Saudi+Arabia

=SUADI ARABIA= = = == = = = = = =
 * The Saudi Arabian Flag**

green, a traditional color in Islamic flags, with the Shahada or Muslim creed in large white Arabic script (translated as "There is no god but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God") above a white horizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist side); design dates to the early twentieth century and is closely associated with the Al Saud family which established the kingdom in 1932 ||
 * Flag description: || [[image:https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/graphics/dictionary.jpg link="https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html#2081"]] [[image:https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/graphics/listing.jpg link="https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/fields/2081.html"]]

27,601,038 //note:// includes 5,576,076 non-nationals (July 2007 est.) source:cia factbook ||
 * Population: || [[image:https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/graphics/dictionary.jpg link="https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html#2119"]] [[image:https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/graphics/listing.jpg link="https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/fields/2119.html"]] [[image:https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/graphics/rankorder.jpg link="https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html"]]



23 September 1932 (unification of the kingdom) || Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932) || governed according to Islamic law; the Basic Law that articulates the government's rights and responsibilities was promulgated by royal decree in 1992 || based on Shari'a law, several secular codes have been introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction || 21 years of age; male || //chief of state:// King and Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 1 August 2005); Heir Apparent Crown Prince SULTAN bin Abd al- Aziz Al Saud (half brother of the monarch, born 5 January 1928) note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government //head of government:// King and Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 1 August 2005) //cabinet:// Council of Ministers is appointed by the monarch every four years and includes many royal family members //elections:// none; the monarch is hereditary; note - a new Allegiance Commission created by royal decree in October 2006 established a committee of Saudi princes that will play a role in selecting future Saudi kings, but the new system will not take effect until after Crown Prince Sultan becomes king || Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (150 members and a chairman appointed by the monarch for four-year terms); note - though the Council of Ministers announced in October 2003 its intent to introduce elections for half of the members of local and provincial assemblies and a third of the members of the national Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura, incrementally over a period of four to five years, to date no such elections have been held or announced || Supreme Council of Justice || monarchy source:cia factbook || //name:// Riyadh //geographic coordinates:// 24 38 N, 46 43 E //time difference:// UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) source:cia factbook || source:cia factbook
 * Independence: || [[image:https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/graphics/dictionary.jpg link="https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html#2088"]] [[image:https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/graphics/listing.jpg link="https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/fields/2088.html"]]
 * National holiday: || [[image:https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/graphics/dictionary.jpg link="https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html#2109"]] [[image:https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/graphics/listing.jpg link="https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/fields/2109.html"]]
 * Constitution: || [[image:https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/graphics/dictionary.jpg link="https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html#2063"]] [[image:https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/graphics/listing.jpg link="https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/fields/2063.html"]]
 * Legal system: || [[image:https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/graphics/dictionary.jpg link="https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html#2100"]] [[image:https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/graphics/listing.jpg link="https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/fields/2100.html"]]
 * Suffrage: || [[image:https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/graphics/dictionary.jpg link="https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html#2123"]] [[image:https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/graphics/listing.jpg link="https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/fields/2123.html"]]
 * Executive branch: || [[image:https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/graphics/dictionary.jpg link="https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html#2077"]] [[image:https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/graphics/listing.jpg link="https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/fields/2077.html"]]
 * Legislative branch: || [[image:https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/graphics/dictionary.jpg link="https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html#2101"]] [[image:https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/graphics/listing.jpg link="https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/fields/2101.html"]]
 * Judicial branch: || [[image:https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/graphics/dictionary.jpg link="https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html#2094"]] [[image:https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/graphics/listing.jpg link="https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/fields/2094.html"]]
 * Government type: || [[image:https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/graphics/dictionary.jpg link="https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html#2128"]] [[image:https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/graphics/listing.jpg link="https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/fields/2128.html"]]
 * Capital: || [[image:https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/graphics/dictionary.jpg link="https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html#2057"]] [[image:https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/graphics/listing.jpg link="https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/fields/2057.html"]]
 * King Abdullah is the current leader of**
 * Saudi Arabia

marriages and weddings

Saudi Arabia page 2**