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'''The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia''' (''al-Mamlaka al-ʻArabiyya as-Suʻūdiyya'', '''المملكة العربية السعودية''', also '''Saudi Arabia''' or '''KSA''') is a large country on the [[Arabian Peninsula]]. Ruled by The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the country is one of the few absolute monarchies left in the world. [[Shari'a]] (Islamic jurisprudence) is the official law of the Kingdom. The Kingdom was first declared on January 8, 1926 by [[Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud]], and was brought together on September 22, 1932.

'''The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia''' (''al-Mamlaka al-ʻArabiyya as-Suʻūdiyya'', '''المملكة العربية السعودية''', also '''Saudi Arabia''' or '''KSA''') is a large country on the [[Arabian Peninsula]]. Ruled by The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the country is one of the few absolute monarchies left in the world. [[Shari'a]] (Islamic jurisprudence) is the official law of the Kingdom. The Kingdom was first declared on January 8, 1926, by [[Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud]], and was brought together on September 22, 1932.

[[Barack Obama]] pandered to this tyrannical regime while he was president, even deeply bowing to its dictator in a subservient gesture that offended many [[American|Americans]].

[[Barack Obama]] pandered to this tyrannical regime while he was president, even deeply bowing to its dictator in a subservient gesture that offended many [[American]]s.

Despite homosexuality being illegal in Saudi Arabia, there is a large number of men who are secretly gay.<ref>[https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2007/05/the-kingdom-in-the-closet/305774/ The Kingdom in the Closet - The Atlantic]. May 2007</ref>

Despite homosexuality being illegal in Saudi Arabia, there is a large number of men who are secretly gay.<ref>[https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2007/05/the-kingdom-in-the-closet/305774/ The Kingdom in the Closet - The Atlantic]. May 2007</ref>

In the second decade of the 21st century, some of the restrictions were relaxed - in part due to a reform-minded crown prince.  

In the second decade of the 21st century, some of the restrictions were relaxed - in part due to a reform-minded crown prince.  

* In 2017, the ''New York Times'' reported: "Increasing numbers of women are working in a growing number of professions, and in 2015, women were allowed to vote and to run for seats on the kingdom’s local councils."<ref name=end-driving-ban> [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/26/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-women-drive.html Saudi Arabia Agrees to Let Women Drive] - Ben Hubbard - Sept. 26, 2017</ref>

* In 2017, the ''New York Times'' reported: "Increasing numbers of women are working in a growing number of professions, and in 2015, women were allowed to vote and to run for seats on the kingdom’s local councils."<ref name=end-driving-ban>[https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/26/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-women-drive.html Saudi Arabia Agrees to Let Women Drive] - Ben Hubbard - Sept. 26, 2017</ref>

It was announced in September 2017 that the ban on women driving would end in June 2018.<ref name=end-driving-ban />

It was announced in September 2017 that the ban on women driving would end in June 2018.<ref name=end-driving-ban />

{{Anchor|Yanbu}}

{{Anchor|Yanbu}}

More than 95% of all Saudi oil is produced on behalf of the Saudi Government by the parastatal giant [[Saudi ARAMCO]]. In June 1993, Saudi ARAMCO absorbed the state marketing and refining company (SAMAREC), becoming the world's largest fully integrated oil company. Most Saudi oil exports move by tanker from Gulf terminals at Ras Tanura and Ju'aymah. The remaining oil exports are transported via the east-west pipeline across the kingdom to the Red Sea port of Yanbu.  

More than 95% of all Saudi oil is produced on behalf of the Saudi Government by the parastatal giant [[Saudi ARAMCO]]. In June 1993, Saudi ARAMCO absorbed the state marketing and refining company (SAMAREC), becoming the world's largest fully integrated oil company. Most Saudi oil exports move by tanker from Gulf terminals at Ras Tanura and Ju'aymah. The remaining oil exports are transported via the east–west pipeline across the kingdom to the Red Sea port of Yanbu.  

Due to a sharp rise in petroleum revenues in 1974 following the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, Saudi Arabia became one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. It enjoyed a substantial surplus in its overall trade with other countries; imports increased rapidly; and ample government revenues were available for development, defense, and aid to other Arab and Islamic countries.  

Due to a sharp rise in petroleum revenues in 1974 following the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, Saudi Arabia became one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. It enjoyed a substantial surplus in its overall trade with other countries; imports increased rapidly; and ample government revenues were available for development, defense, and aid to other Arab and Islamic countries.  

[[File:Saudi Aramco.jpg|left]]

[[File:Saudi Aramco.jpg|left]]

But higher oil prices led to both reduced consumption and development of more oil fields around the world. The result, beginning in the mid-1980s, was a worldwide oil glut, which introduced an element of planning uncertainty for the first time in a decade. Saudi oil production, which had increased to almost 10 million barrels per day (b/d) during 1980-81, dropped to about 2 million b/d in 1985. Budgetary deficits developed, and the government drew down its foreign assets. Responding to financial pressures, Saudi Arabia gave up its role as the "swing producer" within OPEC in the summer of 1985 and accepted a production quota. Since then, Saudi oil policy has been guided by a desire to maintain market and quota shares and to support stability in the international oil market. The stability has been further threatened by technology, such as hydraulic fracturing (or "fracing" as it is commonly known), which has allowed a reduction in the cost to produce oil as well as redevelopment of older oil fields (such as the Permian Basin in West Texas).Saudi Arabia was a key player in coordinating the successful 1999 campaign of OPEC and other oil-producing countries to raise the price of oil to its highest level since the Gulf War by managing production and supply of petroleum. That same year, Saudi Arabia established the Supreme Economic Council to formulate and better coordinate economic development policies to accelerate institutional and industrial reform.  

But higher oil prices led to both reduced consumption and development of more oil fields around the world. The result, beginning in the mid-1980s, was a worldwide oil glut, which introduced an element of planning uncertainty for the first time in a decade. Saudi oil production, which had increased to almost 10 million barrels per day (b/d) during 1980–81, dropped to about 2 million b/d in 1985. Budgetary deficits developed, and the government drew down its foreign assets. Responding to financial pressures, Saudi Arabia gave up its role as the "swing producer" within OPEC in the summer of 1985 and accepted a production quota. Since then, Saudi oil policy has been guided by a desire to maintain market and quota shares and to support stability in the international oil market. The stability has been further threatened by technology, such as hydraulic fracturing (or "fracing" as it is commonly known), which has allowed a reduction in the cost to produce oil as well as redevelopment of older oil fields (such as the Permian Basin in West Texas).Saudi Arabia was a key player in coordinating the successful 1999 campaign of OPEC and other oil-producing countries to raise the price of oil to its highest level since the Gulf War by managing production and supply of petroleum. That same year, Saudi Arabia established the Supreme Economic Council to formulate and better coordinate economic development policies to accelerate institutional and industrial reform.  

In response to increasing international demand for oil, Saudi ARAMCO is engaged in an expansion of its oil production capacity, and plans to raise its capacity from the current 9.5-10 million barrels/day (mb/d) to 12 mb/d within the next several years. Saudi ARAMCO is also increasing production of associated and non-associated natural gas to feed the expanding petrochemical sector. Notably, Saudi Arabia has awarded contracts to foreign companies to conduct gas exploration in selected regions of the country—the first such foreign participation in the petroleum sector upstream since the nationalization of ARAMCO in the 1970s.  

In response to increasing international demand for oil, Saudi ARAMCO is engaged in an expansion of its oil production capacity, and plans to raise its capacity from the current 9.5-10 million barrels/day (mb/d) to 12 mb/d within the next several years. Saudi ARAMCO is also increasing production of associated and non-associated natural gas to feed the expanding petrochemical sector. Notably, Saudi Arabia has awarded contracts to foreign companies to conduct gas exploration in selected regions of the country—the first such foreign participation in the petroleum sector upstream since the nationalization of ARAMCO in the 1970s.  

The fifth plan (1990–95) emphasized consolidation of the country's defenses; improved and more efficient government social services; regional development; and, most importantly, creating greater private-sector employment opportunities for Saudis by reducing the number of foreign workers.  

The fifth plan (1990–95) emphasized consolidation of the country's defenses; improved and more efficient government social services; regional development; and, most importantly, creating greater private-sector employment opportunities for Saudis by reducing the number of foreign workers.  

The sixth plan (1996-2000) focused on lowering the cost of government services without cutting them and sought to expand educational training programs. The plan called for reducing the kingdom's dependence on the petroleum sector by diversifying economic activity, particularly in the private sector, with special emphasis on industry and agriculture. It also continued the effort to "Saudiize" the labor force.  

The sixth plan (1996–2000) focused on lowering the cost of government services without cutting them and sought to expand educational training programs. The plan called for reducing the kingdom's dependence on the petroleum sector by diversifying economic activity, particularly in the private sector, with special emphasis on industry and agriculture. It also continued the effort to "Saudiize" the labor force.  

The seventh plan (2000-2004) focused more on economic diversification and a greater role of the private sector in the Saudi economy. For the period 2000-2004, the Saudi Government aimed at an average GDP growth rate of 3.16% each year, with projected growths of 5.04% for the private sector and 4.01% for the non-oil sector. The government also set a target of creating 817,300 new jobs for Saudi nationals.  

The seventh plan (2000–2004) focused more on economic diversification and a greater role of the private sector in the Saudi economy. For the period 2000–2004, the Saudi Government aimed at an average GDP growth rate of 3.16% each year, with projected growths of 5.04% for the private sector and 4.01% for the non-oil sector. The government also set a target of creating 817,300 new jobs for Saudi nationals.  

The eighth plan (2005-2010) again focuses on economic diversification in addition to education and inclusion of women in society. The plan calls for establishing new universities and new colleges with technical specializations. Privatization as well as emphases on a knowledge-based economy and tourism will help promote the goal of economic diversification.

The eighth plan (2005–2010) again focuses on economic diversification in addition to education and inclusion of women in society. The plan calls for establishing new universities and new colleges with technical specializations. Privatization as well as emphases on a knowledge-based economy and tourism will help promote the goal of economic diversification.

*GDP: $800 billion (2020)

*GDP: $800 billion (2020)