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