Formal Name:

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Citizens:

Saudi(s) or Saudi Arabian(s).

Capitol:

Riyadh.

Flag:

Green with Arabic message in white: "There is no god but God, and Muhamad is the messenger of God." Horizontal sword beneath message.

Size:

839,996 square miles (Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska, and Hawaii put together).

Population:

12,678,00 (1989), 1,380,00 Riyadh

Language:

Arabic.

Gross Domestic Product:

$98 Billion (US) 1986

Paved Roads:

22,00 km.

Ports:

Ras Tanura, Al Jubayl, Yanbu.

Airports:

167 Airports, 54 with paved runways.

In 1902, Abd al Aziz, an Arab prince, seized Riyadh and set off to reestablish the House of Saud. Abd al Aziz eliminated the Turks from much of the Saudi peninsula in a few decades and in 1932 called the conquered areas the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. With the discovery of oil Saudi Arabia was caught between the traditional Islamic ways and the urge to modernize to Western methods. These clashes have lasted throughout the last fifty years as Saudi Arabia attempted to modernize to western ways. King Fahd is generally regarded as having a pro-western attitude, but is still faced with continued protest from many more radical fundamentalist Muslims.

Virtually untouched and undamaged militarily, Saudi Arabia is certain to emerge as a power in the Middle East, especially among the so-called moderate Arab countries. King Fahd is now held in wide regard in many capitals and Saudi Arabia is seen as a possible bridge between the Arab and Western world. Although technically in a state of war with Israel, a peace treaty with Israel by Saudi Arabia and other moderate Arab states would be a tremendous step for peace in the Middle East. The fate of the Israel/Arab question hinges strongly on how great of a role Saudi Arabia chooses to take in this new world order.     

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