1. SaudiArabia Calcutta Business School Faculty :Mrs. Devdasan - Anand Saraff

3. Geography

4. Government

5. Economy

6. Development & Foreign Land

7. Culture

9. Climate: Harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes (-12.0C to 50.0C)

10. Population: 27.6 million including an estimated 5.5 million resident foreigners (July 2006 est.)

11. Currency : Riyal

14. Arable land – less than 2 percent

16. Qur’an - constitution of the country

17. Governed on basis of Sharia(Islamic Law)

18. Council of Ministers - appointed by King

19. Consists of a prime minister, the first prime minister and twenty ministers

20. Advises on general policy formulation and directing bureaucracy

22. Accounts for 75% of budget revenues and 90% of export earnings

23. Comprises 45% of the GDP (private sector – 40%)

24. Has about 24% of world’s proven petroleum resources

25. Private Sector – Privatizing industries such as power and telecom

26. Diversification – launched a new city “King Abdullah Economic City” on west coast

27. Total investment exceeding $26.6 billion

29. Economic Cities – plans to launch six cities like “King Abdullah Economic City” by 2020

30. Intended to diversify the economy and

31. Increase the per capita income

33. Public practice/possession of non-Islamic religious materials not allowed

34. Annual cultural festival

35. Al Ardha – involving swords, it is the country’s national dance

36. Dress – Strict adherence to hijab(Islamic principle of modesty)

37. Loose and flowing garments well suited to the climate

38. Women are required to wear an abaya or modest clothing in public

39. Food – pork and alcohol strictly forbidden

40. Khobz(unleavened bread) eaten with most meals

41. Arabic tea is a famous custom for formal/informal meetings

42. Film and Theatre – Public theatres and cinemas banned

44. First-ever female minister was appointed in February 2009(department of women’s education)

45. Women are banned from driving on public roads(may be lifted soon)

46. Rub’ al Khali is the largest sand desert in the world