Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz attends the opening of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit in Muscat December 29, 2008. Gulf Arab leaders were to open the two-day economic summit on Monday, but Israeli air strikes on Gaza were set to dominate their first session. REUTERS/Stringer (OMAN)STR/Reuters
Culture
Top cultural exports: Islam
Food: qahwa (Arabic coffee), hummus, falafel
Notable Canadian relation: Saron Gebresellassi, student leader
Speed Limit: Reportedly 120 kilometres an hour
National pastime: Soccer, horse and camel racing
Politics
King and Prime Minister: Abdallah bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud
- Assumed the throne: August 1, 2005
- Legislature: Monarchy
- Government system: Monarchy with council of ministers and consultative council
Background: Crown Prince Abdallah took on the daily responsibilities of running the government in 1997, two years after King Fahd, his half-brother, was incapacitated by a stroke. He assumed the throne upon his death in 2005.
Since then, King Abdallah has pursued incremental reforms, including inaugurating the kingdom's first co-educational university last year. He has also adopted a more activist foreign policy, including increasing Saudi Arabia's diplomatic engagement and offering assistance in regional crises in Lebanon, Sudan and Somalia.
The king is also a former commander of the Saudi National Guard.
Economy
Gross Domestic Product: 468-billion
Jobless rate: 10.5%
Gross government debt (as a percentage of GDP)
- 2000: 87.2
- 2009: 16.3
- 2015 (projected): 6.4
Sources: Bloomberg, IMF
NATION PROFILES
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