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The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Brief:Saudi Arabia (officially Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) is the largest Arab country of the Middle East. It is bordered by Jordan and Iraq on the north and northeast, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates on the east, Oman on the southeast, and Yemen on the south. The Arabian Gulf lies to the northeast and the Red Sea to its west. It has an estimated population of 27 million, and its size is approximately 2,149,790 square kilometers. History:Resource: http://www.info.gov.sa/portals/Kingdom/KingdomHistory.html
1939: Oil exploitation starts, allowing King Ibn Saud to begin a large-scale modernizing program. 1953 November 9: King Abdul Aziz dies. He is succeeded by his son Saud. 1957: As a result of a visit by King Saud to USA, relations with USA are enhanced. This especially involved increase in Saudi buys of US military equipment. Later this year Saudi Arabia declared that the Gulf of Aqaba was Saudi territory. 1958: Change in the constitutional construction, where the kings absolute power was reduced, and legislative and executive powers were transferred to the prime minister. A couple of months later a cabinet system was introduced. 1964: Prince Faisal replaces Saud as king. The political system of Faisal is the system that has been used up to our times. 1973: Saudi Arabia plays a leading role in an oil boycott against those Western countries that supported Israel in the Yom Kippur War. This resulted in oil prices four times higher than earlier. 1974: Saudi Arabia takes over more of the control over Aramco, and revenues increases greatly. 1975: King Faisal is murdered. Khalid becomes new king. 1980: Saudi Arabia takes full control over Aramco. 1982: King Khalid dies. He is succeeded by Fahd. 1992: Constitutional changes where a consultative council, shura, is established, along with a bill of rights and clear rules for succession for the king. 2005: King Fahd dies. He is succeeded by Abdullah, formerly Crown Prince |









