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Back to Subjects - Geography

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, occupying most of the Arabian Peninsula, is located in the southwestern corner of Asia. It covers an area about one-fourth the size of the United States. More than half of its total area is desert terrain. The capital of Saudi is Riyadh, which is located in the central region of the country. Saudi Arabia's official language is Arabic, although English is also spoken in the Kingdom, most commonly in the business community. The official religion of Saudi is Islam. Two of the holiest Islamic cities, Makkah and Madinah, are located within its borders. Makkah is the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad, and is the focal point of the Islamic Pilgrimage. Madinah is where the Prophet Muhammad lived. Also, The Kingdom's Judicial System stems from Islamic Law and the Holy Qur'an, which still bases its beliefs on the "eye for an eye" form of punishment. Hence, many wrongdoers swiftly lose their limbs and, in some cases, their lives to a well place axe in the infamous "Chop-Chop" square. There are approximately 21 million people in the Kingdom. Although most are Saudi Nationals, many outsiders from the U.S. and surrounding Arabic nations come to Saudi Arabia for various employment opportunities. In fact, a large percentage of Saudi nationals do not work because of the lucrative returns from oil revenues. For those less fortunate, the Saudi work week is from Saturday through Wednesday with the weekend being Thursday and Friday because the Muslim holy day of the week is Friday. Businesses are usually closed during the heat of the day, for prayer and resting. Business hours are generally 8:00am-noon and 4:00pm-6:00pm. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is obviously a monarchy headed by King Fahd Bin Adbul Aziz. The government is made up of the King, the Crown Prince, and, similar to the U.S. cabinet, the King's Council of Ministers. The Kingdom is divided into thirteen regions. Each is headed by an Emir (governor) who is appointed by the King. Emirs generally handle local affairs. the Modern kingdom of Saudi Arabia was founded on September 23, 1932 by King Abdul Aziz Al-Saud. Shortly thereafter, oil was discovered and to this day, remains the basis of its economic development. Saudi Arabia accounts for more than a quarter of the world's total oil revenues. Saudi's largest non-petroleum sector is agriculture. It provides around ten percent of the country's revenue. Crops consist of wheat, rice, corn, and dates. Gains are also being made in poultry, dairy and livestock (sheep and camels). Having had the opportunity to visit this exotic location, I feel qualified that I can provide a unique perspective on its comparison to the United States. On first arrival, the cultural shock is immense. The Muslim religion is extremely enforced. There are actually "religious police" that make sure the Islamic law is being upheld. Women must walk three feet behind men and remained completely covered from wrist to ankle. There is no alcohol or any material deemed pornographic allowed in the country. During the Olympics, the women's gymnastics events were not televised in certain regions because it was thought to be pornographic in nature. There is also a strong terrorist threat to Americans, especially military personnel that travel to Saudi Arabia because of the political unrest and corruption mainly in the surrounding nations. Ironically, Saudi Arabia does have many of the comforts produced by the U.S. marketplace. The U.S. is Saudi Arabia's top importer. there is everything from Coca-Cola to Hershey's. They have McDonald's, Burger King, even a Hard Rock Cafe. The American marketing strategy tends to cater to the younger, more liberal generation of Saudi's. There are also a few things that American companies sell that one may never see in the U.S. For example, remember when the FDA outlawed the use of the pull tabs on canned beverages, well all of the canned soft drinks in Saudi Arabia still have those "dangerous" tabs. Another Example, is Tide detergent. In the U.S., Tide uses a marketing strategy of making a specialized detergent for various consumers. They have Tide with bleach, Ultra Tide, and Hypo-allergenic Tide. In Saudi Arabia the marketing strategy is the exact opposite. There is one Tide and its sold behind the premise of being multi-functional. The box says you can do your dishes, wash your clothes, mop the floors and clean the house, all with the same detergent. If I had to market to Saudi Arabia I would concentrate on functionality with less of an emphasis on the sensitivity of the consumer. Or I would chose to concentrate my efforts on the home-sick American military and professionals to provide them with a "little taste of home". Bibliography:

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