The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia occupies approximately 868,730 square miles (2,250,000 square kilometers) - about four-fifths of the Arabian Peninsula - and is bordered on the west by the Red Sea and on the east by the Arabian Gulf. Neighboring states are Jordan, Iraq and Kuwait on the north; Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates on the east; Yemen and the Sultanate of Oman on the south.

Saudi Arabia is a monarchy ruled by a king; its rules through royal decrees issued in conjunction with the Council of Ministers and with advice from the Consultative Council. Members of both councils are appointed by the king. Islamic law (shari'ah) is the basis of the authority of the monarchy and provides the foundation of the country's customs and social practices.

    Islam

More than one billion people from most races, nationalities and cultures of the world are united by their common Islamic faith. About 18 percent of Muslims live in the Arab world.

    The Five Pillars of Islam

These core beliefs and practices are the framework for Muslim life.

Faith: Muslims believe that there is no God but God and that Muhammad is his final messenger.

Prayer: Muslims pray in the direction of Mecca five times a day, at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and in the night.

Zakah or alms-giving: Muslims who meet certain financial criteria are required to give a portion of their wealth to the needy.

Fasting: During Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic year, Muslims refrain from eating and drinking, from dawn to dusk to bring them closer to God.

Hajj or Pilgrimage: The annual pilgrimage or hajj to the holy city of Mecca is an obligation only for those who are physically and financially able to perform it once in a lifetime.

    Climate

Weather conditions in Saudi Arabia vary almost as much as the terrain, but overall, the Arabian Peninsula is arid and extremely hot.

    Rainfall

The average national rainfall in Saudi Arabia is 2.76 inches, but extremes are possible. The Empty Quarter may record no rainfall at all for several years, while snow has been recorded in the north of the Kingdom. The rainy season extends from November through May, with the mountainous 'Asir region being an exception, where summer monsoon rains result in an annual rainfall of 12 to 14 inches.

    Sandstorms

Shamal is the common Arabic term for the sandstorms that reduce visibility to zero, closing airports and harbors. There are two shamal seasons: the first season extends from late spring to early summer, and the second, from late fall to early winter. The highest winds generally occur in early afternoon and usually decrease in intensity in the late evening.

    Temperature and Humidity

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia experiences disparate extremes of these two measures. In the interior, the air is dry, while on the coasts, summer humidity is excessive, particularly at night. In summer, temperatures in some areas may reach 122° F (50° C) in the shade, but in the spring, the days are balmy and the nights are clear. In winter, temperatures drop below freezing in the central and northern regions and snow sometimes falls in the mountains, the northern plateau, and even in the capital, Riyadh.

    Finance

The basic monetary unit is the Saudi Riyal (SR) which is printed in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500. The coins are called halalat and are issued in denominations of 5, 10, 25 and 100. One riyal consists of 100 halalat.

Major credit cards are widely accepted in Saudi Arabia.

    Time

Saudi Arabia is on Greenwich Mean Time plus three hours (GMT+3).

    Work Schedules

The regular work week is from Saturday to Wednesday. The weekends on Thursday and Friday.