Saudi Arabiain
TransitionGreat Decisions – OLLI 2017
What you are in for…
• Why me?• Virtual visit• Royal history to 1960s• Life in Dhahran• Transition to today• Importance of Islam
What you are in for…
• Importance of oil• The people• Dangerous neighborhood• US/Saudi relations• Lessons for us• Possibilities for the future• Questions ?????
Why Me?
• ARAMCO• Summers of ‘64 & ’65• A young woman’s eye view• Travel• Shopping• Socializing
Why Me?
• Recreation• Taboos• Justice• Tolerance• Curiosity all around
Virtual Visit
• Maps• Demographics• Great Decisions video
Most of Arabian Peninsula
Kingdomof
Saudi Arabia
Relative to USA
Great Decisions View
City Sizes
Elevations
World View
Demographics
• Flag • Emblem• Location• Terrain• Climate• Population• Religion• Language• Government• Calendar • Currency
Flag
“There is no god but God: Muhammad is the Messenger of God”
Inscription on Flag
National Emblem
Date palm = vitality and growthTwo crossed swords = justice and strength
rooted in faith
Location
ArabianGulf!
Barren…harsh…salt flats…gravel plains…sand desertsFew man-made lakes…no permanent streams
South – the Rub Al-Khali (Empty Quarter), worlds largestSouthwest – mountain ranges over 9,000 feet
Terrain
Awesome Dunes
Awesome “Dune Bashing”
Gara Mountain
Dunes of the Empty Quarter
Challenge: Street Cleaning
Challenge: Farming
Challenge: Traversing Mountains
Saudi Arabia
by Night
Notice
• Mountains• Cities• Empty
Quarter
Climate
Summers: Hot and dry – 68F to 128F, no rainWinters: Hot and dry with cold nights, 30F to
97F, less than 1 inch of rain
Population
Population
Trends
Saudi ArabiaPopulation risingUnemployment 5.7%Labor force participation 55.3%Inflation rate -0.1%Govt. debt to GDP 5.9%Youth unemployment ?
USAPopulation risingUnemployment 4.5%Labor force participation 63%Govt. debt to GDP 104%Youth unemployment 9.9%
Religion
• “Islam, which is the basis of the legal system and of government.” - Saudi Embassy website
Essential LanguageIs-salaam ‘alaykum Peace be upon youWa-’alaykum is-salaam And upon you be peaceSabaah il-khayr Morning of goodnessSabaah in-nuwr Morning of lightMasaa’ il-khayr Evening of goodnessMasaa’ in-nuwr Evening of lightKayf Haalak? How are you?Tayyib, il-hamdu lillaah! Fine, praise be to God!Min fadlak PleaseShukran Thank you.Mamnuwn You’re welcomeBokra Tomorrow Il-humdu lillah Praise be to GodInshallah God willing
Government
• Absolute monarchy – King acts as Prime Minister
• “Its religion is Islam”• “Its constitution is the Qur’an and the
Sunnah”• Legal system is Shari’ah (Islamic law)
Government
• Crown Prince appointed by the king• Council of Ministers (Cabinet) assist the
king• Majlis Al-Shura (Consultative Council)• Provincial Governors (13), deputies, and
councils• Municipal Councils (178), half elected
(maybe) • “All citizens are equal before the law”
Government• Absolute monarchy – King acts as Prime Minister• “Its religion is Islam”• “Its constitution is the Qur’an and the Sunnah”• Legal system is Shari’ah (Islamic law)• Crown Prince appointed by the king• Council of Ministers (Cabinet) assist the king• Majlis Al-Shura (Consultative Council)• Provincial Governors, deputies, and councils• Municipal Councils (178), half elected (maybe) • All citizens are equal before the law
Calendar
• Islamic (Hijrah) calendar, dating from emigration of the Prophet Muhammad from Makkah (Mecca) to Madinah (Medina)
• Work week is Sunday through ThursdayoGovernment offices 7:30 am to 2:30 pmo Private businesses 8:00 am to noon, 3:00
pm to 6:00 pmoBanking 8:00 am until noon, 5:00 pm until
8:00 pmoMarkets and shops 8:00 am until 10:00 pm
(breaks for prayer)
Calendar
• Weekend is Friday and Saturday• Holyday is Friday• 12 months in the Islamic Lunar Year• Holidays
o Eid Al-Fitr – ending the fast of Ramadano Eid Al-Adha – culmination of the HajjoNational Day – September 23 – founding of
Kingdom
Currency
Riyal is pegged to Dollar$1 = 3.745 Saudi Riyal100 halalahs – 1 riyal
Who’s in Charge?
King Abdulaziz ibn Saud –founded kingdom in 1932.Ruled 1902 to 1953
King Saud ibn Abdulaziz Al Saud – 1953 to 1964 -deposed
Who’s in Charge?
King Faisal ibn Abdulaziz Al Saud – 1964–1975 -assassinated
King Khalid ibn Abdulaziz Al Saud – 1975-1982
Who’s in Charge?
King Fahd ibn Abdulaziz Al Saud – 1982 - 2005
King Abdullah ibnAbdulaziz Al Saud –2005 - 2015
King Salman ibn Abdulaziz Al Saud
2015 - ?
Great Decisions Video
• Relationship with USA• Oil…Arms…Iran
• History• Culture• Wahhabism• Vision 2030• Proxy wars• Challenges
Saudi Arabiain
TransitionGreat Decisions – OLLI 2017
Saudi Arabia�in�TransitionWhat you are in for…What you are in for…Why Me?Why Me?Virtual VisitMost of Arabian PeninsulaRelative to USAGreat Decisions ViewSlide Number 10Slide Number 11Slide Number 12Slide Number 13World ViewDemographicsFlagInscription on FlagNational EmblemLocationTerrainSlide Number 21Slide Number 22Awesome “Dune Bashing”Gara MountainDunes of the Empty QuarterChallenge: Street CleaningChallenge: FarmingChallenge: Traversing MountainsSaudi Arabia by NightClimatePopulationPopulationTrendsReligionEssential LanguageGovernmentGovernmentGovernmentCalendarCalendarCurrencyWho’s in Charge?Who’s in Charge?Who’s in Charge?King Salman ibn Abdulaziz Al Saud�2015 - ?Great Decisions VideoSaudi Arabia�in�Transition