Map of Saudi Arabia | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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Background:


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Location: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen

Geographic coordinates: 25 00 N, 45 00 E

Map reference: Middle East

Area
Total: 2,149,690 km²
Land: 2,149,690 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: slightly more than one-fifth the size of the US
Country comparison total: 4,272 km
Country comparison border countries: (7) Iraq 811 km; Jordan 731 km; Kuwait 221 km; Oman 658 km; Qatar 87 km; UAE 457 km; Yemen 1,307 km

Land boundaries
Total: 4,272 km
Border countries: (7) Iraq 811 km; Jordan 731 km; Kuwait 221 km; Oman 658 km; Qatar 87 km; UAE 457 km; Yemen 1,307 km

Coastline: 2,640 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguous zone: 18 nm
Continental shelf: not specified

Climate: harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes

Terrain: mostly sandy desert

Elevation
Highest point: As Sarawat range, 3,000 m
Lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
Mean elevation: 665 m

Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper

Land use
Agricultural land: 80.7% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 1.5% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 79.1% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land forest: 0.5% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land other: 18.8% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land: 11,910 km² (2018)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²: Indian Ocean drainage: (Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 km²)

Total water withdrawal
Municipal: 3.39 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Industrial: 1.4 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Agricultural: 21.2 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total renewable water resources: 2.4 billion m³ (2020 est.)

Natural hazards: frequent sand and dust storms
Volcanism: despite many volcanic formations, there has been little activity in the past few centuries; volcanoes include Harrat Rahat, Harrat Khaybar, Harrat Lunayyir, and Jabal Yar

Geography
Note: Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the world without a river; extensive coastlines on the Persian Gulf and Red Sea allow for considerable shipping (especially of crude oil) through the Persian Gulf and Suez Canal


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Population
Distribution: historically a population that was mostly nomadic or semi-nomadic, the Saudi population has become more settled since petroleum was discovered in the 1930s; most of the economic activities - and with it the country's population - is concentrated in a wide area across the middle of the peninsula, from Ad Dammam in the east, through Riyadh in the interior, to Mecca-Medina in the west near the Red Sea
Total: 36,544,431
Male: 20,700,838
Female: 15,843,593 (2024 est.)
Growth rate: 1.68% (2024 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Saudi(s)
Adjective: Saudi or Saudi Arabian

Ethnic groups: Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%

Languages: Arabic (official)
Major-language samples: دليل جيوس العالمي، المصدر الذي لا غنى عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic); Gheos World Guide, the indispensable source for basic information.

Religions: Muslim (official; citizens are 85-90% Sunni and 10-12% Shia), other (includes Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, and Sikh) (2020 est.)
Note: despite having a large expatriate community of various faiths (more than 30% of the population), most forms of public religious expression inconsistent with the government-sanctioned interpretation of Sunni Islam are restricted; non-Muslims are not allowed to have Saudi citizenship and non-Muslim places of worship are not permitted (2013)

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 22.9% (male 4,266,720/female 4,097,270)
15-64 years: 72.7% (male 15,577,133/female 10,994,061)
65 years and over: 4.4% (2024 est.) (male 856,985/female 752,262)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 40.4
Youth dependency ratio: 36.8
Elderly dependency ratio: 3.7
Potential support ratio: 27.4 (2021 est.)

Median age
Total: 32.4 years (2024 est.)
Male: 34.6 years
Female: 29.3 years

Population growth rate: 1.68% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 13.6 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 3.5 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Net migration rate: 6.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Population distribution: historically a population that was mostly nomadic or semi-nomadic, the Saudi population has become more settled since petroleum was discovered in the 1930s; most of the economic activities - and with it the country's population - is concentrated in a wide area across the middle of the peninsula, from Ad Dammam in the east, through Riyadh in the interior, to Mecca-Medina in the west near the Red Sea

Urbanization
Urban population: 85% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.69% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 7.682 million RIYADH (capital), 4.863 million Jeddah, 2.150 million Mecca, 1.573 million Medina, 1.329 million Ad Dammam, 872,000 million Hufuf-Mubarraz (2023)

Environment
Current issues: desertification; depletion of underground water resources; the lack of perennial rivers or permanent water bodies has prompted the development of extensive seawater desalination facilities; coastal pollution from oil spills; air pollution; waste management
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants
Particulate matter emissions: 57.16 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 563.45 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 45.47 megatons (2020 est.)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.42 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.14 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.31 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio: 16 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 11.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 12.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 10.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 77.2 years (2024 est.)
Male: 75.6 years
Female: 78.8 years

Total fertility rate: 1.87 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 27.9% (2019)

Drinking water source
Improved urban: NA
Unimproved rural: NA
Unimproved total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Unimproved urban: NA

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density: 2.2 beds/1,000 population (2017)

Sanitation facility access
Improved urban: NA
Improved rural: NA
Improved total: 100% of population
Unimproved urban: NA
Unimproved rural: NA
Unimproved total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 35.4% (2016)

Alcohol consumption
Per capita total: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita beer: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita spirits: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use
Total: 14.3% (2020 est.)
Male: 26.5% (2020 est.)
Female: 2% (2020 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 3.5% (2020) NA

Education expenditures: 7.8% of GDP (2020) NA

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 97.6%
Male: 98.6%
Female: 96% (2020)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 17 years
Male: 17 years
Female: 16 years (2021)

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 16.3% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 12.9% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 24.4% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment


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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
Etymology: named after the ruling dynasty of the country, the House of Saud; the name 'Arabia' can be traced back many centuries B.C., the ancient Egyptians referred to the region as 'Ar Rabi'

Government type: absolute monarchy

Capital
Name: Riyadh
Geographic coordinates: 24 39 N, 46 42 E
Time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: the name derives from the Arabic word 'riyadh,' meaning 'gardens,' and refers to various oasis towns in the area that merged to form the city

Administrative divisions: 13 regions (manatiq, singular - mintaqah); Al Bahah, Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah (Northern Border), Al Jawf, Al Madinah al Munawwarah (Medina), Al Qasim, Ar Riyad (Riyadh), Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern), 'Asir, Ha'il, Jazan, Makkah al Mukarramah (Mecca), Najran, Tabuk

Dependent areas

Independence: 23 September 1932 (unification of the kingdom)

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

Constitution
History: 1 March 1992 - Basic Law of Government, issued by royal decree, serves as the constitutional framework and is based on the Qur'an and the life and traditions of the Prophet Muhammad
Amendments: proposed by the king directly or proposed to the king by the Consultative Assembly or by the Council of Ministers; passage by the king through royal decree; Basic Law amended many times, last in 2017

Legal system: Islamic (sharia) legal system with some elements of Egyptian, French, and customary law
Note: several secular codes have been introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship
Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Saudi Arabia; a child born out of wedlock in Saudi Arabia to a Saudi mother and unknown father
Dual citizenship recognized: no
Residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal for municipal elections; [link]

Executive branch
Chief of state: King SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 23 January 2015)
Head of government: Crown Prince and Prime Minister MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 27 September 2022)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch every 4 years and includes many royal family members
Elections/appointments: none; the monarchy is hereditary; an Allegiance Council created by royal decree in October 2006 established a committee of Saudi princes for a voice in selecting future Saudi kings

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral Shura Council (Majlis Ash-Shura) (150 seats plus a speaker; members appointed by the monarch to serve 4-year terms)
Note: in early 2013, the monarch granted women 30 seats on the Council
Elections results: composition - men 121, women 30, percentage women 19.9%

Judicial branch
Highest courts: High Court (consists of the court chief and organized into circuits with 3-judge panels, except for the criminal circuit, which has a 5-judge panel for cases involving major punishments)
Judge selection and term of office: High Court chief and chiefs of the High Court Circuits appointed by royal decree upon the recommendation of the Supreme Judiciary Council, a 10-member body of high-level judges and other judicial heads; new judges and assistant judges serve 1- and 2-year probations, respectively, before permanent assignment
Subordinate courts: Court of Appeals; Specialized Criminal Court, first-degree courts composed of general, criminal, personal status, and commercial courts; Labor Court; a hierarchy of administrative courts

Political parties and leaders: none

International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional member), AFESD, AMF, BIS, BRICS, CAEU, CP, FAO, G-20, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us: chief of mission: Ambassador Reema Bint Bandar Bin Sultan AL SAUD (since 8 July 2019)
In the us chancery: 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,037
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 342-3,800
In the us fax: [1] (202) 295-3,625
In the us email address and website: saudisusemb@mofa.gov.sa; [link]
In the us consulates general: Houston, Los Angeles, New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Michael RATNEY (since 27 April 2023)
From the us embassy: Riyadh 11,564
From the us mailing address: 6,300 Riyadh Place, Washington DC 20,521-6,300
From the us telephone: [966] (11) 835-4,000
From the us fax: [966] (11) 488-7,360
From the us email address and website: RiyadhACS@state.gov; [link]
From the us consulates general: Dhahran, Jeddah

Flag description: green, a traditional color in Islamic flags, with the Shahada or Muslim creed in large white Arabic script (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); design dates to the early twentieth century and is closely associated with the Al Saud family, which established the kingdom in 1932; the flag is manufactured with differing obverse and reverse sides so that the Shahada reads - and the sword points - correctly from right to left on both sides
Note: the only national flag to display an inscription as its principal design; one of only three national flags that differ on their obverse and reverse sides - the others are Moldova and Paraguay

National symbols: palm tree surmounting two crossed swords; national colors: green, white

National anthem
Name: 'Aash Al Maleek' (Long Live Our Beloved King)
Lyrics/music: Ibrahim KHAFAJI/Abdul Rahman al-KHATEEB
Note: music adopted 1947, lyrics adopted 1984

National heritage
Total world heritage sites: 7 (7 cultural, 1 natural)
Selected world heritage site locales:


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Economy overview: high-income, oil-based Middle Eastern economy; OPEC leader; diversifying portfolio; declining per-capita incomes; young labor force; key human capital gaps; heavy bureaucracy and increasing corruption; substantial poverty; low innovation economy

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $1.831 trillion (2023 est.); $1.845 trillion (2022 est.); $1.717 trillion (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Real gdp growth rate: -0.75% (2023 est.); 7.49% (2022 est.); 5.08% (2021 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: $49,600 (2023 est.); $50,700 (2022 est.); $47,800 (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 40% (2023 est.)
Government consumption: 23.3% (2023 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 27.9% (2023 est.)
Investment in inventories: 1.4% (2023 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 34.7% (2023 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -27.4% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 2.7% (2023 est.)
Industry: 47% (2023 est.)
Services: 44.9% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Agriculture products: milk, dates, chicken, wheat, tomatoes, potatoes, watermelons, olives, eggs, onions (2022)
Note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries: crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals, ammonia, industrial gases, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), cement, fertilizer, plastics, metals, commercial ship repair, commercial aircraft repair, construction

Industrial production growth rate: -1.51% (2023 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 16.934 million (2023 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 4.88% (2023 est.); 5.59% (2022 est.); 6.62% (2021 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 16.3% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 12.9% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 24.4% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $398.023 billion (2022 est.)
Expenditures: $315.007 billion (2022 est.)
Note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 7.77% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Public debt: 17.2% of GDP (2017 est.)

Revenue
From forest resources: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
From coal: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Fiscal year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 2.33% (2023 est.); 2.47% (2022 est.); 3.06% (2021 est.)
Note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance: $34.07 billion (2023 est.); $151.519 billion (2022 est.); $41.718 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Exports: $370.974 billion (2023 est.); $445.881 billion (2022 est.); $286.502 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: China 19%, India 13%, Japan 10%, South Korea 10%, US 7% (2022)
Partners note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Commodities: crude petroleum, refined petroleum, ethylene polymers, plastics, fertilizers (2022)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $291.565 billion (2023 est.); $258.213 billion (2022 est.); $213.516 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: China 22%, UAE 16%, US 6%, India 6%, Germany 4% (2022)
Partners note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Commodities: cars, broadcasting equipment, garments, gold, refined petroleum (2022)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $457.949 billion (2023 est.); $478.232 billion (2022 est.); $473.89 billion (2021 est.)
Note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Debt external

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Access electrification total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 80.11 million kW (2022 est.)
Consumption: 393.213 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Exports: 382.556 million kWh (2022 est.)
Imports: 334.737 million kWh (2022 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 38.658 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 99.7% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources wind: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Coal
Consumption: 164,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
Exports: 200 metric tons (2022 est.)
Imports: 164,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 11.113 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 3.649 million bbl/day (2022 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 258.6 billion barrels (2021 est.)

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas
Production: 121.87 billion m³ (2022 est.)
Consumption: 121.87 billion m³ (2022 est.)
Proven reserves: 9.423 trillion m³ (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 638.449 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 437,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 398.933 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 239.078 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 313.903 million Btu/person (2022 est.)


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 6.773 million (2022 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 19 (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 48.198 million (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 132 (2022 est.)

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures: 7% of GDP (2023 est.); 6% of GDP (2022 est.); 6% of GDP (2021 est.); 8% of GDP (2020 est.); 8.8% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military and security forces: the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces (SAAF) are divided into two ministries:; Ministry of Defense: Royal Saudi Land Forces, Royal Saudi Naval Forces (includes marines, special forces, naval aviation), Royal Saudi Air Force, Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces, Royal Saudi Strategic Missiles Force; Ministry of the National Guard: Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG); Other security forces include: ; Ministry of Interior: Special Forces for Security and Protection; Special Forces for Environmental Security; Special Forces for Roads Security; General Directorate of Border Guard; State Security Presidency (SSP): General Directorate of Investigation (Mabahith), Special Security Forces, Special Emergency Forces (2024)
Note 1: the SANG (also known as the White Army) is a land force comprised off tribal elements loyal to the House of Saud; it is responsible for internal security, protecting the royal family, and external defense
Note 2: the SAAF includes the Saudi Royal Guard Command, a unit which provides security and protection to the ruling family and other dignitaries

Military service age and obligation: men (17-40) and women (21-40) may volunteer for military service; no conscription (2023)
Note: in 2021, women were allowed to serve in the Army, Air Defense, Navy, Strategic Missile Force, medical services, and internal security forces up to the rank of non-commissioned officer

Space program

Terrorist groups: Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); al-Qa’ida; al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
Note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide


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National air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 12 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 230
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 39,141,660 (2018)
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1,085,470,000 (2018) mt-km

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: HZ

Airports: 86 (2024)

Heliports: 67 (2024)

Pipelines: 209 km condensate, 2,940 km gas, 1,183 km liquid petroleum gas, 5,117 km oil, 1,151 km refined products (2013)

Railways

Roadways
Total: 221,372 km
Paved: 47,529 km (includes 3,891 km of expressways)
Unpaved: 173,843 km (2006)

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons
Stateless persons: 70,000 (2022)
Note: thousands of biduns (stateless Arabs) are descendants of nomadic tribes who were not officially registered when national borders were established, while others migrated to Saudi Arabia in search of jobs; some have temporary identification cards that must be renewed every five years, but their rights remain restricted; most Palestinians have only legal resident status; some naturalized Yemenis were made stateless after being stripped of their passports when Yemen backed Iraq in its invasion of Kuwait in 1990; Saudi women cannot pass their citizenship on to their children, so if they marry a non-national, their children risk statelessness

Illicit drugs: regularly sentences drug traffickers to the death penalty, although a moratorium on executions for drug offences has been in place since at least 2020; improving anti-money-laundering legislation and enforcement