The
Saudi Arabian Kingdom
'al-mamlakatu l-carabiyyati s-sacûdiyya
| Status |
| Independent monarchy of absolute power |
| Surface |
| 2,240,000 km² |
| Inhabitants |
| 18,000,000 |
| Capital |
| Riyadh |
| Year of independence |
| 1932 |
| Head of state |
| King Fahd Ibn Abdu l-Aziz |
| Languages |
| Arabic
(official), English |
| Currency |
| 1 rial=20 qurushs. 1 qurush=5
halala 100 rials=US$26,7, US$1=3,75 rials |
| Cities |
| Jedda (1,5 million) Riaydh (1,3 million) Mecca (618,000) Taif (300,000) |
Almost all of Saudi Arabia
consists of semi-desert and desert with oases, where half of the total
surface is uninhabitable desert. Very little rain. Most of the western
parts of Saudi Arabia is plateau, the east is lowland, with very hot climate.
The southwest has mountains as high as 3000 metres.
Likewise, the climate is dry and hot. Riyadh, the capital, has an average
temperature of July of 42ºC and January of 14ºC, while Jedda
has 31ºC and 23ºC. Annual precipitation both places is below
100 mm. There are no permamanent rivers and lakes in Saudi Arabia.
Vegetation is scant, consisting mostly of xerophytic herbs and shrubs.
Animal life includes ibex, wildcats, baboons, wolves, and hyenas in the
highlands. Small birds are found in the oases.