Saudi Arabia
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Capital
Riyadh
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Local time
23:05
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Population
33.43 m
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Driving side
Right
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Calling code
+966
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Currency
ر.س SAR (riyal)
Saudi Arabia
-
Capital
Riyadh
-
Local time
23:05
-
Population
33.43 m
-
Driving side
Right
-
Calling code
+966
-
Currency
ر.س SAR (riyal)
-
Average Salary
$ 1 786
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Petrol price
€ 0.16 pl
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Precipitation
59mm /year
Geography & travel
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Country Area
1 960 582 km2
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Protected Area
31%
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Forest Area
1%
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Agricultural area
80%
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Railways
1412km
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Annual air passengers
34.51 m
Population
-
Ethnicity
Arab - 90 %
Afro-Asian - 10 %
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Religion
Islam - 100 %
Islam - 100 %
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Literacy rates
94.4%
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Languages
Arabic
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Armed Forces
251 500
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Murders
2 per 100k
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Alcohol consumption
0.2 l/person
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Smoking
27.9%
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Diabetes
20%
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Malaria
0%
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Tuberculosis
12 per 100k
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HIV
0.1%
Economy
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Industries
crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals, ammonia, industrial gases, sodium hydroxide, cement, fertilizer, plastics
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Agriculture
wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons, dates, citrus, mutton, chickens, eggs
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Natural Resources
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper
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Energy Import
-191%
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Natural Resources
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper
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Renewable Energy
0%
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CO2 Emissions
601 047kt
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Ease of Business
92 (Best=1, Worst=200)
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ATMs per 100k people
76
What not to do when visiting Saudi Arabia
Don’t forget to shake hands when greeting (men). Good friends may greet with a handshake and kiss on each cheek. Women usually hug and kiss. Opposite sexes don’t greet each other in public.
Don’t criticise Islam and don’t discuss any religion. The public practice of other faiths than Islam is prohibited.
Don’t eat, drink, smoke or chew chewing gum in public during the holy month of Ramadan.
Did you know?
Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the world without a river. And if a woman wants to travel, she can only do so with the permission of her husband.
Don’t ask about or discuss Saudi’s wife - it’s better to ask about health or family.
Don’t travel to military zones or border posts - it’s banned for tourists.
Don’t forget women must be met by their sponsor upon arrival, according to Saudi Arabia’s regulations. Women who are travelling alone and are not attended by sponsors have experienced delays before being allowed to enter the country or to continue on other flights.
Don’t forget married women, including non-Saudis, require their husband’s permission to depart the country, while unmarried women and children need the permission of their father or male guardian.
Don’t bring your pet without an official approval the Saudi Ministry of Agriculture must approve all pets imported into Saudi Arabia.
Did you know?
Movie theatres in Saudi Arabia have been outlawed for years and were only recently decriminalised.
Don’t dance, play music or show movies in public - it’s forbidden.
Don’t be surprised many areas of life in Saudi Arabia is segregated by sex to ensure that unrelated men and women have no possibility of mingling.
Tell us your experience
We love to hear from people who have travelled the world and know ‘what not to do’. Why not help other people on their travels?
Don’t drive or ride motorcycles, bicycles, or any other type of vehicle on public roads if you’re a woman - it’s not allowed.
Don’t expect anything to be open on Friday - it's the Muslim holy day. Many companies also close on Thursday, making the weekend Thursday and Friday.
Don’t wear tight and unveiling clothes - always dress conservatively.
Don’t use your left hand for eating or handing things over.
Don’t forget to maintain good hygiene all the times.
Don’t necessarily drink camel’s milk unless you’re really willing to.
Don’t forget same-sex sexual relations are criminalised in Saudi Arabia.
Don't refuse the invitation for a coffee or meal.
Tell us your experience
We love to hear from people who have travelled the world and know ‘what not to do’. Why not help other people on their travels?
Don't bath naked or topless.
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