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

Data code  SA

Government type  monarchy

Capital  Riyadh

Administrative divisions  13 provinces (mintaqat, singular - mintaqah); Al Bahah, Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah, Al Jawf, Al Madinah, Al Qasim, Ar Riyad, Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern Province), 'Asir, Ha'il, Jizan, Makkah, Najran, Tabuk

Independence  23 September 1932 (unification)

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

Constitution  governed according to Shari'a (Islamic law); the Basic Law that articulates the government's rights and responsibilities was introduced in 1993

Legal system  based on Islamic law, several secular codes have been introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage  none

Executive branch  chief of state:King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 13 June 1982); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (half-brother to the monarch, heir to the throne since 13 June 1982, regent from 1 January to 22 February 1996); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 13 June 1982); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (half-brother to the monarch, heir to the throne since 13 June 1982, regent from 1 January to 22 February 1996); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet:Council of Ministers is appointed by the monarch and includes many royal family members
elections:none; the monarch is hereditary

Legislative branch  a consultative council (90 members and a chairman appointed by the monarch for four-year terms)

Judicial branch  Supreme Council of Justice

Political parties and leaders  none allowed

International organization participation  ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, BIS, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US  chief of mission:Ambassador BANDAR bin Sultan bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud
chancery:601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone:[1] (202) 342-3800
consulate(s) general:Houston, Los Angeles, and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US  chief of mission:Ambassador Wyche FOWLER, Jr.
embassy:Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh
mailing address:American Embassy Riyadh, Unit 61307, APO AE 09803-1307; International Mail: P. O. Box 94309, Riyadh 11693
telephone:[966] (1) 488-3800
FAX:[966] (1) 488-7360
consulate(s) general:Dhahran, Jiddah (Jeddah)

Flag description  green with large white Arabic script (that may be 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); green is the traditional color of Islam