Country name
conventional long form: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
conventional short form: Saudi Arabia
local long form: Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
local short form: Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah

Data code SA

Government type monarchy

National capital Riyadh

Administrative divisions 13 provinces (mintaqah, singular - mintaqat); Al Bahah, Al Hudud AshShamaliyah, Al Jawf, Al Madinah, Al Qasim, Ar Riyad, Ash Sharqiyah (EasternProvince), 'Asir, Hail, Jizan, Makkah, Najran, Tabuk

Independence 23 September 1932 (unification)

National holiday Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)

Constitution none; governed according to Shari'a (Islamic law)

Legal system based on Islamic law, several secular codes have been introduced; commercialdisputes handled by special committees; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage none

Executive branch
chief of state: King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 13 June1982); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-AzizAl Saud (half-brother to the king, heir to the throne since 13 June 1982, regent from 1 January to 22 February 1996); note - the king is both the chiefof state and head of government
head of government: King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 13 June1982); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-AzizAl Saud (half-brother to the king, heir to the throne since 13 June 1982, regent from 1 January to 22 February 1996); note - the king is both the chiefof state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers is appointed by the king and includes many royalfamily members
elections: none; the king is an absolute monarch

Legislative branch a consultative council (60 members and a chairman appointed by the kingfor four-year terms)

Judicial branch Supreme Council of Justice

Political parties and leaders none allowed

International organization participation ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, BIS (pending member), CCC, ESCWA, FAO,G-19, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAS(observer), OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador BANDAR bin Sultan bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud
chancery: 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 342-3800
consulate(s) general : Houston, Los Angeles, and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Wyche FOWLER, Jr.
embassy : Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh
mailing address: American Embassy-Riyadh, Unit 61307, APO AE 09803-1307; InternationalMail: P. O. Box 94309, Riyadh 11693
telephone: [966] (1) 488-3800
FAX : [966] (1) 488-7360
consulate(s) general: Dhahran, Jiddah (Jeddah)

Flag description green with large white Arabic script (that may be translated as Thereis no God but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God) above a white horizontalsaber (the tip points to the hoist side); green is the traditional color ofIslam

NOTE: The information regarding Saudi Arabia on this page is re-published from the 1997 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Saudi Arabia Government 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Saudi Arabia Government 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.