Saudi Arabia occupies wavy, which in the west, along the coast of the Red Sea, in the mountainous region of Hejaz (al-Hiǧāz) reaches 3,000 m in height, and on the east down to the coastal plain Persian Gulf Hasa (al- hasa '), long 500 km and 50 km wide. In sr. part of Saudi Arabia climb the Nejd plateau (Najd; 600-900 m) lonely mountains (Samarra, 1420 m, and others.); north of it there is a sandy desert Nefud (al-Nafud) and the southeast desert Rub al-Khali (al-Rub 'al-61664ālī). The soil of Saudi Arabia is basically built of granite and Paleozoic shale, which in mountain regions emerge to the surface; in the lower parts are covered with Mesozoic sediments. The coasts are low and sandy, in places lined with coral reefs. The largest part of Saudi Arabia has a desert and semi-arid climate. The coast of the Red Sea (Tihama) temperatures are 22.2 to 30.9 ° C and annual rainfall of 80 mm (Jidda). Regularly water flows (practicing) have water only during heavy rains, which are very rare. Semi-desert and steppe parts of Saudi Arabia are very sparsely covered with vegetation (kserofitno shrubs and sparse grass); the largest part of the rights of sandy desert. According to the census of 2004, in Saudi Arabia living 22,673,538 century. The average population density is 10.5 inh./km² (2004), and the largest in the province of Jizan (92.8 inh./km²). The most sparsely populated province al-hudud al Šamālīya (2.5 inh./km²). The large desert regions (Rub al-Khali desert in the south and in the north Nefud) are rarely populated or totally uninhabited. The inhabitants are mainly Arabs, 88.1%; the rest are Indians and Pakistanis 5.5%, 1.5% African blacks, Filipinos 1.0% and others 3.9%. Larger villages are situated in the west of Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf coast, where oil deposits formed with new cities. Today these towns inhabited by nomads and foreigners on temporary work (mainly from Yemen, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Pakistan, India, Iran and many Europeans and Americans). Most of the population lives in cities; proportion of urban population is 86.7% (2001). The main and largest city in Riyadh (Al-Riyad, 4087152 st., 2004). Other major cities Jidda (Ǧedda, 2,801,481 c. 2004), Mecca (Makka, 1294196 st., 2004), Medina (al-Madinah, 918,889 st., 2004), Dammam (al-Dammam, 744 321 st., 2004) and Taif (al-Taif, 521 273 st., 2004). Annual population growth is 3.0% (1998-2003); the birth rate is as high as 37.3 ‰ (2002); mortality was reduced to 5.9 ‰ (2002). Natural growth is extremely high (31.4 ‰, 2002). Residents are on average very young; aged up to 15 years. (Young people) even 42.6% c., At the age of 60 and over. (Aging population) 4.6% c. (2002). Based on the largest oil reserves in the world, estimated at the end of 2005 to about 264 billion. barrels (22% of total World. stocks), Saudi Arabia in the early 2000s remained the leading economic power in the Middle East; 2005 produced some 526 mil. Tonnes of oil, which is about 13.5% of the world share (highest in the world). Oil production, which began in 1938, was controlled by the American company Aramco (Arabian American Oil Company), which is 1972-80. took over Saudi Arabia. Since then, the state oil policy is the royal family of Saud, in cooperation with OPEC and the US. During 2001-06. the average growth rate of GDP was about 6.5%. God. 2006, the GDP worth 370 billion. USD; GDP per capita was 14 000 USD. In the GDP structure the largest shares are industry (61.3%) and services sector (35.4%) and the lowest share is in agriculture (3.3%). The majority of industrial supply make oil and gas; with petrochemicals and overhaul of the tanker, developed and construction. Earnings from oil and gas account for about 45% of GDP and about 90% of export revenues (providing 75% of budget revenues). In agriculture is dominated by cereals, vegetables, citrus fruits, chickens and cattle. God. 2006. The surplus in the trade balance amounted to 130 billion. USD. According to the share in foreign trade are the leading partners of the European Union (30%), the US (15%), Japan (14%), China (12%) and South Korea (10%). God. 2006. The value of foreign exchange reserves was 26 billion. USD and 2011. 540 billion. USD. In 2011, a GDP of 576 billion. US $ 24 800 USD per capita. Although the yields of oil contributed to the development of modern transport, the traditional transport to a lesser extent still used camels and caravans. The railway track (1392 km) linked cities of Dammam, Hofuf and Riyadh; the new 2000 km rail network is completed in four directions, which are staples of Jiddah, the Jordanian border, Juba and Mecca and Medina. God. 1999 railway transported 770,400 passengers and 1.8 mil. T of cargo. The road network covers 45,518 km of asphalted roads (1999), of which 15 251 km main road (1999). International airports Jidda (new 1981), Dhahran, Riyadh and Medina; for internal traffic serving 22 airports. On the Red Sea are the main port Jidda and Mecca, in the Persian Gulf Dammam and Ras Tanura (oil exports). God. 2000 Saudi Arabia was visited by 6,295,000 tourists, ugl. pilgrims. Money is a unit of Saudi Riyal (R); 1 riyal = 100 halalasa. Today, Saudi Arabia has evolved from the Emirate of Najd (Nejd), who around 1740 founded the emir Muhammad ibn Saud in the southern Najd, the founder of the dynasty Saudida and supporters of religious sect Wahhabi. He won in 1810 to northern Najd, Hasu, Kuwait, Oman and the Hejaz. Muhammad attacks on Yemen, Syria and Iraq have caused the Ottoman-Egyptian intervention (1811-18) and short-term overturn Saudida dynasty, which soon came back and reigned in Najd until 1897, when he was expelled, and Najd was united under sjevernonedždskom rashid dynasty. Already in 1902 Abdulaziz ibn Saud established the power of the old dynasty and in 1905 declared Najd kingdom. In the war with the Ottomans and Rashid Saudidi in 1913 won Hasu and gradually spread to other areas of government Arabia. God. 1915 Ibn Saud signed a contract on the protectorate of Great Britain over the Najd. During World War I Najd remained neutral. After the war, Ibn Saud freed Najd nominal sovereignty of the Ottoman Empire, then in a series of battles during the 1920s won Asir, Hail and gained control over the entire sr. Arabia, in 1922 expelled the Rashid from the northern Najd and 1924-25. conquered the kingdom of the Hejaz. By winning the whole inside. Arabia to the borders of Oman and Yemen declared the 1927 dual kingdom "Al-Hejaz and Najd and connected areas", where the United Kingdom has already recognized the independence the same year. When 1927-28. was conquered and Asir, there was a new state entity, which in 1932 was transformed into a unitary kingdom of Saudi Arabia. She after conflicts with Yemen in 1934 was connected to the area of Najran (Nejran) and the coastal area of Assir. The exploitation of vast oil-fields Ibn Saud gave way in 1933 and 1939, US companies (Standard Oil Company of California, Texas Oil Company) and their joint venture Arabian American Oil Company (Aramco), and the profit is mainly used for the development of the country. Successfully linked the Islamic foundations of society and modernization. In II. World War Saudi Arabia was formally remained neutral until March 1. 1945, when it declared war on Germany and Japan, although by the end of 1941 was cut diplomatic relations with Italy and Germany. God. 1945 Saudi Arabia was among the founders → Arab League, and joined the United Nations; 1948-49. supported by the Arab countries at war with Israel. After the death of King Ibn Saud (9th XI. 1953) the throne by his son Saud (in power until 1964). God. 1955 Saudi Arabia established a defensive alliance with Egypt, with which it is trying to build an Arab political union. In the second half. 1950 strengthened the relations with the United States (established by the US Air Force Base end Dhahran). God. 1960 Saudi Arabia was among the founders → Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). In the early 1960s he supported Kuwait in dispute with Iraq, and in the civil war in North Yemen (since 1962) helped the monarchist forces and dispersed with Egypt. Slavery was abolished in 1962. The state coup in November 1964. The government has taken Saudi sibling Faisal (was assassinated on March 25, 1975). With Kuwait's consensual been divided so. neutral zones (1965 and 1969), and was determined to Iran sea border (1968). In September 1969, Saudi Arabia was among the founders → Organization of Islamic Conference. In the early 1970s, began a significant modernization of the armed forces and higher import of weapons (mostly from the US and Western countries), and in 1973-74 (after the Egyptian-Syrian war against Israel) led by the Arab oil embargo against israel friendly countries. God. 1974 was resolved amicably perennial dispute with Oman and the UAE around the area of Al-Buraymi. After the assassination of King Faisal in 1975 the throne by his half-brother Halid (in power until his death June 13, 1982); land which he operates Halidov half Fahd (Saudi King 1982-2005). In the 1970s, occasionally broke out Shiite rebellion; many of them were 1978-80 (in November 1979 there was a conflict in Mecca). In the early 1980s, Saudi Arabia supported the Bahrain to fight the radical Shiite group, and after the Soviet military intervention in Afghanistan in late 1979, together with the United States and Pakistan, supported the Mujahideen forces (from the mid-1990s and the Taliban movement). Relations with Egypt were discontinued in 1979, after the Egyptian-Israeli peace agreement (renewed at the end of 1987). Saudi Arabia supported Iraq in the war against Iran 1980-88., And initiated a security and economic connection of regional Arab countries (from 1981 Arab Gulf Cooperation Council). In clashes with Iranian pilgrims in Mecca in 1987 there were hundreds of dead. God. 1991 supported by the US and allies in the war against Iraq (since occupied Kuwait; so, the Gulf War), and became an important US strategic foothold. The border agreement with Oman was reached in 1991. In the early 1990s, pronounced the demands for democratization. Because of the illness of King Fahd of 1995, real power was his half-brother Abdullah (after Fahd's death came on the throne of August 1, 2005). After the occasional conflict is determined by the boundary with Qatar (1996-2001) and Yemen (2000); maritime border agreement with Kuwait was achieved in 2000. Since the mid-1990s more active radical Islamist groups that oppose the Saudi-American cooperation and have undertaken several terrorist actions. God. 2001 improved relations with Iran on the conclusion of an agreement on security. Since the beginning of the 2000s gradually reduced the number of US troops (in 2001 there were about 5000); In March 2003, Saudi Arabia supported the attack the US and its allies on Iraq (mainly US forces are withdrawn by August 2003). Prompted by protests in several Arab countries in 2011, King Abdullah announced social programs and the introduction of political rights for women. In March 2011, Saudi forces assisted the suppression of Shiite proturežimskih protests in Bahrain.
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