA national football team is a 3-time winner (1984, 1988, 1996) and a 3-time finalist (1992, 2002, 2007) of the Asian Cup; in 1994 played in 1/8 of the world championship. Capital club "Al-Hilal" (1957) - one of the strongest in Asia, 13-time champion of the country (1977–2011), receives rivals at the stadium. King Fahd (approx. 62 thousand seats).

Sportsmen SA since 1978 (with the exception of 1998) take part in the Asian Games; in 1978–2014, 24 gold, 11 silver and 20 bronze medals were won.

Education. Institutions of science and culture

The educational system in SA took shape by the end of the year. 20th century Regulatory documents - Document on education. politics (1969) and Strategic. plan of the Ministry of Education (2004–14). Preparation of prof. personnel is managed by the Corporation for prof.-technical. education, the sphere of higher education - the Ministry of Higher Education. Education is free at all levels. The education system includes: preschool education (poorly developed), 6-year primary education, 5-year (3-year incomplete and 2-year complete) education. 3-year-old prof.-tech. education is carried out in junior colleges. Preschool education covered (2013) 13.2% of children, primary education - 93.4%, secondary education - 90.1%. The literacy of the population aged 15 and over is 96% (data from the UNESCO Institute of Statistics). Higher education is given by high fur boots, higher technical. in-you, colleges of technology, pedagogical. colleges, colleges for girls. There are St. 20 universities: Islamic University named after Imam Muhammad ibn Saud (1950, current status since 1974), Univ. King Saud (1957) - both in Riyadh, University of Petroleum and Miner. resources to them. King Fahd in Dhahran (1963, modern status since 1975), Univ. King Faisal (has branches in Dammam and El-Khufuf) (1975), University of Science and Technology. King Abdullah (2009; 80 km from Jeddah), as well as high fur boots of Dammam, Jeddah, Medina, Mecca and others. The largest libraries: National (1968) and public. King Abd al-Aziz (1999) - both in Riyadh, King Abd al-Aziz in Medina (1983) and others. Museum in Riyadh (1999).

Among the scientific. institutions: Research Center. King Abd al-Aziz (1972) and the Center for Research and Study of Islam named after. King Faisal (1983) - both in Riyadh; Center for Research in Islamic Education in Mecca (1980), Institute for Islamic Studies in Jeddah (1982).

Mass media

Daily newspapers are published in Arabic. lang .: "Al-Jazeera" ("Peninsula"; since 1960; circulation approx. 123 thousand copies, Riyadh), "Al-Bilad" ("Country"; from 1934; approx. 30 thousand copies. copies, Jeddah), "Al-Madina" ("Medina"; from 1937; about 60 thousand copies, Jeddah), "Ukaz" ("Newspaper of the Ukaz"; from 1960; about 250 thousand copies, Jeddah), An-Nadwa (Club; since 1958; about 30 thousand copies, Mecca), Al-Yaum (The Day; since 1965; approx. 135 thousand copies, Dammam). In English. lang. The following daily newspapers are published: Arab News (since 1975; about 51 thousand copies), and the Saudi Gazette (since 1976; about 50 thousand copies, both in Jeddah). Radio broadcasting since 1948, television since 1964. Television and radio broadcasts are broadcast by the SA Broadcasting Service (Riyadh), the SA Government Television Service (Riyadh), Aramco Radio (Dhahran), Dhahran TV ( Dhahran city). Nat. information Saudi Press Agency (founded 1970, Riyadh).

Literature

The literature of the peoples of S.A. is written in Arabic. language. Before gaining statehood, S.A. developed in the mainstream of the Arab Muslim culture; in the beginning. 20th century presented in main. poetry on the classic. Arab. lang., as well as prosaic. works of religion., Historical. and didactic. character. At the end. 1920s - early. 1930s signs of renewal are noticeable: in poetry, reflecting the influence of the literature of Egypt, romanticism arose. An important role in the development of prose was played by the journalist who appeared in Medina since 1937. "Al-Manhal", which published translations of stories from the West. and east. languages; its publishers Abd al-Quddus al-Ansari and Ahmed Rida Huhu became the pioneers of the genre of the story, which initially had an exclusively edifying and sentimental character. The novels of Abd al-Quddus al-Ansari (Gemini, 1930), Muhammad Maghribi (Resurrection, 1942), Ahmed Rida Huhu (A Girl from Mecca, 1947) and Ahmed al-Sibai (Thought, 1948), promoting education. and cultural reforms.

From the beginning. 1950s realism began to take hold; got graduated. design of modern. prosaic. genres, literature acquired expressed nat. features determined by the characteristics of culture, life, socio-political. life. It strives. changes in lifestyle were reflected in the novels “The Price of a Sacrifice” by Hamid Damanhuri (1959; in Russian translation, 1966 “Love and Duty”) and “A Rip in the Cover of the Night” by Ibrahim al-Khumeidan (1959), which defined the main themes of the realistic. prose - the conflict of "fathers" and "children", the modernization of societies. morals. Among the brightest realist prose writers: Abd ar-Rahman al-Shair, Sibai Usman, Najat Hayat. The characteristic feature is realistic. prose - autobiography: the novels of Fuad Ankawi, Isam Haukir, Abd al-Aziz Mishri, as well as Turki al-Hamad's trilogy "Ghosts in deserted lanes" (1995–98).

From the 2nd floor. 1970s modernist aesthetics is affirmed. Interest in the subconscious, the construction of a subjective, often irrational image of the world turned out to be a convenient opportunity to overcome censorship obstacles. The expression of unconscious desires, manias and obsessive states of an "alienated" person who has lost faith in the rationality of the surrounding world is at the center of the stories of Muhammad Alwan, Hussein Ali Hussein, Jarallah al-Hamid, Sad al-Dausari, Abdallah Bahashwein, Nura al-Ghamriya al-Bishr, Layla al-Uhaidib. Connection modern. Narrative forms with the techniques of folklore are distinguished by the work of Miriam al-Gamedi, Hasan an-Nimi, Sultana al-Sideiri.

A wide variety of styles are inherent in the lit-re con. 20 - early. 21 centuries: the novel "Reikhan" by Ahmed al-Duweikha (1991) appears as a mosaic of scenes snatched from different points in space and time; mixing modernity with the Arab. Wed-century. heritage and bunk. Legends marked the novels "The Fortress" by Abd al-Aziz Mishri (1992) and "The Silk Road" by Raji Alem (1995). The novel "The Return" (2006) by Warda Abd al-Malik uses the technique stream of consciousness... Great popularity in Arab. the world won the novels "She throws sparks" by Abdo Hal (2008) and "Necklace of Doves" by Raji Alem (2010).

Architecture and fine arts

Artist. Since antiquity, the culture of SA has developed in oases connected by caravan routes. The oldest artifacts date back to the Early Lower Paleolithic (stone tools). In the Neolithic, ceramics, obsidian products, petroglyphs with scenes of hunting and rituals, figures of people and animals appeared (the Jubba oasis near the city of Khail). From the 6th millennium BC NS. there is an increase in cultural ties with the South. Mesopotamia, as evidenced by the finds of Ubeid painted ceramics in the north-east. parts of the country. From the end. 4th millennium BC NS. tools made of bronze, vessels made of stone with carved decor, painted ceramics with zoomorphic and geometric shapes are becoming widespread. ornamentation, carved seals of the Mesopotamian type; monumental buildings appear (sanctuaries, tower tombs), stone sculpture (anthropomorphic tombstone steles from the vicinity of Khail and the El-Ula oasis, late 4th - 3rd millennia BC). Monuments of the 1st floor. 1st millennium BC NS. (for example, the ruins of religious buildings and the palace of the Babylonian king Nabonidus in the Taim oasis, middle 6th century BC) testify to the strengthening of contacts with Assyria and Babylonia. In the north of the country, there are monuments of the Likhyan kingdom (the El-Ula oasis - ancient Dedan, 5–2 centuries BC) and Nabataean kingdom(Hegra city, modern Madain-Salih, 2nd century BC - 1st century AD; included in the list World heritage): rectangular sanctuaries, rock tombs with jagged facades (2nd century BC - 1st century AD), fragments of stone statues with generalized rough facial features and reliefs with images of animals. At the turn of the 1st millennium BC. NS. - 1st millennium AD NS. in dep. In the regions of SA, the influence of Greco-Rome is manifested in wall painting, bronze sculpture, and jewelry. culture (finds from the excavations of Karyat el-Fau, etc.). The largest Hellenistic. the ensemble on the territory of SA - the remains of the city and the royal necropolis of Sadj near the city of Al-Jubail. From the 4th to 6th centuries the ruins of the dep. Christian buildings (a church near El Jubail). From the middle century. Islamic architecture SA few monuments have survived in the sacred cities of Mecca and Medina, as well as at the sites of pilgrims. Mountains. development ser. 18 - early. 20th century bears the features of the Ottoman and Egyptian. influences. Traditions. residential architecture is represented by buildings made of adobe bricks (in the interior areas) or coral limestone and wood (in the Hijaz and on the coast of Krasnoye m.), faced with gypsum, on a stone base, with wood. beamed ceiling. Jeddah and Medina are characterized by tower houses with flat roofs and trees. lattices (mashrabiya) on the balconies, for Abhi - houses with cornices (from the rain).

After the formation of an independent state-va SA in Riyadh, Jeddah and other cities, along with the tradition. buildings, with ser. 20th century there are multi-storey buildings of the present. type, using concrete. Since the 1970s. construction is underway with the involvement of foreigners. architects and town planners (general plans for 10 cities in the northern and central parts of the country, the firm of K.A. buildings are being built sovr. neighborhoods with buildings in internationally style, but with traditional elements. Islamic architecture (mosques in Jeddah, architect Abdel Wahid al-Wakil). New types of societies are emerging. buildings (al-Khairiya complex, 1982, architect Tange Kenzo; construction of the international airports named after King Khalid in Riyadh, 1983, and in Jeddah, 1981, architect bureau "Skidmore, Owings & Merrill", International stadium named after King Fahd in Riyadh, 1987, and others). From the end. 20th century in connection with the reconstruction of the Protected Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet's Mosque in Medina and the creation of numerous. pilgrim complexes, mountains. ensembles are intensively developed sovr. builds. technologies and sun-protection constructions, decorative materials. Among the newest buildings are the Faisalia Tower (2000, architect N. Foster and others), the Royal Center Tower (2003, both in Riyadh).

Modern painting and sculpture of S. A. were developed from the 2nd half. 20th century (A. Radvi, M. Mossa al-Salim, F. Samra and others). Nar. the claim is presented by trad. jewelry, amulets, leather and wool products.

Culture

The culture is strongly associated with Islam, public theaters, cinemas, concerts of secular music are prohibited. Since 1985, near Riyadh, an annual nat. festival "Dzhenadria" (folk music and dances, in which only men participate; poetry, painting, etc.).