Short facts about the government of Saudi Arabia

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

Government type:

monarchy

Capital:

Riyadh

Administrative divisions:

13 provinces (mintaqat, singular - mintaqah); Al Bahah, Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah, Al Jawf, Al Madinah, Al Qasim, Ar Riyad, Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern Province), 'Asir, Ha'il, Jizan, Makkah, Najran, Tabuk

Independence:

23 September 1932 (Unification of the Kingdom)

National holiday:

Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)

Constitution:

governed according to Shari'a (Islamic law); the Basic Law that articulates the government's rights and responsibilities was introduced in 1993

Legal system:

based on Islamic law, several secular codes have been introduced; commercial disputes 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 June 1982); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (half-brother to the monarch, heir to the throne since 13 June 1982, regent from 1 January to 22 February 1996); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government head of government:  King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 13 June 1982); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (half-brother to the monarch, heir to the throne since 13 June 1982, regent from 1 January to 22 February 1996); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet:  Council of Ministers is appointed by the monarch and includes many royal family members elections:  none; the monarch is hereditary

Legislative branch:

a consultative council (90 members and a chairman appointed by the monarch for four-year terms)

Judicial branch:

Supreme Council of Justice

Political parties and leaders:

none allowed

Political pressure groups and leaders:

none

International organization participation:

ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, BIS, 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, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)

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; International Mail: 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 There is no God but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God) above a white horizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist side); green is the traditional color of Islam

Source: World Factbook