Land area
2.15m sq km
Population
24.2m (2007, Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency)
Key provinces
Population in '000 (2004 census, Ministry of Economy and Planning
Riyadh (capital): 4,730
Mecca: 5,449
Eastern: 3,009
Asir: 1,637
Medina: 1,379
Jizan: 1,083
Qassim: 980
Climate
Hot and dry, milder in the winter months
Hottest month: July, 26-42°C (average daily minimum and maximum); coldest month: January, 8-12°C; driest months: July, September, October, 0 mm average rainfall; wettest month: April, 25 mm average rainfall
Language
Arabic
Measures
Metric system
Currency
The Saudi riyal (SR) = 20 qirsh = 100 hallalas. The riyal is pegged to the US dollar at a rate of SR3.745:US$1
Time
3 hours ahead of GMT
Fiscal year
Calendar year
Public holidays
All Muslim holidays are observed in accordance with the Islamic or hijri calendar, based on the lunar year, which is about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year. The weekend is Thursday-Friday
The month of Ramadan (August 1st-30th 2011) is not a public holiday but significantly reduces the working day. Eid al-Fitr (marking the end of Ramadan-August 30th 2011) and Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice-November 6th 2011, the tenth day of the haj, or pilgrimage) are public holidays. The country's national day is September 23rd and is sometimes a public holiday. Travelling in the kingdom is particularly affected during the haj period, which lasts for about a month, Eid al-Adha and the school summer holidays, which last until mid-September