The MDGs are part and parcel of the goals of this strategic path. Saudi Arabia is witnessing tangible economic prosperity and progress in all domains of socio-economic development, which produced substantial improvement in all human development indicators such as standard of living, health and education services, environmental conditions as well as potentials of comprehensive development.
Over the period , the national economy achieved an average annual growth rate of 3. Moreover, diversification of the economic base increased, with the share of non-oil sectors constituting some Concerning foreign trade structure, the non-oil merchandise exports share in total exports increased from around 8. On the other hand, the share of imports of consumer goods in total imports has declined, which is an indicator of increased reliance on domestic products and their improved competitiveness.
Home About Saudi Arabia. About Saudi Arabia 2. Introduction Mecca Holy Mosque. The Hejaz and Nejd regions were merged to form the kingdom of Saudi Arabia in , which was an absolute monarchy ruled by sharia. A year later the region of Asir was incorporated into the kingdom. Oil was discovered in , and commercial production began during World War II. This oil-derived wealth allowed the country to provide free health care and education while not collecting any taxes from its people.
Saudi Arabia was neutral until nearly the end of the war, but it was permitted to be a charter member of the United Nations. The country joined the Arab League in and took part in the ?
Saudi Arabia still does not recognize the state of Israel. On Ibn Saud's death in , his eldest son, Saud, began an year reign marked by an increasing hostility toward the radical Arabism of Egypt's Gamal Abdel Nasser. In , the ailing Saud was deposed and replaced by the prime minister, Crown Prince Faisal, who gave vocal support but no military help to Egypt in the Arab-Israeli War. Faisal's assassination by a deranged kinsman in shook the Middle East, but it failed to alter his kingdom's course.
His successor was his brother, Prince Khalid. Khalid gave influential support to Egypt during negotiations on Israeli withdrawal from the Sinai Desert. King Khalid died of a heart attack in , and he was succeeded by his half-brother, Prince Fahd bin 'Abdulaziz, who had exercised the real power throughout Khalid's reign. King Fahd chose his half-brother Abdullah as crown prince. Saudi Arabia and the smaller oil-rich Arab states on the Persian Gulf, fearful that they might become Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's next targets if Iran conquered Iraq, made large financial contributions to the Iraqi war effort during the s.
At the same time, cheating by other members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries OPEC , competition from nonmember oil producers, and conservation efforts by consuming nations combined to drive down the world price of oil.
At the start of , King Fahd passed authority to Crown Prince Abdullah, after suffering an incapacitating stroke.
In , Saudi Arabia, along with other OPEC nations experiencing a recession, decided to reduce production to raise oil prices. In , OPEC cut oil production three additional times. Saudi Arabia's relations with the U. Despite the monarchy's close ties to the West, much of the extremely influential religious establishment has supported anti-Americanism and Islamic militancy.
In Aug. The U. One of the major reasons given for the Sept. On May 12, , suicide bombers killed 34, including 8 Americans, at housing compounds for Westerners in Riyadh. Al-Qaeda was suspected. Saudi Arabia's commitment to antiterrorist measures was again called into question by the U. In July, the U. Congress bitterly criticized Saudi Arabia's alleged financing of terrorist organizations. While the Saudi government arrested a sizable number of suspected terrorists, little was done to quell Islamic militancy in the kingdom.
Several attacks against Westerners took place in and In Feb. The other half continued to be appointed, in keeping with the previous Saudi system. Women were not eligible to vote, and less than a third of eligible voters registered.
His half-brother Abdullah, who had been the de facto ruler of the country for the past decade, assumed the throne. Saudi Arabia brokered talks between the Afghan government and Taliban leaders in September In the talks, the first attempt to end the protracted armed conflict, the Taliban said it is severing ties to al-Qaeda.
King Abdullah took bold steps to reshuffle his government in February , promoting reformers, firing controversial officials, including the conservative head of the religious police and the country's most senior judge, and appointing his first-ever female minister, for women's education. Saudi Arabia was largely spared the popular uprisings that spread throughout the Middle East and Northern Africa in early , largely because King Abdullah remains popular among Saudis and the country's oil wealth provides a level stability not seen in countries such as Egypt.
Nevertheless, unemployment among young Saudis is high, housing is in short supply, and there has been a push for broader civil liberties, particularly for women. In September , King Abdullah granted women the right to vote and run for seats on the Shura council, which advises the King on policy issues. Women will not be allowed to vote until the next election cycle in Still, the decision is a significant victory for women in a country where they are not allowed to drive and must have a male chaperone with them in public at all times.
Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world that has not granted women suffrage. He proposes setting up a Consultative Council Majlis al-Shura. It is composed of a chairman and 60 members chosen by the king. Women do not take part in the poll.
In a separate incident, more than 70 pilgrims are killed when a hostel in the city collapses. The force has come under increasing criticism for overzealous behaviour after recent deaths in custody. Also appoints country's first woman minister. Officials say suspects were tried, but do not specify how many were found guilty. One is sentenced to death. A woman is sentenced to 10 lashes after being found guilty of driving, in the first legal punishment for violating the ban on women drivers.
King Abdullah overturns the sentence.
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