Rulers
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King Abdulaziz bin Abdelrahman Al-Saud, the founder (1932-1963), followed by his sons: King Saud (1953-64), King Faisal (1964-75), King Khalid (1975-82), King Fahd (1982-2005) and the current ruler, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz.
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Affiliations
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Founding member of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), United Nations, League of Arab States, Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), and Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC); member of many international organizations, including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund; signatory of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and member of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
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Population
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As of the 2004 census, 22.7 million, including about 6 million expatriates.
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Flag
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Green background, with in white letters the Muslim creed in Arabic: "There is no god but God: Muhammad is the Messenger of God."
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Emblem
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A date palm, representing vitality and growth, and two crossed swords, symbolizing justice and strength rooted in faith.
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Religion
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Islam,which is the basis of the legal system and of government.
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Language
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Arabic; English widely spoken in urban areas.
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National day
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September 23, commemorating the foundation of the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932.
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Telecom
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Country code 966;Area codes Riyadh - 1, Jeddah/Makkah/Taif - 2, Dammam/Dhahran - 3, Madinah/Tabuk/Yanbu - 4
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Time
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Greenwich Mean Time plus three (GMT+3) = Eastern Standard Time plus eight (seven during Daylight Savings Time).
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Calendar
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Islamic (Hijrah), dating from emigration of the Prophet Muhammad from Makkah to Madinah;weekend,Thursday and Friday.
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The 12 months of the Islamic lunar year
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Muharram, Safar, Rabi' Al-Awal, Rabi' Al-Akher, Jumada Al-Awal,Jumada Al-Akher,Rajab,Sha'ban,Ramadan,Shawwal. Dhu Al-Qadah , Dhu Al-Hajjah .
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Holidays
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Closure of all offices and schools on Eid Al-Fitr, the feast of
the breaking of the fast, from the evening of the last day of
Ramadan through the third day of Shawwal;and Eid Al-Adha, the culmination of the Hajj, from the tenth through twelfth of Dhu Al-Hajjah.
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Business
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Government offices Saturday through Wednesday from 7:30 am to 2:30 pm; private businesses from 8:00 am to noon and 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm; general banking from 8:00 am until noon and from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm and markets and shops from 8:00 am until 10:00 pm
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Currency
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1 Saud Riyal (SAR) = 1,82 China Yuan Renminbi (RMB). Travel notes: Entry visas required.
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