Saudi Arabia - Information File

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The Flag of Saudi Arabia. East Asia with Saudi Arabia in Red. Saudi Arabia, the largest country in the Middle East, is approximately 830,000 square miles in area, taking up four fifths of the Arabian peninsula. It is a little more than one-fifth the size of the continental United States. Its capital and largest city is Riyadh. The country's official name is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia's landscape consists mainly of desert, including the world's largest continuous sand desert, the Rub Al-Khali, or Empty Quarter. Mountains occupy its southwestern region. Temperatures are typical for desert regions, with scorching heat and dry land. Extreme temperatures and humidity are greatest in coastal areas.

Saudi Arabia's 2007 population was estimated to be 27.6 million. The majority of Saudi Arabia's people, 90 percent, are Arabs. Ten percent are Afro-Asian. Arabic is the official language. Some of its people speak English.

Saudi Arabia is known as the birthplace of Islam, the country's official religion. Approximately 85 percent are Sunni Muslims; the remaining 15 percent are Shiite Muslims.

Education is free for all students and a portion of the curriculum is dedicated to religious studies. Students who fail in this area are not promoted to the next grade level.

Until 2002, when Saudia Arabia's first constitution was established, the country operated as an absolute monarchy. Its current legal system is guided by the Shari'a, Islamic law. There are three branches of government - Executive, Legislative, and Judicial, and no political parties.

The riyal is Saudi Arabia's unit of currency.

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