The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the largest country on the Arabian Peninsula. It borders Jordan on the north, Iraq on the north and north-east, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates on the east, Oman on the south and south-east, and Yemen on the south, with the Persian Gulf to its north-east and the Red Sea to its west. It is called "the land of the two holy mosques", a reference to Mecca and Medina, Islam's two holiest places.
The discovery of oil in March 1938 transformed the country economically, and has given the kingdom great legitimacy over the years.
Besides Liechtenstein, Saudi Arabia remains the only country in the world named after its ruling family. Many opponents of the House of Saud reject the family's legitimacy and decline to speak of the country as "Saudi Arabia".
The kingdom occupies eighty percent of the Arabian Peninsula. Most of the country's boundaries with the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Yemen are undefined, so the exact size of the country remains unknown. The Saudi government's estimate is 2,217,949 square kilometres (856,355 miČ). Other reputable estimates vary between 2,149,690 square kilometres (830,000 miČ) and 2,240,000 square kilometres (864,869 miČ).
The climate is dry and hot. Dry desert with great extremes of temperature and the terrain is mostly uninhabited, sandy desert. In most parts of the country, vegetation is limited to weeds, xerophytic herbs and shrubs. Animals include the ibex, wildcats, baboons, wolves, and hyenas in the highlands. Small birds are found in the oases. The coastal area of the Red Sea, especially the coral reefs, have a rich marine fauna. Saudi Arabia has a coastline of 2,640 kilometres (1,640 mi).
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is an Islamic state wherein no other major religions have official status, freedom to worship, or legal protections or rights. The particular branch of Islam practiced there is known as Wahabbism.
According to the US Department of State Website, "Saudi Arabia is an Islamic monarchy without legal protection for freedom of religion, and such protection does not exist in practice. Islam is the official religion, and the law requires that all citizens be Muslims. The Government prohibits the public practice of non-Muslim religions. The Government recognizes the right of non-Muslims to worship in private; however, it does not always respect this right in practice."
Furthermore, "Islamic practice generally is limited to that of a school of the Sunni branch of Islam as revived by Muhammad Ibn Abd Al-Wahhab, an 18th century Arab religious reformer. (Outside Saudi Arabia, this branch of Islam is often referred to as "Wahhabi," a term the Saudis do not use. The teachings of the reformer Abd Al-Wahhab are more often referred to by adherents as "Salafi" or "Muwahiddun," that is, following the forefathers of Islam, or unifiers of Islamic practice.) Practices contrary to this interpretation, such as celebration of the Prophet Muhammad's birthday and visits to the tombs of renowned Muslims, are discouraged. The spreading of Muslim teachings not in conformance with the officially accepted interpretation of Islam is prohibited. Writers and other individuals who publicly criticise this interpretation, including both those who advocate a stricter interpretation and those who favor a more moderate interpretation than the Government's, reportedly have been imprisoned and faced other reprisals."
Things you should know when travelling to Saudi Arabia
Canadians who choose to travel to Saudi Arabia and those currently in Saudi Arabia should take all possible security precautions and should avoid large gatherings and crowded places. Particular security precautions should be exercised when frequenting shopping malls, open markets, restaurants, pedestrian promenades, and other public areas frequented by foreigners. Canadians in Saudi Arabia should regularly review their personal circumstances to determine if their continued presence is warranted. If Canadians feel their personal safety is threatened, they should consider departing from Saudi Arabia.
Identification papers must be carried at all times. Visitors are advised to leave their passports in a safe place and carry a photocopy for identification purposes.
Avoid leaving vehicles unattended. When doing so, carefully inspect both the exterior and interior upon return to detect any attached devices or suspect packages nearby. Treat mail and packages from unfamiliar sources with suspicion. If you notice anything unusual, contact your sponsor or call the Saudi police immediately by dialing 999. Suspects as well as witnesses to incidents may be held for lengthy periods without access to legal counsel or consular officials. If access is granted, it may be severely limited by the Saudi authorities.
Canadians working as teachers in Saudi Arabia should not discuss political or religious issues with students or school employees. Prior to accepting a job offer or signing a contract, you should carefully examine and fully understand all conditions, and ensure that oral understandings are included in the contract. Seek legal advice from a Canadian or Saudi lawyer before signing.
